Page 77 of Another Lucky Number

Gathering myself together as best I can, I pull my notes out of my handbag, clear my throat and start my introduction. However, three sentences in, I look at James and it throws me off completely. I begin to stammer and stutter, eventually casting my notes aside in frustration.

‘I can’t do it with you guys watching me like that.’

‘Watching you like what?’ asks James.

‘Like… really intently.’

‘Emma, everyone on the day is going to be watching you intently,’ says Amber. ‘That’s the whole point.You’redelivering it.’

‘I know that. But you’re literally right in front of me. It’s off putting.’

‘Would you like to stand over there and do it.’ She points to an empty spot about six feet away. ‘Because I’m happy with that if you are.’

‘What? No. Theneveryonewill be watching me.’

‘Exactly. This is the best you’ll get, so quit your whining and get on with it. You need to do this or you’ll totally flake this afternoon.’

‘What does that mean?’ My ears prick up in alarm.

‘Huh?’ Amber looks at me innocently.

‘You said something about this afternoon. What’s happening this afternoon?’

‘No, I didn’t.Go.’

I’m reluctant to move on, given what I’ve just heard, but she’s gesturing for meto get on with it, and neither Cat nor James are reacting to what she said. Putting a hand on my churning stomach, I take a deep breath and start again, but within a minute I’m stumbling once more.

‘Emma, stop,’ says James and I happily oblige. ‘I think I know what’s going on here. You’re faltering whenever you make eye contact with us.’

‘You’re right, she is,’ says Cat.

‘Eye contact always seems to be my downfall.’ I sigh. ‘It’s the same when I try to assert myself with difficult people, that kind of thing.’

‘Here’s a tip for you,’ says James. ‘Don’t make eye contact with any of us.’

‘OK, but I can’t do that tomorrow, can I?’

‘Yes, you can. Look here.’ He points between his eyebrows. ‘If you do that, everyone will think you’re looking them in the eye, and as you’re not, you should be more comfortable. Try it now.’

‘OK…’ I launch into my introduction once more, and this time I get right through it. ‘Wow, that worked. Great tip. Thanks, James.’ I blow him a little kiss and he grins back at me.

‘Good one. But you weren’t meant to stop for self-congratulations.’ Amber hurries me along, killing my moment with James. ‘Go again, andkeep going.’

I restart my presentation and this time I manage all the way through. I’m still a bit rusty with the flow, but it’s better than this morning in my suite, and as I wrap things up with a theatrical gasp of relief, my audience of three give me a mini-round of applause.

‘Well done, honey.’ Cat keeps clapping after the others have finished. ‘You got right to the end. That’s brilliant for your first dry run with us.’

‘Yeah, good start, Emma,’ says Amber. ‘We’ll have you slick asthey come by tomorrow.’

‘Thanks,’ I say and turn to James. ‘What did you think?’

‘I think you’re making great progress and you deserve a walk on the beach as a reward.’

His gorgeous dark eyes are almost hypnotising, and the idea of a romantic stroll with him couldn’t appeal more right now. However, I’m aware that today’s prep schedule is tightly packed, so I look to Amber and Cat.

‘Is there time for that?’

‘Meet us by reception in an hour,’ says Amber. ‘Think you’ve earned yourself a break.’

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