The Billionaire’s Desires Vol.12-13 (3 page)

Once I leave the subway, I patiently wait for the light to turn green for pedestrians. It's at that precise moment that I recognise her. On the sidewalk, across the street, Violette is sitting at the bus stop. Her blonde head is bent over her mobile. She doesn't notice I'm there, or that I'm staring at her insistently. I'm not sure how to react. Should I scream? Cross the street, putting my life in danger, just to catch up with her? Ignore her and continue on my way? The bus arrives, putting an end to my hesitation. Knowing she's going to get away from me, I start to panic.

She's going to get on and disappear again!

Turn green, turn green, turn green!

Green light. I lunge ahead at top speed and cross the studded walkway, weaving between other people, strollers, dogs on their leashes. But it's already too late. The bus starts moving and as I had feared, Violette is already on board. Five minutes later, Gabriel welcomes me with a big smile. But I can't hide my frustration. Or my bad mood.

“Amande... bitter Amande?” he asks me, kissing me sweetly.

“Amande Baumann.”

“I see. Want to tell me what happened?”

“What the hell was Violette doing here?”

I can read the embarrassment in his handsome face. Gabriel probably thought I would come back later. He didn't think I'd bump into Eleanor's sister.

“She stopped by without telling me in advance. She wanted to talk about Eleanor.”

“So you talk about her with everyone except me, is that how it goes?”

“Amande, don't start. You know very well why I'm doing all this.”

“If you were really doing it for your son, you wouldn't keep everything secret! Why don't I have the right to know anything?”

“Because I don't want to hurt you any more.”

“You're handling everything the wrong way, so, you can go figure that you're hurting me! And more than you think you are!”

“What do you want to know?”

“Everything!”

“I've seen her five times. She's on the defensive, she hasn't revealed much to me, except that she doesn't want to live in hiding anymore and she wants to meet with Virgile. I told her that would take time, that I needed to regain his trust again. I refuse to play with my son's emotions! I want to have the proof that she's mentally sane and that she won't hurt him again.”

“Where do you meet her?”

“In different places. Restaurants, cafés, parks.”

“Never here?”

“No. I forbid her from coming here.”

“Will you let me meet her?”

“No. It's way too early.”

“Does she know about us?”

“Yes. I told her everything.”

“So she's not trying to get you back?”

“No.”

“Are you sure of that?”
He doesn't respond.

“I knew it! She came back for you! She's trying to destroy us and if you push me off to the side, she'll end up doing just that!”

“Amandine, none of that matters! What matters is that I know what I want. She's part of my past. You're my present, my future. When it comes to you two, my choice has already been made.”

“You have a really funny way of showing it.”

“Is that so?”

Without asking for my opinion, he grabs my hand and leads me to the living room. I don't try to get away from him, I know what he has in mind and I don't have anything to say against it. For a week, we've been practically glued against one another, our bodies in perfect harmony. It's impossible for me to resist this attraction, which is both divine and demonic. I forget everything in his arms. The gentleness and the musky scent of his skin intoxicates me. His manliness makes me lose my grip on reality.

9.15 am. Ferdinand is going to lecture me again. He'll probably finish with some inappropriate and ambiguous remark.

“Amandine, you've been late every day since your billionaire resurfaced. If you continue on like this, I'm going to have no choice but to come down hard on you...”

His suave voice echoes in my head as I get ready to enter the agency. However, my mobile rings and I stop in my tracks.

“Hi little sis. It's Camille!”

“You? Awake at this time of the morning?”

“Silas woke me up at dawn. He went to go pick up Virgile at the airport. And for your information, since Oscar has started sleeping through the night, I get up at 9am every morning!”

“What a feat,” I say, not entirely convinced. “I'm in a rush, do you have something important to tell me?”

“I wanted to tell you a secret. But given how grumpy you're being, I'm not sure I want to give you this kind of gift.”

“Well, when you put it that way – okay, I'm listening, my
darling
big sister!”

“That's better. I should try to manipulate you more often!”

“Camille! I'm in a rush!”

“Okay, okay! I saw Eleanor!”

