Please let this be real.
“The windows are my favorite part,” Christian says. I tilt my head back to see a skylight above us in the high,highceiling of the foyer. “One of my favorite parts.”
I take in the rest of the entrance, the U-shaped stairs to the left that turn right up to the second floor of the house, then down to what I think is a basement. To my right is a special corner with a bench and hooks, and a specific place for shoes.
“Come.” This home is so beautiful I feel terrible for not taking off my shoes as Christian pulls me along to a spacious family room—one of the walls being entirely made of windows and a glass door that opens to the patio.
“This would be more for serious guests, I think,” he says as I run my fingers over the fabric of the minimalist sofa. “The TV is in the living room.”
I follow him out and he leads me through every single space of the first floor. The only room on this floor is the one I am stepping into and it’s…
“Oh my god,” I breathe. Walls covered with floor to ceilingbookcases, all a pastel yellow. Two large windows with the view of the lake and sky. A loveseat that I assume is for me and a desk with a Mac perched on it that I assume is for him. I smile to myself—what a perfect excuse to be near each other while he’s working.
Christian’s arms come around me and his chest presses against my back. “When we finally move in, I’ll help you fill the shelves however you want.”
He pulls my hair behind my shoulder and kisses the back of it.
“This is… I don’t even know…”
“There’s more,” he says in my ear and takes my hand.
Seconds later, I walk into the kitchen, breathless.
“I’m thinking about taking my position more seriously,” he says, strolling in behind me as I take in the kitchen.
It’s indescribably beautiful. Windows everywhere, marble countertops, electric stove, and a deep sink. My fingers brush along the pristine, white marble and I round the island that also has adishwasher. Four stools in pale yellow are set on the opposite side—meant for our family of four.
For the hell of it, I stop at the sink and turn on the tap. I watch the water rush out and chuckle to myself. I close the tap and run my hands over the shiny new electric stove top.
And the window. Oh my god,the window. It pushes out when I press against it, opening to the back where the blue pool is—long and wide. The outdoor furniture is wonderfully laid out with an outdoor dining table large enough for our friends to join in the summers.
The library. The pool. The patio and porch. The driveway. The sink and electric stove. The fireplace, the large TV above, and the couch in front of it. I’ve officially been rendered speechless.
“I can remain CEO,” Christian continues, “and I’ll have some help.
I round the island and go to where he sits in one of the stools. “Christian?—”
“I could go to New York once a month. Twice only if you come with me. I can make myself an office in our new house. Or I could sell the entire company.”
“I thought you wanted to sell it because you didn’t like it.”
“It’s not so bad.” He shrugs. “I think I was just…angry.”
“You just like the expensive shoes,” I tease.
“Maybe. But I’ve also done this…” He slides a piece of paper toward me and taps his fingers on it once.
“What is this?” I pick it up with shaky hands and see his name on the paper with mine beside it.
“Read the whole thing.”
My eyes carefully read each word on the white sheet. Until I reach the bottom. I gasp. “Christian… What—What is this? What does it mean?”
I release the paper and it flies slowly onto the island. The painted words have turned into blurs of black ink, and I cannot begin to process everything that Christian has shown me today.
“It’s a trust fund for our kids.”
“How do you have this much money?”
