Half a million euros, just for signing a contract with her, and then a quarter million each year right from the start.
And I’ll live in France, in the most romantic country in the world, working with people like Virginia.
I have no words.
"Is this…some kind of joke?" I ask in a shaky voice after a long pause.
I know it's almost impossible that a woman like Virginia Fleurant would be joking about such things, but still.
"Darling, I never…" She hesitates for a second. "How to say this in English…?Menaces en l'air, which means…mmm…I do not throw words around; that's what my father taught me when I was little."
Virginia takes her bag and gets up from the chair, waving to the waiter to clear her empty glass of water.
"Let me know your decision by the end of the month," she adds casually. "You can text me about your decision, or you can call me if you have any questions.À plus! "
And then she simply walks away out of the restaurant, just like that, as if it's not a big deal.
Well, maybe for her it's nothing special, but for me…
My whole life is on the line now.
And what should I do? Should I stay at Harden's company just because I fell in love with him?
Wait a second.I am not in love with him, am I? That's impossible; it's too soon.
Then what else is stopping me from accepting the offer?
Chapter Fourteen
Crystal
I could move to Paris and maybe buy a small apartment somewhere near my new office with the money Virginia is offering me to sign a contract with her. I could afford the best education for Sky, one she couldn't even dream about before. I could work with people who really love what they do and don’t just work for money and nothing else. I could walk throughthe Champs-Élyséesor go to the opera on weekends.
"Are you okay, angel? You've been quiet all through the flight," a low husky voice interrupts my thoughts, and I turn away from the window to look at Jack.
He’s stopped talking on the phone and working on his computer, which he was doing for the whole flight. And now he’s looking directly at me with a questioning look on his face, which expresses a mix of interest with concern.
"Just a little anxiety because of the flight," I lie, looking away because it's hard for me to lie straight to his face.
I didn't tell him about Virginia's offer. I don't want him to know that all day long, I was considering accepting her offer. Moreover, I don't want Jack to think that he has to raise my salary and give me a bonus only because Virginia offered me one.
He doesn't say anything, just studies my face. I bet he knows I’m keeping something from him, but I'm not ready to say more, even though sometimes I think he can read my mind.
"Maybe it's because you keep talking on your phone when it's forbidden on the plane," I joke, to change the subject, looking at his cell, which he hasn’t set down for the whole flight.
He laughs, places the phone on the table in front of us, and leans closer to me.
"I’ll turn it off in five minutes if you want," he says huskily, brushing his fingers over my wrist. "Just have to make one more call."
"You don't have to do that." I shake my head. "I know you have a lot of work to do."
"I do." He nods, leaning closer. "But now I also have you."
When our lips meet, my heart stops for a second.
I have you…
Those simple words awaken something new in my heart, something magical, something I've never felt before.