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Gabriel drives along the top of the complex and pulls the Range Rover up in the car park to the left of the main building, in the closest spot, which has a signpost with his name on it. “Benefits of being the boss,” he jokes, turning off the engine. “Come on, I’ll show you around.”

I get out, and together we walk past a big fountain, then up a short flight of steps to the front doors. I can see staff members in black trousers, white shirts, and waistcoats with red backs, and a few guests, maybe heading to breakfast, most of them dressed in suits. Gabriel himself is wearing chinos and a smart black polo shirt.

“Ahhh, I feel a bit underdressed,” I say, conscious of my shorts and oversized All Blacks shirt.

Gabriel just chuckles, though. “Don’t worry about it.” He leads the way through the glass doors and into the hotel.

The foyer is large and spacious, with most of the walls made of glass. “It’s a biophilic design,” he explains, gesturing at the many plants, the wooden front desk carved with a Māori pattern, and the smaller fountain in the centre, where the water plays happily over round pebbles. A huge, gorgeous painting of a Māori moon goddess hangs behind reception.

“Oh, that’s beautiful,” I comment.

“Thank you, I think so, too.” He takes me on a brief tour, showing me the many meeting rooms, the gym, restaurants, cafés, and shops, all in a ring around the central conference amphitheatre.

Gradually, my roiling stomach and racing heart calm down. Gabriel has a calming presence. He’s in his mid-thirties, I’d guess, and his eyes crinkle at the edges when he smiles. He comes across as genial and kind, but it’s clear from the way he makes a note on his phone when he sees a flickering light, picks up some rubbish on the floor, and checks that the plants have been watered, that he keeps a careful hand on the reins here.

“So 35 South is your baby?” I say as we start circling back to the lobby.

He smiles. “Yeah. I’m from Evermore. I went to the local primary school—and yes, your dad did teach me one year! I inherited the land on the island twelve years ago when my father died. I wasn’t sure what to do with it at first. Initially, I planned just a luxury resort… but then, when I was thirty, my wife died in a car accident.”

My jaw drops. “Oh Gabriel, I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah,” he says softly, “it was really tough. Our baby boy was only a year old.”

“Ah, jeez.”

“Luckily he wasn’t in the car with her at the time.” His gaze drifts out of the window for a second as he recalls that sad time. Then he looks back at me, and he smiles. “Anyway, Marama and I had talked a lot about what to do with the site. She was the one who kept saying it shouldn’t just be a hotel. She’d seen how hard people in our field worked, and she said it should be a place where those with the best minds come to rest and recharge, to find inspiration, and to discuss ideas. So after she’d gone, I decided that was what I was going to create.”

“Marama,” I say. “The goddess of the moon.” I glance across the lobby at the painting behind the front desk. “That’s your wife?”

He nods. “I had it commissioned by a Kiwi painter, Damon Chevalier. Saw one of his paintings in a biophilic building just like this one in Christchurch and fell in love with both the painting and the building.”

“Aw.” I think about how devoted he must have been to his wife to have that beautiful picture commissioned. Jayden would never have done that for me if I’d died. But it occurs to me that Mitch might have. It gives me a funny feeling in my stomach.

We arrive back in the foyer where we started, and he takes me across to the sweeping staircase that leads to the first floor. Here, beneath the staircase, is a large, tiled area that only has a couple of benches and a water cooler.

“I was thinking you could have your shop here,” he says. “It would back onto the café there, and we’d add glass walls and a lockable door, although security isn’t really a problem here.

I inhale with delight. It’s in a prime position, in full eyesight of everyone either checking in, going up the stairs, or using the glass-walled elevators to the side. “That would be amazing.”

“I know it’s not huge, but I think it’s big enough to have a few stands and shelves. You could rotate the stock from the shop, so each week there are different books available.”

“Yes, that would work.”

He smiles, then glances at his watch. “I’m really sorry but I have a meeting at nine.”

“Of course. I’m embarrassed to have taken up so much of your time.”

“Not at all, I look forward to working with you.” He tips his head to the side and gives me a direct look. “Would you like a coffee while you gather your thoughts?”

“I didn’t bring my handbag,” I realise.

He gives me a wry look. “I think I can stand you a latte.”

“Well… thank you,” I say graciously. “That would be wonderful.”

He takes me into the coffee shop and orders for me. Then he says, “Can I do anything else for you?”

“Um… Is there a phone somewhere I could use to call a friend?”