The drive to Milan was quiet, each of us inside our own thoughts. The countryside unrolled ahead, green and ordinary, signs ticking off the kilometres as if this was just another entry in the company diary. On paper, it was. Same fair, same stand, same hotel chain. The same two people are in the car. Inside, nothing felt quite the same. Claire sat in the passenger seat, one knee drawn up, hands loose in her lap. Her hair...

Day two at the fair was busy in that particular way where time just disappears. By late morning, the aisles were again thick with people. Claire and I had already done three meetings back-to-back when a familiar voice floated over the low murmur of the hall. "Good morning again." Matteo stood at the edge of the stand with a fresh stack of catalogues under his arm. He looked more awake than I felt. Dark hair still slightly...