“It’s perfect,” she murmurs.
I swallow. “It needed to be.”
She glances at me, curiosity flickering in her expression.
I push off the counter, moving toward the second door at the far end of the room. My lips tip up on one side.
“There’s one more thing.”
I don’t look at her as I reach for the handle.
I just open it.
The space beyond is quiet as natural light filters in through a large front-facing window, catching on glass display cases and clean white counters. The entrance to the street sits just on the other side, opposite from the main restaurant, exactly as planned.
I step back, letting her take it in.
She doesn’t move at first. Then slowly, she steps past me.
Her heels click softly against the floor as she walks further inside, her gaze sweeping across every detail: black and white checkered floor, chrome bar and stools, pink accent wall with TT in bright white script.
I watch her carefully; every reaction etched into memory.
Her fingers brush along the edge of one of the display cases.
Her breath catches as she peeks out the front window, seeing the neon pink awnings hovering above the sidewalk outside.
She turns in a slow circle, taking in the space from every angle not saying a word.
“This…” she starts, then trails off. Both hands cover her mouth, eyes glittering in the light.
I stay quiet, arms casually crossed while I let her get there on her own. She stops near the center of the room, turning back toward me.
“What is this?”
I hold her gaze, unblinking.
“You know what this is” My answer hangs between us.
She shakes her head, blinking in confusion. Disbelief.
“I built this side of the business with someone very specific in mind.” My voice stays steady, though my pulse is hammering. “She just didn’t know about it until now and hasn’t decided if she wants it yet.”
She stares at me like she’s trying to piece it all together, like she’s not sure she heard me right.
“You built this… for me?” she asks, voice quieter now.
“Yeah.”
“That’s…” She exhales sharply. “Alex, that’s a lot.”
“I know.”
“And what if I say no?”
It’s my turn to suck in a sharp breath, but I nod once before speaking. “Then you’d say no.”
Her brows pull together as she processes my words. “Right but then what? You’d just keep it?”
