Page 115 of If You Give a CEO a Chance

“I want to stay in New York and turn this space into the restaurant I’ve always wanted withyou.” She holds a finger when I try to speak. “But I won’t accept a handout, no matter how generous your intentions are.”

I step in front of her, take her hand in mine, and press a kiss to the tips of her fingers, hiding my smile. “What do you propose, my love?”

“Will you be my first investor? I want this to be a partnership, like you said, not a charity.” She squares her shoulders and extends her hand.

I tap my chin, pretending to think it over, though I already know there’s no way I’ll let her pay me a dime. This place was meant to be a gift and a way to honor her parents’ legacy. But I understand she won’t settle for anything less than an agreement to move forward, and I respect that.

“It’s a deal, but I’ve got a condition.” She eyes me cautiously, unsure where I’m headed with this. “We seal this one with a kiss.”

She smirks, dropping her hand and sauntering closer. “I accept your terms, hotshot.”

I rest my hand on the small of her back and the other on the nape of her neck. She tilts her head in invitation as I slant my mouth across hers. Fallon’s lips are soft against mine, and I groan, losing myself in the sweetness. We’ve kissed countless times, but this one is different—it’s a promise of a new beginning.

Iwake up the next morning with a sense of pure excitement. After years of working toward my goal of opening a restaurant, I’m finally one step closer to it becoming a reality. It wouldn’t be possible without Harrison. When he said he had a surprise for me, I never imagined it would be a building, let alone one that I now have the freedom to transform as we see fit.

Admittedly, I was prepared to turn him down despite it being the perfect space. It felt wrong accepting such a grand gesture, especially since I’ve been adamant about doing everything on my own for the longest time. In the past, I refused help because I thought I had to prove I could handle things on my own. But recently, I’ve learned that relying on others isn’t a sign of weakness but strength. It takes courage to trust someone implicitly and let them in to share the load.

It’s still surreal that Harrison told me he loves me. I didn’t think being this happy was possible, but he’s proving me wrong. After our conversation, it’s like everything is falling into place as it should, and I’m ready to start our new life together.

I’m at the kitchen counter with my laptop, looking at design inspiration for the restaurant. I want the place to be a peaceful retreat amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. It’ll include warm, earthy tones, natural wood accents, and vibrant greenery, including hanging plants, indoor trees, and fresh herbs that will be incorporated into the menu.

Cat trots over from his bed in the corner, nudging my leg with his head.

“Hey there, little demon,” I say, bending down to scratch behind his ear. “You’ve already had breakfast, remember?” He meows loudly in protest. “Don’t worry. I’ll get you some salmon delight once Harrison leaves for work,” I coo, ruffling his fur.

“I heard that,” Harrison says from the doorway. “Remember what the vet said yesterday?”

We took Cat to his first vet appointment yesterday and were told he’s in excellent health, but the vet recommended cutting him down to two meals a day to prevent any further weight gain. It seems I’ve been overindulging him.

I gently turn Cat’s head in Harrison’s direction. “How am I supposed to say no to this face?”

Harrison laughs softly, glancing down at Cat. “You’re right, he is downright adorable when he’s not attacking plates or knocking things over.”

He maneuvers around Cat, leaning down to kiss me. He looks utterly edible in a three-piece navy suit. He got a haircut yesterday, styled in a tapered fade.

“I love you,” I murmur.

“I love you too, trouble.” He caresses my jaw, giving me another soft kiss. “Have a great day, and don’t you and Cat get into too much mischief while I’m gone.”

“We make no promises,” I tease.

Now that I’m moving into Harrison’s bedroom, we’re working on converting mine into a sanctuary for Cat, complete with a climbing wall, a cat tree by the window where he can nap in the sun, and a scratching post in the corner to encourage him to leave the other furniture in the house alone. It’s perfect timing, considering the new couch for the living room, and the dining room table and chairs we’ve ordered will arrive in a couple of weeks.

Harrison grabs his lunch from the fridge I made him earlier, and hugs me on his way out the door. “Can’t wait to see you tonight.”

“I’m looking forward to it. I love you.”

“I love you too, beautiful. See you soon.” He waves before heading down the hallway.

Before I go back to looking at design inspiration, I check my phone to find a message waiting.

Lila: I can’t wait to fly out for the restaurant’s grand opening and shower you with hugs!

Fallon: It’ll take at least a year before we open.

Fallon: But have your hugs on standby!

After Harrison surprised me at the restaurant, I had to call Lila and share all the exciting news. Of course, I couldn’t wait to tell my best friend that I’ve found the love of my life.

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