FORTY-ONE
A day nights later, I was ready to take the next big step. It wasn’t just an idea anymore; it was happening. Paris was happening.
When I reached out to Ryan, I knew exactly where we’d meet—Peak, the sleek, upscale restaurant perched above the city at Hudson Yards. It screamed Ryan: stunning views, impeccable design, and the perfect mix of exclusivity and luxury. I made the reservation for 1 PM, knowing he’d appreciate the prime lunch hour and the ambiance that came with it.
As I arrived, the elevator whisked me up to the 101st floor, and the city unfolded beneath me, glittering against the evening sky. Ryan was already seated at a corner table with a view, looking effortlessly polished in a tailored navy blazer.
“Always early,”
I teased, sliding into the seat across from him.
“And you’re always perfectly on time,”
he shot back with a smirk, raising his martini glass in greeting.
The evening started light, filled with stories about his latest projects and updates about Nate. He’d recently redecorated their apartment—again—and regaled me with the saga of choosing between two nearly identical shades of gray paint.
“I swear, Charlie, it was a life or death decision in our house,”
he said, rolling his eyes but grinning.
“You both have impeccable taste,”
I said, laughing. “Though I’m sure you drove the poor designer mad.”
“Absolutely,”
he said, winking.
As the second course arrived—Ryan had ordered the duck confit, and I went with a delicate sea bass—the mood shifted. I set down my fork and leaned forward, resting my hands on the table.
“I didn’t just ask you here for the food,”
I said, my tone softening.
Ryan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh? Do tell.”
“I’ve been thinking about this for months,”
I began. “You know how much this expansion means to me, and I’ve always said I couldn’t do it without the right people.”
He nodded, his expression turning serious.
“I signed the contract for office space in Paris this morning,”
I said, my heart racing. “Ten minutes later, I called you because you were the first person I thought of. Ryan, I want you to join the team as part of this expansion. I need someone with your eye, your creativity, and your ability to lead.”
His jaw dropped slightly, and for once, Ryan was speechless.
“I know it’s a big ask,”
I continued, “It’ll mean a lot of travel, time away from Nate, and a whole new set of challenges. But I also think it could be the opportunity of a lifetime—for you, for us.”
He blinked, then broke into a wide smile. “Charlie… I don’t even know what to say.”
“Say you’ll think about it,”
I said quickly. “Talk to Nate, make sure it’s something you’re both comfortable with. But know that this offer is because I believe in you. And selfishly, I think we’d make a damn good team.”
He laughed, finally finding his voice. “You’re unbelievable, you know that? Of course, I have to talk to Nate. But honestly? My answer is hell yes. I’ve been looking for something like this. And if it’s with you? Even better.”
Relief washed over me, and I grinned. “Good. Because I can’t imagine doing this with anyone else.”
We toasted with champagne—Ryan insisting we upgrade to the best bottle on the menu—and spent the rest of the night celebrating. By the time we parted ways, I felt lighter than I had in weeks.
Paris wasn’t just a dream anymore. It was real, and it was starting with the best team I could ask for.
Later that night, Amelia, Lena and I were already three drinks in—and Lena started with the Would You Rather questions.
“Alright, ladies,”
she said, her voice carrying that familiar tone that always signaled trouble. “Would you rather dress like a cowgirl for an entire day or let us read through the texts on your phone?”
I tried to play it cool, keeping my face as neutral as possible. I took a sip of my drink, hoping they wouldn’t pick up on the slight tremor in my hand. “I have nothing to hide,”
I said with a casual shrug, laughing a little too enthusiastically. Amelia glanced at me with an amused smile, and I could see her already sensing something was up.
Lena’s eyes narrowed, and she grinned like a cat that just found the cream. “Hand it over!”
She stretched out her hand, palm up, waiting for me to surrender my phone. “Come on, Charlie, don’t be shy.”
My heart started to race, and I could feel a drop of sweat forming at my hairline. This was bad. Lena knew me too well. She wasn’t just calling my bluff—she was practically dragging it into the light for everyone to see.
“Lena…”
I began, trying to stall, but the gleam in her eye told me I was out of luck.
“Hand it over right now, or Amelia and I get to pick the cowgirl day. No arguments.”
Her voice was all business, but her smirk was anything but.
