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“See you soon.” Tomas didn’t like goodbyes.
“Okay, see you soon.”
I put down my phone and stared at it in disbelief. I’ve been offered a chance to work in Paris…Tomas chose me. I trembled.
“What happened?” Paul asked, even though he heard most of it.
“Tomas said I could return to Paris. He wants me to continue to work there with him.”
Paul stood up and held me at arm’s length, smiling. “See? This is the reason I wanted you to do this on your own. For this moment. It’s yours, Nadia. You did this. You went to Paris and met the challenges head on. Tomas saw your talent, potential, and hard work. He wanted it for Givenchy.”
I wrapped my arms around him.
I’d felt weak after the boat party, but I was forced to go forward. I took on a challenging fashion internship at Givenchy. I worked within a language I only took in high school. But here I stood. Yes, I had all the comforts of Paul’s home and staff, but the work was all mine. Tomas was never easy on me, even though he liked me.
I stared at Paul and remembered Aurora’s words at the vineyard in Italy. “Women who last with a powerful man don’t try to harness his energy. They move on their own. Be you, Nadia. Don’t try to be what he wants.” I am who I want to be.
To be able to continue at the prestigious house under Tomas’s mentorship was a generous opportunity I couldn’t pass up. It was more than I ever hoped for, more than I ever believed possible. But if I stayed in Paris, would Paul move there? I want us to stay together.
“I love you.” I held him close, and kissed his face and neck. “But what about—”
Chime. The doorbell sounded.
I grimaced. “What now?”
He smiled. “We’ll find out soon.”
I furrowed my brows. “We never get a break.”
He lifted my chin, and his eyes bore into mine. “I will take you away. Soon.” There was a tenderness there, and it was filled with love and promise. He kissed me deeply and grabbed my ass, pulling me closer to him.
But the doorbell rang again.
“Nadia, Paul.”
We both turned and Dani appeared with a man in a Kurta and sandals. He had round glasses, shoulder-length hair, and a beard. It was as if he stepped out of the sixties. He came over with a warm smile and greeted us. “So nice to finally meet you, Nadia. I’m Alan.”
“Nice to see you again.” Dani placed her hand on my back, and Paul kissed her on the cheek. Paul also didn’t seem surprised. What’s going on?
Gunnar entered the room and walked straight over to Celeste’s folder. “I’ll just put this away. Oh, and there is someone here to see you.”
“Who?” I asked him.
“Me.” Mom came in, and I excitedly rushed into her arms and bounced on the balls of my feet. “Mom, you’re here in New York City. I tried to call you, and I couldn’t reach you.” My voice rising octaves.
“We were flying.” She kissed my cheeks and peered at me, her hand on my chin. “Have you been crying?”
“I’m fine now. I’ll tell you later,” I whispered. “Oh, wait, you said we? Daddy…Dad’s here?” My jaw unhinged. The hum of his wheelchair told me before he appeared in the room. I rushed over and bent down to hug him.
“You sure you’re okay to travel?”
“I got doctors and nurses all over me. And a bed to lie down in on the flight. I’m fine, and I had to come. We are here for you.”
I swallowed hard. They all came here to support me. I looked over at Paul, who was watching us. I could tell from his expression he had planned this. Oh, Paul. I swiped under my eye and smiled at him.
“Now that you have us all here, are we having a wedding?” Dad asked, with a twinkle in his eye. A light, though uneasy, laughter erupted from everyone but Mom, who gave Paul a hard stare.
My skin warmed. Best not to mention we’re trying for a baby.
