‘Why do you think?’
‘Your dad is Michel Martin.’
‘The very same.’ He smiled. ‘The worst of the corporate monsters. Swallowing up little hotels into his great conglomerate. Like… like the old lady with her fly.’
‘What?’
‘You know, like in the story. She swallows a fly, then a rat, then a hare… she cannot stop the greed.’
‘I don’t think that’s what that poem is about. Anyway, aren’t you a literary scholar? Is that the best reference you can think of?’ she grinned.
‘OK, my father is Ebenezer Scrooge.’
‘Before or after the haunting?’
‘What?’
‘Well, are you saying he’s mean? Or just a rich businessman?’
‘I feel as if we’re going off track.’
‘Maybe a little.’
Henri gave a self-conscious smile. ‘After the haunting. My father is not a monster. But still, he is very rich and successful and seems never to want to just stop and enjoy what he has built.’
‘That’s so sad.’
A few people left the room, laughing, walking in the direction of the loos. Henri pulled Bella into a locked doorway, out of sight. ‘For what it’s worth, I tried to tell you, once I realised the connection. I was worried when I thought you were an intern at the hotel. Because it might look… underhand to have a girlfriend in the business. But then you were no longer my girlfriend.’
She nodded, feeling slightly awkward.
‘Then there was the disaster with the fire, and I found out the truth of what you were doing.’ He shook his head. ‘And I didn’t know what to do. That’s why I couldn’t help with the rooms. Because my father, he wants me to make this decision. It is his way of forcing me to participate. And I cannot tell him about you because he might feel he has to withdraw altogether.’
‘Oh! Don’t do that. I can quit! This is Claudine?—’
He put a finger on her lips. ‘Shh. I know. I will not. And from what I have seen – when I try to look without prejudice – I think this is a good hotel, that it would be a good addition to the group. But… I have to know, Bella. Do you really think this is a good place? Because so much is based on how things appear. It looks good, but behind the scenes…’ He ran a hand through his hair. ‘I love my father. I do not wish to steer him wrong.’
Bella opened her mouth to say yes. Then paused. Thought. Finally, she nodded. ‘Henri, I really think this is a great place,’ she said. ‘Claudine is very passionate about it, and I know that she wants to work very hard to build things… I don’t think you’d be making a mistake.’
He nodded. ‘Thank you. And don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.’
She laughed. ‘And yours is safe with me!’
‘My secret?’ He looked confused.
‘You know, the fact your father doesn’t know that you don’t want to go into business with him anyway!’
He put a finger to his lips. ‘It is between us.’
She smiled.
‘And thank you.’ He looked at her, his expression softening. ‘I know that I paint my father in a bad light, but I love him. I need to know that the organisation, the people he will be investing in won’t let him down.’
‘I understand. And I’m sorry,’ she added. ‘I’m sorry that I lied, that I hurt you. I never meant to…’
‘Oui, it is OK.’ Henri gave her one, brief nod and turned back into the party. Moments later, Bella followed.
Neither saw the silver-haired man standing in the shadows a little farther along the corridor.
