Markus was in the midst of his morning routine of twenty push-ups, a variety of stretches and lifting light weights when he heard his mobile phone buzz. He rose and searched for the blasted annoyance and looked at the screen. It was from his married friend Ian. He hadn’t heard from him in a long time. Hoping it wasn’t bad news he answered.

“How are you Markus?” Ian said.

After some more small talk, Ian got to the point and invited him over to his Eastern Suburbs home to join him and friends at a dinner party. Markus considered for a moment then agreed to come along at seven the following Saturday night. He’d known Ian and his wife Charmaine since university days and had remained friends over the years. But they generally mixed in different circles. Ian was a finance whiz...

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