Chapter 71

In the kitchen, the scent of fresh coffee filled the air as Monique worked efficiently. “Sit,” she instructed, pointing at the chair. “I’m making breakfast.”

I smirked but obeyed, watching as she moved about the kitchen.

A few minutes later, she set down a plate in front of me—a beautifully arranged breakfast of fresh fruit, thick slices of toasted brioche with creamy ricotta, and a drizzle of honey over everything. On the side, a small bowl of yogurt topped with crunchy granola and almonds.

“This looks amazing,” I said, reaching for my fork.

She slid into her seat with a pleased smile. “I thought we could use something a little lighter today.”

As we ate, the conversation was easy, flowing between teasing and quiet moments of contentment.

“So, what’s the plan for today?” Monique asked, scooping up a spoonful of yogurt.

I hesitated for only a fraction of a second before answering. “I need to go to the office for a bit this morning. Just some loose ends to tie up before we leave for Geneva; Chantel has some documents for me to go over, and I’ll need a briefing from the team that has been dealing with Swiss Tech Solutions, that is the name of the Geneva company.”

She nodded. “And I’ll come with you.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You don’t have to.”

She smirked. “I want to. Besides, I should probably familiarize myself with my boss’s office before my first day as his assistant.”

I chuckled. “Fair point.”

She tilted her head, watching me. “You seem ... distracted.”

I took a sip of my coffee, giving her an easy smile. “Just thinking about the trip. And about how well you’ll do in that meeting.”

Her expression softened. “You really believe in me, don’t you?”

I reached across the table, taking her hand in mine. “With all my heart.”

She squeezed my fingers. “Then I won’t let you down.”

As we finished breakfast, I felt the weight of my secret growing lighter. Soon, she would know everything. Soon, she would understand that she wasn’t just coming with me to Geneva for a meeting—she was staying with me here, in France. At least, that was what I hoped she wanted, despite believing it with my heart, doubt ate around the edges of my belief.

After an uneventful drive to the office, Chantel met us at the door. She quickly grabbed Monique, telling me she’d left the report on my desk to read over. There were no surprises there, and I quickly scanned it before setting out to find Monique. I made my way through the office, weaving past workstations and private offices, my thoughts still lingering on the Swiss Tech Solutions project. The meeting on Monday was more of a formality—the deal was nearly done. They just wanted to meet me face-to-face before finalizing the contract. It wasn’t unusual for high-profile clients to want that last bit of assurance before signing a long-term agreement.

That meant my job was simple: show up, present confidence, and make sure nothing derailed the momentum already in place. Which meant I could finally focus on something far more important—Monique.

I found her and Chantel in one of the open collaborative spaces, where several employees were reviewing design models and discussing project logistics. Monique stood in the middle of it all, her eyes bright as she took in the activity around her.

Chantel clearly enjoyed showing her around, gesturing animatedly as she explained different aspects of the firm’s work not covered on her previous visit. When I approached, Monique turned to me, her excitement evident.

“This place is incredible,” she said, motioning to the space around her. “It’s one thing to hear you talk about your work, but seeing it in action? It’s amazing.”

I smirked. “We do our best.”

Chantel grinned. “She’s been asking a lot of questions. Good ones, too.”

Monique shrugged. “I just want to understand how everything comes together. It’s one thing to learn theory in school, but seeing the practical application of it is completely different.”

I nodded approvingly. “That’s the best way to learn. Seeing how everything fits together in the real world.” One of my senior architects, Marc, stepped forward, shaking Monique’s hand. “We hear you’re going to be working with us soon,” he said, giving her an easy smile.

The moment the words left Marc’s mouth, I saw Monique’s expression shift from excitement to confusion. Her eyes flicked toward me, searching for an explanation.

I clenched my jaw, cursing silently as I shot Marc a sharp look. His face paled as realization dawned, and his hand twitched slightly, as if he wanted to reach out and physically pull the words back into his mouth.