Page 3

The rent was exorbitant, the area less than desirable, the wallpaper in the corridor outside was peeling, and there was a distressing patch of something that Ellie was denying was mold in the bathroom.

But it was home. And it was close enough to the office that she could walk to work. And she could mostly afford it. And it wasn’t a council flat.

Constable stiffened and then there was a knock at the door. He meowed ferociously and Ellie grinned. “Come in,” she shouted. “It’s open.”

“I could be anyone,” Paul from next door said, his bulk practically filling the flat up. He put a tupperware box on the tiny kitchen counter. “Hungarian goulash.”

“Ooo, fancy,” said Ellie. “And Constable knew it was you at the door.”

“Clever cat, that,” Paul said, bending to scratch behind Constable’s ears. “It’s not spicy, but there’s plenty of peppers, so keep it out of Constable’s reach.”

“Will do,” Ellie said. “And you don’t have to bring me dinnerevery night.”

“It’s once or twice a week at most, and the restaurant won’t miss it,” Paul said. He worked three nights a week as a waiter, supplementing his paramedic income enough that he could afford to live in the city. He looked around the flat. “Fancy going out for a drink?”

“Not in the slightest,” said Ellie, pouring the tupperware’s contents into a bowl. “I’m about to curl up on the couch with Constable and a good book.”

“Like every night.”

“Most nights.” She sighed with contentment. “It’s my happy place.”

“You won’t meet Ms. Right in your happy place. In fact the only things you’ll meet are Constable and the fungus spores growing in your bathroom.”

“That’s not mold,” said Ellie immediately.

“Except it really is.”

“And who said I wanted to meet anyone?”

“Everyone wants to meet someone,” said Paul.

“No. No one night stands. No blind dates. No messing around. I’m happy,” Ellie said, gesturing around at her flat. “This is my castle, my job is my partner, and Constable is all the company I need.”

“Charming,” Paul said, ruffling his dark hair.

“You know what I meant,” said Ellie, just as her phone chirped a notification. “Hold on a second.”

She grabbed the phone to silence it before being distracted by the new email icon. Quickly, she opened up Gmail and then squeaked, actually squeaked, in excitement. Constable’s tail puffed up into a bottle brush and Paul raised an eyebrow. “News?”

“I got it,” she said, half not believing what she was seeing. “Okay, I didn’t actually get it. Not yet. But I got an interview. I get to present my ideas.”

“To the King?” asked Paul.

“No, to Darlington’s,” she breathed. She looked up andgrinned. “I’m in with a shot.”

Paul shook his head. “No, you’re in with a good book, remember? I’m out with a shot though. So I’m leaving you to celebrate alone.” He grinned at her fondly. “I’m happy for you, El. Just don’t forget that there are things other than work, you know?”

Ellie nodded, reading the email again as he kissed the top of her head and disappeared off.

She was in with a chance. And that was all she needed. Just one chance to really get ahead.

Chapter Two

An arm reached around and grabbed the apple that Jem had taken for breakfast dessert. “Hey!”

“Are you still here?” said Jasper, dragging out a dining chair and flopping into it. “You have an expensive flat in London, why don’t you disappear off back to it?”

“You have a wife, why don’t you disappear back off to her?” snapped Jem, scooping up some more porridge.