Page 134 of My Destiny

“What’s up there?” she asks, pointing to the staircase.

“I’ll show you.” We ascend the stairs, and when we reach the top, there’s a small hallway, leading to two doors. “You go first,” I say.

She opens the first door, and her eyes widen. “A piano.”

“Yes, just like the one at home. I thought you might like to do music lessons here as well. You already have your first client.”

“I do?”

“Yes, Lara. She was here today helping us while you were out with Michelle. She wants to start dance classes as well.”

“I’d love that,” she says, placing her hand on her chest. “She’s so sweet.” She walks towards the piano as she skims her fingers over the surface. “I’m blown away by everything.” Her eyes move to me. “Thank you doesn’t seem enough.”

“Seeing your smile is enough.” I’m just relieved she loves it. There was a part of me that worried she was going to be angry with me.

“What’s behind the other door?”

“Go see.”

She’s hesitant as she opens it. “Oh my god, all my stuff is in here,” she says, as her head snaps in my direction. “You said you were going to put it in storage.”

“I did, for a month or so, then I brought it here.” When she moved out of her terrace house, she said she wanted to keep the furniture. I knew she wanted it for her future dwelling, but since I’m keeping her, she won’t need them.

“Wow. I could almost live here,” she says, as her eyes move around the space. Her sofa, bed, and most of the other things all fit into this room.

“Not possible. You’re not allowed to live here.”

“Why?”

“Because you already have a home with me. This room is simply somewhere for you to come and relax in between classes.”

“That was so thoughtful—and perhaps cunning,” she says as her eyes slightly narrow.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I retort, giving her the most innocent look I can muster.

“I bet you don’t,” she says, laughing. She encircles my waist with her arms. “I love it. I love all of it.”

“The best is still to come.”

“The studio?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t believe you did all this in such a short span of time.”

“You underestimate me, Miss Ryan.”

As we walk down the small corridor and descend the stairs, she notices the pictures hanging on the walls. “What are these?”

“This place used to be an old warehouse. It was built in 1903. I had Claire do some research on it for me, and she found these old images at the library. These ones,” I say, pointing to a few further down, “we took during construction. I thought it was a nice touch to have them framed.”

“They’re amazing.” She sighs as she moves in for a closer look. “There’s just so much to see, it’s hard to take it all in.”

“You’ll have plenty of time over the coming weeks, months, and years to do that.”

“I can hardly wait to get started.”

Pulling her towards me, I place a kiss on the side of her head. “And you’re going to be a huge success.”