Chapter 530

Chapter 530:

“I’ll make sure he does,” Francoise answered.

“Fine,” I said. “Tell me the time and place p>

“Excellent. I’ll text you as soon as I have the booking.” Still holding her husband’s thick wrist, she guided him towards a waiting limousine.

“You really think dinner with them is a good idea?” Lea asked once they had gone.

“It’s worth a try. Francoise seems reasonable. If she convinces me she can keep Pierre in check, I’ll think about easing up on their businesses.” I climbed into the waiting car, and Lea followed.

“Where to now, sir?” the driver asked.

I almost told him Mira’s hotel but stopped myself. “Hotel Saint-Riviére,” I said instead.

The car pulled away.

I booked a suite next to Lea’s. We went over what to cover at dinner and the conditions she considered non-negotiable. Pierre’s shares in Titanova were at the top of the list. She needed them back.

“I should never have let him buy those shares,” she said ruefully. “Without them, I could have cut ties and walked away clean p>

“Francoise will sell them,” I said. “Those shares mean nothing to her, and she won’t want me going after her Skyline businesses p>

“Let’s hope so p>

I checked my phone. There were work emails and updates from Dominic, but no messages from Mira. A low-battery warning flashed.

“Give it here, and I’ll plug it in,” Lea said.

I handed her the phone and went for a shower.

When I came out, I asked, “Any calls for me p>

“No. Just a text from Francoise with the restaurant details.” I checked. The battery was full, and the call log was clear.

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I put the phone in my pocket. “Let’s go p>

“Where’s your boyfriend?” I asked.

“Out shopping. He’s heard of the famous Passage du Désir and is dying to check out their merchandise.” Yvaine slid into her seat and scanned the restaurant with a slow, appreciative glance. “Nice place you’ve picked. Must be a huge favor you’re about to ask if it’s got you splurging on a three-star joint p>

“Only the best for my bestie.” I didn’t tell her how much of a relief it was to see her. She didn’t have to say a word; just having her here anchored me in this foreign city. What I needed wasn’t advice, but her company.

She seemed in good spirits, cheeks glowing from all that skiing. Still, I waited until after dessert, when she was pleasantly full and riding a sugar high, to bring it up.

“You bloody idiot,” she said. Her tone was soft and contented, like a cat with a belly full of cream. It was nothing like the screeching judgment she had hurled at me over the phone a few days ago.

I spread my hands. “I’m sure you’ve got a reason for saying that p>

“Have you talked to Ashton p>

“Why not? Still avoiding him p>

“No, I just…” I couldn’t face him. “He’s not answering his phone p>

Yvaine rolled her eyes. “What is this, a competition to see who can ignore the other the longest? Pathetic p>

I traced the stem of my wineglass. “Forget him. I want your opinion p>