Jesse was a mess the entire day. He’d arrived at his parents’ flat in the mid-morning and spent the whole day with his parents’ maid, Constanza, preparing for his meal later. She helped him set the scene around the house. Constanze manned the kitchen, and watched the pots as he accept the delivery of flowers, and started placing them around the house. There was a fresh bouquet in the living room, another in the marble entrance hall, waiting to be presented to Rachel, and a centerpiece for the dining room table.

And finally, there was nothing else to do but wait. Which was the worst part of all. Jesse stood in the kitchen, staring at the meal that he’d set on the stove top to keep warm. Ready to be served. Fifteen minutes until Artie had promised that he’d get Rachel there.

At 6:55, Jesse got a call from the door man. They’d just passed by. He’d left Artie a note the night before to be presented to the doorman so that they could have access to the building. Jesse found his way to the entrance hall and ran a nervous hand through his hair while he waited for the door bell to ring.