Page 70 of A Win-Win Situation
"Hello, sister-in-law," he greets, stepping away from me and pulling Leora into a warm embrace. Leora's eyes dart toward me, a hint of surprise on her face."Are you okay?"she mouths, and I nod, feeling relieved that things might finally be okay between us. When they break apart, her eyes go to his ring finger, and she shrieks, "My friend Sophie has a tattoo that looks almost identical to yours. What are the chances?" She laughs, adding, "Please don't tell me you also got it done at some dodgy back-alley parlor in Barcelona."
That’s weird. If I remember correctly, hedidin fact get his tattoo at a questionable studio in Barcelona. I remember scolding him for risking infection by not going to a professional, and he answered back with something about finding his destiny that night and nothing would get in his way of it, not even an infection. That’s why he tattooed the word "Destiny" in Arabic on his finger.Nasib.
Liam laughs a bit nervously. "Oh, what a coincidence."
"Definitely is." Leora nods. "So, is everything good between you two?"
"Yes," both of us answer at the same time.
"Okay…" she draws out the word while casting a quick glance between Liam and me. "Great, then you’ll have to join us for dinner someday soon."
"I would love to."
"Perfect, Lucas can cook."
Liam’s smile spreads across his face as he looks at me. "I can’t wait, but for now, I have to go. I have some work to do. See you."
With that, he walks out of my office and my focus goes back to the little firecracker standing in front of me. She’s practically bouncing with excitement. I raise an eyebrow at her, silently questioning the dinner plans she’s planning without my knowledge.
"So now you decide when we’re having people over, Leora? I must say, you’re getting comfortable with being my wife."
She laughs. "Well, I have a part to play, don’t I?"
"Mhmm," I hum while I step closer to her.
She clears her throat, "I-I actually came here to talk to you about some ideas."
"Is that so?" I’m almost close enough to touch her now, but I stop myself. Instead, I sit down on my desk, facing her.
"Yes. I know we want the opening to be luxurious, but we also want it to be something the guests remember. How about live musicians? I’ve been looking around and I think we should consider this local jazz band. I found their Instagram and they’re incredible. If you want, we can go to Promenade des Anglais and check them out."
"You want us to book musicians who play on the streets for our opening?"
Her face morphs into a look of offense. "Don’t judge them before you give them a chance. They’re super talented and they play different events as well."
I nod, understanding her point. "What other ideas do you have?"
"Okay, so during an event like this, we need a little bit of ‘umph.’"
"Umph?" I ask, not understanding what she means.
"Yes, something extra, but let’s make it something personal and beautiful. What do you think about the idea of having an exhibit with art that connects to the history of the hotels?"
She approaches me, her excitement is radiating off her like a warm glow. It's almost infectious, and if it continues, I will find myself willing to agree to anything she suggests.
"Continue," I say with an encouraging smile.
"Let's make it about Antoine, for the guests to follow his journey over the years. We can add parts of where he grew up in Lebanon and how he became the hotel-mogul he is today. Let's honor him."
While Leora presents her idea, a surge of admiration and yearning fills me. Her creativity and enthusiasm are not only impressive but also deeply moving. The idea itself is brilliant, and I know that my uncle will appreciate it.
"I love it,” I finally manage to say, my voice carrying a mix of genuine admiration and something more profound.
Her eyes beam at the approval, and I can see the spark of excitement reflected in them.
Rising from the desk, a renewed sense of purpose courses through me. The prospect of bringing Leora's vision to life resonates with me on a level that goes beyond the professional.
"How about we grab some lunch? I'd love to hear more of your ideas," I suggest, a smile playing on my lips, eager to continue this conversation.
