Page 40 of Another Lucky Number

We part company, and despite being delayed by our unexpected interaction, I’m first to arrive. I grab a table near the breakfast buffet and order jugs of tea and coffee, which arrive at the same time as Cat and Amber.

‘How are you feeling this morning, honey?’ Cat slides into a seat and pours herself a cup of tea. ‘I was worried about you last night.’

‘Believe it not, I’m fine.’ I give her a bright, reassuring smile. ‘Raring to go. Must make sure I drink lots of water while I’m here because that seems to be a real energiser.’

‘That’s good. Glad you’re feeling better.’

‘I assume James didn’t appear at the end of your bed in the night?’ Amber’s tone is mildly sarcastic.

‘Very funny.’ I fix her with my best get-lost face. ‘I haven’t heard a thing from him. Now he’s got the entire staff of Hooters to play with, he doesn’t need me anymore.’ I’m aware of how this sounds, but I can’t help feeling a bit hurt that James hasn’t bothered to check in since going on his own holiday.

‘Oh, boo hoo!’ Amber mocks me. ‘Like you haven’t spent every minute of the day fantasising about Sébastien throwing you around your suite naked.’

‘What?I haven’t.’

‘You keep telling yourself that.’

‘Well, can you blame me if I have?’ I throw my hands up in frustration. ‘Sébastien is undoubtedly the hottest man I’ve ever—’

‘Hotter than James?’ Cat interrupts me.

I frown in contemplation. ‘Well, yeah. If you put it on physical attributes alone.’

‘He oozes sex appeal too.’ Amber reaches for the coffee jug. ‘Only needs to look at a woman and she’s dropping her knickers.’

‘Amber!’ Cat andI reprimand her for being so crass.

‘What? Is it not true?’

‘That’s not the point,’ I tut at her. ‘You sound like a misogynistic male.’

‘So, sue me. Anyway, you were saying. Sébastien is hotter than James…’ She prompts me to continue.

‘That’s not what I was saying at all. What I was trying to say is that Sébastienappearshotter than James. He would win the “sex god” category – no contest. But James has this way about him that makes him equally appealing. He’s cheeky and quick witted. That’s such an attractive quality.’

‘Which means he’d win the “funny guy” category.Ouch.’ Amber pulls a face while Cat stifles a giggle.

‘I know what you’re doing, Amber, and it’s not going to work today.’

We get up from our seats and head for the breakfast buffet, where I’m determined to exercise more restraint than the previous mornings. I need to keep a clear head today – healthy food for a healthy mind and all that. After two laps of the extensive offerings, I opt for a two-egg omelette with herbs and pile another plate high with fresh fruit. That should do it.

I return to our table, where Cat and Amber are already tucking into their own breakfasts. We eat in silence, sipping at our drinks, until Cat pipes up.

‘According to the interview prep schedule, we’re meant to be reviewing your progress from yesterday, honey.’

‘Yup,’ says Amber through a mouthful of croissant. ‘Let’s do it. How do you think things went?’

I slurp at my tea thoughtfully. ‘Well… I feel good about my presentation content. I spent some more time on it this morning, so it’s nearly ready, but I obviously still need to work on my “creative” element. Last night’s “company research” also gave me a sense of the level of finesse here, which was helpful. I’d say myapproach – if I can pull it off in the way I hope – will match the tone here quite well.’

‘I agree,’ says Amber. ‘It’ll be spot on if you pitch it right.’

‘Thanks, I appreciate that vote of confidence. I’ve also had some interview examples swimming round my head, so I’ve been adding them to my notepad app and I’ll keep doing that as they come to me.’ I lift my phone out of my bag and pop it on the table as if to evidence this, having reluctantly abandoned my R&R policy of locking it away.

‘This is all great,’ says Cat. ‘See, you’re making progress, honey.’

‘I am. It’s encouraging. What else is on the plan for today?’

Amber plucks it from her bag and unfolds it. ‘After breakfast, you’ll be working on your company knowledge, then over lunch we’ll do some interview practice. The afternoon is personal development by the pool.’

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