Chapter 478
Chapter 478:
“I’ll need to think about it,” I said slowly.
He gave a shrug that said he wasn’t disappointed. “Take your time. Just an idea p>
Through the rear-view mirror, I caught the glimmer of his perfect smile. If he hadn’t just admitted his age, I’d never have guessed he was thirty-six.
“We’re here,” he announced.
The car glided into a private lot outside Valmont & Cie’s headquarters. I stepped out and stared like a tourist. Pale stone, razor-sharp lines, the whole edifice towering so high it made my neck ache just to look up.
“Bloody hell,” I muttered.
I’d flipped through plenty of glossy magazines, seen the professional photos. But only standing right under it did I finally get it.
My first day at Valmont & Cie passed so fast, I barely registered the time. After dinner with my new colleagues—one of those lively, three-hour affairs—I tried to wave Fabrizio off, but he insisted on driving me back to the house.
He was every inch the perfect gentleman—effortlessly charming, immaculately dressed, fluent in five languages before dessert.
When I mentioned this to Yvaine over video call, she tsk-tsked.
“Watch your back when he turns up the charm,” she deadpanned.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“Don’t forget, four pillars of the classic Frenchman—well-dressed, smooth talker, sharp business sense, and… expert seducer p>
“Please. Did Ashton put you up to that? When did you two get so chummy p>
“He didn’t. And we haven’t. But great minds think alike, yeah p>
Right on cue, Ashton’s video call flashed onto my screen. “Speak of the devil. The other great mind’s calling. Night.” Yvaine signed off.
I settled against the headboard, towel-dried hair falling around my ears. Ashton was in his study, jacket tossed on the chair, tie loose, sleeves rolled back.
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“It’s past midnight over there,” I said. “Shouldn’t you be asleep p>
“I was waiting for you. How was dinner p>
“Good. Very French, very long.” I hovered on the edge of telling him about Fabrizio’s proposal.
In the end, I kept quiet. Ashton already hated this trip. If I mentioned a months-long partnership, he’d be on the next flight in a heartbeat.
“Move the camera closer. Let me actually see you.” I zoomed the phone so close all he’d see were my pores.
“How was your first day?” he asked.
“Fantastic. The company’s massive, and they have the best coffee machine I’ve ever used. They even gave me a private office p>
“Is that all p>
“That’s it.” I knew what he was fishing for but refused to give him any ammunition. “They’ve been incredibly welcoming. I asked for an extra monitor, and one of their IT techs arrived before I even finished the sentence. Honestly, it’s the kind of setup I could really get used to p>
He leaned in, suspicion flickering in his eyes. “That sounds dangerously like you’re planning to stay p>
I flashed a grin, just to see what he’d do. “Maybe. I might stick around until the new collection drops p>
Ashton sat up straight, visibly annoyed. “You said one week. Now you’re talking six months?” I nodded. “Exactly p>