“What?”

“She contacted Silas yesterday. She asked him to meet her in a café in Montmartre. Of course I made a scene, you know how I am. I'm jealous and I admit it. Anyway, he ended up going and I went with him. You should have seen Eleanor's face when she saw me walk into the room!”
I'm suddenly at a loss for words.

“Hello? Are you still there?”

“I'm here.”

“Okay. Basically, she's pretty. Really, more than pretty. She's super gorgeous. It's crazy how much she looks like you! Don't take it the wrong way, but she's just like you, except classier and more of a femme fatale. She looks a lot younger than her age, you would never guess she has a 13 year-old son! It was all over really quick. She barely said a word to me, but she was really moved to see Silas again. He, at least, behaved himself. He stayed cold and distant. He didn't go easy on her. You would have loved it! Are you still there?”

“Yes. And?"

“And she keeps saying that she's only back in the picture for Virgile, but I have a hard time believing her. Be careful, Amandine, this girl is after Gabriel. There's no doubt about it!”

“Thanks for the info. I have to go,” I say, completely bereft of hope.

“Amandine?”

“Yes?”

“You're the one he loves.”

For now.

I'm furious. No, that word is too weak. Livid. This girl signed my death certificate, or at least the one for my romance with Diamonds, and she's strutting all around Paris pretending to have good intentions. Soon I'm going to find out that she's met my parents, Marion, Tristan, Marcus and even Janet Jackson! Then I think about how Gabriel doesn't want me to get mixed in with all of this, that he refuses to introduce me to her. I end up thinking he doesn't want to protect me – he's ashamed of me!

“Amandine, for once, we're in synch here. Going up?” says my dandy-in-chief, opening the door of the lift.

“Good morning, Ferdinand. Sorry I'm late.”

“Oh! You know, I'm used to it now.”

I don't react to his little barb, and content myself by staring at the wall of the metallic cage. Lost in my thoughts, I don't realise we've already reached the seventh floor.

“Amandine?”

“Yes?”

“Are you coming out or would you rather spend the whole day holed up in the lift with me? If you're hoping to spend a little time together, I know a really good Italian restaurant right around the corner from here.”

“It's 9.30am.”

“Right! One reservation for two at 7.30pm tonight.”

“Don't forget to let your dinner companion know. I mean, your conquest of the week.”

“Don't back out, Amandine. I can't stand people who don't honour their promises.”

“Me neither,” I say, bitterly, thinking about Gabriel.

The tall brown-haired man has already left, more affected than ever in his Hugo Boss suit. Did I really just accept his dinner invitation? I don't know why I didn't just send him packing. Actually, I do have an idea.

Revenge.

A little prick of jealousy won't hurt you, Diamonds.

“I barely saw you all day because of these bloody meetings. Is everything alright?” Ferdinand asks me, filling my glass of chianti.

I'm astonished that the big boss, who's also the king of smooth talkers, wants to talk shop. Since we arrived at this pretty trattoria and sat down at a table looking over the tree-lined patio, he's been behaving like a real gentleman. Beauregard is truly full of surprises. Whenever I think I've seen all there is to see of his personality, he proves the contrary to me. While savouring the antipasti, I listen to him talk about the history of the agency, from its creation right up until he runs out of things to say on the subject. By the time the waiter brings us the chef's special, a risotto with shrimp and asparagus, Ferdinand has already lost his good manners.

“Are you thinking about him?”

“Pardon?”

“I noticed that when you scrunch up your pretty little nose, Diamonds is never far away. I mean, in your thoughts, at least. Reassure me, you didn't tell him anything? He's not coming to smash my face in?” He adds, laughing.

“No, he doesn't know we're out together. But don't get any ideas. This dinner doesn't mean anything. I accepted your invitation to be polite. That's all.”

“Don't try to tell me he wouldn't be jealous to see us together at this table!”

“He trusts me.”

“Really? Men love to say that, but don't believe a word of it. You belong to him, he already told me that – remember?”

“Yes, but that was a while ago. Back when he thought you were a...”

