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‘Yep.’

I should be annoyed, but I feel a smile growing. ‘Big Voice. It …’

‘Feels better, doesn’t it?’ Freddy gives me a side smile.

‘Yes.’ I admit, taking in the giant Big Voice sign, beautiful black and white shelving, sofa area, mini-fridge stocked with water bottles and glass table with business cards and free pens.

I take slow, reverent steps forward. Last year, our stand was so small it took us hours to find. And we were late ordering conference furniture, so ended up using three plastic chairs we found by a wheelie bin. Several of us always had to stand during the meetings, and those who sat down weren’t overly happy either. I turn to Freddy.

‘Did you help with this?’

‘Not in the slightest,’ says Freddy. ‘This was all your team. When you delegate properly, teams often exceed your expectations.’

‘They’ve done an amazing job. So much better than I’ve ever done.’

The Big Voice team congregate around the stand, beaming with pride.

‘Well done, everyone.’ I approach, tears welling up. ‘This is astonishing. How did you manage to go so much bigger and better without the usual hiccups?’

‘We just got here very, very early.’ Gabriela looks fabulous in a black suit, newly chestnut-brown hair gleaming in a straight bob. She appears so much more capable of doing a day’s work now. ‘There are always snags, you know? So we were onsite, ready to iron them out.’

‘The fridge was my idea,’ Duncan enthuses. ‘It’s important to stay hydrated.’

‘I have your meeting schedule, Kat.’ Alan hands me a neat, printed Excel sheet with colour-coded meetings.

‘Thank you, Alan.’ I take the sheet, noticing Alan’s clipped graphite-grey hair and fitted, blue mod suit. ‘You look great. Like a professional pencil.’

‘We have coffee for you both.’ Alan offers two, steaming reusable bamboo cups. ‘Oat milk latte for you, Kat, and black coffee for Freddy.’

‘Well done, team.’ I can’t stop smiling. ‘This is astonishing. We look like a really big deal.’

‘We are a big deal.’ Freddy accepts his coffee. ‘And after today’s meeting with Penguin Random House, we’re going to be an even bigger deal. Just you wait and see.’

CHAPTER59

Okay.

It’s 11 am.

Just one hour before my meeting with Penguin Random House.

I grab a water from the humming mini-fridge and pace around the stand. The rest of the team is off at various seminars and appointments, so I have a moment of quiet.

Okay. Breathe. Breathe.

It will be fine. Better than fine. Our books are doing amazingly well. We have the figures to prove it. Who wouldn’t want to partner with us and expand our distribution all over the world?

My left leg starts to twitch.

Oh no. That’s not good. Not good at all. I swear quietly to myself, noticing the little finger on my left hand has also begun to tremble.

No, no, no.

Not now. I have my meeting coming up and the award ceremony tonight and I refuse –

My left leg flies out.

‘GOD DAMN YOU!’