I was never going to be a hot shot lawyer like my father, but I’d agreed to put a tick in the degree box, somewhat placating him. When I graduated from uni four years later—my father had talked me into an Honours year—I should’ve packed my bags and gone travelling. I wasn’t career driven, and my desire to break free and explore the world had only increased.

“Let’s talk about it at your graduation dinner tonight,” my father had said when I’d tentatively informed him of my travel plans. I should’ve known how that was going to go down.

“How could you be so selfish?” She’d wailed, her eyes wild, flashing with pain and betrayal. “You won’t survive out in the world. You need me.”

“Get some work experience under your belt first,” my father had suggested. “I don’t think cocktail parties and dress shopping can go on your CV.”

Completely manipulated by them once again, I had put my travel plans on hold and got an administrative role at Donoghues, a small stockbroking firm yet to be swallowed up by the big banks. I’d also agreed to a first date with Richard Sacks, the man my mother had been trying to set me up with.

“Thirteen years of private school education,” my father had joked when I told him about my new job. I knew he hadn’t meant to hurt my feelings, but a lifetime of little jabs cut deep, even to the strongest of souls.

I’d known I couldn’t win, but I’d keep trying because I wasn’t a quitter, I loved them and they loved me.

Three years later and I’d found myself in a comfortable routine assisting the most successful broker in the firm, Heath Mathers, who needed extra support for his demanding client base, and I was still dating Richard—my mother’s idea of Prince Charming and ideal son-in-law prospect. Perhaps I was a weak pushover, easily manipulated and lacking a backbone, but I had my reasons and in my mind, they were legitimate. I’d found a way to exist that was acceptable, and I wasn’t interested in being judged for it.

“We have three new listings this week, Juliette,” Heath announced, dumping the prospectuses on my desk as soon as I sat down. “I’ll have the list of clients taking stock to you by this afternoon.”

“Morning, Heath,” I replied, smiling.

“It will be if Tom Higgins calls me back to confirm his allocation.” He then retreated to his office. Heath was the only broker who had his own office. He brought in more revenue than any other and was treated accordingly. My desk was just outside his office. Sometimes I was envious of the other assistants who sat on the long desks on the trading floor amidst the buzz and activity, but usually I was happy with the privacy and solitude.

With cult classic Wall Street movies rushing through my mind, I’d been initially disappointed to find stockbroking was no longer like that anymore. There was no trading floor, no one shouting numbers and scribbling on notepads. It was just line after line of desks, computer screens and predominantly men in suits, permanently attached to their phones.

Heath was tough, focused, and I had a great deal of respect for him. Despite having almost zero interest myself, he floored me with his vast knowledge of the stockmarket, and he also sounded like he genuinely gave a shit about his clients. He probably did to a certain extent, but his charm was also manipulation and sometimes it made my skin crawl.

Once my computer was powered up, I checked my emails. There were several reminders from my mother about her Fontaine charity soiree in the Yarra Valley on Saturday night. I knew Richard would be far more thrilled about it than I could ever be.

Lost in my pile of paperwork, the morning passed quickly and I was startled by my gorgeous friend Sia standing at my desk. I enjoyed my job, but the greatest thing to come from it was my first real friend. I hadn’t realised how lacking I was in the friend department until Sia made it glaringly obvious.

“Ready to go?” she asked, looking over my shoulder into Heath’s office.

I glanced at the time on my computer and was surprised it was lunchtime already.

“Sure. Give me a few minutes to finish this form. I’ll meet you at the lifts if you like?”

“No, that’s okay. I’ll wait here.” Her goofy smile made me laugh.

Sia worked for a couple of the junior brokers and sat at the other end of the office. We’d become friends at a work function soon after I joined the firm three years ago and had lunch together as often as we could. If the brokers we worked for had lunch meetings, we had to stay at our desks and place orders when they came in.

Heath came out of his office just as I was grabbing my handbag. “Lunchtime already?” he asked, looking at his watch.

“I won’t be out long,” I replied as I reached for my handbag under my desk. “Sia and I are just going to grab some sushi downstairs.”

“I like your tie,” Sia said through her long eyelashes.

Confused, I glanced from Sia to Heath.

“Thank you.” Heath looked a little flustered.

“Call me if you need me.” I don’t know why I bothered saying it. I knew he wouldn’t hesitate to call me day or night if he needed something.

“Bye, Heath,” Sia said, pushing her long, dark brown hair behind her ear.

Standing at the lifts, I couldn’t contain the laughter.

“What?” she asked, her arms crossed over her chest.

“What was that back there? Were you flirting with Heath?”

“Maybe,” she replied, trying not to smile. “Or maybe I was just being friendly.”

“You’re a very friendly flirt.”

“Well, he’s hot.”

“You don’t think he’s a little old?”

“Age is completely irrelevant. You must be so loved up with Richard you don’t notice the fine specimen right in front of you.”

“That must be it.” I hooked my arm through hers, and we made our way to our favourite lunch place.

When we were settled at a table with our sushi boxes, Sia dropped her bombshell on me. “I just booked my flight to London.”

I’d stuffed a whole California roll in my mouth, and I nearly choked on it.

“What? When? Why?” I asked, devastated by the thought of her leaving.

“Don’t get your knickers in a twist. It’s just a long holiday. I’m going at the beginning of July—right in the middle of their summertime—for six weeks.”

Relieved, I let out the breath I’d been holding. “Okay. Phew. You’ve talked about moving there before. What are you going to do on this long holiday?” I was confronted by how far my stomach had dropped at the thought of her leaving, and by the shackles still around my neck.

“Wander from place to place, really. I don’t want a set itinerary. Maybe I’ll have a few sordid affairs with some ridiculously hot Italian men.” She raised her eyebrows suggestively and we both laughed. “If you weren’t with Richard, I’d ask you to come with me.” She put her chopsticks down and looked me in the eye. “You’re so lucky to have him. I’ve never once heard you complain about him. He’s hot and successful and I bet he worships the ground you walk on. I want that too, but I want to do some travelling and have some more life experiences before I find my Mr Right.”

I didn’t want Sia to know how wrong she was about Richard and my relationship. I barely wanted to acknowledge it myself and managed to avoid thinking too much about it most of the time.

“Fair enough.” I stared at my sushi and mentally chastised myself for the tears welling in my eyes.

“So I think now is the perfect time to have a fling with your boss.” She raised her eyebrows and tapped her pointer finger on the table.

I laughed, hoping she was joking.

“Seriously, Juliette.” She leaned forward and whispered so our fellow diners at the next table couldn’t hear. “I think he’d be a dark horse in the bedroom.”

I pretended to gag, not wanting to think about my boss in that way. “I think he works twenty-four seven. He’s a workaholic, Sia.”

“Richard’s a workaholic too. I’ve only ever met him once briefly. He works almost every weekend, doesn’t he?”