“I will give you this,” Blaise conceded with a grumble. “But in business, you must play hardball.”
Moëlle’s tone grew hard. “You know I can play hardball,mon frère. I did not become school president and graduate at the top of my classes by lazing around with my professors. I am no Bernadette.”
Blaise laughed at the disgusted tone in his sister’s voice. “Thank God.”
“I am going to pack and book a plane ticket. I will see you in Mombasa in a few days.”
“No. Stop. Don’t do that.” I held my hand up as though she could see it.
“You think I cannot book myself a plane ticket?”
I was already beginning to notice the hardball in her.
“We have our own plane. We’ll land in Paris and pick you up,” I clarified.
“This job gets better and better, and I have not even begun it yet.” She tempered her giddiness once more and said, “Merci,Tate. I look forward to everything we three will accomplish together.”
“So do I, kid.” I smiled a little. “Now, go and enjoy the last night of the year, and we’ll do the same.”
“I shall.Au revoir.”
“Au revoir, ma sœur.” Blaise hung up from his sister without another word.
Before we could chat further about our plans, Lou bounced into the room dressed in an adorable long-sleeved dress of white and pastel rainbow colors. She toned it down as soon as she saw Blaise, her smile falling from her face immediately. I wished it wouldn’t. Sometimes I wished I could take away her shyness, but then I figured she wouldn’t be the beautiful woman I loved.
“Oh. Hi, Blaise.”
“Mademoiselle,” he replied with a slight bow.
She focused more on me. “Are you ready to go?”
I slid my hand onto the small of her back. “Of course, baby.” I glanced at Blaise. “Shall we?”
Blaise held his hand toward the stairwell that led down to the entry. “Lead the way.”
“You’re coming too?” Lou’s tone was hesitant.
Blaise bent down so he was on her level. “Is that all right with you?”
“Sure, why not?” Lou turned and stomped away, her white high heels thundering an angry staccato on the black tiled floor.
Blaise pulled a long face. “Was it something I said?”
“I have no idea,” I muttered as I watched Lou walk away.
Louisa
The venue for the New Year’s party was a private home in Greater London. Just like my guys’ London house, this one was a juxtaposition between old and new.
Blaise looked up at the house that was rising above us. “This is thatfils de pute, Augustus’ place, is it not?”
“Apparently so,” Tate answered.
Tate had scored the Frenchman an invite to the party when he’d arrived back from his family’s place in France the day before. It seemed he was determined to get to know his cousin again. I wasn’t so sure about the guy. He was too arrogant and up himself for my liking.
“What did he say?” I whispered to Royce.
Blaise leaned past the others and pressed his mouth against the shell of my ear. “I said Augustus is a son of a bitch.”