4.

At eleven on the dot, Alice retrieved the tin of lemon biscuits from her satchel and declared it time for their morning coffee break.

As Helly put the kettle on for coffee, Jinx started opening the large pile of Christmas cards on her desk, carefully scrutinising each one. Alice often thought that she could probably offer a whole open university degree course on the etiquette of card-giving.

‘One from Terry, the window cleaner. Isn’t he sweet? He always sends a card. Oh, and look, here’s one from Shelley Van Oostrasburger, but not starring her in a full photoshoot this year … disappointing. In fact, I’d say a lot of these cards are decidedly less bling than usual.’

‘Glitter is really bad for the environment,’ Helly said, filling the cafetiere in the small kitchenette. ‘Plus, why use trees for something so pointless? Especially when no one believes in Christmas anymore.’

‘Bah humbug,’ Alice said, although perhaps Helly did have a point. Alice had received several half-arsed round robin Christmas emails, which really weren’t the same as a handwritten card. But Helly looked a bit put out, so Alice said more softly, ‘Have you decided what you’re doing for Christmas?’

‘Back to see my folks,’ Helly replied, unenthusiastically. ‘It’ll be a nightmare on the train to Leeds. If I can get there. There’ll probably be strikes. All the travelling makes me anxious.’

‘It won’t be that bad, surely?’ Alice said, trying to cajole her. ‘Once you’re there?’

Helly gave her a ‘you’ve-got-to-be-joking’ look. ‘You know my brother’s an idiot. I can’t stand him for more than a day.’

‘Talking of brothers, I take it you’ve been summoned to Hawthorn, Alice?’ said Jinx, propping up each card on the office shelves.

‘Yes. You don’t want to come with me, do you?’

‘I’m afraid I can’t get out of Richard’s shindig. Besides, you have no idea how irritating I find Sassy online. I don’t think I could manage her in real life.’

‘Her Insta is like, totally delulu,’ Helly said.

Alice grimaced.

‘If you won’t enter the twenty-first century and get on the socials, Alice, it’s your own fault you’re missing out on the goss,’ Jinx said as she took one of the lemon biscuits from the tin. Alice knew she ought to heed Jinx’s advice and get onto social media, but she really couldn’t see that any good would come of it. She liked her life being private. In Alice’s opinion, there was something so vulgar about people sharing the details of their daily lives, filtering pictures of their coffees, editing and cropping out anything realistic and saying that they were constantly ‘humbled’ and ‘blessed’. The world would be a much better place if people stopped navel gazing so much and got on with things that actually mattered.

‘So? Has Jasper made any money yet? Like he promised?’ Jinx asked pointedly, refusing to let the subject go, despite Alice’s best efforts. ‘Wasn’t Christmas the cut-off?’

There weren’t any secrets in the office, but it was uncouth to talk about money and Alice didn’t approve of washing one’s dirty linen in public, however upsetting and gossip-worthy Jasper’s antics might be. And anyway, Jinx hardly knew the half of it. She’d be horrified if she realised that Alice had taken out yet another loan to ‘tide Jasper over’.

‘I’m sure he’s got good news,’ Alice said, as if it were no big deal, hoping to God it was true. Fortunately, the door buzzer rang, saving Alice from another dressing-down from Jinx about how Jasper was her one weak spot and she needed to take a firmer stance. As if Alice didn’t know that already. She wasn’t stupid.

‘Oh!’ Helly clapped her hands and pressed the entry button.

Jinx glanced at Alice. They both knew that there was only one person who could raise a smile like that from Helly. And sure enough, a moment later, a young man came bounding through the door, holding his moped helmet and shaking out his dreadlocks.

Agatha jumped out of her basket, barked twice in greeting and ran little circles of joy as Jacques Lourdan bent down and gave her a tickle behind the ears.

‘Ah, so the wanderer returns?’ Jinx said, kissing him on both cheeks. ‘Let me look at you,’ she said, holding him by the shoulders. She towered above him in her tall heels, and Alice saw the lascivious glint in her eye. He was handsome and cute at the same time, and he damned well knew it.

‘Thought I’d swing by,’ Jacques answered, ducking out of her grip, smiling at Alice as he dipped his hand into the tin. ‘What have we here?’ He took a considered bite of the lemon biscuit as he kicked back on the sofa and put his feet up on the arm. It was no coincidence that he’d turned up at this time. Helly fetched him the best mug from the cupboard and poured him a coffee.

‘Nothing that will delight your sophisticated palette,’ Alice said.

‘Au contraire, these are very good, Miss B.’ He raised his eyebrows at her, and she felt a warm glow of pride. She was merely an amateur, but it was always gratifying when people – especially ones as talented as Jacques – liked her baking.

‘Was Japan as wonderful as you’d hoped?’

‘Did you really go to Kyoto?’ Helly asked, in an awe-laden voice. ‘Was it incredible?’

‘You’d love it,’ Jacques said, as ever, basking in being centre of attention. ‘I did this insane cookery course. The most amazing ingredients. Here, let me show you.’

He swung around off the sofa and retrieved his backpack, still chattering on about his travels and his course, and Alice smiled to herself.

He’d been the same since she’d first met him three years ago in the check-out queue in Harrods’ food hall. She vividly recalled how a man had pushed in front of him and when Jacques, rightfully put-out, had challenged him, in a firm, but charming way, the man had uttered a nasty racist slur. Jacques, unflustered, had issued forth a spectacularly articulate take-down involving an explanation of his French Guianese roots, his classical training and his love of world travel, arguing in fact that he had much better reasons for being in the food hall – ones connected to passion, rather than snobbery – and Alice, along with everyone else in the queue had burst into a round of applause. The old duffer had left and Alice had enrolled Jacques right there and then on her books as a freelance chef. She only hoped that one day he’d fulfil his potential and run his own restaurant. Or even just work on her books full time, instead of working for one of her rivals, Elite, as well.

‘Aha, here,’ he said, pulling out a leather pouch, bound with leather ties. He carefully unwrapped it, revealing a row of bottles, each in its own, even smaller, pouch. He gently pulled one out, the label of which was covered in Japanese writing.

‘Smell this.’ He wafted it under Alice’s nose.

‘Oh, goodness,’ Alice exclaimed at the pungent smell.

‘Concentrated lobster essence. It just takes a couple of drops, but the depth of flavour is …’ He kissed his fingertips.

Helly giggled as he put some on his little finger and let her taste it. Jinx rolled her eyes at the very obviously flirty move. Jacques had no idea of the erotically charged effect he had on Helly – indeed, the whole office. Alice suspected he left a trail of broken hearts behind him, but food was always going to be his first love.

‘Oh, wow,’ Helly exclaimed, covering her mouth at the shock of the taste.

‘Oh, I forgot – you’re not vegan, are you?’ he asked.

‘I am. Or was. I’m pescetarian,’ she blustered.

This was news to Alice. Helly didn’t seem to mind any of the ingredients Alice used in her culinary offerings. She’d snaffled half a tin of sausage rolls just last Friday. Jacques held eye contact with Helly for just the right amount of time to make her blush, then clapped his hands together and turned to Alice.

‘So, I was wondering, are there any jobs going?’ Jacques said, looking expectantly at Alice. ‘I am … how should I put this? A bit low after my trip.’

‘Nothing, right at this moment, but consider yourself officially on standby,’ Alice reassured him. ‘There’s always last-minute problems with Christmas parties.’

‘Yes, you’ll be top of our list,’ Helly said dreamily, before blushing again and turning away. Alice raised an eyebrow at Jinx, who smirked and Alice had to press her lips together to smother her own smile.