It was a bright, breezy day in Paris, the kind where everything feels light and full of possibility. Emily Cooper was rushing through the cobblestone streets of the city, her phone clutched in one hand and a latte in the other. She was running late for a meeting with her ever-demanding boss, Sylvie, and between dodging tourists and avoiding the temptation of every pâtisserie she passed, her usual balance was faltering.

"Excusez-moi!" Emily called out as she weaved between a couple on a scooter.

Her phone buzzed with a message from Mindy, her best friend: "Girl, don't forget to breathe! Sylvie can wait. She probably enjoys torturing you anyway. "

Emily smiled at the text, knowing Mindy was right, but also knowing that Sylvie's wrath was nothing to be underestimated. She finally made it to the office of Savoir, the boutique marketing firm where she worked, bursting through the door with an apologetic grin.

"Late again, Emily?" Sylvie's voice was as icy as ever.

"I know, I know, but the traffic was a nightmare. Parisians do not believe in punctuality during lunch hours!" Emily tried to offer her most charming smile, but Sylvie wasn't buying it.

"Lucky for you, we're in France." Sylvie looked her up and down, then waved her away with a perfectly manicured hand. "There's an important client arriving in an hour, and you'll need to be on top of your game."

Emily nodded vigorously, still trying to catch her breath. "I'm ready! Who's the client?"

Before Sylvie could answer, Luc popped his head in, a mischievous smile on his face. "Ah, Emily, you'll be happy to know it's not a fashion house this time. No more runway mishaps for you."

Emily rolled her eyes. The last "runway mishap" had involved her accidentally stepping into a photographer's shot while holding a croissant. Not her finest moment.

Sylvie sighed dramatically, clearly already exasperated. "The client is Gabriel Desmarais. He's one of the top restaurateurs in Paris, and he's looking to expand his brand globally. We need to pitch him an image that will resonate with an international audience."

Emily blinked in surprise. Gabriel Desmarais? The name sounded familiar. Wasn't he that celebrity chef who had been all over social media lately? This was going to be interesting.


One hour later, Emily found herself seated in the conference room, her mind racing through ideas as she waited for Gabriel to arrive. She tapped her foot nervously under the table, glancing at the door every few seconds. When it finally swung open, she was not prepared for what she saw.

Gabriel Desmarais was, in a word, gorgeous. Tall, tousled brown hair, a sharp jawline, and the kind of effortlessly chic style that only a Parisian could pull off. He strolled into the room with a casual confidence, his warm eyes scanning the space before they landed on Emily. For a second, she thought he looked familiar—too familiar.

"Bonjour," Gabriel greeted them, his voice rich with a velvety French accent that immediately made Emily feel like she'd walked into a rom-com.

"Bonjour," Emily managed, offering a friendly, slightly flustered smile.

As Gabriel sat down and began discussing his vision for his restaurants, Emily found herself only half-listening, distracted by the fact that he was even more charming in person than his social media presence suggested. But when Sylvie nudged her from across the table, Emily snapped back to reality and tried to focus.

"Right, global branding!" Emily jumped in, a little too enthusiastically. "We could leverage your image to appeal to the American market, while still maintaining the essence of French sophistication—"

Gabriel interrupted with a teasing grin. "So, you think Americans can appreciate French sophistication?"

Emily blinked, caught off guard by the playful challenge. "Well, I like to think I'm proof of that," she quipped, her smile widening as Gabriel chuckled.

"I like your optimism, Emily," Gabriel said, his eyes twinkling. "Let's hope the rest of your country agrees."

Emily flushed slightly at the way he said her name, her heart doing a little flip. She wasn't usually one to mix business with pleasure, but there was something about Gabriel that was undeniably... electric.


Later that evening, Mindy, Camille, and Emily were seated outside at a café, enjoying wine and discussing the day. Mindy leaned forward, eyes wide with excitement.

"Okay, spill. What's the deal with this Gabriel guy? I saw your eyes practically sparkle when you mentioned his name."

Emily took a sip of wine, trying to play it cool. "He's just... He's really talented, you know? He's got this vision for his restaurants, and he's—"

"Uh-huh, vision for his restaurants. Right," Mindy interrupted, giving her a knowing look. "So, did he ask for your number? Or, better yet, did you give him your number?"

Emily laughed, shaking her head. "No, it's not like that. He's a client."

"But he's hot, right?" Camille added, raising an eyebrow. "And let's be honest, this is Paris. Romantic entanglements are practically part of the work culture."

Emily sighed, her mind wandering back to the way Gabriel had looked at her during the meeting, like he was sizing her up for more than just a marketing pitch. "Okay, fine. He's hot. But that doesn't mean I'm going to mix business and pleasure."

