Page 29 of Under Your Spell

There is a dangerous pause. ‘So far the document in question is eighty-six pages,’ David snaps. ‘I imagine you’re going to have some questions.’

‘Eighty-six pages,’ I repeat in a daze.

‘Mr Eliott is a busy and important man,’ David continues. ‘Our job is to make sure his life runs seamlessly so that he can focus all of his creative energy on the process of making this album. I’m sure your sister has already made it clear to you that the stakes are very high. There are multi-million-pound contracts at risk here, and for whatever reason the wellbeing of Mr Eliott is being placed in your hands. I assume you are planning on taking the job seriously?’

I straighten at that. I hadn’t, in fact, considered the multi-million-pound contracts, the weight of expectations pressing down on Serena. I’d been too busy thinking about my relationship with Theo and what that meant. I have a brief flashback to Serena’s pinched face when she first asked me to help and guilt twists in my gut. ‘Of course,’ I say firmly. ‘I’m going to take it very seriously. Let’s schedule a meeting.’

‘I have a window at six forty-five tomorrow,’ David says.

‘In the morning?’ I manage.

‘Will that be a problem?’

‘No, no.’ I already feel like I’d rather die than disappoint this man. Something to raise with Ingrid, perhaps. ‘Six forty-five it is.’

‘Good, I’ll email you the link.’

And then, without any further niceties, the call cuts out.

Ping! Goes my phone.

Ping! Ping! Ping!

I let out a long breath. Okay then. I can do this. I’m a responsible, functioning grown-up. Babysitting a rock star. How hard can it be?

Chapter Eleven

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Milk

YES, it does need to be Andalusian almonds. YES, you do need to make it. No, he cannot have ‘whatever they sell in a carton’. YES, he will be able to tell the difference and YES, I WILL KNOW ABOUT IT.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Milk

Mr Eliott’s bowels are none of your business.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Milk

I have arranged delivery of the almonds from a private producer in Spain. In order to circumnavigate some minor issues with customs they will be arriving in a box marked ‘Cleaning equipment’.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Milk

The almonds will arrive whole, not ground, so no, I do not anticipate you being ‘implicated in a drug smuggling racket,’ however, I am happy to pass on details of our legal department should you find yourself in difficulty.