The early morning sun streamed through the wide windows of Emily Cooper's tiny Parisian apartment, casting a warm golden glow over the eclectic decor she had pieced together during her time in the City of Light. Emily, still groggy, stretched and blinked at her phone, which was already buzzing with a barrage of notifications. She glanced at her schedule: a meeting with Sylvie at Savoir, a lunch with Luc and Julien, and later, an influencer event she had planned. Life in Paris never slowed down.

Emily shuffled out of bed, her eyes catching the glimmer of the Eiffel Tower in the distance. It still felt surreal to her—this life, this city, the whirlwind of it all. She had come to Paris for a year-long opportunity at Savoir, but somewhere along the way, Paris had become home. Or at least, that's what she was trying to convince herself. After all, home wasn't just about where you lived; it was about where you felt like you belonged.

"I'm like a watch, I'm unwinding like a clock, it's okay if I don't know what the time is…"

She hummed the tune of Demi Lovato's The Art of Starting Over as she brushed her teeth, the lyrics playing on her mind. Paris had been her grand adventure, but it had also been a lesson in failure, starting over, and rediscovering herself. Relationships had come and gone, misunderstandings had piled up, and her work-life balance was a mess. But despite it all, she was still here, still standing.

Just as Emily was finishing her morning routine, there was a knock at the door. She froze for a second, quickly pulling on a robe and rushing to answer it. There, standing on her doorstep, was Gabriel. Of course, it had to be Gabriel.

"Gabriel?" Emily blinked, her heart doing a little flip at the sight of him. "What are you doing here so early?"

Gabriel, looking effortlessly handsome as usual, shrugged casually but with that smirk that always made her stomach flutter. "I was on my way to the restaurant and thought I'd bring you a coffee." He handed her a cup from the local café, his fingers brushing against hers for just a moment too long.

Emily smiled, though the awkward tension between them was unmistakable. Things had been complicated ever since that kiss—okay, kisses—and the undeniable chemistry that was always there, hanging in the air. But he was with Camille, and she was… well, trying to move on. Again.

"Thanks," Emily said, taking the coffee and trying to keep her cool. "I could definitely use this. It's going to be a busy day."

Gabriel leaned against the doorframe, his smile softening as he looked at her. "You always seem to be busy, Emily. Maybe you should slow down a bit."

Emily raised an eyebrow. "Says the chef who works 14-hour days."

He chuckled, his eyes twinkling with that boyish charm. "Touché."

There was a pause, the kind that had become all too familiar between them, filled with words they weren't sure they were allowed to say. Finally, Gabriel straightened up. "Well, I should get going. But… I'll see you later?"

"Yeah," Emily nodded, her smile wavering as he turned and walked down the hallway, leaving her with a swirl of emotions she didn't have time to deal with.

"I've made it through hell and back again…"

Once Gabriel was gone, Emily closed the door and leaned against it, exhaling slowly. Why was everything with him so complicated? She'd tried to be rational, to keep things professional and respectful, but with every glance, every interaction, her heart just couldn't get the message.


Later that morning, Emily arrived at Savoir, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she walked into the sleek office space. Sylvie, ever the epitome of French elegance, was already at her desk, eyeing Emily with her usual mix of disdain and amusement.

"You're late," Sylvie remarked without looking up from her laptop.

"I'm not late, just… fashionably on time," Emily replied, flashing a bright smile as she slid into her seat.

Sylvie sighed dramatically, clearly unimpressed. "You Americans and your optimism."

Emily laughed lightly, pulling out her laptop to go over the details of the influencer event. But before she could dive into work, Luc and Julien waltzed in, both wearing matching mischievous grins.

"Ah, Mademoiselle Cooper," Luc said in his thick French accent, giving her a playful nod. "Busy as always, I see."

Julien, who never missed an opportunity to tease, chimed in. "Or distracted? You've got that Gabriel look in your eyes again."

Emily's cheeks flushed, and she shot them both a glare. "I do not have a 'Gabriel look.'"

"She most definitely does," Julien whispered loudly to Luc, who nodded in agreement.

Emily rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her. "Okay, can we focus, please? We have an event to prepare for."

"Of course, of course," Luc said, though his grin never wavered. "But you can't avoid romance forever, Emily. This is Paris, after all."

"I'll say I'm happy for love, even if it's not true…"

Emily's smile faltered just a bit at Luc's words. Romance. It was all around her, in every corner of this city, and yet it felt like it always slipped through her fingers. She was constantly starting over—new jobs, new relationships, new dreams. But was she ever going to find something that lasted?


That evening, Emily found herself at the influencer event she had meticulously planned. The venue was breathtaking, with twinkling lights strung above the courtyard, chic decor, and a guest list full of Paris's trendiest influencers. But despite the success of the event, Emily's mind was elsewhere.

As she mingled with guests and snapped photos for Savoir's Instagram, she caught sight of Gabriel standing at the bar, chatting with a few attendees. He looked up, and their eyes met across the room. There it was again—that familiar, electric pull.

Emily took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself, and walked over to him. "You came," she said, trying to sound casual, though her heart was racing.

"Of course," Gabriel replied, his smile soft. "Wouldn't miss it."

They stood there for a moment, the sounds of the party buzzing around them, but neither of them seemed to care about the crowd. It was just them.

"I've been thinking," Gabriel said after a beat, his voice quieter now. "About us."

Emily's heart skipped a beat. "And?"

Gabriel's expression turned serious, his eyes searching hers. "I can't pretend there's nothing between us, Emily. I've tried, but…"

Emily bit her lip, her mind racing. "Gabriel, you're with Camille. I can't…"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know. But I can't ignore how I feel either."

Emily looked away, her emotions swirling. She wanted to be with him, but everything was so complicated. She had promised herself she wouldn't get caught up in this mess again.

"I don't know if I can do this," she said softly. "I've been starting over so many times, and I don't know if I can handle it again."

Gabriel took a step closer, his voice gentle. "But maybe starting over isn't a bad thing. Maybe it's the right thing."

"I'm falling with no parachute… don't let me go."

Emily looked up at him, her heart in her throat. She wanted to believe that this time would be different, that they could make it work. But was she ready to take that leap?

As if sensing her hesitation, Gabriel smiled softly. "We don't have to figure it all out tonight. But I want you to know… I'm here."

Emily smiled back, feeling a little lighter, a little braver. "I'm here too."

And for the first time in a long time, Emily Cooper felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be—standing on the edge of something new, something terrifying, and something wonderful.

She didn't know what the future held, but she was ready to find out. Because after everything, she had finally learned the art of starting over.