Page 96 of Friend of the Family

‘I can’t, it’s Milan,’ she said. ‘I’m flying out on Tuesday.’

‘I’ve already had Josie cancel the flights. Janice will still go to represent the magazine, of course.’

‘Janice? You can’t send her alone. The editor has to go to Milan. The advertisers will think—’

‘You should probably keep a low profile with the advertisers right now.’

‘Is this about the Miranda thing, then? That was a storm in a teacup and the ad team assures me—’

‘It’s you, Amy,’ said Douglas suddenly. ‘Not the magazine, not the brand. You, you’re the problem.’

She gaped at him. ‘Me?’

Douglas nodded, looking as awkward as she’d ever seen him. ‘It’s been brought to my attention that you have a problem.’

She was speechless for a second.

‘What kind of problem?’

‘The drugs, Amy. We know.’

Amy actually laughed. ‘I’ve never touched drugs in my life!’

Douglas pressed his lips together in what she presumed was supposed to resemble a pained look.

‘Last night, a cleaner found some paraphernalia in your office. Needles, Amy.’

She dropped her head back, letting out a groan of relief.

‘Oh that,’ she said. ‘It’s not drugs, it’s a booster shot. Amino acids.’

Douglas was shaking his head sadly. ‘The first step to getting well is admitting you have a problem. We’ll give you all the support we can; we’ve already been in touch with a clinic . . .’

‘It’s not drugs!’ she snapped, pulling up her sleeve to show him her inner arm. ‘Do I look like a junkie? It’s vitamin shots! It’s like Botox or fillers.’

‘Amy, this isn’t a suggestion.’

‘You’re firing me?’

‘Asking you to step back. There will be a cash incentive. Plus we will pay for a stay in a facility for you. Never let it be said that Genesis doesn’t support its employees.’

‘Douglas, I don’t want to step back and I don’t want to go to a facility, whether you pay for it or otherwise.’

He was leaning forward, making a patting motion with his hand, as if he was trying to calm a snapping Dobermann.

‘There’s no shame, Amy, honestly. We’re here to help in any way we can. And obviously no one outside this room will hear a hint of it until you’re better. Tracey can step up in the short term.’

‘Douglas, this is total rubbish, you have to believe me.’

His stony face had returned. ‘You’re suspended pending investigation and/or treatment,’ he said. ‘HR will send you the paperwork.’

‘I’m not a drug addict!’

‘Frankly, Amy, it doesn’t matter. The rumour is out there, and the one thing the industry won’t tolerate is drugs. You know that. It’s a multi-billion-dollar industry; we can’t have even a whiff of it attached to us. Advertisers are fickle and advertising is our lifeblood. Apparently Dolce & Gabbana have already got wind of it.’

Amy stood up so suddenly that Douglas shrank back in his seat. Perhaps he didn’t like drama after all.

‘It’s always about money, isn’t it?’ she said, her voice low, tight. ‘It’s never about people. That’s why this company is going under.’