As the room fell back to individual conversations, I pulled Meredith gently aside into the kitchen. "Meredith, you... You didn't have to say that." Ye..., I did," she said. "I'd have to explain where my parents were going." Yeah, but..." I still wasn't sure why she thought her actions were a matter of reproach. "I don't understand why you're casting yourself as a villain in this. I think you did a good job."She smiled at me then, something infinitely sad, like wisdom from beyond ages. "I guess. I just did the first thing that came to my mind. I just connected one string of each core with one another and the change was immediate. My core gave out a faint sound before starting to beat rapidly but erratically, almost as if it was struggling to get back its rhythm after the long period of absolute rest.But that was all I needed. I let go of the strings and came back to consciousness. It took me a few moments to gather my bearings before I realised that I was on the shoulder of Tom, being. ”“You mean he paid you?”“I’d have paid him!” I said.“He thought you were a prostitute?”“Yep, a good one, but a prostitute. And here’s the thing. He booked me again, that’s where I’ve just been.”“Oh my God,” Linda gasped.“Paid me again, five grand this time! I am good. Now behave, here he comes,” I said, re crossing my legs, and allowing my short tight skirt to reveal more thigh than was decent. “Helen, hi,” he said. I stood, and let him hug me, and kiss my cheek. “Jourdan, this is my friend,. She kissed the top of my head and began. “My last engagement was actually a double booking. A guy called Ian wanted to hire two girls to flirt with clients at a promotional event he was running. He didn't actually use the word flirt, but that's what it amounted to. Sue and I were to work our way round the room chatting to people and offering drinks and canapes. It wasn't difficult, and quite interesting talking to a variety of men and women. We had our little waitress outfits on, a bit.