The Heartbroker by Kate O'Keeffe Read Free Book Online

the rom coms I’ve got lined up for myself. Bliss.
    I’ve been working my way through a list of the top one hundred rom coms of all time for a while now.
    Have you ever wished life could be like a rom com? I don’t just mean the falling in love, the dishy guys, the fabulous fashion, or even the happy endings. I mean knowing who the right guy is for you from the outset. I’ll admit the heroine doesn’t always know who she’s going to end up with, but the audience does. And there’s such a feeling of calm, of reassurance and satisfaction when the hero and heroine finally do get it together at the end of the movie.
    I’ve had boyfriends in the past who’ve complained rom coms are too predictable, that the girl always gets the guy. But for me, that’s the whole point.
    If I knew who I was going to end up with I would forget my ‘no men’ policy and throw myself into the relationship with happy abandon.
    Think about it: how easy would life be if you knew who the right person for you was? No stressing over whether he’s the one, whether you should follow your heart or your head. Just straightforward, no mess, happy ending.
    Bam. Perfect.
    Laura’s my partner in rom com crime. We’ve both been working our way through the list, although mostly alone as she’s got three young kids to deal with. As she puts it, her outings are usually limited to visits to story time at her local library, playgroups, and the supermarket. A glamorous life indeed.
    Occasionally though I will turn up on her doorstep with a movie from the list, a slab of Whittaker’s milk chocolate, and a bottle of wine. Once the kids are tucked in for the night, we’ll laugh and cry our way through a movie together, relishing every moment, right up to the predictable happy ending.
    “So what are the next steps with the deal?” Dad asks me as we put the final clean dishes away.
    “They’re meeting us in Queenstown for our seminar this weekend. Logan and Brad Stephenson, one of the other executives, are attending as silent observers.”
    “Well I’m sure they’ll love what they see, kiddo.”
    “Thanks, Dad.” I beam at him.
    I’m not ashamed to admit I love it when my dad compliments me, especially about something as important as my work. Whenever he does so I swell with pride, and tonight is no exception.
    Floating on Cloud Nine, I head home to watch Molly Ringwald try to win the love of the rich kid in that ‘Eighties classic, Pretty in Pink. And you know what? I bet my last dollar she does just that.

Chapter 5
     
    I FLY INTO QUEENSTOWN on a stunning day, one without a breath of wind or a cloud in the sky. The purple-hued peaks of The Remarkables mountain range are covered with bright, white snow, adding to their majestic beauty, juxtaposed against the deep, dark blue of Lake Wakitipu below.
    It’s spring and the deciduous trees have blossomed into an array of whites and soft pinks, creating an almost impossibly gorgeous picture-perfect spot.
    It’s hard not to wax lyrical about the magnificence of this place, even if you’re like me and have been coming here to ski every winter since childhood. Its beauty never gets old for me.
    I’ve decided to fly down south before the rest of the team by about twenty-four hours so I can spend some quiet time preparing for my next meeting with Logan.
    Logan. My conversation with Laura and Alexis the other night made me grasp just how dangerous it would be to act on my feelings for him. I know we’re going to be spending a lot of time together this weekend, but I’m hoping I’ll be so absorbed in the seminar it won’t even occur to me to focus on how gorgeous he is.
    Or on the way he makes me feel.
    Not having seen him over the last few days has certainly helped diminish my attraction to him. Out of mind, out of sight. Well, almost.
    I just need to be strong and focused: two things Brooke Mortimer is known for. It should be a total cinch, right?
    After a quick taxi ride from the airport, I arrive at