Chapter 1

      It was possibly the most wonderful thing that Trudy had ever found in her mouth. She was momentarily struck silent as her senses savoured the experience. The chatter continued around her. The clatter of cutlery and crockery was an ambient crackle beneath the muted murmur of conversations and the sound of people steadfastly dining. The world, she supposed, was continuing to revolve. But all Trudy could focus on was the sublime flavour that filled her mouth.

      It was how she imagined heaven might taste.

      ‘Sweet Temptation,’ Charlotte and Donny said in unison. They clinked their champagne flutes together and then nudged them absently against Trudy’s extended glass. Neither noticed that she had been struck dumb by an epiphany.

      ‘Here’s to profitable trading in the first year of business,’ Donny declared.

      ‘To a business as successful as this one,’ Charlotte countered, gesturing with her glass to the restaurant around them.

      Every seat was full. Waiters and waitresses, dressed in immaculate black shirts and pants, bustled hurriedly from table to table. Trudy, Charlotte and Donny had only managed to get reservations because Charlotte’s parents were wealthy, had influence, and possessed the foresight to have booked this table several months in advance. Despite the chintz of the décor, Boui-Boui had a deserved reputation for sophistication, prestige and culinary excellence that made it successful and popular.

      Donny surveyed the restaurant with a contemptuous sneer. He had been blessed with darkly handsome good looks which he exploited to their fullest advantage. Some of Trudy’s friends described him as Machiavellian whilst others said he was merely attractive because he had a bad boy’s charm. Some had even been so bold as to suggest he had the cruelty to match his devilish good looks. But Trudy had only ever thought of him as Donny, one of her flatmates and an occasional study-buddy.

      She didn’t believe she would ever think of him in any other way.

      ‘To our first Michelin star,’ Donny decided.

      ‘And our second,’ Charlotte added.

      The pair of them finally noticed that Trudy was not participating in their extended toast. Her eyes were wide. She had her lips closed to jealously guard the prize on her tongue. Her cheeks bulged and she was aware that the condition made her features unflattering. But she was inwardly cataloguing the flavours, identifying the ones she knew and trying to deduce