Mindy grinned. "Oh honey, in Paris, it's all the same thing."


The next few days were a whirlwind of meetings with Gabriel, each one filled with more laughter and flirtatious banter than Emily had anticipated. They worked late into the evenings, bouncing ideas off each other for how to elevate his brand. And every time their eyes met across the table, there was a spark—a charged energy that neither of them could ignore.

On one particularly late night, as they sat in his restaurant after hours, the conversation took a more personal turn.

"So, what brought you to Paris?" Gabriel asked, pouring them both a glass of wine as they sat at one of the candlelit tables.

Emily shrugged, leaning back in her chair. "Work, originally. But now... I don't know. It feels like home in a way that Chicago never did."

Gabriel smiled, his gaze softening. "I get that. Paris has a way of getting under your skin. You think you can just visit, but then it keeps calling you back."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, sipping their wine, the soft glow of the candles casting flickering shadows around the room. Emily felt a warmth settle over her, and it wasn't just the wine. Being here, in this moment, with Gabriel—it felt effortless.

"So," Gabriel said, breaking the silence, his tone teasing, "how's the American appreciating French sophistication?"

Emily grinned, leaning forward. "I think I'm getting better at it every day."

Their eyes locked, and for a moment, Emily thought he might kiss her. The tension was there, electric and undeniable. But just as he leaned in, her phone buzzed, breaking the spell.

She glanced down at it—another message from Mindy, probably checking in on her progress with Gabriel—and sighed.

"Saved by the bell," she joked, though part of her was disappointed.

Gabriel chuckled, leaning back. "For now."


The next week, things continued to heat up—not just in their professional relationship, but in their personal one as well. They spent more time together outside of work, grabbing coffees, going on late-night strolls around Paris. It was all so... perfect. And yet, something kept Emily from diving in headfirst.

One evening, as they walked along the Seine, Gabriel turned to her, his expression serious. "Emily, I have to ask... Are you holding back?"

Emily blinked, taken aback by his directness. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, we're spending all this time together. We laugh, we talk, but... I feel like you're not letting me in all the way." He stopped walking, looking down at her with those deep, questioning eyes. "Is it because I'm a client?"

Emily hesitated, searching for the right words. "It's not just that. I mean, yes, you're a client, and I don't want to mess things up. But... I don't know. I've been burned before. And mixing work with my personal life—it just feels risky."

Gabriel nodded, understanding in his eyes. "I get it. But sometimes, you have to take risks, right? Otherwise, you might miss out on something amazing."

Emily felt her heart skip a beat at his words. He was right. She knew he was right. And yet, the fear of what could go wrong still lingered.

She took a deep breath, meeting his gaze. "Okay. No more holding back."

Gabriel smiled, the tension between them finally breaking as he pulled her into a kiss. It was soft at first, then deeper, more passionate, as if all the time they'd spent dancing around their feelings had led to this one perfect moment.

When they finally pulled away, Emily laughed, breathless. "So, does this mean we're mixing business with pleasure now?"

Gabriel grinned, his hands still resting on her waist. "It's Paris. Isn't that what we're supposed to do?"

And just like that, Emily felt the weight of her hesitation lift. Maybe mixing with pleasure wasn't such a bad idea after all.

The next morning, Emily walked into the Savoir office with a radiant smile that didn't go unnoticed. Sylvie eyed her over the rim of her glasses.

"You're unusually cheerful today," Sylvie remarked, her tone laced with curiosity.

Emily tried to play it cool. "Just excited about the progress we're making with Gabriel's campaign."

Luc leaned over his desk, smirking. "Ah, yes, the campaign. Is that what's making you blush, or is there more to the story?"

Emily felt her cheeks warm. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Julien chuckled. "Come on, Emily. It's written all over your face."

She was saved from further interrogation by a call from Gabriel. Stepping aside, she answered, "Good morning!"

"Morning, Emily. I was wondering if you'd like to join me for lunch today. I've got a new dish I want you to try."

"Work-related, of course?" she teased.

"Strictly professional," he replied, though his tone suggested otherwise.

"Then I'd be happy to."


At lunch, Gabriel served her a beautifully plated dish at his restaurant.

"This is amazing," Emily exclaimed after the first bite. "You're a genius."

He smiled warmly. "Flattery will get you everywhere."

They both laughed, and Gabriel reached across the table to take her hand. "I'm glad we decided to give this a chance."

Emily looked into his eyes. "Me too. Though juggling work and... whatever this is, might get complicated."

He squeezed her hand gently. "We'll figure it out. Besides, what's life without a little complication?"

