Stakes & Stilettos - Michelle Rowen [99]
“No, you’re right,” Thierry said. “It wouldn’t be an issue, because if I hadn’t met Sarah I would be dead right now.”
“Ah yes, she did interrupt your little plan to end your long life, didn’t she?”
“That she did.”
She seemed to be avoiding a laugh. “And this has given you such a new outlook on life that you wish to end our arrangement to, what? Marry her instead?”
He glanced at me and then back to her. “My plans are currently not up for discussion.”
She sighed. “Such double talk. Truly, Thierry, had you not begun life as a mere peasant, I’m quite sure you would have become a lawyer.”
His face showed a bit of strain. “Are you refusing to sign the papers?”
She waited so long to answer that I wondered for a moment if she’d even heard the question. “I haven’t yet decided. I thought I would return to Toronto to find out your true feelings on the matter. I believe I understand all too well now.”
“You should sign them,” he said.
“Perhaps. Perhaps not.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then she smiled again, a seemingly effortless expression. “I will be staying at the the Windsor Arms. If you need me, please don’t hesitate to let me know. I may stay for a couple of weeks, now that I’m here. Good night.”
She turned and left the office. Thierry made a move to follow her, but I grabbed his arm to find that it was tensely corded muscle.
“It’s okay,” I said. “Let her go.”
“She is the second-most-frustrating woman I’ve ever known,” he said.
I frowned. “Who’s the first?”
He met my gaze and a small smile showed through his tense expression. “You are.”
“Frustrating, huh?”
“Extremely.” He took my face between his hands and kissed me lightly. “I must speak with her.”
“No, let me,” I said.
“You?”
“Believe it or not, she likes me. At least, she used to. If I can talk to her face-to-face and explain everything, maybe she’ll listen.”
“You are more than welcome to try.”
“Wish me luck.”
“Of course.” He kissed me again, and then he pulled back and his expression was guarded. “If she doesn’t choose to sign, will it make a great difference to you?”
I touched his face and looked up into his silvery eyes. “Absolutely. It will be so over between us.”
He frowned.
“I’m kidding,” I said. “My parents will not be happy that I’m with a married man, but I can deal with whatever life throws at me. It’s been one of those weeks that has made me reassess what’s important in my life.”
He squeezed my hand and then brought it to his lips. “I as well.”
Then he let go of me with a smile, and I left the office to, I hoped, talk to Veronique and get this whole unfortunate situation sorted out.
Fortunately, she hadn’t left the club yet. She stood near the bar speaking to Barry. Amy weeded her way past the crowded tables to come to my side. The music was currently Nina Simone singing “Feeling Good.” I hoped that was a good omen.
“That woman scares the crap out of me,” she said, nodding in Veronique’s direction.
“She’s not that bad,” I told her.
She raised her eyebrows. “I’m surprised you would say that given who she is. I wouldn’t want to meet any of Barry’s ex-wives.”
I turned to her. “Barry has ex-wives? Why didn’t I know this?”
She nodded. “He’s been married five times before. The man is a love magnet but he’s all mine now.”
“Right. And he still doesn’t know about your crush on Thierry?”
“I thought we weren’t going to talk about that anymore.”
“Sorry.”
“I mean, it’s not exactly my fault that the man is a total dreamboat.”
“Dreamboat?” I repeated. “Do people still say that?”
She crossed her arms and studied me from my black stilettos to my slightly poofier than normal hair. “You seem a lot better than you were. Are you, like, cured or something now?”
I told her about my little windfall. She was very happy for me, and some of the guilt and fear finally left her expression. I pulled the edge of my sweater down so she could see the necklace in place.
She shook her head. “Wow, I’m so happy for you, but that is seriously fugly.”
I patted it gently. “I love it.”
“Hey, guess what I heard?