Page 56 of Chocolate Cake for Breakfast
I laugh. ‘Do you want to come in?’
‘Okay. Thanks. Are you feeling better now?’
‘Much. Thank you. I’ll be back at work tomorrow.’
‘Great.’
I usher him into the living room, wishing the TV was pausedon something slightly more intellectual than a reality wedding programme. Iswitch it off and we sit down, and he says, ‘I hope you don’t mind me cominground but I had an idea – for promoting the Celestial Cafe – and I wanted tosee what you thought about it.’
‘Oh.’ I look at him in surprise. ‘Well, I’m very flatteredthat you thought to ask me, but I’m not exactly a publicity and marketingexpert.’
He shakes his head. ‘It’s not that. It’s...well, it’s to do with that story you wrote?’
I frown. ‘You mean the one Lila took great delight inreading out to everyone?’ Already, I can feel a blush creeping into my cheeksat the memory. I was hoping to banish that from my mind forever...
‘Yes. The very one.’ He looks a bit awkward. ‘Erm...you can say no, of course. But I thought I’d ask you anyway.’
‘Go on.’ I’m curious now.
‘Well, it’s a good story... not finished,obviously. But I had this idea of publishing it on the hotel website ininstalments. A serialised romance, which we could publicise on social media andwhich would drive traffic to the website. The idea is that people would go backto the website for the latest daily instalment, and while there, they’d findout all about the brand-new roof top café-bar that’s launching in April. Thevery café-bar that is the backdrop to our lovely tale of love and romance.’
I stare at him in amazement, trying to take all this in.‘You think the story’s good enough?’
‘I do. We all do.’
I groan. ‘So does that mean everyone’s read it, then?’
‘Aye, I’m afraid so. But they all think it’s great, soyou’ve nothing to feel awkward about.’ He frowns. ‘Lila did her best toembarrass you, of course.’
‘She succeeded,’ I retort. ‘I could have punched out her twofront teeth, which by the way are false.’
He frowns. ‘Hang on. Two front teeth? You mean it was Lilawho you rescued that time?’
‘It was.’
‘But she always seems less than friendly towards you.’
‘That’s putting it mildly. She blames me for some reason forher gummy disaster.’ I brush it off. ‘But I’m not bothered.’
‘Well, she ended up doing you a favour. If she hadn’t readit out loud, I’d never have had the idea to serialise it on the website. You’llbe paid for your story, obviously, if you allow us to use it. Out of themarketing budget.’
‘Ooh, nice. My first income from writing.’
‘So we can go ahead with it?’
I nod. ‘I don’t see why not. Although I can’t imagine manypeople will actually read it, can you?’
He shrugs. ‘It’s worth a try.’
He has a meeting to go to, so his visit is a brief one. As Iwave him off at the door, I feel a pang of sadness. Not once did Logan mentionthe cosy night I spent at his flat. Today was purely business. And it’s veryclear he thinks it’s best we move on from my embarrassing display the followingmorning.
Less said, soonest mended.
I close the door, wondering if all Logan and I will ever beis friends...
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
After Logan’s gone, I realise that I’ll need to finishoff the story. As a matter of urgency.
