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“Yes.”

“Good,” he chuckles, helping himself to food from my plate and dipping it in my hot sauce.

I block his chopsticks with mine, determined to make him talk.

“Tell me everything. Is it Niels who’s making you almost tolerable?”

My brother is caught off guard, and his deep, throaty laugh echoes throughout the room. “I can’t hide anything from you, huh?”

“Spill the beans, bro.”

“I think I’m in love,” he finally lets out with a sigh. “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way.”

“In love… with my best friend.”

“With your best friend,” Basile confirms. “Believe me, it wasn’t planned! And I know you’re about to threaten me, but—”

“Yes. You’d better not hurt Niels, or I’ll make you pay. Big time.”

“He’s… special. And I’m not just talking about his sweaters. And I have no intention of hurting him, lying to him, or cheating on him. I really care about him, Alma. Actually, I’m thinking of inviting him to spend Christmas with us. His family is far away, and I don’t want him to be alone.”

“That’s a wonderful idea! I can already imagine the bizarre conversations he and Dad are going to have.”

“Well, a fresh face might do us all good. And you know what? I’ve realized something.”

“Hmm?”

“You’re giving me a chance with Niels, even though I know it’s hard for you, given my past history. So, I… I mean… I… should return the favor. With Vadim.”

“Basile Lancaster, is that really you?! Is love transforming you, or has Niels brought out a side of you I never knew existed?” I put my hand over my heart and hand my brother my plate, so he can finish the food I’ve left.

“Don’t get too carried away, okay? Your man is going to have to prove himself… He hasn’t won his ticket to the Lancaster Christmas Eve event yet!”

“He can’t make it on December 24. I already asked him.”

“Oh.”

Basile seems almost disappointed. Or at least, he’s checking to see if I am.

“But it will happen at some point. Next year, maybe,” I say with a sad, little smile.

“I hope so, for you.”

I shoot him a suspicious look.

“I mean it, Alma.”

“Okay, now tell me where the hidden camera is!”

***

I arrive at the meeting room at exactly 1:59 p.m., my mouth on fire and my heart a little unsettled. There’s no one here yet, so I take a seat at the empty table and wait. The minutes tick by, and no one appears. I get up and approach the huge, floor-to-ceiling window, then stand there for a while, taking in the sight of the street down below. Even switched off, the Christmas decorations lend a new charm to the Champs-Élysées. The holiday spirit hasn’t quite won me over yet, though.

I’ve been waiting here for over fifteen minutes, and Kate still hasn’t shown up. It’s not like her to be late.

A few seconds later, my phone vibrates on the table.

[Kate