Chapter 429
The plan is simple; Meet Juliette, finalize things, then go car shopping afterward. By the time I arrive at the upscale restaurant Juliette chose, I feel slightly more grounded.
The hostess checks the reservation name before leading me toward one of the private dining cubes tucked further inside the restaurant.
Juliette is already there waiting and the moment she sees me, her face lights up.
“There she is,” she says warmly. “Come sit p>
I smile before taking the seat across from her.
“How are you doing today?” she asks immediately.
“Good… really good,” I answer honestly. “And how are you p>
To be honest, I’m excited about this. I was nervous starting this company but seeing things fall into place makes me happy and excited.
Juliette sighs dramatically. “Overworked. Underappreciated. Beautiful p>
That makes me snort. “You just had to add that p>
“Absolutely,” she smirks. “It’s one of my best qualities p>
I doubt that, because she seems like an amazing person from what I’ve gathered so far, but I doubt she cares much about her other qualities.
The conversation flows surprisingly easily after that. We talk about everything and nothing all at once. Juliette tells me ridiculous stories about business dinners she hated, terrible blind dates her mother keeps arranging, and traveling for work. I tell her a little about my research days, my mother, and how Lilly’s fridge should legally qualify as abandonment.
At one point Juliette looks genuinely horrified.
“How does she survive p>
“She orders food p>
“All that money and she can’t hire a private chef,” she grumbles. “I’ll need to have a talk with her about it p>
“Please don’t,” I chuckle nervously.
“Why not p>
“Because you two will only end up fighting and I don’t want to be in the middle of that again p>
An hour passes so naturally that I barely notice it. Eventually, though, the conversation shifts toward business.
Juliette straightens slightly. “So… the agreement p>
I nod before pulling the documents from my bag and handing them over. She immediately starts reading through them carefully, her playful demeanor fading into something sharper and more focused.
I watch her quietly while she flips through each page, and then, without hesitation, she signs.
“Ah, Juliette,” I say, surprised, “Don’t you want your lawyers to go through it first p>
Juliette simply smiles while sliding the papers back toward me.
“I understand exactly what I’m signing,” she says calmly. “And besides, Lilly probably helped you draft this and with how she’s a shark when it comes to contracts, there’s no way she’d allow a mistake p>
That makes me laugh softly. I take the documents before smiling and extending my hand toward her.
“Welcome aboard p>
Juliette shakes my hand firmly before lifting her glass.
“To new beginnings p>
I lift mine too.
“To new beginnings p>
Afterward, I glance at the time before sighing. “I should probably get going. I still need to do some car shopping p>
Juliette immediately perks up. “Can I come? I have nothing else planned for today and I don’t want to go home p>
I blink in surprise before smiling. It’s funny how she keeps surprising me. Juliette is like nothing I expected. When I first met her in Paris, I thought she was just a spoilt heiress who was also obsessed with Noah, but now I know there is more to her than meets the eye.
“If you’re sure p>
“I am,” she replies with a grin. “So let’s get going p>
And somehow the rest of the day becomes unexpectedly fun. We move from one dealership to another while Juliette gives strong opinions on almost every car we see.
“That one screams divorced millionaire p>
“That one looks like it belongs to a mafia wife p>
“That one is ugly enough to be illegal p>
By the end of it, I’m laughing so much my stomach hurts. Eventually, though, I finally find one that feels right. Something practical, comfortable and feels like me.
As I sit inside my new car afterward, I realize I genuinely like spending time with Juliette. Enough that I can actually see us becoming real friends.
Juliette leans against her own car before pointing a finger at me seriously.
“Drive safely p>
“I will and you too p>
“And text me when you get home p>
“Yes, Mom p>
She gasps dramatically. “Fuck no! I’m too young and hot to be called that p>
I laugh while fastening my seatbelt.
“And don’t forget dinner this weekend,” I remind her.
Juliette grins instantly. “Wouldn’t miss it p>
We finally part ways after that and by the time I get back to Lilly’s apartment, exhaustion is settling heavily into my body. I kick off my shoes the moment I enter before heading straight for the couch.
I barely drop onto it before my phone buzzes. Without thinking much of it, I unlock the screen, but once I read the text, everything inside me stops.
My breath catches and my heart slams violently against my ribs as my eyes lock onto the message.
YOUR BABY IS SAFE AND ALIVE; YOU DON’T NEED TO WORRY.