capable of standing up to the likes of Russia and China. I'm led to believe you want the same. So we can be a very good team.' He offered her his hand. It seemed an odd gesture, but she took it all the same. And then he was gone.

She felt like Faustus on the walk back across Vauxhall Bridge. If politics _was_ the art of the deal, then this was the opportunity of a lifetime. But if she took it, she'd never be able to look herself in the mirror again.

When she got back to the office she went straight to Julie's desk. 'Have you got hold of Rav?'

Julie shook her head.

'Keep trying, would you?'

Minutes later, Julie was at her door again. 'Your friend is about to sayher return from Russia as a student, Kate had admitted to Stuart that she'd 'developed feelings' for someone else while she'd been away, though she'd sworn on everything dear to her that her relationship had remained platonic (and she'd had to, since Stuart's rage had been terrifying). It had taken him a long time to forgive her, and even to this day, he wasn't above throwing it at her in the heat of an argument.

She'd made the mistake of telling him she'd bumped into Sergei at last year's do, and he'd spotted the crisp, embossed invitation on the kitchen worktop.

'Who?'

'Don't treat me like an idiot, Kate.'

'Never that, Stuart. Never that.'

She shrugged on the dress and turned her back to him so that he could pull up her zip.