Ellie and Ferdinand made their way out after Piano had rung and found that the grooming parlour could indeed clean the dog’s teeth. Before she let her go, Piano loaded Ellie up with several letters and a small parcel for Sophie to frank.

“Don’t you run off now,” Ellie warned the little dog as she dug around in the shoe cupboard for her trainers. But Ferdinand was quite content to wait now he was out of Angel’s office. Ellie suspected that Angel would have a fit if she saw the trainers she wore while taking Ferdinand for a walk. No doubt Angel would insist on the highest heels for such a job. But Ellie didn’t care. She couldn’t imagine that anyone would report back to Angel that they’d seen some sloppily shod girl exercising Ferdinand. After all, he wasn’t exactly the most elegant of dogs. He was small, hairy, and his head was a bit too large for his body. If he’d been a Borzoi, or a Dalmation, Ellie might have felt the need to try to look as elegant as him, but Ferdinand, in spite of being owned by a cool magazine Editor in Chief, just wasn’t in that league.

Down in the post room, Sophie patted him. “Not being used as a handbag today then, Ferdi?”

Ellie laughed. The first time she’d seen him she had mistaken him for a hairy handbag, as he’d been tucked under his mistress’s arm. “No. We’ve escaped, haven’t we? For a while at least.”

“Have you met the famous boy band then?” asked Sophie, giving Ferdinand a broken bit of digestive.

“No.” Ellie explained about her day so far, and the non-appearance of Zone One.

“So your Editor has abandoned the idea of going out to lunch with them then.”

Ellie shrugged. “I should think so. But the photo shoot and interview are more important than lunch. I’m sure Angel can talk to them in her office if they’re pushed for time.” She laughed. “With luck she’ll send me out to fetch sandwiches for them all. If so, I’ll be able to say hello while I’m handing them out. Chicken tikka wrap anyone?” Then her face dropped. “As long as it doesn’t all happen while I’m out with Ferdinand.”

“I tell you what…”

Ellie looked at Sophie. “What?”

“I’ll text you as soon as they arrive.”

Ellie looked around the post room. “But how will you know, stuck down here? I don’t mean to be rude, Sophie, but you’re not exactly well placed to know what’s going on.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” Sophie smiled. “Steve in security will buzz me when they come if I ask him too. He’s on duty today.”

Ellie looked admiringly at Sophie. “I didn’t know you were friendly with the security staff.”

“I’m friendly with everyone,” said Sophie primly. Then she grinned. “Steve and I got talking one day recently about what subjects his daughter is going to do at school. He’s a big bloke, is Steve, and can look a bit intimidating in his uniform, but he’s a lovely guy.”

“Wow,” said Ellie. “I always scuttle past feeling as if I must have done something wrong when he’s around.”

“Well now you know how nice he is you won’t need to. He won’t let us down. And there’s no point in you rushing back. Take your time. I’m sure Ferdi deserves a break, even if you don’t think you do.”

“Well, okay,” said Ellie.

“You won’t be too far away to run here in time to see them, will you?”

“I suppose not.” Ellie thought about it. “You’re right. We’re only going to the park – oh, and to get his teeth cleaned. I’ll be able to get back in about five minutes if we sprint.”

Sophie looked at the dog’s short legs doubtfully. “Can Ferdinand sprint?”

Ellie laughed, and gave the dog a pat. “Well I can. I can always carry you if I have to, can’t I, Ferdi? See you later, Sophie. And thanks!”

It might have been Ellie’s ultimate ambition to work for a magazine like Heart, but after such a frantic morning it was also good to dawdle along the pavement, letting Ferdinand sniff every lamp post and litter bin that attracted his nose. She bought a banana at a stall, and ate it while walking, something else Angel would have hated.

In the park, Ellie strolled along with Ferdinand in tow, but once she was in the designated dog-walking area she could let him off the lead. While he sniffed around to his heart’s content, and said hello to the other dogs, Ellie thought about the article she would like to write about meeting Jacob Frou. In spite of her panic about missing Zone One, the designer had made quite an impression on her. She could describe going up those narrow stairs, and arriving at his lovely, light workroom. And all those coloured leathers and trimmings had been fantastic. How she’d longed to dip her hands into the boxes of beads. She knew how expensive some of the trimmings were in her local bead shop, so could see that his workshop must have contained thousands of pounds’ worth of materials. She’d noticed lots of foot shapes made out of wood as well. Maybe he used those to design on. She could imagine him cutting the leather, and stitching it, shaping it to fit. What an amazing skill he had – a bit like a sculptor.

