I woke up warm and happy. It took me a second to remember where I was. Then everything came flooding back. Paris. The Eiffel Tower. Him telling me that he was falling for me. And everything after that. My face went hot just thinking about it.
I opened my eyes slowly. Morning light was streaming through the windows.
"You're awake."
I jumped a little. Asher's voice came from right beside me. I turned my head. He was propped up on one elbow watching me. His hair was messy.
"How long have you been staring at me?" I asked.
"Not long enough." He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
"That's creepy." I said, but I was smiling.
"That's romantic." He corrected, then he leaned down and kissed me.
The kiss was soft and gentle. When he pulled back, I just stared at him.
"What's wrong?" He asked, seeing my face.
"Nothing. Just... this is nice."
"It's the bare minimum, Rysa. I should have been doing this every morning for two years."
"Well, you're doing it now." I touched his face. "That's what matters."
He caught my hand and kissed my palm. Then he sat up.
"Come on. I ordered breakfast. It should be here soon."
"How did you order breakfast without waking me up?"
"Very quietly." He smiled and got out of the bed.
Ten minutes later we were sitting on the balcony with coffee and croissants and fruits.
"This is perfect." I said.
"It is." He poured more coffee into my cup even though I hadn't asked. "I wish we could stay here forever."
"We have to go back tomorrow."
"I know."
"But this doesn't have to end just because we're leaving Paris."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
"So what's the plan for today?" I asked.
"I have some meetings." He looked genuinely annoyed about it. "Business that can't wait."
"That's okay. I understand. It was a business trip, infact. Important things don't stop just because we're in Paris." I took a bite of croissant. "Besides, I was thinking... maybe I could explore on my own for a bit?"
"Alone?"
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
His jaw clenched. His hand tightened on his coffee cup. Letting going of control was hard for him but then he relaxed.
"Of course. You should explore."
"Really?"
"Really." He pulled out his wallet and handed me a credit card. "Take this. Buy whatever you want."
I hesitated.
"Okay." I said, taking it. "Thank you."
"And Rysa?" He caught my hand. "Be back by 6? I made dinner reservations."
"Got it." I squeezed his hand.
Soon after he left for his meetings, I after getting ready came out of the hotel to explore the city alone alone.
For the first time in our two years of the marriage, I was alone. I'd barely been out of Asher's sight. Not because he forbade it but because I'd had nowhere to go.
I started walking. There was no plan and destination in my mind. I was just walking. The morning was beautiful. Cafés were setting their tables. People walked past with baguettes. Someone was playing a violin somewhere. Even the air smelled romantic.
I walked towards smaller roads, and quieter areas, and stumbled into Le Marais. There were little boutiques with vintage clothes, art galleries, old coffee shops.
I found a tiny shop between a bakery and a bookstore. The window display had handmade jewellery. There were delicate pieces with unusual stones and interesting work. I went inside.
The owner was an older woman with gray hair. She looked up when the bell rang and smiled.
"Bonjour!"
"Bonjour." I tried. My French was terrible. "Umm... do you speak English?"
"A little." She gestured around the shop. "Please, look."
The jewellery was beautiful. It wasn't fancy and expensive but it felt authentic.
"Did you make these?" I asked.
"Yes." She pointed to herself proudly.
"They're beautiful."
She studied me for a second. Then she pulled out a sketchpad from under the counter and handed it to me along with a pencil.
"You draw?" She asked.
I didn't know how she knew but I took the pencil and started sketching. It was a rough necklace design. When I looked up, she was smiling at me.
"You're an artist." She said.
"I used to design jewellery in school but I stopped."
"Why you stop?"
"I got married and life happened."
She shook her head. Then she started pulling things out from behind the counter. There were tools, wires, beads, and many more. She put them out in front of me.
"You buy. You make again."
I looked at it.
"I don't know..."
"You know." She tapped my sketch.
I bought everything she showed me. She wrapped it all up carefully, and I left with a grateful smile.
I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering. I bought macarons from Ladurée because you're supposed to, bought a vintage scarf that was probably overpriced, sat in a café and had a croque monsieur and coffee and just watched people.
I texted Asher:
"Having the best time. Thank you for this."
His response came fast:
"Good. Can't wait to hear about it. Missing you."
Around 5, I headed back to the hotel. My arms were full of shopping bags. The doorman helped me with my bags. In the elevator up to our suite, I looked at my reflection. My face was flushed. My hair was messy but I looked happy.
When was the last time I'd looked happy?
The suite was empty when I got back. Asher wasn't done with his meetings yet. I put all the bags on the bed and started unpacking.
Having nothing to do, I opened a sketchbook. Without thinking about anything, I sat on the bed and started drawing. I drew a bold necklace design. This was different from what I used to design in school. I was so focused that I didn't hear the door open, didn't know when Asher entered.
"You're beautiful when you're drawing."
I jumped and looked up. He was standing at the door.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"For a few minutes." He came closer and looked at my sketch. His eyes widened. "This is incredible."
"It's just a rough idea…"
"It's brilliant." He sat down beside me on the bed, and picked up one of my new tools. "You went shopping for art supplies."
