Page 105 of If You Give a CEO a Chance

Fallon: We’ll have to plan a trip. Winston and Cat have to meet soon.

Fallon: They’ll either love each other or start a feud. Both scenarios will be entertaining.

Lila: You didn’t answer my question. Are you and Harrison official yet?

Fallon: Not exactly.

Lila: What does that mean?

Fallon: We’re having hot sex and enjoying each other’s company.

Lila: It’s never that simple.

I wish I could argue, but she’s right. Every day that Harrison and I spend together, the more intertwined our lives become, and although it’s not easy to accept, I don’t see a future without him. The person who used to be a thorn in my side has become as essential to my happiness as the air I breathe. It’s a startling revelation that I haven’t fully come to terms with yet.

Fallon: I’d like to live in my bubble for a little while longer, thank you very much.

Lila: Falling in love isn’t something to be ashamed of.

Lila: Not when you find someone who treats you right.

I can’t shake the memory of Harrison defending me in the lobby yesterday. He didn’t benefit from it, but he still left work early and stood up for me when my own flesh and blood put me down. If I wasn’t already falling hard for this man, that would have been enough to seal the deal.

I’m distracted by an incoming call, smiling when I see who it is.

“Took you long enough to call,” I answer.

“Sorry,” Theo says. “I haven’t had a second to myself this past week.”

I pull the mixture I made earlier for shepherd’s pie out of the fridge as I speak. “You’ve always been impossible to reach, acting like you were too important,” I remark playfully.

“I was your boss,” he retorts smugly, a detail he never fails to remind me of.

“Maybe on paper, but we both know who everyone listened to.”

Theo was frequently out of town, so I oversaw the culinary operations at one of his restaurants in London.

I hear someone shout, “Camera B, get a tight shot on the garnish,” in the background, followed by another voice yelling, “We need a drizzle in the shot next.” A chorus of voices agreeing follows.

“Where are you?” I ask.

“I’m at the studio in LA. Hold on just a second.” The voices fade and a door slams shut. “Are you still there?”

“Yeah.” I wedge my phone between my shoulder and ear as I scoop out the shepherd’s pie into the glass dishes I prepared earlier.

“Sorry about the noise. We’re filming season two ofThe Great Cook-Off Challenge, and the crew is trying to get some still shots between takes,” Theo explains.

“It’s no problem. I know you only have a few minutes, so why don’t you tell me what you wanted to talk about.”

He clears his throat. “During the last meeting with my market research team, they suggested that we open an allergy-friendly restaurant in London. Based on the data, there’s a big demand. I told them I had to talk to you before I made a decision.”

“Wow,” I say, shocked, setting the bowl down on the counter.

“It’s a lot to take in,” Theo agrees. “I know your dream is to create a safe place for people with allergies, and I want to help you make that a reality. London might not be New York, but there’s always the possibility of us expanding down the road. Just know that I’m only doing this if you’re involved.” My heart races, and I pull the phone from my ear, staring at it in disbelief.

The news is unexpected. I hadn’t thought about moving back to London since arriving in New York. Now, just the idea of leaving has knots forming in my stomach. Harrison and I haven’t discussed next steps yet, but we’ve been down this road before. I know what it’s like being apart from him and that was before I was falling in love with him.

I bring the phone back to ear. “Can you repeat the last part?” I want to make sure I didn’t misunderstand what Theo said.

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