Page 88 of Another Lucky Number

‘Go you.And?’

‘It went OK. I’m no Michelle Obama, but I’ve gained a new skill – one that I can hone over time.’

‘How about you hone it this morning?’ says Amber, who raises an eyebrow in Cat’s direction. Cat puts her hand to her mouth and seems to hold her breath in anticipation.

‘Huh?What are you on about?’ I ping pong between them,bewildered by their strange behaviour. ‘I feel good about the progress I’ve made, but why would I want to spend my morning doing prep when I’ve pulled out of the interview?’

‘Maybe because there’s a parallel universe where you haven’t?’ says Amber and I shake my head in utter bafflement.

‘Um… OK…’

‘Amber,pleaseget to the point,’ says Cat. ‘There isn’t enough time for this.’

‘What’s going on?’ I look from Cat to Amber again, suddenly suspicious.

‘All right,fine.’ Amber sniffs in mild annoyance. ‘Emma, your interview is still on.’

Chapter Thirty-Six

‘What?’ I just about fall off my seat at this revelation. ‘Amber, you need to explain what’s going on –right now.’

‘I’m about to. Chill.’ She rolls her eyes at Cat, as if I’m the one causing the issue here.

‘No, I will notchill.Explain.’

‘All right. When we lost you yesterday, we split up to look for you and I passed by reception literally about thirty seconds after you spoke to Charnice.’

‘Right. And?’

‘You forget that I know you. I figured there was a high chance you’d act impulsively and pull out of the interview. After a bit of coaxing, I managed to get it out of Charnice that you’d asked her to contact Sébastien – she had the phone in her hand, about to do it – and I convinced her not to pass the message on because I thought you’d regret your decision by this morning.’

‘You didwhat?’ I’m aghast (though if I’m honest, not altogether unsurprised) by Amber’s meddling. ‘You mean Sébastien’s still expecting me to show up this morning?Amber,what have you done?I need to get Charnice to contact him straight away.’

‘Or… you could go ahead with the interview.’ She raises her eyebrows suggestively.

I hesitate. ‘No…no, I can’t. I’m obviously not ready for that job. You even said it yourselves yesterday.’

‘And we were wrong. Because despite everything that happened, you got up at five this morning, and instead of having a little pity party yourself – which is something you might have done even a week ago – you stuck two fingers up to the situation and decided you were a winner. That’s a clear sign of someone who’s determined and one hundred per cent deserves this job.’

I look to Cat uncertainly and she nods agreement with Amber.

‘Honey, if you hadn’t spoken to Charnice yesterday, do you think you would have wanted to go ahead with the interview this morning?’ Cat asks. ‘After a good sleep and some distance from things?’

I puff out my cheeks. ‘I’m not sure. I guess… with the humiliation of yesterday’s disaster having dulled, I probably would have gone ahead with it – because I committed to it more than anything else. I’d still be terrified and thinking I’d got ahead of myself though.’

‘And now that you’ve sneaked in that extra prep, and the interview’s still on…?’

‘I think… it’s a ridiculous long shot, but as Amber has stuck her oar in yet again, I need to do it, for the experience and feedback if nothing else.’ I blink at my two friends in semi-shock while I digest what this means.

‘Boom.’ Amber simulates a mic drop. ‘And… she’s back.’

‘She sure is.’ Cat beams at me across the table.

‘Right, well, I’d better get some food in me and go getready.’ I clutch my face in disbelief. ‘This is a curve ball I did not see coming. Thanks for believing in me, you guys.’

The waiter approaches to take our order and Amber holds up a finger to stall him for a second.

‘Once last tip for you, Emma: if at any point you blank, or there’s a question that feels impossible to answer, do nothing other than count to five slowly in your head. Don’t think, just do it. That will give your brain the chance to offer you something useful before you let the panic set in.’

---