She grinned. "Boring, which is something I've never been accused of."


Over the next few weeks, Emily and Gabriel navigated their dual roles with surprising ease. Their professional collaboration flourished, and their personal relationship deepened. But, of course, Paris had its way of stirring the pot.

One afternoon, Emily met Mindy at a café.

"You seem happy," Mindy observed, sipping her espresso.

"I am," Emily admitted. "Gabriel and I are... well, we're good."

Mindy wiggled her eyebrows. "Good as in 'good,' or good as in 'we're spending every night together' good?"

Emily laughed. "Both, I think."

"But?"

Emily sighed. "But sometimes I wonder if it's too good to be true. Like the other shoe is going to drop."

Mindy reached across the table to touch her hand. "Don't overthink it. Enjoy the moment."


That evening, Emily arrived at Gabriel's apartment to find him cooking dinner.

"Something smells delicious," she said, hanging her coat by the door.

He turned and greeted her with a kiss. "I thought we'd stay in tonight. I wanted to make you my special coq au vin."

She raised an eyebrow. "Special occasion?"

He hesitated for a moment before replying, "Actually, there's something I wanted to talk to you about."

They sat down at the table, and Gabriel poured them both a glass of wine.

"I've been offered an opportunity to open a new restaurant," he began.

"Gabriel, that's fantastic!" Emily exclaimed.

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "It's in London."

Her heart sank. "Oh."

"It's a great opportunity, but it would mean relocating for at least six months to get things started."

Emily took a sip of her wine to buy time. "When would you have to leave?"

"By the end of next month."

She looked down at her plate, her appetite fading. "That's soon."

"I know," he said softly. "I wanted to tell you earlier, but I wasn't sure how."

"Do you want to go?" she asked, meeting his gaze.

"It's a big step for my career. But I don't want to lose what we have."

Emily took a deep breath. "Maybe we can make it work long-distance. It's not that far, and with our schedules..."

He reached for her hand. "I was hoping you'd say that. And maybe you could visit. Or, if possible, work remotely sometimes?"

She smiled weakly. "I'll talk to Sylvie, but you know how she is."


Back at the office, Emily approached Sylvie about the possibility of working remotely on occasion.

Sylvie looked at her thoughtfully. "Let me guess, this is about Gabriel's move to London?"

Emily was surprised. "How did you—"

"Please, Emily. Nothing happens in this city without me knowing," Sylvie said with a hint of amusement. "You're valuable to the team, but I can't have you gallivanting off to London whenever you please."

"I understand," Emily replied, trying to hide her disappointment.

"However," Sylvie continued, "we are considering expanding our presence in London. If you can bring in new business while you're there, I might be persuaded to be flexible."

Emily's eyes lit up. "Really? I can do that!"

Sylvie gave a small smile. "I thought you might say that."


Over the next month, Emily and Gabriel prepared for the changes ahead. They spent as much time together as possible, exploring Paris and making memories.

On Gabriel's last night in Paris before the move, they had a picnic by the Eiffel Tower.

"I can't believe you're leaving tomorrow," Emily said softly.

He took her hand. "It's not goodbye. It's 'see you soon.'"

She rested her head on his shoulder. "Promise me we'll make this work."

He kissed the top of her head. "I promise."


In the weeks that followed, they navigated the challenges of a long-distance relationship. Emily threw herself into her work, securing new clients in London and impressing Sylvie with her dedication.

One evening, while on a video call, Gabriel shared some news.

"The restaurant's opening has been a success. I couldn't have done it without your marketing genius."

She smiled. "I'm glad it's going well."

"There's something else," he added, his expression serious but excited. "I've been offered a partnership, which means I'll be here longer than expected."

Emily's heart sank. "Oh."

"But," he continued, "I've been thinking. Paris is home for both of us. Maybe, once things settle here, we can open a restaurant together in Paris."

Her eyes widened. "Together?"

"Yes. A joint venture. Combining your marketing brilliance with my culinary skills."

She laughed lightly. "That's a big step."

He looked at her intently. "I'm ready for big steps if you are."

She felt a surge of joy. "Let's do it."


A few months later, Gabriel returned to Paris, and together they began planning their new restaurant. Their relationship was stronger than ever, having weathered the challenges of distance and career ambitions.

One night, as they stood outside the site of their future restaurant, Gabriel turned to Emily.

"You know, meeting you has been the best thing that's ever happened to me."

She smiled up at him. "I could say the same about you."

He took her hands in his. "So, what do you say? Ready to keep mixing business with pleasure?"

She grinned. "It's showtime."

They kissed under the Parisian moonlight, ready to embrace whatever the future held.