by Avery, Joy
“Undeserved?” Blake barked a laugh. “Clearly, she didn’t tell you the entire story. I trusted her, and your best friend spit in my face. She was spying for Palmer Elliot.”
This time Trevor laughed. “You just don’t get it, do you? My best friend loves you. Even after the cruel way you treated her, she still cries for you. She would never do anything to hurt you.”
Trevor’s words hit Blake in the stomach like an iron fist. She still cried for him? He glanced away. “That’s—”
“You had your say; now, I’ll have mine. Since…I’m about to be fired anyway.”
Blake arched a brow, shocked by Trevor’s curtness.
“All those calls you traced from Eunice’s line was to Palmer Elliot’s company, yes… But she was trying to find out who was leaking information. She wasn’t trying to hurt you; she was trying to help you.” He reached for a pen and scribbled something on one of the purple 4x6 memo sheets on Eunice’s desk, folded it, and passed it to Blake.
He wondered if it was some form of a two week notice. “What’s this?”
Trevor picked up the box and started to the door. “Your rat.” He pulled the door open, balancing the box in one arm. “And for the record...” he acted as if he were searching for the perfect words, “…you were a damn fool to lose her. A woman like Eunice makes a man whole.” With those words, he disappeared through the door.
Blake unfolded the paper and chuckled at the name scribbled on it. Sasha. Why wasn’t he surprised?
***
Blake sighed when his assistant, Rose, buzzed into his office. He’d told her not to disturb him and to hold all of his calls. He had a hundred fires burning and no idea how to extinguish any of them. If it were business issues, he could handle those with his eyes closed. These were matters of the heart. They proved much more difficult for him.
“What is it, Rose?” he said dryly.
“I know you asked not to be disturbed, Mr. Farrington, but you have a visitor.”
It better not be Palmer Elliot again with more of his bullshit. With Blake’s current state-of-mind, he’d likely hurt him.
“Send them in.” He didn’t bother asking who it was. It didn’t matter; he was sure whoever it was, was there to usher in a headache. Pushing his lids together, he massaged the bridge of his nose.
Blake could have been knocked over with a feather when Fredrick Bass ambled toward him. Pushing to his feet, he moved from behind his desk.
“Fredrick?” He extended his hand. “This is certainly a surprise.”
“I apologize for the unexpected visit, but I’m headed out of town and wanted to speak with you face-to-face.”
Blake motioned to one of the chairs. “Have a seat.” Instead of moving behind his desk, Blake took a seat on the edge of his desk.
Fredrick got right down to business. “We’ve talked recently, and you said some great things. But tell me why I should sign with Blake Farrington instead of Palmer Elliot.”
Blake folded his arms across his chest, took a deep breath, and spent the next hour selling himself instead of his company. When he was done, he analyzed the man in front of him but couldn’t get a clear read.
Fredrick pushed to his feet. “Thank you for taking the time to talk to me. I have a lot to think about.” He checked his watch. “Like I said, I’m on my way out of town, but I’ll give a lot of thought to your proposal. Give me a couple of days. I’ll be in touch.”
Blake smiled, nodded, and stuck out his hand. “I look forward to hearing from you.”
The man shuffled across his floor. “Fredrick?” When Fredrick turned, Blake said, “What made you question signing with Palmer Elliot.”
He chuckled. “I met a very convincing woman in the produce section. Eunice Howard. She sold you and Farrington Sports Management.”
Eunice? Not his Eunice. He corrected himself. She was no longer his.
“Is she seeing anyone?”
Fredrick’s words pulled Blake back into the conversation. “Ah, she’s engaged,” he said with a straight face.
Fredrick smiled. “All the good ones are taken.”
Blake chuckled. “Yeah, that’s what they say.”
“We’ll talk soon,” Fredrick said, exiting the office.
Dropping into the chair his potential client had vacated, Blake rested his elbows on his legs and massaged his temples. Shocked was an understatement. He’d accused Eunice of something she hadn’t done, hadn’t listened when she tried to explain to him, and had fired her. Yet, she was still being a cheerleader for him.
