Jess arrived at The Brewery, just in time for her meeting with the Operations Manager. She was glad that she was at a familiar venue. She was also relieved that she hadn’t had to set up last night, as she would have missed out on her fateful meeting with the luscious Daniel Harris.
Despite having been arranging events for the past fifteen years, she still loved her job. The sense of satisfaction from arranging staging, lighting, show content, music, and then seeing it all come together, gave her a complete buzz.
She smiled all day long and didn’t feel one ounce of tiredness. She questioned herself on how she could be so affected after such a brief interlude. The boy was practically married and had a child, he was in fact young enough to be her child! Despite this, however much she tried, she couldn’t get him out of her head.
She got in after eight, poured herself a large glass of wine and put her feet up on the coffee table. She noticed a Lemon Events business card. Keeping up The Graduate theme, on the back, he’d written Benjamin Braddock wants you to mail him on his personal mail! Add me to messenger too! X
Jess smiled broadly and turned on her laptop. She would send a mail that he would get in the morning. She would keep it short and sweet.
From: jmorley@yahoo.co.uk
Dear Benjamin
It was good to see nearly all of you last night!
You can reach me on this mail.
Mrs Robinson xx
Dan called Jess immediately. ‘Oh, Jess, you’ll never guess what has happened. I stupidly sent Alex a text that was meant for you. I’m so used to texting her.’
‘Oh, Dan.’ Jess wasn’t sure what to say. She could feel Dan’s anguish down the phone.
Dan had thought of nothing but Jess since the moment he left her. He loved her vitality, her smile, her warmth, her body! She was fun, she was happening. Her age wasn’t an issue at all. But he wasn’t a philanderer. He loved Alex, but if he was honest with himself he wasn’t in love with her any more.
He continued, ‘Jess, please listen to me. I really did have a great time last night. I was actually phoning to tell you that and also to explain that I need to sort stuff out with Alex. We’ve got Evie to think about. I have to try and make a go of it, for her sake. I’ve hurt her so badly. I’m still at work, because I just can’t face her.’ He paused. ‘I’m really scared, Jess.’
‘It’s OK, Dan,’ Jess replied softly, shocked by the tears that she was holding back.
‘It will be fine. Alex doesn’t have to know everything.’
‘Thanks, Jess, I really must go. Be cool.’
‘Bye, Dan, I will – and good luck tonight.’
Tears began to slowly fall down Jess’s cheeks. She had never believed in love at first sight before but, on that crisp December night, what she felt for Dan was the way she imagined true love must feel. Dan was a decent bloke; he would sort it out with Alex. She would be a fool to leave him, and it would break his heart to have to abandon his little girl.
She poured herself a glass of wine, opened up her laptop and began to type a proposal for a new event.