"Look at you," he says finally. "Face to face with the villain of your love story."
I don't know what to say to that, so I say nothing.
He leans back, crosses one leg over the other. "But you have no idea what you're doing. Neither of you do." His voice is calm, almost conversational. "She'll come running back. She has no money, no job, no prospects without her name. And you…"
"You taking away my sponsorship?" The words come out sharper than I mean them to.
Laurent pauses. Then, quiet: "I am not the villain of this story, Nico."
"Then who is?"
"Reality."
The word hangs between us.
He uncrosses his legs, leans forward slightly. "Your contract is safe. Your future with Élise is not." He says it like he's explaining a business deal, not my life. "How long do you think she'll be happy in a small flat in an alpine village, eating instant noodlesand wearing two pairs of shoes until they fall apart? She's a Moreau."
"We'll get by."
"You might." His eyes don't leave mine. "She won't."
Heat crawls up the back of my neck. "You don’t believe I can take care of her?"
“No,” he says flatly. “I don’t think you can.”
For the first time, something shifts in his expression. Not quite a smile. More like recognition.
"But prove me wrong, Nico." He straightens his cuffs. "I do enjoy a surprise."
So that’s the price for loving a princess: she jumps, I promise I’ll build the parachute while we fall.
Footsteps on the stairs. Élise appears in the doorway, two suitcases at her side, face carefully blank.
"Ready?" she asks, looking at me, not her father.
I stand. "Yeah. Let's go."
Laurent doesn't move to help. He just watches as I grab the suitcases, as Élise walks past him without a word. We're almost to the door when his voice stops us.
"Take care of her, Nico."
I turn. He's standing in the doorway to the side room, hands in his pockets, expression unreadable.
I can't tell if it's a blessing or a threat.
"I will," I say.
Élise doesn't look back.
***
We load the suitcases into her car in silence. She climbs into the passenger seat, stares straight ahead as I start the engine and pull out of the drive.
It's not until we're on the highway when she speaks again.
"What did he say to you?"
"That you'll come running back."
