He feels like home, too.
‘Where are we going?’ she asked, after ten minutes of walking, not recognising the street they were on.
She’d expected him to take her for an early lunch, or to his apartment, but instead they were now in what appeared to be a business area, and he was walking them to the entrance of a three-storey building. She looked up, wondering if she was supposed to recognise it, and that was when she saw a very discreet plaque that read CÉLINE TOUSSAINT.
‘This is where my family’s business is operated from,’ he said, before entering a code and opening the door for her, ushering her in ahead of him. ‘I wanted you to see it for yourself.’
Blake felt a familiar unease in her stomach when he mentioned his family business. He’d been very clear before she left that he didn’t want her to work with his mother.
‘I don’t know if this is the best idea. Last time?—’
‘Please,’ he said. ‘It’s important to me.’
Take every opportunity, Blake. Promise me you’ll make this the best year of your life.Her sister’s words echoed in her mind, words she’d said to her before Blake had boarded the plane, as Henri stood before her, holding out his hand to indicate that she should walk in front of him. And so she did, because she’d made a promise to her sister, and she had every intention of keeping it.
‘Blake!’ A familiar voice reached her as she stepped into a large, open-plan workplace. ‘Bienvenue!’
The walls were white, with exposed timber floorboards and glass desks, but the space came to life because of the clothes that were strewn absolutely everywhere—on racks, on the tops of desks, and dressed on mannequins.
That’s when she saw where the voice was coming from. Henri’s mother was striding across the room towards her, her arms open wide.
‘It’s so good to see you again,’ Céline said. ‘At last, you’re here to see how we work.’
‘It’s lovely to see you, too,’ she said, kissing Céline on both cheeks. The older woman held her arms and looked at her, really looked at her, and Blake smiled.
‘You came back to Paris. Does that mean you’re ready to take up my job offer?’ Céline laughed. ‘I waited, just in case you changed your mind.’
Blake glanced at Henri, who was standing with his hands in his pockets. He looked impossibly, effortlessly handsome.
‘I appreciate the gesture, Céline, I do, but I can’t take the position.’
His mother frowned. ‘You already have another internship?’
‘It’s because I asked her not to take the job, Maman,’ Henri said.
‘Non,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘Henri, why would you do such a thing?’
Blake kept her head down, not wanting to say the wrong thing. This was between Henri and his mother, and she’d learnt her lesson about coming between them.
‘Blake, do you want the job?’ Céline asked, giving her son a pointed look before turning her attention to Blake.
‘I do, very much so, but I also respect your son’s wishes, and?—’
‘Take the job,’ Henri said, walking a few steps towards them. ‘Asking you to turn it down is one of my biggest regrets, Blake. Please, if you’d like to work here, then you have my blessing.’
Blake looked between them again, and could see that Henri truly meant what he was saying.
‘I would love the job,’ she said, giving a big sigh of relief. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever wanted something more than to work here, with someone who has so much experience in the industry.’
‘Well, it’s settled then,’ Céline said, taking her by the hand and appearing to dismiss her son. ‘Now come with me, I wantyou to see the new designs. The samples have just arrived for our next summer collection.’
She glanced over her shoulder at Henri, who was watching her with an amused expression on his face.
‘Henri, could you get us coffees?’
At that, Blake could barely contain her laughter. She was fairly sure the intern was supposed to get the coffees, but Céline was clearly trying to put her son in his place for interfering.
‘Henri is a wonderful, talented young man,’ Céline said, ‘and I know I’m biased because he’s my son. But don’t ever let him, or any other man, tell you what you can and can’t do, even if you love them. We have to take the opportunities life gives us, and that means not turning down jobs that are perfect for us.’
