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Kat’s face lights up. ‘Does that mean I can hand out business cards?’

‘Of course you can’t hand out bloody business cards!’ A deep frown disturbs Freddy’s smooth, tanned forehead. ‘No business card bombing whatsoever, alright? And no lip action or … any other action until you’ve been on a good deal of dates with a man and deemed him worth your attention. You’re an exclusive product. We’re looking for husbands, not hook-ups.’

‘No lip action?’

‘Don’t kiss them.’

‘I know what youmeant. I just don’t know why I can’t kiss anyone –’

‘YOU’RE EXCLUSIVE! YOU MAKE THEM PROVE THEMSELVES FIRST!’

‘You’re such a hypocrite,’ says Kat. ‘I bet you kiss a different woman every night. Why shouldn’t I?’

‘Supply and demand.’ Freddy sits back on his stool. ‘In London, the demand for men hugely outweighs supply. Which means my promotional strategy is different to yours. With me, it’s all about letting women know I’m a multi-millionaire. And numbers. Talking to a lot of women, basically.’

‘Ugh.’ Kat makes a face.

‘Hate the game, not the player.’ Freddy takes another sip of his cocktail. ‘Now listen.Iwill be promoting the hell out of you at dinner. Talking you up. Telling our dining companions that I’ve asked you out many times and you always turn me down. Making you soundreallyexclusive. Are you okay to play along?’

‘Sounds easy enough.’ Kat sips champagne, taking great care not to spill the glass. ‘If you asked me out, Iwouldturn you down.’

‘Only because I haven’t ever tried to sweep you off your feet.’

‘Go on then.’

‘What?’

‘Sweep me off my feet. Give it your best shot, Mr Irresistible. I guarantee I will remain unmoved.’

Freddy shuffles uneasily on his stool. ‘You’re just about to meet potential husbands. It wouldn’t be bad timing.’

‘Bollocks. You know full well you can’t sweep me off my feet.’

Freddy feels disturbed by this statement. Especially because he has the uneasy feeling that Kat may be right.

‘Let’s change the subject,’ Freddy grunts. ‘And work on positive messages. The way you’re looking right now, darling, we’ll have you married off in no time.’

‘Do you really think so?’ Kat looks disgustingly hopeful.

‘Kat.’ Freddy gives her serious eyes. ‘You are intelligent, successful and beautiful. Why wouldn’t someone want to marry you?’

‘You’d have to ask all the men who’ve turned me down so far.’

‘Jesus!’ Freddy wipes condensation from his glass. ‘You’ve been asking men to marry you?’

‘How do you think Chris and I got engaged?’

Freddy takes a steadying breath. ‘I’m glad we had this conversation, Kat. So. Exclusivity rule one. No more asking men to marry you. Exclusive products don’t do the asking. You’re the VIP, not the salesperson. Got it?’

‘But that’s sexist –’

‘No. It’s about holding your value in a competitive market.’

‘Oh fine. You’re right. Whatever I’ve been doing certainly hasn’t been working. So, tell me about these men I’m meeting.’

‘Ahmet is a successful property developer,’ says Freddy. ‘All his sisters are married, so he’s feeling the pressure. His mother is very traditional and wants him to carry on the family name. And to add to the emotional powder keg, he’ll inherit a small fortune when he marries, and he needs a lump sum to move his business to the next level. So he is in a buying mood if you get my meaning.’

‘I get your meaning. And the other one?’