‘Think Sauvage will try to hug her?’ Blake asks, rolling his eyes and I give him a questioning look.
'The French fuck was actually really worried about you. I think the psychotic asshole actually likes you.'
'I know,' I say with a snort, ‘but I'm sure the fact that I’m the only one who can make Envy has a lot to do with it.'
Mav, Shade, and Blake share one of their looks and my eyes widen because I think I actually understand this one.
‘You guys aren’t jealous of Sauvage, are you?’ I ask.
‘No,’ mumbles Blake.
‘Of course not,’ Shade scoffs.
I laugh. 'You definitely don’t have anything to worry about with Pierre Sauvage where I’m concerned.’
Mav looks dubious.
‘He has a soft spot for me. That’s all. It’s a very platonic vibe.’
The guys don’t say anything more, but I find myself chuckling about it as the elevator rises.
When the doors open, we're in the long corridor lined with plants that leads to Sauvage’s office where two of his guys are standing guard. Thomas, Sauvage’s right hand man, is there and I give him a small wave.
'Glad you're back, ma'am,' he says.
‘Me too,’ I mutter.
We go in, and as soon as the door opens, Sauvage is standing up.
'Ma petite fleur,' he says.
I think for a moment that heisactually going to hug me and I'm not sure how I feel about that because I don't really know him well enough for close physical touch. But, instead, he takes both my hands and smiles at me, I think, genuinely.
'I have missed you, chéri,' he says. 'You are well? You are all right?'
He steps back and surveys my person as if he thinks I might have lost a limb or be harboring some secret injury.
'I'm fine,' I say, and it's not quite a lie because I'm sure I don't have anymoretrauma from this, hopefully final, stint at The Heath than I was left with last time.
He squeezes my hands very gently and leads me over to one of the chairs in front of his desk.
'You said you wanted to see us,' Shade says, sitting.
The others stand just behind us and Sauvage goes behind his desk but doesn't sit himself.
'My condolences for the death of your father. I thought it best for us to speak about this detective before tomorrow. Anders. I am told she is young and full of hope,' he spits, rolling his eyes. 'She will not do as she is told, not even for payment.’
Mon Dieu!’ he exclaims dramatically. ‘Save me from these starry-eyed children!'
Then, he glowers at everyone in the room.
'So, we give her une ciblea target. The stalker, the murderer,' he says. 'Either one. The true criminal, or un bouc émissairea scapegoat. It does not matter. But she will be vigilant if she is not given a win.’ He points at the guys. ‘Pierre Sauvage will not be toppled because of this bêtises enfantineschildish nonsense.'
He gives the room a long-suffering look as he sits down.
'It is true what they say. No good deed goes unpunished,' he mutters, picking up a pen.
'You interview with the detective tomorrow, oui?’ he asks.
