After nearly forty years in charge, their boss, William Bentley, was stepping down from the top job to retire and indulge in a spot of quality time at his estate in rural Gloucestershire. Although his last day at Genesis was tomorrow, his retirement party had been arranged for tonight, with all senior editorial staff being invited to attend.
‘What time does it start?’ said Amy, printing off the Miranda Pilley shoot. She folded it up and put it in her handbag, knowing that William would love to see it even if he had one foot out of the door.
‘Seven o’clock sharp. Speeches at eight thirty. Then no doubt on to a strip club.’
Amy laughed. Chrissie had been at Genesis longer than she had, and they both had affection for their outgoing boss.
William was a lovely man, happily married in the proper sense. His idea of a good time was a fine cigar or a brisk walk across the fields with Gina, his wife, and Winston and Nelson, his two grey lurchers. Amy had always rather hoped that she and David would end up in a similar place.
‘Right, I’m on my way. Can you just send Josie in if she’s still here?’
Her lipstick was in her pocket, and she us
ed her reflection in the window that overlooked the South Bank as a mirror as she swiped a slick of colour across her lips.
‘You wanted to see me?’
Amy sat back in her swivel chair. ‘I’m at an event tonight and in meetings out of the office most of tomorrow, so I’m hardly going to see you. But I just wanted to tell you how great you’ve been over the past couple of weeks. The Miranda Pilley feature looks incredible, features say you’ve submitted some fantastic ideas, and the fashion team say you’ve been so helpful with the returns and the coffee runs.’
Josie beamed a broad smile back. ‘I’m just glad to be given such an amazing opportunity. Thank you for letting me stay for two weeks. You didn’t have to do that.’
‘Thank David and Tilly. I had ulterior motives to keep you. They were just happy to have you.’
‘Really?’ Josie said, wide-eyed.
‘Really.’ Amy wondered if she sounded a terrible liar.
She paused. She knew she had to let the young girl down gently.
‘Look, I know you want a job, and I’ll be honest, there isn’t anything just at the moment. But I’ll give a reference to anyone you want me to and keep my ear to the ground for any position that comes up. There’s always something for the right sort of person, even if you have to wait a few months.’
‘It’s fine. I wasn’t expecting a job. But anything you can do to help when I’m back in Bristol would be appreciated.’
Amy opened a drawer in her desk and pulled out a paper bag, handing it across.
‘I think you love the beauty cupboard as much as I do, so I’ve sorted out a few bits and bobs I thought you might like. Just some make-up, couple of body creams. I don’t get sent as much as the beauty girls, but it’s nice stuff, and you can never have enough products, can you?’
She was aware that she was babbling. The truth was, she was finding this a little awkward, playing the boss at work, then seeing Josie coming out of the guest bathroom at home. She knew it mostly stemmed from the guilt she was feeling about having effectively abandoned Karen and her daughter all these years. Yes, she had given Josie some valuable media experience, but a fortnight’s unpaid skivvy work and a little bag of beauty products seemed pretty inadequate for ignoring her supposed best friend for almost two decades.
‘Are you going out with David?’ said Josie, loitering by her desk.
‘No. William, our MD, is retiring. He’s having a big party.’
‘Will there be any celebrities?’
‘It will be lots of advertisers and suits. But William knows everyone, so you never know. Why don’t you come?’ she added rashly. ‘A few people from the office will be there, and you’ve met Juliet. I can introduce you to our HR director too, so you’re on her radar.’
The moment they walked into the Bankside Café, Amy knew she had made a mistake. The idea had, of course, been to show Josie that the media wasn’t all queuing for lattes and licking stamps, to show her the glamour of the boardroom and management level: high-powered media moguls sipping champagne and discussing the Cannes Lions. And already, at first glance, it was full of the great and the good. Bigwigs from the luxury goods companies, and a smattering of showbiz faces: theatre directors and well-known models.
Juliet was standing with a group of young men in sharp suits who Amy guessed were her advertising team. Designers dressed like teenagers, editorial wore whatever they could cadge from the fashion department, and ad people looked like salesmen from a Park Lane car showroom.
But she had hoped that more of the Verve team would be here for Josie to chat to. Certainly all the department heads had been invited, but with no one in sight, she knew she had to stay with the girl until she could leave her talking to somebody else.
She saw William through the crowds and gave him a cheerful wave.
‘What a turn-out,’ she said, giving him a quick peck on the cheek.
William lowered his voice. ‘Loved today, ignored tomorrow.’ He smiled. ‘The moment your byline slips off the masthead is the moment half these people won’t even smile at you on the street.’