Blake snatched up his keys, told Rose to clear his calendar, sprinted out of the building, and headed to Eunice’s. Fifteen minutes later, he stood on her porch ringing the doorbell like a mad man. When she didn’t answer, he peeped through the window.
“May I help you?”
Blake turned toward the feminine voice. Damn, he couldn’t remember Eunice’s neighbor’s name. He was sure it started with a T. Or maybe it was a W. Shit. Luckily, the woman recognized him.
“Oh, hey there, handsome. These old eyes ain’t what they used to be.”
Normally, Blake would have entertained conversation, but he had an urgent matter. “I’m looking for Eunice. You haven’t by chance seen her, have you?”
The woman flashed a quizzical expression. “You’re going to have to look a bit further for her. She’s in Paris, France.”
“Paris?”
“Yes, Paris. Shouldn’t you know that?”
The tickets he’d purchased for her. Damn. Paris? “Thank you.” He rushed down the stairs and back to his vehicle. If she was in Paris, so was he.
Chapter 22
The picture Eunice had seen online didn’t do Hotel Plaza Athénéé justice. As she followed Élie, her bellman, into the Eiffel Tower suite, the rich and earthy scent of amber greeted her. When she took a sweeping view of the room, she pulled her hand to her mouth.
The expansive living room—lounge—as Élie had called it, was outfitted in soft pinks, shiny grays, and creamy whites. The silk curtains hung floor to ceiling, pinned back with an elaborate holder, exposing the bay window and a view of Avenue Montaigne below. Chestnut trees lined the well-known shopping thoroughfare.
Exploring the room more, she ran her fingers over the grand piano keys. Parisian flare flowed throughout the lavish space. Moving from one end of the suite to the other, Eunice joked that they should’ve packed a lunch for the hike. She could tell Élie didn’t understand the joke, but he grinned and nodded anyway.
Inside one of the bedrooms, a large plasma TV hung on the wall, displaying what she gathered to be the local news channel. The beautiful woman on the screen was reporting on Paris’s oldest bridge, Pont Neuf.
“You understand?” Élie asked, an air of surprise in his tone.
“Oui. Yes,” she translated.
He opened the glass doors to the terrace as if he were revealing the entrance to Heaven. Close. Gawking at the Eiffel Tower in the distance, she realized she could lounge in the bed and stare at the tower all day if she wanted. “Wow!”
Blake had done well. She shuddered to think how much he’d spent on the lavish vacation. How would he react if he knew she was utilizing the gift?
Élie’s voice reeled her in. She shook off the thoughts of her once love. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Your pillow selection. Wheat, de-stressing, beautifying, horsehair, osteopathic, or synthetic?”
Pillow selection? She chuckled. “I don’t know. You choose for me.”
Élie nodded and moved out of the room. She lagged behind. Once they were back inside the main room, he pointed out the safe, stereo, mini bar and fax machine.
“You’re on vacation, yes?”
“Yes.”
Élie skimmed the room. “You are alone.”
It was more of a statement than a question. “Yes.” Without warning, Élie draped his arms around her. “Oh…okay,” she said, displaced by his actions.
He pulled away, but not bef
ore placing a kiss on each of her cheeks. “Une étreinte un baiser peuvent guérir un coeur brisé.”
A hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart. How did he know? Only if that were true. But she thanked him for the kind words anyway. “Merci.”
Eunice offered her new friend eighteen Euro—roughly twenty US dollars.
Élie pushed her hand away. “Non.”
“S’il vous plaȋt.” She repeated it in English when he continued to refuse the money. “Please.” He’d been so kind to her.
Élie finally took the paper. “If you need anything, I will come. I hope you enjoy your time in Paris.”
She intended to. Even if it wasn’t with the man she loved. Luckily, Trevor would be joining her in a few days. Until then, she’d just have to make do with being alone in one of the most romantic cities in the world.
