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“No. She might know Vegas, but you understand our entire organization. I need you as CEO.” When she didn’t immediately speak, he regarded her solemnly. “Unless you decide you no longer want the job.”
“In truth, I’m not sure. One of the reasons I went to Africa was because when I learned I wasn’t a Fontaine, a part of me was relieved.”
“I can understand that. You’ve put a lot of pressure on yourself.”
“Then I met Greg LeDay and I didn’t have an aha moment. He wasn’t happy to meet me. He had no interest in starting any sort of relationship. There are a whole bunch of people I’m related to that I’ll never get to know.”
“Give him some time to think about it. He may change his mind.”
“I doubt it.”
The epiphany she’d expected upon meeting her biological father hadn’t happened. She’d been no closer to discovering who she really was. What had changed her was the time she’d spent with Ashton, seeing Africa through his eyes. Those days had given her a deeper understanding of what made her happy.
“All my life I’ve wanted you to be proud of me,” she said. “It’s why I worked so hard.”
“And I am.”
“From things my father said, I knew you wanted a Fontaine to be at the company’s helm.”
“Now you’re thinking that if you take over one won’t be?”
“Actually, I’m not sure I’m as ready to be in charge as I thought.”
“You want to stay in Las Vegas?”
“No, I think Violet should take over Fontaine Ciel.” That would surprise her very capable sister. “I’d like to spend several years consulting in the area of development.”
“Let me guess. Traveling the world to determine the best places to expand?”
“Something like that.”
“And you think I should stay on in the meantime?”
She smiled. “You and I both know you’re not ready to stop working. Maybe you could try slowing down a bit. Let your staff handle more.”
“You’re asking a lot of an old man.”
“I trust that you have it in you.”
* * *
At eight in the morning, Batouri’s kitchen was a peaceful place. Surrounded by stainless steel, alone with his thoughts, Ashton did the one thing that had saved him for the past twenty years. He cooked.
The five days since Batouri had opened had been hectic ones. He’d been tweaking the menu daily, using the specials to experiment, finding the perfect blend of traditional and unexpected.
He hadn’t seen Harper since the night Batouri had opened. She’d gone to New York City and hadn’t yet returned. Each day Ashton grew less confident that he’d made the right decision. He’d turned down the Lifestyle Network show, deciding if he wanted to prove how committed he was to her happiness, he’d have to demonstrate it in a big way. Now his hopes that she’d choose traveling with him over living a lie were dwindling.
Despite how things turned out, he was glad he hadn’t pressed her to join him. She’d wanted him to. But for him to make such an important decision for her would have brought her back full circle to her current dilemma. What was it Harper wanted for herself?
Almost as if thinking about her had compelled her to find him, Harper stepped into his kitchen.
“I thought I might find you here.”
“Where else?”
She looked exactly the same as the first day he’d met her. The unflappable executive with her hair smoothed back into an elegant French roll. Expensive but understated jewelry adorned her slim neck and delicate earlobes. The hem of her designer power suit sliced her kneecaps in half and showed off her toned calves.
Polished. Professional. Perfect.