"Yeah. I found this amazing little shop in Le Marais. The owner was this older French woman but she just knew that I needed this."
"I'm glad." He touched my face. "You look happy."
"I am happy."
He kissed me softly.
"That's all I want. For you to be happy."
"I should get ready for dinner." I said.
"We have time." He set my sketchbook aside. "Tell me about your day first."
And I did. He listened to every word.
"I'm proud of you." He said when I finished.
"For what? Shopping?"
"For taking time for yourself. For doing something that makes you happy. I spent two years trying to make you into what I thought a wife who should be quiet, obedient and decorative but you're none of those things. You're brilliant and creative and strong. And I'm sorry it took me so long to see it."
"Asher..."
"I mean it." His eyes were intense.
I kissed him because I couldn't find words. When we pulled apart, he checked his watch.
"We really do need to get ready. Reservations are at 8."
"Where are we going?"
"Surprise." He grinned. "But wear the blue dress."
The restaurant was right on the Seine. Our table was on an outdoor terrace with a view of the river . It was very romantic.
"This is beautiful." I said as Asher pulled out my chair.
"You're beautiful." He said back.
I rolled my eyes but I was smiling.
"That line is so cheesy."
"Doesn't make it less true."
A waiter appeared with menus and a wine list. Asher ordered in perfect French. I just watched him.
"What?" He asked.
"Nothing. Just…I didn't know you spoke French that well."
"Because of business." He replied casually.
The dinner looked more like art than food. Between courses, Asher asked about my designs, about what I wanted to make, about my vision.
"I want to make jewellery that tells stories. Not just pretty things but things that mean something."
"You will. I'll make sure you have everything you need."
"I don't need you to…"
"I know you don't need me to but I want to." He squeezed my hand. "Let me support your dreams. Please."
"Okay." I said.
We talked about all the random things that night until the restaurant started emptying out.
"I don't want this trip to end." I admitted.
"Me either." He signaled for the check. "But we go back tomorrow."
"I know." I tried not to let the disappointment show.
He paid the bill and stood up, offering his hand.
"Walk with me?"
We walked along the Seine instead of getting the car. His arm was around my shoulders, and my arm was around his waist.
We got back to the hotel around midnight. Both a little drunk on wine and happiness. He unlocked the suite door and we stumbled inside laughing about something stupid. He pushed me against the door and kissed me.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Later, wrapped in sheets and moonlight, I fell asleep with my head on his chest feeling safe, loved and happy.
I woke up to the smell of coffee. My eyes opened slowly. Asher was sitting on the edge of the bed, dressed in casual clothes. On the nightstand was a tray with coffee and pastries.
"Morning." I mumbled, sitting up and pulling the sheet around me.
"Morning." But his voice sounded tensed.
I took the coffee he handed me.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong." He paused. "I just need to tell you something."
Nobody ever says "I need to tell you something" before good news.
"Okay..." I sipped the coffee.
"About your family's bankruptcy."
"What about it?" I immediately demanded.
He took a deep breath.
"I investigated it before it happened."
I stared at him.
"Before?"
"I heard rumors in business circles that Lins was being targeted. So, I looked into it. I tried to stop it but I couldn't."
I set down my coffee cup before I dropped it.
"You knew? Before it happened, you knew my family was going to lose everything?"
"Yes."
"And you didn't tell us?"
"I didn't have proof. There were just rumors. I didn't want to cause panic over something I wasn't sure about." He held my hand. "By the time I confirmed it, it was too late. The damage was done."
I pulled my hand back.
"Who targeted them?" I finally asked.
"I don't know yet but I have people looking into it."
"Why would someone target my family specifically?"
"That's what I'm trying to find out."
I looked at his face. The guilt and misery looked real.
"Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because I don't want secrets between us. No more hiding and lies. I want you to know everything."
"Do you know where my family is right now? " I asked.
"No. But I'm trying to find them. Don't worry, I'll find them soon. Trust me."
"I trust you." I took his hand.
"You're not angry?"
"I'm..." I thought about it. "I'm glad you told me, I'm glad you tried to help even when you couldn't stop it."
He pulled me into his arms, and hugged me so tight I could barely breathe.
"Thank you." He whispered into my hair. "Thank you for trusting me."
At that time, I did trust him but I shouldn't have.
The flight home was comfortable. I sketched while he worked on his laptop.
"What are you working on?" I asked when I was taking a break.
"Just reports. Quarterly projections. Boring stuff."
I nodded.
We landed in Shanghai around 8 at night. The car was waiting. The driver loaded our bags.
As we drove through the city, Shanghai looked different or maybe I was different.
"What are you thinking?" Asher asked.
"That I'm happy to be home."
"Really? I thought you'd be sad to leave Paris."
"I am. But..." I looked at him. "Home feels better now."
He smiled and kissed my temple.
"It is better because we are together now."
The car stooped at the building. When the doors opened to the penthouse, Asher did something unexpected. He picked me up.
"What are you doing?" I laughed.
"Carrying you." He carried me inside. "This is the start of our real marriage."
He set me down gently in the living room. I looked around. The penthouse looked the same but also completely different, maybe because I belonged here now.