***
The following evening, Eunice sat on one of the decorative benches in the square watching couples stroll by. Some held hands, others wrapped in the warm arms of their lover. Lighted trees glowed around her. The sound of a harp escaped into the streets from a nearby restaurant. It was the ideal atmosphere for a couple in love.
Love.
She growled at the idea, then yanked her pea coat a bit tighter. Even though it was a bone-biting fifty-two degrees, the fresh air helped to clear her thoughts. All of which seemed to linger on Blake.
When her cell phone vibrated in her pocket, she jumped. Trevor. Had he sensed her need for someone to talk to? She pushed the phone to her ear. “Hi, bestie.”
“Hey, baby doll. How are you enjoying France?”
She looked around. “Nice, but I can’t wait until you get here.” Alarmed, she asked, “You’re not calling to say you can’t make it, are you?”
“No, I’m not standing you up.”
“Thank you. It’s hard enough being in romantic Paris. Even harder being here alone.” She watched a couple move past, hand-in-hand. “Can’t you leave right now?”
“If I could, I would zap myself there.”
“I love you, Trevor. You’ve always been there for me. Whether it was telling me I’m crazy or drying my tears.”
“I love you, too, and you know I only want the very best for you, right.”
“I know.” By his tone, Eunice had a feeling that if he were there, he’d be giving her that look. The one that suggested he wanted to say more. Trevor had assured her Blake hadn’t made his life a living hell, but if he had, she doubted Trevor would tell her because he wouldn’t want her to worry. But something was definitely up. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. Fine. It’s what, seven in the evening there?” Trevor asked.
“A little after.”
“Are you out? I called your hotel suite.”
“I’m sitting on a bench watching all the happy couples stroll by, wishing it were me. It’s a beautiful public square. Place de la Concorde. It’s about a five minute walk from the hotel. You’ll love it. A perfect place to take selfies,” she said to her camera-loving friend. “Something about it is…soothing.”
“A five minute walk from the hotel. Hold on a second? I need to grab this other line.”
Eunice listened to the on-hold message as she waited for Trevor to come back on the line. She felt a tightening in the pit of her stomach when Blake’s voice danced over the line. “At Farrington Sports, we are family.”
Family.
“Sorry about that,” Trevor said as he came back on the line. “It’s a madhouse here.”
“You do know once Blake finds out you made a call to France from the company phone—especially to me—he’ll probably fire you, right?
“I’m not scared of Blake Farrington.”
He should have been. Because of her, she was sure Trevor had a bull’s-eye painted on his back.
“I hope you’re representing the USA fashionably well.”
“As a matter-of-fact, I am. I have on my black pea coat and a black shaker stitch beret. A black cowl neck sweater, dark jeans, and black calf boots. I’m rocking it.”
“All black. You have—” He paused. “I’m sorry. Hold on another minute. These people are driving me crazy.”
“Sure.” She honestly didn’t mind. She wanted to hear Blake’s voice just once more. Dropping her head into her hand, she considered how insane that made her.
Trevor came back on the line. “I’ve got to go, sweetie. I have a fire to put out. Love you.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in—”
The line went dead before she could complete her thought. “—a few days.” Yeah, something was up with Trevor.
Eunice allowed herself another fifteen minutes enduring the visual torture. She thought about the walk back to her hotel. Maybe she would stop into the chocolate shop she’d passed and buy all the truffles they had on display. She laughed to herself. When did she become an emotional eater?
As she was about to push to her feet, the conversation behind her drew her attention. She was tempted to turn to see the couple, but kept still as she translated in her head the apologetic words the man spoke to his companion.
I’m so sorry I hurt you. My life is not complete without you.
What had he done? Lied? Cheated? She heard the woman hum a sound she interpreted as bliss. But could she have pardoned him so quickly? Shouldn’t she have made him earn her forgiveness.
I would give anything under the stars to have you in my life again.
