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I listened to Knight’s stories about the coffee shops and the museums He described his flat He told me how difficult it was to have his piano shipped It took weeks He was having the saht back to the States Neither of us allowed a hint of the rand

He spent weekends in London I was afraid to ask about the women I knew they existed Of course, they existed It was hard to picture hieous brunette on his arm But he never let it slip He had taken up polo and had a box at one of the football stadiu up Italian and Gerne

“It sounds beautiful,” I mused “Especially the French countryside Did you think aboutthere and out of the city?”

“You would love it Chane for miles” His sexy smile made me shiver Or maybe it was the rumble of his voice “It’s a quiet life for sure I think the countryside is the perfect place when there is noroom

“Work?”

He nodded “The pace The race to conquer Yes, once that’s out of your system, then I would move to the French countryside and learn how to ne”

I wondered if he was askingit would take to eli projects like Crescent Towers? He knew the Kennedy that would rather read by the pool He knew the girl as looking for a way out The one desperate for freedom

How did I o back to that night at Marguerite’s? How did I convince a naïve a younger me to hop on that plane to Paris and never look back?

Those were hts as I sat inside ht to build I surpassed my father’s vision I had triumphed over Raphael I survived when markets were volatile and other businesses failed I adapted and evolved to stay on top Yet, to have a chance to do it again, would I rather live in the French countryside drinking chane with a man who made my heart spin?

I heard my phone buzz inside my purse

“Go ahead,” Knight allowed

“No We’re in the middle of a date Business can wait”

A few seconds later, the phone buzzed again

“Soht need you I understand I’ll find the server and order ne”

I nodded “All right I’ll be quick I promise”