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‘I’m here, aren’t I?’ Isabelle said through a strained smile.

‘Yes. Now mingle and smile and hug people in photos, OK?’

‘Everyone in this room knows my marriage has combusted. I don’t know how you think I’m going to be able to keep it light.’

Alex raised an eyebrow at her, and she sighed. ‘Fine. Do things however you want.’

Isabelle moved off, silent Steven hovering at her back. Alex exchanged a brief nod with him.

‘Go on, little butterfly,’ Alex muttered to herself. She was starting to realise that the more you tried to tell Isabelle what to do, the more she would fight you. People had been saying yes to her for too long. But if you stepped back and didn’t engage, she’d stop battling you. This was why she was being a good girl now and whirling around the room, glad-handing strangers who were pretending not to know too much about her personal life, just as Alex wanted.

Alex bided her time, looking for the right partygoer for a photo op. And there she was. Rose Anderson. She and Isabelle had starred in several things together and were known old friends. Wait, Isabelle had just moved around her. Had she seen her? Hard to say. But Alex was going to have to be more proactive if she wanted this particular Kodak moment.

She went up to Rose. ‘Hi!’ she said. ‘How’s it going?’

Rose turned, surprised. She was quick to slap a polite smile on her face. ‘Oh, hello.’

‘I’m sorry to interrupt you. I’m here with Isabelle, and she’s desperately trying to get to you, but everyone wants to talk to her tonight.’

Rose’s smile vanished. ‘I doubt that.’

Uh oh.

‘You two aren’t friendly right now?’ Alex asked.

Rose sighed. ‘No. I’m afraid not.’

‘Can I ask why?’

‘Askher,’ Rose said and walked off.

Alex wasn’t doing that. Easier to find someone else instead. And there was Simon Belford, a famous director. Based on the research, he’d also worked with Isabelle.

‘Simon! Hi. Alex Walker. I’m Isabelle’s PR.’

He instantly pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘I thought she stopped coming to these things.’ He looked around like Isabelle might swoop on him any second. She happened to be a few feet away. ‘Right, that’s me done.’ He nearly ran out.

Jesus Christ, how had Isabelle pissed off this many people at one party?

Alex decided it was not going to work if she kept warning people. She was going to have to take a more direct intervention here. She approached Isabelle, who was talking to Steven. ‘Isabelle? Can I have a word?’ Alex interjected.

Isabelle turned to Steven. ‘See if they have anything remotely drinkable,’ she said, and he left swiftly.

‘What have I done now?’ Isabelle asked Alex wryly. ‘Should I have brought a dry ice machine to make my entrance suitably dramatic?’

Alex ignored her barb. ‘I’m trying to find someone to pair with you in a photo, an old friend, and, well…’ Alex paused, trying to find a nice way to put it. She couldn’t think of one. ‘No one wants to talk to you.’

Isabelle was unconcerned. ‘That’s the way it goes. You win, other people feel like they lost.’

Alex sighed. ‘Isabelle, Jesus. You know what tonight is, don’t you? It’s your re-entry into the world. That’s not going to work if everyone you know is avoiding you like a fart.’

‘Then I’ll make a new friend. There’s a lot of people here I don’t know. How about that?’

‘Great, good.’ Alex glanced around the room, her eyes looking for treasure. She found it quickly. ‘How about Li Zhang? Huge in China. Just got cast in a big European co-production, probably about to break the other markets. It would be great to be pictured with her. The newbie getting advice from an established star?’

Isabelle baulked. ‘Oh. No. She’s too…’

‘What?’