Page 13 of Another Lucky Number

‘So, Sébastien…’ Amber sits forward. ‘Surely a businessman like yourself is always on the lookout for talent like Emma. You must know that calibre of professional isveryhard to find.’

Shit. I should have seen this coming. I dig the toe of my sandal hard into Amber’s leg but she kicks me back, causing me to yelp in pain.

‘Emma,ça va?’ Sébastien looks alarmed. ‘You have been bitten?’

‘No.’ I rub my leg. ‘I’m fine. Just banged my knee.’

‘Ah, OK. Do you need some ice?’

‘No, thanks. I’ll be fine.’ I plaster on my most convincing everything’s-just hunky-dory smile, despite the hot throbbing in my shin.

‘As I was saying…’ Amber draws Sébastien’s attention back to her. ‘Talent like Emma isveryhard to come across.’

‘I would agree.’ Sébastien nods, while intermittently glancing at me to check I’m all right. ‘Especially for the more senior roles. There are not many people who have the full package, as one might say: excellent problem solving and decision-making skills, the ability to deal with complexity and ambiguity, and think at a strategic level. All that as well aspossessing the positive behaviours of a natural and credible leader. To find all of this in one person?Trés difficile.’

We nod along as if this is the most insightful piece of information we’ve ever heard.

‘In fact, I am currently in the process of filling one of my senior roles,’ he continues. ‘It is a challenging process for this very reason. Sometimes I wish I could take the good qualities of a few individuals and put them together. That would create the perfect candidate but, of course, this is not possible.C’est la vie.’

‘What about Emma for that job?’ says Amber suddenly.

I freeze, unable to comprehend what’s just come out of her mouth. Dropping hints is one thing, but this is quite another. I want to kill her for turning our rather enjoyable conversation with this French Adonis into a full-throttle career seeking mission.

Sébastien regards Amber thoughtfully. He’s obviously trying to think of a way to let us down gently.

‘I think…peut-êtreis too late to add Emma into the process. The interviews have already taken place. I am sorry, Emma.’

‘Not at all,’ I say, while burning with humiliation at being rejected for a job I didn’t put myself forward for. ‘Ignore Amber. She’s not serious.’

‘I’mdeadlyserious,’ Amber unhelpfully adds.

‘Well, as you said yourself, Amber…’ I’m now speaking very deliberately to convey the message that she needs to shut the hell up. ‘I have plenty of options, so I don’t need you making my decision harder.’

‘Anyway…’ Cat leaps in to rescue the situation ‘Perhaps it’s time to call it a night.’ She gives a huge fake yawn, earning herself a strange look from Sébastien.

‘Yes, I think you’re right.’ I slither out my chair before Amber can make thesituation any worse. ‘It’s been a long day of… lying by the pool.’

Sébastien watches us, eyes filled with amusement as we haphazardly gather ourselves together and extricate a protesting, champagne-swigging Amber.

‘Sébastien, it’s been lovely to meet you,’ I say. ‘Please do excuse us. We’re still a little jet-lagged. I’m sure we’ll see you around the resort.’

‘I hope so.’ He gives us a warm smile. ‘Bonsoir, mesdames. It has been a pleasure.’

‘Bye.’ We give him an awkward wave and exit the terrace at high speed.

Chapter Six

‘Thanks for that, Amber,’ I bark over my shoulder as I march back along the path towards the main resort building, my two friends following closely behind.

‘You’re welcome,’ she replies, in an infuriating tone.

‘No, seriously.’ I stop and spin around, hands on hips. ‘I can’t believe you did that. We were having a lovely time and you just had to take things too far.As usual.’

‘Calm it, would you.’ She scoffs, which only incenses me further. ‘What if he’d said yes? What if you’d got an opportunity? You’d be thanking me now.’

‘Would I?You sold him a load of bull. Since when am I the cream of the British corporate scene? Or being head hunted by multiple FTSE 100 companies? Or a bloody altruist?’

‘OK, so I stretched the truth a bit—’

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