Page 135 of The Honeymoon Affair

‘It was a bit mad,’ agrees Ellis. ‘But then I was equally mad to go along with it and not tell Chas he’s a fecking eejit. Which he is.’

I add sugar to my coffee and tell her I don’t think I can represent him any longer.

‘You’re right to let him go,’ says Ellis. ‘Better for your mental health.’

‘I thought that before, but he wanted me back and I guess I was flattered. As well as which, I got some brilliant deals for him, so it seemed a good decision. But I know it wasn’t. God, I’m such an idiot.’

‘No you’re not,’ says Ellis.

‘What did you think of Iseult?’ I ask.

‘Am I allowed to like her?’

‘No.’ Then I laugh. ‘Yes. Of course.’

‘Well, she’s a lot younger than me and we don’t have much in common, but I think beneath it all she’s a nice girl . . . woman. I don’t honestly know if she’s right for Charles, but he does seem to be smitten.’

‘Did he go racing across town to her last night?’

‘No,’ replies Ellis. ‘He called and sent a million texts. She didn’t reply to any of them and he dithered about what he should do. He was afraid of appearing to be – and I quote – “embracing toxic masculinity” if he went over while she clearly didn’t want to see him. So he’s waiting for her to make the first move.’

‘Gosh. I wonder if she will.’

‘Hard to know.’

‘Poor Charles.’ I sigh. ‘He’s got himself into a right old mess.’

‘Let’s not feel sorry for Chas,’ says Ellis. ‘He’s a grown man and should be able to look after himself. I’m as bad as you for always trying to fix things for him. Let’s focus on ourselves instead. Will your agency be OK without him?’

I can’t blame Ellis for thinking that Charles is the be all and end all of ABA, because I’ve behaved as though he was myself. I recite a list of all my bestselling authors and tell her that I’m working on even more deals. So that although Charles will be a blow to the bottom line, I’ll make it up eventually.

‘I’ve every confidence in you,’ she says. ‘I know we kind of drifted apart this last year or so, but we’ve always got on well together, you and I. Let’s stay in touch.’

‘Won’t you be too busy being friends with Iseult?’

‘I wouldn’t be able to keep up with her.’ Ellis laughs. ‘All that youthful prettiness.’

I grin, then tell her about my conversation with Josh regarding the reasons young women went out with older men.

‘It’s not necessarily money,’ says Ellis. ‘Not all older men are rolling in it. I firmly believe it takes men a lot longer than us to grow up – if they ever do! Let’s face it, it’s a struggle to put Charles in the grown-up category yet.’ She shrugs. ‘How is Josh, by the way? I remember meeting him at one of your do’s years ago. He gave me some sound financial advice.’

‘In the throes of a divorce.’

‘Bloody hell,’ says Ellis. ‘Everyone I know seems to be getting divorced. I’m glad I never bothered to get married.’ She gives me a quizzical look. ‘Anything likely between you and him?’

‘He’s lovely, but no,’ I say. ‘I’m going to be like you and stay single.’

‘It doesn’t suit everybody.’

‘I’ve been nominally single for quite a while,’ I remind her.

‘Not the same.’ She glances at her watch. ‘I’d better go. Mum will be waiting for me, and you know what she’s like. Take care, Ariel. Hopefully we’ll see each other again soon.’

‘Take care yourself.’

We hug, and she heads off in one direction while I take the other.

It’s been nice to sit and talk with her.