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“Samantha, this is insane,” says Freya “Absolutely insane You cannot stay there I’ to rescue you I’ll fly back tomorrow—”

“No!” I say with ood time I’ve met—”

I halt abruptly But Freya’s too quick off the mark for me

“A ht

“Well … yes”

“That’s fantastic! About time too Only he’d better not be another dreary lawyer—”

“Don’t worry” I feel an unwilling grin come to my face “He’s not”

“Details?”

“It’s early days But he’s … you know Nice”

“Well, even so If you want to escape, you know I’m only a phone call away You can stay at our place”

“Thanks, Freya” I feel a tug of affection for her

“No problem Samantha?”

“Yes?” There’s a long silence, until I think the line must have cut out

“What about the law?” says Freya at last “What about partnership? I know I gave you a hard ti to abandon it?”

I push down a twinge of deep, buried grief

“That dream’s over,” I say shortly “Partners don’t make fifty-million-quid mistakes”

“Fifty million quid?”

“Uh-huh”

“Jesus” I hear her sharp intake of breath “I had no idea I can’t iine how you’ve coped with all this—”

“It’s fine” I cut her off “I’ve got over it”

Freya sighs “You know, I had a feeling so was up I tried to send you an e-e was gone”

“Really?” I feel an odd tweak inside

“And then I thought—” She breaks off, and I can hear soer Our transport’s here Listen, I’ll call again soon—”