I let out a groan, the sound of someone who knows they’ve lost before the game even started. There was no winning here. Either they’d scroll through my texts and find Luca Lione’s name plastered all over them, or I’d spend a day dressed like a cowgirl—boots, hat, and all. And let’s be honest, the texts weren’t exactly the kind of thing I wanted to share. They weren’t dirty or explicit, but they were… intimate. The kind of messages that said more than I was ready to admit out loud.
“Fine…”
I said, dragging out the word as if it pained me. “I’ll dress like a cowgirl for an entire day.”
Amelia’s and Lena’s laughter exploded like fireworks, filling the bar with their delight. I tried to hide my embarrassment behind my drink, but I knew it was pointless.
“Oh, this is too good,”
Lena said, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. “And you know what’s even better? We’re picking a day when Luca is in town.”
My eyes widened, and I nearly choked on my drink. “What? No, you can’t do that!”
“Oh, we can, and we will,”
Amelia chimed in, her grin just as wicked as Lena’s. “That’s what you get for not spilling all the sultry details. Now we get to dress you up like the city’s hottest cowgirl, right when Mr. Luca Lione is around.”
I buried my face in my hands, groaning again as they continued to laugh. “This is so unfair…”
But deep down, I couldn’t help but laugh, too. Even if it meant enduring the embarrassment of a cowgirl getup, at least I’d get to keep my texts with Luca to myself. And who knows? Maybe I could find a way to turn the whole thing around in my favor.
“Alright, you win this round,”
I said, shaking my head. “But don’t think I won’t find a way to get back at you both.”
Lena just winked at me. “We’ll be waiting, cowgirl.”
As the night wore on, I realized something—maybe I didn’t need to rush. The right place would come along eventually. And in the meantime, I had my sister, my best friend, and a life in this city that, despite its challenges, was still pretty damn good.
Maybe that was enough for now. I stumbled into my make shift home in the hotel, when my phone lit up with Luca’s name. It had been a week of text messages back and forth, mostly updates on work or little moments of humor squeezed in between our ridiculously busy schedules. A call, though—that was something different. My stomach did a little flip as I hit the green button.
“Ciao, Charlie,”
Luca’s voice came through the line, smooth and warm, like the golden sunlight over the Amalfi Coast. I could almost hear the smile in his words.
“Luca! Hey,”
I said too excitedly, trying to sound calm and composed—not tipsy, but I hiccup.
“Hi. Charlie Monroe have you been drinking”
he mocked.
No sense in trying to cover up now, “Yes, I just got home and am crawling into my bed.”
“Mio Dio!”
he paused briefly, and I held my breath—“I’ll be in New York next week for a few days. I have a free day if you’re around.”
The idea of him being here, in my city, hit me like a tidal wave. The thought of seeing him again sent a thrill through me, but it was tangled up with nerves. Vacation was one thing; New York was real life. “Yeah, of course. I’d love to,”
I managed, keeping my voice steady.
“Perfect. You’ll have to show me around the places you like,”
he said. “I trust your recommendations.”
I smiled at the idea of playing tour guide. “Deal. I’ve got a few local spots in mind. I have ideas.”
Luca chuckled softly, the kind of laugh that made my chest tighten. “Sounds perfect. I can’t wait.”
I laughed. “Well, you’re not getting out alive without drinks with Lena. She’ll demand some face time, and trust me, there’s no avoiding it.”
“I like Lena. She’s fun,”
he said easily, his tone light. “I’ll be happy to see her.”
“She’ll be thrilled,”
I said, though I couldn’t shake the flicker of unease in my chest. Luca, in my city. My space. It felt heavier, more significant, like the safety net of our carefree vacation had vanished.
We talked for a little while longer, his voice a soothing hum in my ear, until it was time to hang up.
Still, I reminded myself, we weren’t diving into anything serious. We’d agreed to keep it light, just enjoying each other’s company when we were in the same place. But deep down, I wasn’t sure if I could keep my heart out of it—not when I’d already booked two trips to see him. Paris was in two months to finalize some rental spaces and then the vineyard for the client run-throughs.
I smiled despite myself, thinking of how excited Gia had been when I shared the plans. The dates were already filling up. This partnership was everything I’d dreamed of, and the chance to work closely with her and Luca’s family only made it sweeter.
But Luca… He was a whole other challenge. No matter what happened, I knew I’d see him several times before the year ended. And the thought of that both thrilled and terrified me.