Ford gives Rosie a $100,000 signing bonus and employment contract, affirming her worth despite her protests that she's unqualified and it's too generous. Their emotional exchange is interrupted by Sebastian announcing mold in the building. That evening, Ford reluctantly joins Rosie and Cora for Monopoly, where a misunderstanding about Ford's teasing leads Rosie to believe he's mocking her about the bonus. Cora, fed up with their bickering, locks them in the pantry together. In the dark, confined space, they recall a teenage game of seven minutes in heaven where Rosie faked evidence of a makeout to protect Ford's reputation. Rosie traces Ford's lips and begins to ask if they might have been something more under different circumstances, but Cora opens the door before she finishes.

Over the following three weeks, Rosie throws herself into her work at Rose Hill Records, picks up Cora from school daily, and settles into a routine that includes family dinners and watching Ford bond with Cora over music. Ford shows Cora his family's record player and implicitly promises her a future by saying it will be hers one day. Rosie dreads Ryan's impending visit, planning to break up with him. Her contemplation is interrupted when Ford's sister Willa arrives unannounced, furious about not being told about Cora. Rosie blocks Willa from entering the office to protect the father-daughter moment inside, and the two women have a fiery but respectful standoff. Ryan also arrives early and unexpectedly.

Ford explains to Cora why he kept her existence private—his need for processing time and privacy, not shame—and Cora accepts this. Willa meets Cora for the first time, and the two bond instantly over music and shared sharp personalities. Meanwhile, Rosie breaks up with Ryan in the bunkhouse. The conversation is surprisingly mutual; both admit they weren't missing each other. Ryan takes it with grace, and they part with an awkward handshake. Rosie feels relief but is consumed by worry over Ford's parting admission that he is not okay.

That evening, Ford and Willa encounter Rosie and Ryan at the local pub. Ford, seething with jealousy and unaware of the breakup, openly antagonizes Ryan—criticizing his failure to visit Rosie and implicitly referencing his inaction after her workplace assault. Rosie drags Ford outside, furious. Their confrontation escalates until Ford declares Ryan doesn't deserve her and that he won't let his own unworthiness stop him. He kisses Rosie passionately against the pub wall. She reveals she already broke up with Ryan, shocking Ford. He pulls away, citing their professional relationship and her need for a safe workplace, then goes inside to offer Ryan condolences rather than an apology.

The next morning, Ford finds Rosie asleep on the office couch—she refused to sleep in the bunkhouse with Ryan. They acknowledge the kiss but Ford insists it can't happen again, citing West, their boss-employee dynamic, and her need for professional safety. Rosie is undeterred, treating his refusal as a challenge. Willa, having witnessed the kiss, privately tells Ford he's been in love with Rosie since they were teenagers and urges him to stop overthinking and go after what he wants. Ford is left torn between desire and duty. By Monday, Rosie channels her frustration into playful, provocative work emails, and the two settle into a charged but unresolved dynamic.