Page 62 of Je T'aime, Actually
“You’re not,” Chloé said, brushing damp hair from Monroe’s cheek. “That’s the plan.”
They lay tangled together, the world outside forgotten, as the sun pushed higher through the curtains, lighting the room in gold.
fifty
Monday morning came with a rainstorm, steady and insistent, painting the windows in long streaks of silver. But despite the grey and gloom back in the UK, Monroe felt unusually light—buoyant, even—as she moved through her cottage getting ready to pop into the office and speak with Neil.
She hadn’t booked an appointment; it wasn’t necessary. Neil had always been the kind of boss who made sure people knew his door was open, friendly and approachable. The sort who kept a bowl of mints on his desk and never forgot a birthday.
Sliding into tailored black trousers and a crisp white blouse, Monroe layered a matching black blazer over the top and glanced at herself in the mirror. Professional. Grounded. Still buzzing from the weekend.
Grabbing her bag and keys, she opened the door and stepped out into the damp morning, umbrella springing open above her. She passed her car and hesitated, weighing the comfort of a warm interior against the inevitable hunt for city-centre parking in Bath Street.
No, better not.
There’d be rain either way, and the train made more sense. A short walk to the station and a seat to think while on the ride in.Let the train take the strain, as that old advert used to say.
Smiling to herself, Monroe headed off, her shoes clicking softly on the wet pavement, a renewed sense of purpose in her stride.
The office buzzed with its usual Monday-morning energy: emails pinging, phones ringing, the low hum of conversation around fresh cups of coffee. Monroe shook off her umbrella at the door, offered a few quiet greetings, and made her way across the open-plan space towards the corner office.
Neil’s door was ajar, as it usually was, and she paused just long enough to give a gentle knock on the frame.
He looked up from his laptop and smiled. “Monroe. Come in. Everything alright?”
“Yes, all good. Do you have a few minutes?”
“For you? Always. Sit.”
She slipped into the chair opposite him, smoothing her palms on her trousers before folding them in her lap. She took a breath, then met his gaze.
“I’ve had some changes in my life over the last few months,” she began. “Personal ones. Unexpected, but…good ones. And it’s led me to a decision I wanted to run past you.”
Neil leant back in his chair, curiosity in his expression, but no hint of judgement. “Go on.”
“I’ve been spending a lot of time in France recently,” Monroe continued. “Every weekend, really. And I’ve been thinking aboutwhat it would mean to actually be based there for a while. To give it a proper shot, not just weekend dashes back and forth.”
She let that settle before adding, “If all went well, I’d like to move permanently, but I want to see what that might look like first. I’d still be working full-time. I’m already mostly remote here, and if anything major required me to be here, then I’d be happy to travel back for important meetings. I’m not asking for less responsibility—just a shift in geography.”
Neil nodded slowly, fingers steepled. “Alright. That’s a big change. France, though?” He smiled faintly. “Not the worst place to base yourself.”
Monroe returned the smile, a little sheepish. “No, not at all. I’ve fallen for someone there. And it feels serious. But she’s not in a position quite yet to be able to make the move here. I want to be smart about it too. If it doesn’t work, I come back. But if it does…then maybe this is the start of a new chapter.”
Neil was quiet for a moment, then leant forwards. “You’ve always been one of the most reliable people on the team. I’d be lying if I said we wouldn’t miss having you physically here in Bath Street, but…I trust you. And I can’t argue with the logic. Let’s treat this as a pilot. A month or two. We’ll reassess if needed.”
Relief flooded through Monroe so quickly she nearly slumped in her seat. “Thank you. Really.”
He grinned. “Don’t thank me yet. I’ll need an official proposal on email—what you’ll need, how you’ll structure your days, where the backup is if you’re off-line. All that jazz.”
“Of course. I’ll get that to you this week.”
Neil nodded, satisfied. “Alright then. Now go make the rest of us jealous with your croissant-filled mornings and charming street cafés.”
Monroe stood, the grin now reaching her eyes. “Deal.”
She left the office, phone already in hand.
Monroe:He said yes. xx
