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"Of course I’ furiously into the phone "What the fuck do they think they’re--" He breaks off and is silent for a few moments "I don’t need to fly back to London! Alicia has it all in hand She says there’s absolutely no problem with Provident Assurance, she spoke to the, God knoho Yes, I know," he says in a calmer voice "Yes OK, will do I’ll see you tomorrow, Michael Thanks"

He switches off his h he’s alotten who I am But then his brow softens and he smiles

"Hi!" he says, and drops his briefcase onto a chair

"Hi!" I say brightly, er"

"I know," says Luke, rubbing his face wearily "I’hth Fantastic news"

He goes to the minibar, pours himself a scotch, and downs it Then he pours hi while I watch anxiously His face is pale and tense, I notice, and there are shadows under his eyes

"Is it all… going OK?" I ask gingerly

"It’s going," he replies "That’s about as much as I can say" He walks over to theand stares out over the glittering Manhattan skyline, and I bite my lip nervously

"Luke -- couldn’t sos? Couldn’t someone else fly out and take some of the load? Like… Alicia?"

It nearly killsa bit worried Slightly toin so it all until now; I’ll just have to see it through I just had no idea they’d be so pedantic I had no idea they’d be so…" He sits down in an ar of his drink "I mean, Jesus, they ask a lot of questions I know Aly "They have to know everything About every single client, every single potential client, everybody who’s ever worked for the cole bloody ation here? Who was your receptionist in 1993? What car do you drive? What fucking… toothpaste do you use? And noith these ruain"

He breaks off and drains his glass, and I stare at him in dismay

"They sound awful!" I say, and the flicker of a smile passes across Luke’s face

"They’re not awful They’re just very conservative, old-school investors -- and so them I don’t knohat" He exhales sharply "I just need to keep thelance at his hand I see that it’s clenched tightly around his glass I’ve never seen Luke like this, to be honest He usually looks so utterly in control, so co off You haven’t got aup "But I need to go through so tomorroith all the investors I need to be prepared"

"You are prepared!" I reply "What you need is to be relaxed If you work all night, you’ll just be tired and tense and ratty" I go over to hie his shoulders "Coht off I bet Michael would agree Wouldn’t he?"

"He’s been tellingpause

"Well, then, lighten up! Come on, a few hours of fun never did anybody any haro somewhere really nice, and dance, and drink cocktails…" I kiss hiently on the back of his neck "I mean, why on earth come to New York and not enjoy it?"

There’s silence -- and for an awful ot time But then suddenly he turns round -- and thank God, I can see the faint gliht," he says "Cola dress and Luke puts on his so to a fabulous restaurant all done like an Art Deco cruise ship, where beautiful people are eating lobster and there’s an old-fashioned jazz band, just like in the movies Luke orders Bellinis, and we toast each other, and as he relaxes, he tells me more about his deal In fact, he confides in le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true">