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“I believe you’ve never allowed me permission to,” I tell him with a knowing smile. “So, what’s your timeline, and where do you need me?”
“I’d like handover handled here. Javier has proven himself, and if you are to say yes, I’ll be speaking with him next. As for where…. the main headquarters are Los Angeles.”
“Los Angeles?”
Lex waits for a response, raising his brow. “Is moving to LA a problem for you?”
“No… but…” I trail off. “You know then.”
“Look, Kate. This idea didn’t happen overnight. It’s been two years in the making, and only a few months ago, our lawyers gave me the green light. My reason for pushing it aside is because I never had anyone worthy to run it. You know you’re one of the only people I trust. You’ve been there with me throughout it all, and did a certain union push me to make the final decision, yes?”
“But what if I say no?”
“Then you’d be giving up on what you and Noah have. Trust me, I’ve done it, and it’s a mistake which you’ll have to live with forever. So, are you ready to call Javier in?”
Lex never takes no for an answer, and I’ve never let him down. The thought of moving back to the States comes with mixed trepidation. I need time to think about this.
“Can I have time to think about it?”
“I’m leaving tomorrow evening, so until midday,” he informs me, standing up to leave the room. “You’re born for this role. And you’ll be working with an amazing team. I envision global domination. We’ll start with the States, but our future will be Europe and Asia.”
Lex exits my office, leaving me with a heavy weight on my shoulders.
That night, I lay in bed, unable to shut down. My mind has become a circus of cluttered thoughts, all of which lead to Noah. If I move to LA, would I live with Noah or keep our lives separate? If we do live together, does that make me a stepmother? What role will I play in his kids’ lives?
And most importantly—how will I find the time to juggle what seems like a demanding job and a boyfriend too. Noah isn’t exactly swimming in time, constantly trying to balance his life. If I’m with him full-time, will he have time for me, or will we fall apart from the pressure?
My thoughts become too much, and several times I want to reach out and call him to talk it through but decide against it. He’s more than my best friend now—I can’t unload on him like I would’ve before.
Eventually, I fall asleep to be awoken hours later by the morning sunrise. Once again, I avoid yoga because coffee seems more important. At the café beside my building, I order my coffee to notice a couple beside me. They are practically making out, smiling as they can’t keep their hands off each other. The man turns to look at me, a polite smile in which I offer one in return. When he shifts his attention back onto his significant other, he cups her chin as Noah has done so many times to mine, and murmurs, “J’aime qui je suis quand je suis avec toi.”
Standing beside them, it all becomes clear. As the man tells the women in French, ‘I love who I am when I’m with you,’ my memories of Noah saying the same thing to me cements my decision.
I race back home, dialing his number, praying he hasn’t gone to bed yet.
“Hey, you.”
Noah clears this throat. “Hey, I was just thinking about you.”
“I didn’t wake you, did I?” My head can’t even compute the time zone difference right now.
“I can’t sleep,” he simply says.
“I’m sorry… it’s just that… I want to discuss something important.”
“Go ahead.”
I take a deep breath. It’s now or never. “Lex offered me a position in LA. I’d be President of DeLuxe Group, and it’s going to be a challenge, but—”
“Wait, you’re moving to LA?”
“I’m thinking about it…”
“You’re thinking about it? What’s there to think about?”
“I just didn’t want to push you. You have so much going on, and do you really want me knocking on your door every five minutes?”
“How many times do I have to tell you? You’re not pushing me. And for the record, you think you can come live in LA and us not live together?”
