Prologue

My eyes trackedthe length of the corridor before slipping the key card into the lock and entering unnoticed, smiling to myself.

It hadn't been anywhere near as difficult as I thought it would be. I had lucked out with the handsome male receptionist. My performance as the slightly air-headed assistant who was sure to be fired if she couldn't do what her boss had asked her had clearly convinced him.

And what would my boss do if I didn't return with his favourite lucky silk scarf? He had refused to go on stage without it, and ‘you know what these temperamental musicians are like.' An extra flutter of my eyelashes and the key to Lennox Love's hotel room was all mine.

I had been thinking about this for a while, planning every detail so everything would be perfect. I wanted to surprise him with my demonstration of love, and I knew how much he would appreciate it. Who wouldn't love to receive such a beautiful gesture of adoration from their soulmate?

As I stepped into his hotel suite, I paused for a moment to admire the extravagance of the place. Inhaling the air, I caught the scent of his aftershave. It was the first thing I noticed the first time we met, and even now after all these years he was still wearing it. It was luxurious.

I hastily set my bag down, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. Feverishly, I pulled out all my supplies, desperate to get back to the concert on time. I moved quickly to the bed and started to spread the rose petals – deep red and velvety soft, a reminder of my love for him through the laughter and the tears. I had to be there tonight; I wanted him to know how much I still cared about him after all this time.

I cautiously took the framed photo of us from the bag, holding it close to my chest. A soft sigh escaped my lips as I thought back to when the photograph had been taken. We had been so young, but the chemistry between us had been palpable. I placed it in the centre of the bed, wedged between two plush pillows.

With trembling hands, I grabbed the card I had prepared to celebrate our special night and delicately slipped in the tiny love note I had written. With each item placed where I wanted, my heart fluttered faster, and my eyes filled with tears of joyous memories. This was perfection. We were perfection.

Lifting out a bottle of champagne and a box of his favourite chocolates, I set them on his bedside table for us to enjoy together later. With that, I've finished my preparations.

I wanted to make sure Lennox's return to touring after such a long hiatus is truly unforgettable. Making this night a one-of-a-kind experience was my goal; something he would never forget. I took one last look around the room and decided I had done enough. Understated, pretty, but sure to make an impact and send the right message to him.

I picked up my bag and proceeded to the door. Being cautious, I peered out into the hallway to make sure there was no one around to spot me and spoil the surprise for Lennox before I quickly exited the room.