Chapter 1

I was determined that my first day at Turn the Pages publishing company would be as good as possible.

I had no idea that it would be a spectacular disaster.

Everything started out smoothly enough. I woke up before my alarm as usual and got ready in the outfit I'd bought specially – a striped jumper, black trousers and ballet pumps, which made me feel smart and chic. Grabbing my handbag and my black blazer, I left my flat. I had plenty of time to make the journey from Islington to my new place of work and for once, the London weather was playing ball.

Autumn had wrapped itself over the city like an orange and gold blanket, and I was very relieved I was starting my new job in this season. I hated the stifling heat of summer in London. Autumn with its crisp sunny mornings like this one and the way the city became lit up with colour, the sounds of leaves crunching under my shoes, and the promise of evenings curled up with a book, hot chocolate and scented candle, always made me happy.

As I walked through the park near my flat, I could see in the distance the university that I had, until recently, worked at. My good mood improved further when I saw my best friend Liv waiting at the edge of the park, as we'd arranged last night, waving two takeaway coffees at me.

‘The nectar of the Gods,' I said gratefully when I reached her and took the iced latte. I didn't know how anyone could function in the morning without one.

‘You need it for your first day,' she replied with a smile.

If we were both book characters then Liv looked like Elizabeth Bennet, with her dark hair and hazel eyes, whereas I resembled Alice in Wonderland, with my long blonde hair and blue eyes, and the fact that I always wore some kind of headband to keep it off my face. Today, I wore a pearl one.

‘Stevie, you look lovely. Perfect first day outfit.'

Liv was much more of a fashionista than me so that made me smile. ‘Why, thank you.'

‘So, how are you feeling?'

We walked together towards the university where we had worked together. But for the first time since we met, Liv would be opening up the library and I would be heading in the opposite direction across London to where my new office was.

‘Excited but nervous. It feels really strange to not be coming in there with you,' I said, nodding at the historic university building.

Liv grimaced. ‘I'm going to miss you like crazy.'

‘You won't be here for much longer though,' I said after I had taken a sip of the coffee. Liv had written a fabulous romance novel and had landed a literary agent for it so I was confident she'd have a book deal before long.

‘I'm so proud of you for going after your dream,' she said as we paused by the stone steps that would take her into my former place of work.

‘Thank you for encouraging me to do it,' I replied. I had been inspired by her writing her novel to finally apply for a job in publishing, something I had wanted pretty much ever since I'd walked into my first library as a child and read Matilda. I wanted to help bring new stories into the world, stories that would bring people the same joy they brought me. I checked the time on my phone. ‘I better head for the Tube; you never know if there will be delays or not.'

‘Okay, good luck – not that you need it,' she said, pulling me in for tight hug. ‘It will be fabulous! As soon as you can, let me know how it's going, even if you have to sneak into the loos.'

‘Of course. Try not to miss me too much today.'

‘I'll have no one to gossip with but I'll try to survive,' she said with a heavy sigh, but she bucked up to give me a cheerful wave. ‘Knock 'em dead!'

‘I don't want to commit murder on my first day but I will try to channel that energy,' I told her with a laugh.

I watched Liv walk inside and I shook off the momentary urge to run in after her and stay where I was comfortable. I needed to do this – for past Stevie, who'd always dreamed of this day.

Metaphorically pulling up my big-girl pants, I took a deep breath and another sip of coffee, and set off for the Tube to start my new chapter.

After making my way across the city, I soon stood in front of my new place of employment. It was opposite The Shard in a sleek, glass building which, after the cosy library, was a little bit intimidating. Thankfully, the Tube had run smoothly and I had arrived much earlier than I needed to. It had been just over a month since I interviewed, but finally, my first day was here.

I walked around the block three times and then it was close enough to the time my new manager Annie had told me to come in for so I went through the revolving doors and up to the reception desk. I was directed to the tenth floor so I climbed into the lift and did that automatic thing of turning to look at myself in the mirror. I was never sure why lifts had to have mirrors because the lighting was always terrible and you always left them worried your make-up looked clown-like. My cheeks were definitely flushed but hopefully that was just down to the autumn breeze and not too much blusher.

Stepping out of the lift, I found myself across from the Turn the Pages reception. Through double doors to the side of the reception desk was the office, which was open-plan with big glass windows, and those grey carpet tiles that offices always seemed to have. But what had thrilled me when I first walked in for my interview, and what made me smile all over again today, was the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves packed with all the titles they published here.

Gazing up at the titles, my eyes instantly went to the ones I had read or wanted to read. Mostly romances. Anything with a pastel cover was right up my street. I couldn't wait to be able to read the new ones before anyone else.

As I was looking at the shelves in awe, I wasn't paying attention to the group of people hurrying past me, but when I decided I better stop gawking at books and go over to the desk, there didn't seem to be anyone manning reception. I leaned against it, wondering whether to just go on through to the office and find Annie myself, when a loud, urgent voice rang out.

‘Mind!'

I quickly pulled my arms into my body as a man in a suit barged past carrying a cardboard box filled to the brim with books.

More people filed past me.

‘Unbelievable – can we go to a tribunal, do you think?' a woman asked the group of people following her towards the lifts. ‘After all our hard work…'

‘The Shark was worse in person than his reputation…'

‘He loves the power; you could see it on his face…'

‘Can we sue?'

I was starting to get a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. Then, relief shot through me as someone familiar came out from the main office floor.

‘Annie!' I called, waving to the tall, grey-haired woman who had interviewed me. I straightened up and threw on what I hoped was my most competent smile. ‘I'm so excited to…'

I trailed off as she stopped suddenly, her mouth falling open in horror at the sight of me. That was not a good sign.

‘Oh God, Stevie, I'm so sorry,' she said, shaking her head.

‘What's wrong?' I asked, nervous at the sad look on her face.

Annie gestured to another group of people stalking out of the double doors behind her. ‘We've just all heard… the company has been bought by an American firm and they're restructuring. We've all been made redundant. Me included.'

I swallowed the huge lump that had appeared in my throat with difficulty. ‘You're… leaving?'

‘I just can't believe they've done this.' She started to walk towards the lifts again. ‘I'm sorry. You should go in and see what they want to do with you.'

‘What? But Annie, you hired me and you ran the department and…'

She shrugged bitterly as she joined the queue for the lift. ‘That evidently means nothing. Good luck, Stevie.'

‘You'll need it,' a man added darkly.

I turned to the double doors, unsure whether I wanted to even go in and see what my fate was to be. I couldn't be fired on my first day, could I? Would the library take me back if I was? I looked back and saw Annie getting into the lift with her colleagues, all wearing expressions varying from devastated to pissed off.

As I summoned up the courage to find out what this new company wanted to do with me, I pushed open the double doors and surveyed an office in utter chaos. People were putting belongings into boxes, phones were ringing incessantly, doors to offices slammed and reopened, someone was crying in the corner, and outside, I could see it had started to pour with rain.

This had to be the worst first day of all time.

I didn't know in that moment it was about to get even worse.