It was raining, which in some ways worked to their advantage as the cars pulled up one by one outside the non-descript office building.
Traffic streamed past in a mid morning rush, oblivious to the identity and status of the five occupants.
Rain meant less likelihood of errant paparazzi, hanging about on the off-chance of a quick and easy hit-and-run.
Of course, sometimes it was a good idea to tip them off, when there was an album out, or single about to be launched, when they were on their way in to discuss something oh-so-secret-but-not-really.
Today was not one of those days. Today was business. Today was make or break.
They'd been given one of the boardrooms to accommodate the whole team and it felt somewhat awkward, them all crowding round the expansive table and its glossy sheen.
They'd wanted it this way, of course. When Kimberley had made the call to Hillary with the other girls present, they'd been explicit about having as many key players there as possible.
"If we're gonna do this, right, I don't wanna be repeatin' meself 'till I'm blue in the face," Cheryl had said.
The others had nodded their agreement. Nobody fancied being harangued and sectioned off, worked on by different factions until someone relented. Divide and conquer, they knew how it worked by now, they'd all been subjected to it at some point down the line.
Today was different. Today Nic had made a joke as they walked in about being like the three musketeers. Sarah hadn't even bothered to point out that there were five of them, had just exclaimed in a singsong voice, "United we stand."
It helped the nerves, Kimberley reasoned internally. That she had the support of the other girls, that one of them was totally apathetic to the situation and another found it hilarious. She could handle those sorts of reactions. And she needed them. She needed them more than she'd ever realised.
Cheryl had come to this realisation far earlier, amongst other things. It was the sort of revelation that rivalled her night alone, all those months ago, with Nina singing and her wine glass swaying and a sudden furious desire to lay claim to her heart's wanting.
She had clarity, at last, totally and completely. It made her feel weightless and giddy all at once. But when the euphoria died down she was left with something far more enduring. A serenity, a complete and utter calm. And most of all, an iron determination to hang on to it at any cost.
She knew exactly what she had to do.
There'd been the usual smiles and coffee orders as they'd hustled in, bags on tables, phones out or switched off, cheerful chatter towards those at the label they hadn't seen for a while.
The PR team was scaled down to Sundraj and his assistant, the interns wisely shut out of this one, Kimberley noted.
And of course their marketing and tv promotions exes were there for padding. The plan was a general overview for when they could schedule some studio time together. For the first time in a long time, recording looked like a definite possibility.
But before the logistics, Cheryl had something to say.
"Okay, well," she begins, as reality dawns on her that she has the attention of the whole room's ears and eyes.
She clears her throat and throws a quick sideways glance at the girls, her girls.
"So's I just wanted to get this out the way before we start. Just this little thing, quickly," she hurries along, over the minute flinching of Kimberley's elbow next to her, ignoring the short sharp snigger from Sarah at her words.
