“Hello,” Nicolette says brightly in French. “My husband and I are in Paris on vacation, and I’ve heard so many things about your shop I just had to come and pay a visit myself.”
I shove my hands in my pockets. “It isn’t a holiday if my wife doesn’t come home with something glittery and stunning. Our own collection isn’t enough.”
She rolls her eyes. “My husband’s a collector, but Iloveto have a souvenir of our travels.”
The woman smiles. “On holiday, then?”
“Yes and no. We’ve recently been thinking about relocating to Paris so we’re combining a vacation with looking into our options,” I say, a half-truth, but I don’t know how I’d get a job offer if I were only a tourist.
“I see.” Her gaze zones in on me. I know exactly how she’s going to play this angle.
“And what is it that you have in mind?” she asks Nicolette.
“Oh, I’m terrible at deciding. Maybe you can help?” She walks over to the glass display case in front of her and spreads her hands out wide. “You have so many more items than I thought.”
“Yes, it’s deceptive. We look so much smaller from outside.”
While they chatter about a collection of gold hoops and delicate charms, I stroll over to the diamond tennis bracelets.
I zone in on one in the center display, nestled on a sapphire velvet pillow.
“What can you tell me about this?” I ask the middle-aged man.
“Ah, a classic,” he says. “This would grace the wrist of any woman who wore it. Fifty-nine round brilliant-cut diamonds for a total of six carats set in white gold. A push-button clasp for one-hand ease.”
“May I see it, please?”
“Of course, sir.”
He takes it out and places it in front of me.
“Do you have any in rose gold? My wife prefers rose gold.”
He frowns. “Hmm. I’ll check. Just a moment, please.”
When he reaches for it, I pull back subtly. “I’d like to try the one-hand clasp, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.”
I pretend to be enamored with it while Nicolette joins me.
“They’ve got a set of pearl earrings and a matching necklace behind the counter, Henrique. They’re stunning. What have you found?”
I show her. “Let me see it on you.”
I clasp it around her wrist and kiss her cheek. I whisper in her ear, “It’s beautiful on you. You’ll wear this later tonight.”
“Deal.”
She holds out her arm to admire the bracelet’s diamonds, then unclasps it. I make a show of placing it back on the counter while we continue to peruse the displays in the store.
“How about a ring, my love?” I gesture for the woman to bring me a ruby ring.
“Look how gorgeous it is on your finger.”
“It’s a bit big,” she says. “And we don’t have time to size anything….”
“Quite right.” I look around.
