Page 6 of It's All Sun and Games

Back to the drawing board it is.

3

As Priya and I finish up at our adjoining desks, gathering our things and preparing to head downstairs for after-work drinks at our usual bar across the road, I can tell she’s getting excited about our Italy trip – even if it is for work.

‘Oh, I can already taste the pizza,’ Priya says, practically salivating at the thought. ‘And the pasta and the coffee and the gelato – do you think we’ll have to taste things?’

‘I’m sure we will,’ I point out with a chuckle. I’m looking forward to that bit too.

The company we are working with – Come a Casa – is an Italian food brand that specialises in good quality, ready-prepared products. It’s the kind of thing that people like me – i.e. crap in the kitchen – love, because it is restaurant-quality food and snacks, but the most you have to do is heat and/or assemble it. They’re a huge brand in Italy, popular with young, busy people who don’t have the time to spend six hours on their sauce, but want it to taste just like mamma used to make. Now they’re working with us to bring their products to the UK with a big launch and a campaign that will show everyone what they’re about and how great their products are.

‘It’s the perks of the job, right?’ I continue. ‘If going to Italy, eating their food, and making the most of all the culture is going to help enrich what we do – or even if it isn’t – then I’m all for it.’

‘Speaking of the perks of the job,’ Priya starts, lowering her voice as we make our way out of the building, ‘I still don’t get why Rick’s getting married on the trip. It’s so bizarre, right?’

I can’t stop myself laughing as I shake my head in disbelief.

‘Honestly, I think it’s kind of genius,’ I reply. ‘Sneaking a destination wedding into a business trip – essentially making huge parts of the process much cheaper or even free – is like the ultimate scam.’

Priya giggles.

‘You’re right there,’ she replies. ‘But – it’s hard not to wonder – do you think we would even be invited, if we weren’t already there for work?’

‘Absolutely not,’ I say firmly. ‘But, to be honest, do you think we would actually go, if we weren’t already there for work?’

‘God, no!’ she insists. ‘I’ll take the all-expenses-paid trip, sure, but the wedding isn’t exactly something I’m looking forward to.’

‘I mean, it will be interesting, at least?’ I suggest, putting a positive spin on things. ‘I’m sure we can just sit quietly, at the back, and laugh at everything.’

‘So, just like a normal day at work then?’ she replies.

‘Exactly,’ I say, offering her a high-five. ‘Right, come on, I need a drink. I wonder if they have limoncello.’

‘Wine might be the most Italian you can get here,’ Priya replies.

‘Well, when in Rome…’ I joke.

I’ve been loving living and working in central Manchester over the past couple of years. Everything feels so close together – work is right here, all our work haunts are within walking distance, and my apartment is just a five-minute stroll. It’s like living in a little bubble, where everything I need is just a few steps away.

Being in the bubble isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, though. Yes, it’s convenient, but it might actually be a little suffocating too. Well, I never really seem to leave it – unless I’m visiting my parents in Altrincham, but even then, that’s just extending the bubble a little, not exactly leaving it.

The bubble is great, until you start feeling like you’re on the inside, looking out, seeing life pass you by. That’s why I’m so excited for the Italy trip too, because even if it’s for work, and even if I do have to attend my boss’s weird wedding while I’m there, let’s face it, it’s the closest thing I’m going to get to a holiday any time soon. Whatever happens, even if the work part sucks, I’ll be somewhere hot and sunny, with great food, by the sea. I’m determined to make the best of it.

After completing the short journey across the street, we finally make it to the bar. The place is packed this evening, but we manage to claim a table in the corner where the whole team – minus Rick, obviously – can sit together.

‘Shall we wait for the others to arrive before we get drinks?’ Priya suggests.

‘Yeah, okay,’ I reply. ‘They’re only coming from across the road, it’s not like they can be late.’

Priya laughs.

‘You never know…’

The first person to show up is Cait and, if I’m being honest, I’m not entirely sure what to make of her. She’s nice enough – in theory – and I love her style. She’s got this whole cool girl vibe going on, and these big, bouncy natural curls that are seriously enviable. However, she is definitely Liz’s work BFF, so whenever it comes down to it, it’s always Liz’s ideas she likes best, and Liz who she goes to with extra work, and Liz Liz Liz.

She’s closely followed by Henry, who is basically James’s right-hand man/minion. They’re both from London, which they instantly bonded over, and they’re both posh boys; however, the difference is huge. James has a bit of Hugh Grant about him, whereas Henry gives off the air of an heir. Still, Henry practically worships the ground James walks on, which is intense at times. He’s shorter than average (which, honestly, only makes him seem more minion-like) and he has, frankly, the whitest teeth I’ve ever seen – so white that it’s almost distracting.

Finally, the moment we’ve all been waiting for arrives – well, just me, but you take my point. The doors swing open, and in strides James. It’s like something out of a movie, honestly, as the crowd practically parts like the Red Sea to let him through, women nudging their mates to check out the good-looking guy who just walked in, and even the men are giving him that cool-guy nod, simply acknowledging that he’s here.

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