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They’d talk, attend the meeting and Francine would either persuade them to release her or not. Either way, in two days she’d be back on shift as usual, dealing with the public and all number of illness and injury.

She almost jumped out of her skin when the intercom buzzed. Pressing the button that opened the door downstairs, she calmed herself and opened the inner door, listening down the hall for the tell-tale sign of the lift arriving.

“Hi,” she said as brightly as she could muster when Francine came into view, moving aside to allow Francine into her home. “Found me okay, then?”

The American woman smiled at her quickly before getting straight to the point.

“So, let’s get down to business.”

Not that Morgan expected any other approach. Ms Carlson didn’t sound like the kind of woman who did small talk when there was something to get done.

“Sure, take a seat. Can I get you a coffee?” Morgan asked. “How is Ms Montgomery doing? Any more anxiety attacks?”

“She’s fine, but you know how it is, gotta keep it that way.” Francine grinned like a shark. All teeth and ready for the kill. “I’m fine for coffee.”

“So, what do—”

Dropping her bag onto the table, Francine kicked out a chair and sat down.

“Look, what I’m about to ask you is a little delicate, okay? And you can’t go spilling ya guts to all and sundry about it, whatever decision you make, so I need you to sign an NDA.” She reached into the bag and pulled out an envelope and slid it across the table.

“I’m already bound by patient confidentiality,” Morgan said, taking a seat and sliding the envelope back.

“That may well be, but you’re not her doctor, and this isn’t a hospital, and we’re talking about you having access to a part of Sasha’s world that even her doctors don’t get to see, so we can argue about this, or you can sign the document.”

Morgan considered it. She reached out a finger and pulled the envelope back towards her and picked it up. Opening it, she withdrew a single sheet of paper and began to read.

She had no idea what she thought an NDA looked like, but if she’d had to imagine it, this wouldn’t have been it. A simple declaration that all topics discussed today – it was dated today – would be held in confidence and subject to litigation should she – her name was written in – break the confidence and trust of Sasha.

"Is this it?”

Francine sat back and inclined her head. “If you were to accept the terms I’m about to lay out, then we’ll move on to a more robust document, but for the purposes of right now that will suffice.” She leaned forward. “But mark my words, any breach of confidence about today, with anyone, will see our lawyers take action.”

Morgan had no interest in talking about Alex with anyone, but still, it rankled that she was being asked to sign this. Then she considered, why wouldn’t they ask this? It was probably the norm with any kind of working relationship that involved a celebrity. And really, what did Alex know about her? There was no relationship of trust between them.

Holding out her hand, she waited for Francine to root through her bag and produce a pen. With a flourish, Morgan signed her name along the dotted line and handed it back, along with the pen.

“Okay, so what did you want to discuss?”

Francine took the document, checked it once and then pushed it back into the envelope and then into her bag.

“Firstly, I need to know what you’re hiding?”

Morgan frowned. “What I’m hiding? What do you mean?”

“In your past, your now, what are the skeletons in the closet? I don’t care, I’m not here to judge but I need to know. I can’t protect what I don’t know.”

“None, I don’t have anything.”

“You sure about that? No exes with a grudge, no estranged family members who’d want to earn a quick buck?”

“No, not that I’m aware of.”

“Alright.”

“Is that it?” Morgan sat back and folded her arms. Something was off. A doctor on staff wouldn’t be something anyone else cared about. “What’s this all about?”

Francine puffed out her cheeks. “We got a small PR issue. Alex is a very private person, her life is her own and the press usually leave her to it. However, there is one subject they just love to talk about: the coach crash.”