Page 46
“Eleanor is just another employee to the board,” Victoria counters with analytical detachment. “The shareholders care about the numbers. If we present them with a solid plan where two talents complement each other rather than dividing themselves and trying to stand out above the rest, the board will buy it.”
Harper starts walking again to channel the rush of adrenaline coursing through her body right now. Victoria keeps pace with her without missing a step.
“I have no idea how we can pull this off,” Harper admits, feeling a little embarrassed.
“We can work out the details at your apartment,” Victoria replies with a cheeky smile that makes Harper burst out laughing involuntarily. “If Eleanor wants noise… well, she’ll get noise.”
“You’re unbearable. A born manipulator.”
“But you know I’ve got this in the bag.”
The proposal is brilliant from a corporate standpoint, but it also means risking years of hard work. And, above all, finally accepting that working alongside Victoria makes her very happy.
“Would you really be willing to put all your eggs in one basket?” Harper asks, stopping at the corner of Washington Square Park.
Victoria stops just a few centimeters away from her.
“Yes, without a doubt,” Victoria says, emphasizing every word. “I don’t intend to repeat the mistakes I made in the past, Harper. In Paris, I thought success would make up for everything else. But I was wrong. And I’m not going to make the same mistake twice.”
A bitter lump forms in Harper’s throat.
“Don’t say things you might regret…”
“I won’t regret it,” Victoria assures her without batting an eye. “I’m sure of it.”
Harper looks down at Victoria’s lips, feeling the urge to devour her right then and there.
“The only thing that scares me… is that this will go really wrong and we’ll end up like last time.”
“I’m scared, too,” Victoria admits, raising a hand to brush against Harper’s neck. “But I don’t want to keep pretending I’m whole. I don’t want to keep building a version of myself that doesn’t need anyone anymore. I need you, Harper.”
The words leave her reeling. Harper needs to move, needs some air, so she heads into the park. Dry leaves crunch under her feet. The Washington Square Arch rises in the background, bathed in the glow of several yellow spotlights.
“You know what amuses me the most?” Harper says as they walk beneath the trees.
“Surprise me.”
“That the success we broke up over years ago doesn’t make much sense to me anymore.” Harper smiles and shakes her head. “I’ve spent four years thinking that when I reached the top at the magazine, I’d be happier than ever. That if I managed to be the best, if Eleanor named me Editor-in-Chief, the void you left when you went to Paris would disappear.”
“And it hasn’t turned out that way?”
“It’s a farce,” Harper confesses, shrugging. “You wrap up an incredible cover shoot, the team applauds you, you pop open a bottle of champagne in the office… and two hours later you’re alone in your apartment with Chinese takeout and no one to really share it with. No one to celebrate with.”
“The same thing happened to me,” her ex-wife admits without a hint of fear. “I had the office I’d always dreamed of, the view of the Tuileries, invitations to the most exclusive fashion shows… But then I’d go back to my apartment in Le Marais, wishing with all my heart that you were the one sitting across the table so I could tell you the latest nonsense from the designer of the moment.”
“You could have called me,” says Harper.
“I had no right,” Victoria replies emphatically. “I was the one who chose to leave. I was the one who put distance between us.”
Harper and Victoria stop next to the wooden benches where chess players gather during the day. Harper remembers the first time they came to this very park, when they’d only been dating for three months.
“Do you remember the chess game?” Harper asks, flashing a smile.
Victoria lets out a little laugh that lights up her whole face.
“Yeah, and you wanted to play two more games because you wouldn’t accept losing.”
“I still can’t stand losing.”
