It's deathly quiet in the cellar and I begin to feel slightly nervous. It seems colder than usual, which is strange, it never gets cold down here. Then I hear that noise again. This time I'm sure it's not rats, the sound is too loud. I make my way towards the noise and almost let out a scream when some of the boxes move. If it's a rat I really wish it would stay where it was.

I peer into the corner feeling nervous but strangely drawn and stop in my tracks. In the corner, hidden by some boxes, is a little boy. His body is curled up tight and he flinches slightly. As I crouch down trying not to startle him I realise I can hear explosions from somewhere up above. Someone must have set off the fireworks too early. I smile: they can't even get the timing right for the Millennium. The Boss is going to be furious. The kid whimpers and I pull my attention back to him.

"It's all right I'm not going to hurt you."

I try to make my voice soothing. I'm hardly the maternal type but even I can be sensitive sometimes, and it's obvious the kid is terrified. I wonder how he managed to get down here. It must have been earlier on before the party started. Poor kid must have been here for hours. Another bang sounds up above. It sounds as if the world is coming to an end

The kid is obviously not going to move so I inch my way nearer and sit down beside him. He looks up at me curiously but remains silent. Maybe he thinks he's going to get into trouble or something.

"Hi, I'm Talia."

He doesn't say anything, just flinches at another muffled explosion from above. I curse silently. How the hell am I supposed to handle this situation? Maybe I should go and find somebody. Someone must have realised this kid is missing. Maybe I should ring the police or something. Yet when I start to get up another bang sends the kid hurtling into my lap and I find myself awkwardly cuddling his skinny body to my own. Unless I can manage to carry him up the stairs we're not going anywhere. I tighten my arms around his body. He's cold. His legs are encased in long socks but there's a slight gap where his shorts meet the socks. I wonder why anyone would dress a kid in shorts in late December. I can feel my eyes drifting shut for a moment and I allow them to close. When the fireworks stop I'll get the kid out of here.

"Hey Talia, you still down there? We're getting kind of busy up here."

I wake up with a start and it takes me a minute to work out where I am. I'm in the cellar, with the kid. The kid! My lap feels strangely bereft without his weight and I look around still dazed. He's nowhere to be seen. I search around the cellar but I'm already beginning to realise it's no use. He's not here. Maybe he never was. I wonder if someone spiked my drink. I've been drinking orange juice all evening. Yet some instinct tells me nothing's that simple. The temperature in the cave has gone back to normal. I grab a couple of bottles of champagne and rush upstairs.