Page 12 of Another Lucky Number

‘Resorts exactly like this.’

‘Are you here to look at buying this one?’

‘Amber.’ I quickly interject. ‘I’m sure Sébastien didn’t agree to join us for a game of twenty questions.’

‘It is fine, Emma.’ Sébastien waves his hand a gesture of calm. ‘I do not mind. No, I am not planning to buy this resort because I already own it.’

I almost spit out my champagne. ‘Youownthis place? What? All of it?’

‘Oui.Or at least my company does.’

‘Wowser.’ I’m thrown by this revelation. This guy isrich.

‘It’s such a great resort,’ says Cat. ‘The staff are all so happy and motivated.’

‘That is because I ensure they are paid fairly and are treated well. As they should be,’ says Sébastien. ‘And where do you all work?’

‘In boring offices.’ Cat looks glum all of a sudden. ‘Not amazing five-star resorts where the staff skip to work every day.’

Having been uncharacteristically quiet for a while, Amber sits forward, a worryingly mischievous look on her face. ‘Hey Cat, we don’t all work in boring offices. Not anymore.’

I shoot her a warning look not todisclose anything too personal. Not that this man would care about my lottery win. He must be a multi-millionaire – at a minimum.

‘Yeah, you’re right,’ says Cat. ‘Emma’s not tied down by the nine-to-five lifestyle right now.’

‘You are not?’ Sébastien regards me with interest. ‘Why is this, Emma? What do you do?’

‘Oh… well, I… uh…’ I trip over myself as I try to think how to clarify my situation. ‘I guess I’d have to say… I’m unemployed.’

This is the first time I’ve said these words out loud, even acknowledged my job status, and it doesn’t feel good. Cringing at this, I direct my eyes to the ground to avoid Sébastien’s reaction. There may be a good reason why I quit my job, but as Amber so kindly pointed out, I’m miles away from achieving my career dream right now – whatever that even is.

‘I am sorry to hear this, Emma.’ Sébastien seems a bit lost for words.

‘Now, come on. That’s not technically true, is it, Emma?’ Amber gives me a just-go-along-with-it nudge with her foot.

‘It’s not?’ I look up hopefully.

‘Not at all. Sébastien, Emma’s being modest. She’s actually a highly sought after professional, and until recently, she held a strategic level role in a large blue-chip company.’

‘Is that so?’ He looks at me with a curious expression.

‘It is,’ says Amber, before I can say a word. ‘She’s been on a short career break to undertake some important charitable work – such a selfless person – and she’s now deliberating her next career move: with a handful of unsolicited offers from big household names. Isn’t that right, Emma?’

This time it’s less of a nudge and more a foot wedged against my leg ready to boot me if I dare disagree.

‘Eh… that’s quite an image you’ve conjured up there, Amber,’ I say through gritted teeth.

‘She’s being coy.’ Amber’s quick to smooth over my comment. ‘Always does this when she gets a compliment.’

‘Alors, Emma.’ Sébastien lets out a low whistle. ‘It sounds like you are an impressive young woman.’

‘I… um…’ I stammer. ‘I’m not sure—’

‘She is, believe me.’ Amber talks over me and looks Sébastien straight in the eye. ‘Honestly… so modest.’

‘And she’s not just super capable,’ Cat joins in. ‘She’s an amazing friend too.’

‘Oh, stop it, you two.’ I have no choice but to play along, screwing my nose up bashfully at my two friends fake-bigging me up.

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