“Because my son won’t answer them.” She continued, “They want to push forward with the public proposal.”
I froze slightly.
Public?
“I think they’re right, though,” she added carefully.
I leaned back in the chair. “Of course you do.”
She didn’t react to the sarcasm. “My father Marcel is dying. And everyone keeps forgetting this agreement has a timeline.”
Her voice softened slightly.
“This has to be locked in within nine months.” She looked at me carefully. “You only have seven left.”
I stared down at the table. “I don’t want to be known as a Laveau publicly.”
“That’s a part of showing the alliance.”
“I’ll do it,” I said after a moment. “But I don’t want to show my face.”
Vivi nodded immediately. “You won’t have to.”
Relief slipped through my chest.
I sighed and leaned back again. “Okay.”
I rubbed my temples. “I hate this.”
Vivi’s expression softened in a way that felt surprisingly genuine.
“I know.” She reached across the table briefly and squeezed my hand. “You didn’t ask for this life.”
“No,” I muttered. “I definitely didn’t.”
She stood up after that. “I have a condo in this same building,” she said as she walked toward the door. “I’ll be around Paris for a while.”
She paused.
“If you need anything, Tommy can call me.”
She added one last thing.
“Oh, and I’ll see to it that my son gets you a phone.”
I looked up at her.
That part alone felt like a victory.
She gave me a small knowing smile when the elevator doors closed behind her.
The penthouse went quiet again, and all I could think about was,“Is Vivi trying to be on my side sincerely?”
$$$$$
Later that afternoon, the quiet turned into something comfortable.
I moved out onto the balcony while the TV inside the living room played loudly so I could hear it.
