Nicole’s eyes widen as she takes another look at the prints. “Really? Wow, she really has a good eye. These are amazing.”
I can’t help but feel a swell of pride. “Yeah, she’s got talent. She just doesn’t know how good she is.”
Nicole raises an eyebrow, her expression turning playful. “And you, Noah, are really trying to impress her, aren’t you?”
I chuckle, glancing over at her. “I guess I am. What about you, Nicole? How’s it going with Amy?”
Nicole’s lips curl into a smirk, and she lowers her voice as if sharing a secret. “About as well as things between you and Blossom.” She winks at me before rolling away, leaving me to stand there with a smile on my face.
I’m not going to lie, I feel a bit of satisfaction knowing that Nicole sees my love for Blossom. This isn’t just about me making a gesture. It’s about Blossom and me, and I’m doing everything I can to show her that I’m here, fully in this.
By the time we’ve hung the last print, I get a text from Blossom. It’s simple but enough to shift my focus.
>> Hey, where did you go? You disappeared this morning.
I glance at the clock and realize it’s getting close to the time I promised I’d be back. I quickly wrap things up with the printerand head back to the penthouse, feeling that familiar flutter of anticipation in my chest. I can’t wait for Blossom to see everything I’ve done.
When I arrive, she’s sitting on the couch, her hair still messy from sleep, her expression soft. She looks up at me as I walk in, her eyes bright with curiosity.
“Hey,” I say, grinning. “I have a surprise for you.”
She raises an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eyes. “Another surprise? Am I going to need a suitcase again like last time?”
I laugh and shake my head. “No suitcase required this time,” I reply, my heart racing a little as I lead her to the door.
“I promise, you’re going to love it.”
I open the door to the hotel hallway, and she steps out with me. Her eyes widen as she takes in the sight of her own work displayed throughout the hotel.
Her jaw drops, and she spins to look at me, stunned. “Noah...you did all this?”
I smile, watching her reaction. “Yeah, I did. I wanted everyone to see just how amazing you are.”
Tears spring to her eyes, and she pulls me into a tight embrace, her heart beating against mine. "This is...beyond anything I could’ve imagined. Thank you."
“You’re welcome,” I whisper, kissing the top of her head. “You deserve it.”
She takes my hand as I lead her through the hotel, and I feel a rush of emotions as we move from room to room. Each space we step into feels like I’m walking through her own dreams. My heart skips a beat as I take in the prints adorning the walls.
Every hallway is lined with her photographs, and each room has a different piece of my work displayed like it belongs there.
In every corner of the hotel, there’s a piece of her vision of the world: images of New York City skylines, sprawling landscapes from travel, intimate moments captured in time.
“I never imagined my work would be showcased like this, especially not at such a prestigious hotel,” Blossom says, and I can’t help but kiss her.
We stop in the middle of one room, her eyes scanning the wall in awe. “This is...this is huge. I can’t believe it, Noah. This is—this is my work, all over the Hudson Hotel.”
I smile, my pride in her shining through. “You deserve it. This hotel is more than just a business to me—it’s about legacy, and I want your legacy to be part of it.”
I see tears prick at her eyes, overwhelmed by the recognition and my support. “Thank you,” she whispers. “This is more than I ever expected.”
After seeing her work hanging in every corner of the hotel, I take her to the hotel’s restaurant for breakfast. We sit at a cozy table by the window, and I feel like I’m on cloud nine just by taking in the beaming smile Blossom has on her face.
As we sip our coffee, the conversation shifts to her work. I lean back in my chair, looking over to her. “I was thinking about the restaurant, and how your work could fit in here too. We could do a whole feature wall with some of your best cityscapes—something to really set the mood for the space.”
She smiles, big and wide. “You really want my work everywhere?”
I nod, my gaze steady. “I want your fingerprints all over this place. I want this hotel to feel like yours as much as mine. You’re not just my partner, Blossom, you’re the heart of this hotel now. Your art...it’s a part of who we are.”