She could feel the electricity in the air, feel theexcitement. It seemed as if everyone in the world haddecided to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Paris.She was jostled along with the crowd, being practicallycarried off her feet on the route from the Champsélyséestowards the Eiffel Tower.‘Aren’t you glad you came?’ her friend Polly screamedin her ear, sloshing wine over her sleeve. ‘This is the bestplace in the world right now.’‘Yes, it is,’ murmured Ruby.It certainly beat sitting at home in her flat, broodingover the job that wasn’t to be or the boyfriend who nevershould have been.