Ellie sat on a bench while the dog snuffled around, and thought about being able to own a pair of Jacob Frou shoes, after the article she was thinking of writing was syndicated around the world and made her fortune. Of course there was the small matter of it not actually having been written yet, or asked for by any magazine, but it did no harm to hope, and to dream.

It was warm in the sun, and after Ferdinand had run about he was thirsty. So Ellie took him to the ice cream stand, where she knew a bowl of fresh water was always available for dogs. While he drank, she bought herself an ice cream. She was in such a good mood that she didn’t even get annoyed when a little dripped onto her dress. She’d set out that morning so sure she’d meet Zone One. She’d taken her highest heels to wear in the office, and worn her coolest, retro minidress. She’d taken special care with her make-up and worn the most expensive perfume she owned. But after all that effort, here she was, mooching around in the park, with a scruffy little dog for company. She wondered if her dad had a phrase in his notebook for things not turning out as you expected. He probably did, she just hadn’t found it yet.

Ellie finished her ice cream and called to Ferdinand. “Come on. We’d better go and get your teeth done.”

In the dog grooming place, Pamper Your Pets, they were expecting Ferdinand.

“Your office rang up about it,” the receptionist told the little dog, giving him a stroke. Then she looked at Ellie. “His usual pamperer is off today, but Sally knows just what to do. If you’d like to take a seat, I’ll take him straight through…and while you’re waiting, do help yourself to tea or coffee.”

Ellie went through to the waiting area. Pamper Your Pets obviously believed that it was important for the owners to be well looked after, as well as the pets. The chairs were comfortable, there were china cups for the tea and coffee, and there was even a plate of yummy-looking Danish pastries under a glass dome.

There was also a collection of pink and black furry beds for waiting pets to sit on. There was no carpet, but Ellie supposed with a giggle that must be in case any of the pampered pets disgraced themselves. Washable floors were probably a must.

There was only one other person waiting – a man who was intently reading a dog magazine. After a few minutes, his dog, a large golden Labrador with an enthusiastic expression and wildly wagging tail, was brought to him.

It seemed to be taking rather a long time to clean Ferdi’s teeth, so Ellie went back to the receptionist to ask if everything was all right. Angel would never forgive her if anything happened to her dog. The receptionist smiled at her reassuringly.

“Oh yes, everything’s fine. He’s such a good little dog. I think he’s just gone in for his shampoo now.”

“What?” Ellie stared at the receptionist, but before she could say anything else her phone bleeped. “Excuse me a minute.” Ellie flipped open the phone and read the message.

Zone One just arrived. Be back soon! Soph xxx

Ellie’s hand flew up to her mouth. She stuffed the phone back in her bag and looked at the receptionist again. “Shampoo? But I only brought him in for his teeth to be cleaned!”

The receptionist looked flustered. “Oh dear. I just assumed, when your office phoned, that Miss Makepiece wanted the usual for Ferdinand.” She counted off the treatments on her fingers. “That’s teeth, nails, shampoo, blow-dry and style.”

“Well can you stop the shampoo?” said Ellie in a panic. “Maybe they haven’t started yet.”

The receptionist looked a bit put out. “Well I’ll go and see if you like, but I’m sure he’ll be—”

“Thank you,” said Ellie, feeling like rushing behind the counter herself and grabbing the dog. Instead she had to wait, while the receptionist wandered into the back. She was gone for five long minutes, while Ellie paced up and down, trying not to bite her nails in her agitation. If they had already started bathing Ferdinand, how long would it take?

How long would the members of the band be in the office? Would Angel whisk them off for a late lunch after all, or would they still be there when she got back? Ellie was sure that once the band members went off to the studio for the photo shoot, although they would still be in the building, she would almost certainly have lost the chance to speak to them. And with a pang she remembered about her and Hannah’s CDs. She’d so wanted to get them signed, in spite of what Piano had said.

The receptionist came back, looking sympathetic. “I’m sorry, but they’ve just put the first lot of shampoo on. We will waive the cost, of course, as you didn’t actually ask for it to be done. But even if you don’t want him blow-dried and styled it’ll take a few minutes to rinse the shampoo off. It has to be done thoroughly, otherwise a dog’s skin can become scurfy with the residue, and that can lead to irritation. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to risk that.”

“No!” said Ellie hurriedly. “Of course not.”

“And then he’ll need to be towel dried and brushed. Or we could do a combination of blowing and towel. He’s got a thick undercoat, so it will take quite a while to get him completely dry. And then there’s the brushing. You don’t want him going home looking like a bottlebrush, do you?”

Ellie stifled a groan. The minutes were ticking by and she was stuck in Pamper Your Pets, while all the action was going on nearby. How could she bear it if she missed meeting her favourite band? Somehow, she had to get back to the office straight away!