The Holly Project by K.A. Sterritt Page A

my presentation that I loved seeing things from new angles. I couldn’t help wondering if that was a factor in his choice of lunch destination. My heart warmed at the thought. The diagonally placed ceramic tiles covering the Opera House glistened in the sunlight and I revelled in the beauty of my city.
    Nowhere in the world compared to Sydney. I was fiercely defensive of it, and of Australia in general. Passing over the heads, we flew towards the northern beaches, then headed up the Hawkesbury River. I had no idea where our destination was. At that moment, I simply didn’t care. I was having the time of my life, and I wanted to enjoy every second of it.
    Gary expertly landed the seaplane on the slightly choppy waters of the Hawkesbury, then slowly powered over to a private jetty where we disembarked. Despite only being a twenty minute flight from the city, the surroundings couldn’t have been more different to those we left. The humble-looking restaurant was nestled into a hilly backdrop. A row of palm trees lined the shore. With no roads or alternate access points, the only way here was clearly by boat or air. It was truly serene.

Chapter Sixteen
    We were greeted by a beautiful girl who looked to be around my age. Shoulder-length blonde hair framed her fine features and pale green eyes. She looked like one of those athletic models from the surf wear ads.
    “Hey, Gem,” Ryan greeted her with a familiar hug. “This is my friend, Holly.”
    He turned to me. “Holly, this is Gemma. Her parents own the Hummingbird . She went to school with my sister, Aspen.”
    As we walked along the jetty, Ryan and Gemma chatted casually. They obviously knew each other well. Gemma ushered us towards the outdoor tables, where a waiter immediately welcomed us with cocktails.
    “Let me know if you need anything, Ryan,” Gemma said, smiling warmly. “Nice to meet you, Holly.” She disappeared.
    He handed me a cocktail, then held his up to make a toast.
    “To chance encounters.”
    “Chance encounters,” I repeated, looking him dead in the eye as we chinked glasses.
    He broke my gaze and stared out towards the water, taking a long sip of his drink. He appeared to be giving something a great deal of thought.
    “I’ve got to head back to London soon for an important investor meeting.”
    The prospect of him being out of the country stirred an emotion in me I wasn’t yet willing to confront.
    “Do you spend much time in London?” I asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.
    “Five years ago, I moved over there to open a London office. A few months turned into a few years. I now alternate between Sydney and London. It just depends on where the business needs me most. I love London, but Sydney is my home.”
    “That’s great. I mean… I love London too. I’ve only ever been once, on a holiday with my family. A lot of my friends spent a gap year there between school and university, but I was so focused on being an architect, I didn’t want to waste any time. In hindsight, I wish I’d travelled more.”
    “There’s nothing wrong with being focused on what you want, Holly.” Ryan was now looking at me intently. “You just have to find a balance. You might find things you didn’t even know you wanted.”
    Glancing out at the tranquil view, I tried to reconcile my turbulent emotions.
    “Let’s go inside and get some lunch.” He took hold of my hand and squeezed it gently.
    As we walked past a giant chessboard, the irony wasn’t lost on me. Until I met Ryan, my life had been safe and predictable. I was completely in control of my emotions – mainly because I kept them safely locked away. Now I felt like a pawn, vulnerable to being taken out by a more powerful force.
    Lunch was an incredible seven courses of gastronomic delights, intensified by matching wines. We chatted effortlessly about architecture and construction.
    “Can I ask you something personal, Holly?” Ryan asked, looking me directly in the eye.
    “Um,