“Did he say anything else?”
Lainie took her time forming her answer, because she was taken off guard.She’d expected Giselle to ask why Chevalier thought the papers weren’t important but it appeared Giselle was fishing for something else.
What was going on here?
“Other than the fact he was angry, no.”Technically not a lie.Chevalier hadn’t said much past the observation of the papers.It was the other stuff that bothered her.His strange reaction when he first saw her.The visions.Lainie’s heart constricted when she thought of the visions and the dream that troubled her sleep.
Whatever she was in the middle of, she wanted no part of it.Something wasn’t right about her whole meeting with Chevalier.
“I suggest Mr.Lucheux call Mr.Chevalier to clear things up,” she said.
Giselle drew in a deep breath and straightened her shoulders.Lainie’s stomach fluttered in apprehension.Giselle was known for her unexpected explosions of anger.Lainie sensed one of those explosions was imminent.“Mr.Lucheux is far too busy to be chasing paperwork when that isyourjob.”
“I fail to see how advertising contracts fall under the Human Resources Department.”
Three months ago she thought the very generous salary Lucheux Limited offered would help her look past Giselle’s disdain and abrasiveness.With her student loans due each month and her father’s nursing-home bills, Lainie had been drowning in debt and needed the money.With this job she could afford to pay her loans and the exorbitant nursing-home costs.Even though she had nothing left over at the end of the month, she felt better knowing her dad was in a good place, with qualified people to look after him and someday those student loans would be paid.Until then she’d eat peanut butter and jelly, refill her water bottle instead of buying bottled water and drink the office coffee instead of the fancy stuff.
Until then, she’d have to put up with her boss’s weird looks and condescending attitude.
“You work forme,” Giselle said quietly.“Your job is not to question my decisions.”
Lainie sat up, her exhaustion falling away in the face of her anger.Her stubbornness ignored the voice that screamedshut up.“I’m sorry.I didn’t realize I’d signed up for the army.”
Giselle’s pale eyes narrowed.Lainie could almost see the fire breathing from her mouth.
“Do you have a problem, Miss Alexander?Is there something you’d like to discuss with me?Like maybe your two-week notice?”
A tremor shook her body.She’d pushed too far this time.She thought of her father, frail and confused after all that had happened to him.If she lost his spot in the nursing home because she lost her job she’d either have to find a cheaper place that was less equipped to handle him or she’d have to take him in herself.She’d tried taking care of him in the beginning and it hadn’t worked.His mood swings had become violent and she’d been forced to put him in the home.
She bit the inside of her cheek and tamped down on the anger.She’d been doing that a lot lately.For her father she’d continue to do it even if it was humiliating.“No, ma’am.”
“I didn’t think so.”Victory gleamed in Giselle’s eyes as well as a touch of disappointment.She wanted Lainie to fight back, but Lainie wasn’t giving her the satisfaction.“Go back to Mr.Chevalier and retrieve those papers.Signedpapers.”She glanced at her watch.“I want them by tomorrow morning.”
Lainie went still.Her anger disintegrated, replaced by a tremor that shook her body and soul.She didn’t want to go back to The Chevalier.She had a feeling she’d barely escaped last night.“But tomorrow’s Saturday.”
Giselle shot her the evil glare that had earned her the nickname Dragon Bitch.“Tomorrow.Or you’ll be looking for another job.”
Lucheux stepped closer to the window to watch Madelaine exit the building.
The warm April breeze fanned her hair out behind her, picking up the glints of red and reflecting them back.His fingers curled around the windowsill.He leaned forward, hampered by the thick glass.
“She delivered the papers as promised,” Giselle said.
“Good.”
Giselle stepped up next to him, nearly trembling from her suppressed fury.Madelaine enraged Giselle.Ever since he discovered her existence Giselle had been quietly seething.
“Chevalier isn’t pleased.”
“I didn’t expect him to be.”What had Chevalier’s reaction been when he saw her last night?As shaken as Lucheux’s when he first spotted her?
“She didn’t succeed in getting his signature so I sent her back.”Her tone didn’t suppress her fury that Madelaine had somehow failed in her mission, which wasn’t the case at all.
“The goal wasn’t for him to sign fake papers, but to meet her.I say she succeeded admirably.”
Giselle hissed out a breath.He enjoyed seeing Giselle thrown off her game.
“If he isn’t already, Chevalier will soon be preoccupied with her,” he said.
