that.’ Also, maybe he’s not a redhead. Maybe it’s just the pink lighting giving his hair that hue.
‘I’ll be sure to tell him this is a no-bone zone,’ she says, her attention turning back to me briefly, her smile almost reluctant.
She’s no sooner gone when Benoît slides into the seat opposite.
‘How do you like Monaco so far?’ he asks, sitting back in his seat, one long leg crossed over the other.
‘How do you know I haven’t been here for a long time?’ I counter, adopting a similar pose, though without crossing my legs.
‘Well, now,’ he begins, almost as though he’s a little shy. I’ll admit, he’s pretty good at this even if we both know this is just an act. ‘I have a small admission to make. I saw you on your first day. The walls in the office are mostly glass,’ he says, almost by way of explanation. ‘You were in one of the meeting rooms filling out forms, I think. You looked a little like, what is the saying? Like a fish out of water?’
I try not to bristle at the implication, pushing away the residual sense of confusion and worry I’d felt that day. ‘Doesn’t everyone feel a little strange on their first day at a new job?’
‘It looked like more than that.’ Sitting forward, he pulls the bottle of champagne from the bucket and begins unwinding the foil. ‘You looked vulnerable.’
I snort unhappily. You are barking up the wrong tree, friend.
‘Pardonne-moi. I don’t mean to offend you. I was simply intrigued.’ He pops the cork expertly and begins pouring the effervescent liquid into two glasses, passing one over the small table with an inciteful look.
‘Well, as you can see, I survived.’ I take the glass from his hand because champagne is champagne. Besides, I need something to take the taste of this exchange out of my mouth.
‘Non. You have thrived.’ He raises his glass in a toast.
How am I supposed to refuse that toast? So I don’t, the crisp bubbles dancing on my tongue.
‘Where did they eventually hide you?’
‘Hide?’ I roll my lips together, savouring the flavour as I place my glass down. Okay, I’m stalling for time, trying to work out what his angle is.
‘No one seemed to know where you’d gone to. The beautiful girl with the luxurious dark hair? Très exotique.’
‘Someone needs to book you some sensitivity training,’ I mutter under my breath because exotic is not a compliment.
‘Pardon?’
‘Hmm?’ No one knew. I began to think I’d imagined you.’
‘Oh, boy. You’re really laying it on thick. Did you forget already that I said I’m involved with someone?’
‘Ah, the boyfriend.’ His head drops between his shoulders, but his smile is still visible. ‘Someone snapped you up so quickly.’ As his head comes up slowly, his smile almost wolfish. Though a pale imitation of the wolf himself. Of Remy. ‘I could be good to you.’
‘I think you should stick to neutral topics if you want the pleasure of my company.’
He nods slowly, seeming to consider my words. ‘How do you find Monaco?’ A change of direction.
‘I like it so far.’
‘Two square kilometres. More billionaires than anywhere else in the world. Super cars. Super yachts. Supermodels. You like all this?’
‘I like my friends. I like my job. I like the scenery.’
‘Yes. I can appreciate that.’ My skin prickles under the weight of his gaze. ‘And you like a man. So, where is this boyfriend of yours?’
‘If he has any sense, he’ll be tucked up in bed.’
‘If he had any sense, he’d make sure you were tucked up next to him. He neglects you, my dear.’
‘Is this a speciality of yours, hitting on women who aren’t interested? I guess you like them a little hard to get, huh?’
‘Hard to get but not impossible.’ The final word is wholly French and wholly provocative.
‘I don’t know, I have to tell you, Benny,’ I reply, pressing my elbow on the table to cup my chin in my hand. ‘The longer I speak to you, the worse your odds become.’
‘Non. You like to spar with me. I think you and I would make a fire between the sheets.’
And I think you’re not only annoying but deluded, too.
‘What a shame I’m not into flammable nightwear.’ I make as though to rise, dipping to grab my clutch.
‘I’m sorry. Please, at least, finish your drink.’
A quick look at my surroundings tells me neither Charles or Fee are in view. I lower back into my seat reluctantly because I can hardly leave without them.