“A what?”

“A collector.”

“Of women?”

“Yes.”

“But I am one.”

“Good for you.”

“And that's what I'll be until I find the right woman.”

“If she exists.”

“Perhaps she's sitting right in front of me.”

“Keep looking. But look in better places.”

“All that I know is that I'm waiting for someone who understands me. Who can put me in my place and make me forget about all the others. As you know how to do very well.”
I don't say anything in response.

“Out of comebacks? Did I manage to upset you?”

“What's your game, Ferdinand?”

“Nothing. You know what's going on, you're not blind. Or stupid, for that matter.”

“I don't know anything, except for the fact that I work for you and that we have started to have... friendly relations.”

“Yes, and if that's all you want, it will never change.”

“I don't want anything else, Ferdinand.”

“So that's that.”

“Perfect.”

“What is it about him that you love?”

“Are you really asking me that?”

“Yes. I want to understand.”

“Everything. Maybe that sounds foolish, but it's the truth. Even when he hurts me, I can't get away from him. He's become my... my...” I say, without being able to find the words.

“Reason for living? Guiding light? Drug?”

“All of that, all at once, yes.”

“I hope he's aware how lucky he is to...”

“You're rambling, that's not the first time you've told me that,” I joke, putting my glass back down.

“It's not the first time I've wanted to kiss you.”

I almost choke, and shoot him a murderous look. Compliments are fine, but advances – no thanks! Luckily, my mobile rings and saves me from the brink of this more than embarrassing situation. Gabriel's photo appears on the screen and, for just a second, I think about whether or not I should respond.

Marion, Camille, even Prudence – anyone but him! Not now!

I pick up, a little nervous at the idea of facing the wrath of my possessive lover. During the brief phone conversation, Ferdinand stares off into space, looking in another direction, as if my conversation made him feel uneasy.

“Hello?”

“Amandine, shit. Where are you? I've been waiting for you for over an hour!”

“I'm at a restaurant, I forgot to tell you.”

“With who?”

“My boss.”

“Are you joking?”

“No, why?”

“Don't act like you don't know why. Give me the name of the restaurant!”

“No need, I'm on my way back.”

“Amandine!”

“Gabriel, stop yelling. I'm going home, you can meet me at my flat if you want. I'll be there in thirty minutes.”

“Okay. I recommend you don't keep me waiting.”

“Pardon?”

I get ready to rebuff him, but he's already hung up. Without thinking, I get up from my chair, thank Ferdinand for dinner, excuse myself for sneaking off like a thief and put forty euros on the table.

“It's on me, Amandine.”

“No, there's no reason for you to treat me, this was a friendly dinner between associates. You don't have to put on any acts of chivalry .”

“If you say so.”

They're all trying to drive me crazy!

“See you tomorrow, Ferdinand.”

Gabriel is leaning against the front door of my building, watching me from afar. His self-satisfied insolence and his insane beauty already exasperate me. I get close to him and we exchange a glance full of meaning, then go up to my flat without saying a word. Once the door closes behind us, his deep voice seizes me.

“Here we are now. So, did he confess it all to you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Do you take me for a fool? Beauregard is crazy about you, it's as plain as day!”

“You're off topic, Gabriel. Let's talk about Eleanor instead. I imagine you know Camille met her?”

“Yes, Silas told me. He shouldn't have let her. That was a foolish thing to do. My brother never thinks about anything but himself.”

“No, unlike you, he takes his girlfriend's feelings into account.”

“Eleanor just resurfaced after thirteen years! Don't you think I might have a few things to work out with her before introducing her to other people?”

“Other people? Is that what I am to you?”

“I don't know, what am I to you? And what about Ferdinand?”

“Ferdinand has nothing to do with this, don't try to turn the tables here!”

“You yell at me for rebuilding a link with the woman I thought I was going to marry, the mother of my child, but you think it's okay to act like a little teenybopper with that nasty guy? He's as dangerous as she is – do you understand that at all?”

“You're getting it all confused. All I'm asking you to do is to talk to me, to explain to me what's going on. And I want to meet her.”