Eunice felt her skin prickle. The words made her look toward the sky. Blake’s star was somewhere there, shining down on her. Why— No. She was done with wondering why things had worked out the way they had. She just needed to accept things for how they were.
Silence lingered behind her. Were they sharing a kiss? A hug? Staring into each other’s eyes? Curiosity was killing her. She was about to pivot when the Frenchman started again.
Your love changed me. Made me a better man. I don’t want to be without you for another moment.
“Parfait!” the woman said.
Eunice agreed. It was perfect. She gave a quick swipe at her eye, deciding it was time to leave and allow them their privacy to celebrate their rekindled love. Milk chocolate truffles were definitely in her future.
But before she could escape, Frenchy’s started again. Something held her there.
“J’ai oublié quelque.”
He’d forgotten something? What had he forgotten? Eunice eagerly awaited the answer.
“J’ai presque oublié de dire Je t’aime. Hier. Aujourd’hui. Toujours.”
Eunice’s breath hitched in her throat once she’d translated the words. I almost forgot to say I love you. Yesterday. Today. Always. She pushed to her feet, then slowly rotated.
“Blake?”
Chapter 23
Just staring at Eunice gave Blake life. The moment she said his name, he realized how much he’d missed it rolling off of her tongue, realized how much he’d missed her in his life. It’d felt like an eternity since he’d laid eyes on her. A thousand times, he’d scrolled through pictures of her on his cell phone, but it didn’t compare to standing feet from her. There was no way he could leave Paris without her.
He passed the older gentleman two large bills and thanked them for their time and assistance. When he refused the money, he passed it to his wife. “Take it, please.” The woman looked to her husband for confirmation. When he nodded, she accepted the bills.
“Merci,” said the woman.
Thanks to Eunice, he knew the meaning of the phrase. Unfortunately, he couldn’t respond in French. “You’re welcome.”
Before strolling away, the woman said something to Eunice that made her laugh. Just seeing her laugh again was refreshing. The last time they’d been together, he’d hurt her deeply. That was evident by the look in her eyes the day he’d confronted her. A day he wished he could take back a thousand times.
“Au revoir. Goodbye,” the man repeated in English.
Eunice’s body stiffened when he took a step toward
her, undoubtedly, confused by his presence in Paris. He slid his hands into his pockets to warm them—and to keep from snatching her into his arms and kissing her senseless. He’d missed the feel of her lips against his. “Hey.”
“How did you—? Trevor.”
“Don’t be angry with him.”
She scowled. “What did you do, Blake? Did you threaten to fire him? If you—”
“No. I—”
“What are you doing here, Blake?”
This was not going to be easy. Her words lacked enthusiasm. But then again, why should she be eager to see him after what he’d done? “I needed to see you.”
He didn’t expect the words to prompt her to sprint toward him and leap into his arms, but he did, however, expect them to soften her a little. They hadn’t.
“Well, you’ve seen me.”
She brushed past him as if he were a simple a stranger she’d just given directions. “Eunice, wait,” he said, capturing her wrist gently. “Please. Ten minutes. That’s all I ask.”
Eunice reclaimed her wrist, then folded her arms across her chest. With her eyes diverted away from him, she said, “You have five.”
If that was all the time she was willing to allow him, he’d better not waste one second. “I love you, Eunice.”
Eunice’s eyes darted toward him and narrowed, but she didn’t speak. The way her breathing pattern changed—short, rapid breaths—he knew she was fighting back her anger.
“I know you find that hard to believe by the way I treated you, but I do. I do love you. You have to know that.”
Eunice inhaled, then exhaled slowly. “You’re right.”
Her words gave him a small glimmer of hope…until she continued.
“I do find that hard to believe.” Instead of allowing him the full five minutes, she turned and stalked away again.
Damn. She really wasn’t going to make this easy. “Two years, Eunice. The company paintball outing. That’s how long I’ve been in love with you.” He’d have preferred to go to the grave with that information, but desperate times…