the first chapter
MARCO
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - PRESENT DAY
Every love story has a beginning.
And my love story is running more than forty minutes late. But I’m completely unaware that my life is about to tip sideways. Falling for someone isn’t something you can measure in hours. You can’t schedule it neatly between meetings. Which is why love hasn’t been on my to-do list for years.
So this morning, I have more important things to worry about.
Like blueberry tarts and lopsided photo backdrops.
???
Here’s how it unfolds.
It’s a Friday.
But as an event planner, Friday feels like Tuesday.
I arrive half an hour early, as I do for most setups.
Even the most tedious clients deserve my utmost professionalism.
The streets of Fortitude Valley are still easing into daylight.
The usual chaos of the nightlife district has been temporarily subdued.
A few delivery vans idle along the curb.
A bar down the block has its shutters halfway open.
Someone hoses the pavement clean of last night’s spilled beer and glitter.
Despite the early morning hour, the valley hums with energy.
A quiet promise of the chaos that will return after dark.
I stand on the footpath for a moment, squinting.
I’m trying to picture how this building will look when it’s all lit up for our event.
The sign was only installed last week.
Ink by Amos, it says.
Amos sounds like a snob, by the way.
I haven’t actually spoken with him directly.
Not yet.
But judging by the who’s who guest list for this launch?
Bet he’s got an ego bigger than his dick.
I didn’t even want to do this gig to be honest.
