Page 46 of Another Lucky Number (Lucky Number #2)

‘The night we met in The Cave, Amber exaggerated… well, everything really. She “bigged me up” – if you understand what I mean – and I was furious with her for that. At first, I was going to decline your interview invitation, but she convinced me to go for it, and I guess I stupidly thought maybe I had a chance. I always felt “kept down” in my previous roles, so I wanted a chance to prove myself – which it turns out I haven’t.

I’m sorry if that means I wasted your time. ’

Sébastien scrutinises my flaming, apologetic face, and breaks into a kind smile. ‘Emma, I knew that Amber was exaggerating.’

‘You did?’

‘Of course. She is your friend, your…. comrade. She wants to help you, but she is also…. mischievous.’

‘She’s definitely that.’ I scoff.

‘I did not give you the opportunity because of what Amber said about you. I did it because of what I saw in you. You caught my eye that night in the karaoke bar. You have a shine that makes people warm to you, and when we spoke in The Cave, I sensed your discomfort that Amber was “bigging you up”, as you say. The more I see of you, Emma, the more I know you are exactly the type of person I want to work with. I hope we can keep in contact so that when the right opportunity comes up, we can talk again.’

As he’s been saying all of this, my mouth has grown wider and wider in surprise – to the point that I eventually notice it and clamp it shut.

‘ Wow … Sébastien, I don’t know what to say. I mean, yes, I’d love to stay in touch. ’

‘ Excellent. Well, I must go. My wife is arriving at the airport in one hour, and I am going with my driver to meet her. She wanted to surprise me, but I am instead going to surprise her.’

His wife? This further revelation slams into me like a freight train. So much so, I almost lose my footing as we get up from our seats.

‘Oh, how lovely,’ is all I can manage.

‘Emma, it has been a pleasure. I am sorry again that it is not better news, but I am confident that whatever you go on to do next, you will be a great success. Perhaps we will see each other around the resort over the next few days. I think you and my wife would get on well. She is one in a million, as you might say – and like you, she has a beautiful soul.’

His adoration of his wife is so clear that I’m amazed he’s never mentioned her. But then we were strangers before. Why would he share information about his private life with me? Oh, my god I’m such an idiot. There was no spark between us. I really did read the signals wrong – but then we all did.

We part with me indicating that I would very much like to meet his wife, and as I walk away from Sébastien, my mind is a jumble of emotions: disappointment that I didn’t get the job; enthusiasm from the strength of Sébastien’s positive feedback; and pure shock at the revelation that he’s happily married.

There’s also a sizeable wave of mortification as I wonder whether he’s told his wife about my unsolicited (and slightly crazed) announcement on the beach that I couldn’t have a holiday fling with him.

Maybe best I avoid the two of them over the next few days just in case.

‘So, he definitely doesn’t want to sleep with you?’

‘ Definitely not, Amber.’ I burn with fresh embarrassment at the memory of my conversation with Sébastien. ‘He’s one hundred per cent married, and super loved-up from the sound of things.’

‘ Huh .’ She acquires the same perplexed look as the last time we had a near identical conversation – only this time we have the facts and we’re sitting at a table for six in Zen Garden, the resort’s Asian fusion restaurant.

‘He did say that I caught his eye with my performance in the karaoke bar that night though.’ I waggle my eyebrows at her.

‘He liked your singing? That I find hard to believe.’

‘No, not my singing. Nobody “likes” my singing. Apparently, I have a shine that makes people warm to me. Anyway… how about we kick that issue to the kerb once and for all, especially as we have company.’

‘And because there’s someone here who does want to sleep with you.’ James gives me a cheeky wink across the table and I turn beetroot.

‘Nice one, James.’ Amber fist bumps him across the table.

A smiling waiter approaches us. ‘Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Todd and I’ll be your server tonight. I see you’ve brought your drinks through from the bar and that you already have menus. Can I get you anything else? And are you ready to order or do you need more time?’

We confirm that we’re ready to order and he works his way around the table, noting down our requests before disappearing again.

Taking a sip of my coconut mojito, I sit back and let out a satisfied sigh.

‘I’m glad you’re OK about not getting the job, honey,’ says Cat. ‘You’re taking it really well.’

‘I second that.’ James smiles across the table at me. ‘Taking it like a champ.’

‘It’s funny…’ I muse. ‘I thought I’d be more disappointed th an I am. I’m almost relieved, because if I’d got it, I’d be bloody terrified.’

‘I reckon you’d have coped way better than you think,’ says James. ‘From what I hear, you kicked the arse out of that presentation.’

‘She really did.’ Cat nods. ‘It was impressive.’

I laugh out loud. ‘I’m glad you have that recall. I can barely remember it, I was that nervous.’

‘Well, in that case, you faked it well.’ She slips her arm around me and squeezes me tight.

‘I’m certainly leaps and bounds ahead of where I was a week ago, and I have a new business contact in Sébastien. That’s something to celebrate.’ I lift my glass and the whole group toasts this.

‘How many days do you have left here?’ James asks me, while Amber and Tyler kick off a very mature discussion about phallic shaped objects in nature, with Cat and Rob watching on.

‘We leave on Friday morning, so three more full days, and I intend to make the most of them.’

‘Fancy spending one of those “full days” with me – on a proper date? Maybe a catamaran cruise and some snorkelling followed by an evening just the two of us?’

I press my lips together to suppress my excitement. There’s nothing I’d like more than having James to myself for a whole day.

‘Sure. Sounds lovely.’

‘Great, I’ll get it sorted. Amber, Cat, you don’t mind if I steal Emma away for the day tomorrow, do you? Promise I’ll share for your remaining days after that.’

‘Knock yourself out.’ Amber barely glances at us. ‘I’ve seen more than enough of her over the last week.’

‘ Hey! ’ I cast her an unimpressed look. ‘Cat, is that all right with you? ’

‘Go for it, honey.’ She blows me a little kiss. ‘Think you’ve more than earned it.’

‘You know, I think I have too.’ I lift my chin proudly, while James gets to his feet and reaches right across the table to plant a smacker of a kiss on my lips – this attracting whoops, cheers and foot stamping from our table mates.