Emily Cooper stood on the balcony of her apartment in Paris, looking out over the city that had become her home. The Eiffel Tower sparkled in the distance, and the streets below bustled with the usual energy of a Parisian evening. She had been living in this city for over a year now, and yet every day still felt like an adventure, like there was something new to discover around every corner. Tonight, though, her thoughts weren't on work or the charm of the city. Tonight, her mind was somewhere else—or rather, with someone else.
The lyrics from Taylor Swift's "Paris" echoed in her head: "I want to brainwash you into loving me forever…" She grinned to herself, thinking about how the song perfectly captured the whirlwind romance she found herself in with Alfie. The Londoner who had once been her workplace nemesis had somehow turned into her romantic interest, and their relationship was now an intoxicating mix of banter, laughter, and undeniable chemistry.
She grabbed her phone, her fingers hovering over the keyboard as she thought about texting him. Alfie had left Paris for a business trip back to London, and even though it had only been a few days, she missed him more than she expected. Emily couldn't believe how quickly her life had shifted from navigating her career at Savoir to navigating her feelings for Alfie.
Just as she was about to send a playful "miss you" text, her phone buzzed with a message from Mindy.
Mindy: We're going to Le Grand Vefour for dinner tonight! You're coming, right?
Emily smiled at her best friend's enthusiasm. She had planned on staying in tonight, maybe catching up on some work or indulging in one of her favorite French films, but dinner at Le Grand Vefour was an invitation she couldn't pass up.
Emily: Wouldn't miss it for the world! See you in 30?
She quickly changed into a chic black dress, threw on her favorite pair of heels, and grabbed her purse. As she stepped out of her apartment and onto the Parisian streets, she felt a rush of excitement. This was her life now—balancing work, romance, and friendship in the most magical city in the world.
At the restaurant, Mindy was already seated, looking effortlessly glamorous as always. She waved at Emily the moment she walked through the door.
"Emily! Over here!" Mindy called, grinning. "You look fabulous, as usual."
Emily laughed, sitting down at the table. "Thanks! So do you. What's the occasion? You're practically glowing."
Mindy wiggled her eyebrows. "Well, let's just say I may or may not have met someone recently who's been making my days a little brighter."
Emily's eyes widened with excitement. "Oh my God! Spill the details. Who is he? Where did you meet?"
Mindy leaned in, lowering her voice as if she were about to share the juiciest secret. "His name is Julien. He's an artist—sensitive, creative, a bit of a free spirit. We met at a gallery opening a few days ago, and he's already taken me on the most romantic date I've ever been on."
Emily's face lit up. "I love this for you! He sounds amazing."
Mindy nodded, clearly smitten. "He's... different. He's got this vibe, like he's lived a hundred lives before and is now just taking it all in stride. It's refreshing, really."
The two friends chatted and laughed as the evening went on, the conversation bouncing between work, relationships, and Parisian life. Despite the fun they were having, Emily couldn't help but think about Alfie. She wondered what he was doing, how his trip was going, and when they'd be able to see each other again.
"You're thinking about Alfie, aren't you?" Mindy asked, giving Emily a knowing look.
Emily blushed, caught off guard. "Is it that obvious?"
Mindy smirked. "You've got that 'I'm falling for someone' look all over your face. How are things going with him?"
Emily sighed, smiling softly. "It's good. Really good, actually. He's funny, smart, and we just... click. But he's in London right now, and I guess I didn't realize how much I'd miss him."
Mindy raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Ooh, someone's getting serious."
Emily laughed, shaking her head. "I don't know about that. It's just... different with him. In a good way."
Mindy leaned back in her chair, taking a sip of wine. "Well, enjoy it. You deserve someone who makes you feel like you're walking on air."
Emily's heart swelled at her friend's words. She did feel like that with Alfie, like every moment with him was charged with excitement and possibility. But she also knew there were challenges ahead. A relationship with someone in a different city wasn't exactly easy, and she wondered how they would navigate that going forward.
As they finished their meal, Emily's phone buzzed. It was a text from Alfie.
Alfie: How's Paris treating you? I'm already sick of London.
Emily smiled, her fingers flying over the screen.
Emily: Paris is beautiful, but it's missing something... You.
A few seconds later, her phone buzzed again.
Alfie: Cheesy, but I'll take it. I'll be back before you know it.
Emily put her phone down, feeling a little lighter. She missed him, but knowing he was thinking about her too made the distance feel more bearable.
The next morning, Emily was back at Savoir, buried in emails and trying to catch up on work. Sylvie had been pushing for new campaigns, and there was pressure from their clients to come up with fresh, innovative ideas. As much as Emily loved her job, there were moments when it felt overwhelming—especially when she had her personal life swirling around in the background.
Just as she was getting into a rhythm, Luc walked into her office, a bemused look on his face.
"Emily," Luc said, leaning against the doorframe. "Why do you look like you're floating in the clouds?"
Emily looked up, startled. "What? I'm not floating. I'm working."
Luc gave her a knowing smile. "Ah, but your mind is elsewhere. Let me guess... a certain Londoner is responsible for your daydreaming?"
Emily rolled her eyes, but she couldn't hide her smile. "Maybe. I mean, is it that obvious?"
Luc laughed, shaking his head. "Yes, it's very obvious. But I'm happy for you. It's nice to see you like this."
Emily smiled, her heart warming. "Thanks, Luc. It's just... Alfie makes everything feel a little brighter, you know?"
Luc nodded thoughtfully. "I understand. Love does that. But be careful, Emily. Paris has a way of making things feel like a dream, and dreams don't always last."
Emily's smile faltered a bit at Luc's words. She knew he was right—Paris had a way of casting a romantic spell over everything, but the reality of relationships was much more complicated. Still, she wasn't ready to give up on the magic just yet.
Later that evening, after a long day at work, Emily decided to take a stroll through the city. She wandered along the Seine, the city lights reflecting off the water as the sun set in a swirl of pink and gold. She had her phone in hand, contemplating whether or not to call Alfie. They had been texting all day, but she wanted to hear his voice, to feel connected even from miles away.
Before she could make up her mind, her phone rang. It was Alfie.
"Hey!" Emily answered, a smile already spreading across her face.
"Hey, you," Alfie's deep voice came through the line, warm and familiar. "What are you up to?"
Emily glanced around at the beautiful cityscape in front of her. "Just walking by the Seine, enjoying the view. What about you? How's London?"
Alfie let out a mock groan. "Boring, as usual. I can't wait to get back to Paris. It's way more exciting there—with you."
Emily's heart skipped a beat. "You'll be back soon, right?"
"Soon," Alfie promised. "I've been thinking about our next date. You know, something different. Maybe a little adventure?"
Emily grinned, loving the sound of that. "Oh? What do you have in mind?"
Alfie chuckled. "You'll just have to wait and see. But I promise, it'll be worth it."
Emily laughed, feeling a flutter of excitement. "Okay, I'll hold you to that."
They talked for a few more minutes, the conversation easy and light, filled with laughter and teasing. By the time Emily hung up, she felt giddy, her heart full. She knew they had challenges ahead—distance, work, the usual complications—but she also knew that what they had was worth holding on to.
As she continued her walk, the lyrics from "Paris" floated through her mind: "Romance is not dead if you keep it just yours." And that was exactly what she and Alfie had. Their own little world, their own version of Paris, where everything was perfect—at least for now.
Emily smiled to herself, breathing in the cool night air as she looked out over the city she loved. No matter what the future held, she knew one thing for sure: in this moment, she was exactly where she was supposed to be.
And it was beautiful.
