It had been three days. Three days too fucking long, with us going around and around on the same fucking shit. Just when I thought we were going to come to an agreement, they reneged. I was exhausted and was this close to shutting the whole thing down. The only reason I hadn’t already was because that’s exactly what they wanted. And fuck no was I about to let them win.

“That is not what we agreed on, Mr. Reneux...”

I paused as the French translator kept talking to keep up with me. Normally I wouldn’t need a fucking translator, but with my team here with me and them not knowing French, it was putting myself at a disadvantage. I shot an angry look at Chace for failing French in high school. Prick.

“I think what the problem is, the infrastructure. You want to give it the, um…” he paused looking for an English word. “American way.” He waved his hand around, to my side of the table.

I rolled my eyes. “Cut the shit, Mr. Reneux.” His eyes briefly widened. I turned to everyone in the room. “Could you all please give us the room?” Claudia and Chace looked at me questioning, and I waved them way. Once the room was cleared, I turned to Mr. Reneaux.

“Que diriez-vous de quoi s'agit-il vraiment? Pas de conneries, pas de traducteurs, seulement moi et toi.”

How about you tell me what this is really about? No bullshit, no translators, just me and you.

He sighed as he took a moment. “C'est la ville. Ils ne veulent pas qu'une société américaine ait une place sur leurs terres. Beaucoup de membres du conseil sont très anciens.”

It's the city. They do not want an American company to have a place on their land. A lot of the board members are very old school.

I started to speak but he continued. “Les cinq dernières entreprises qui ont été amenées, ont tous échoué. Dommageable Dommage. Ils ont tous promis exactement la même chose que vous faites. Qu'est-ce qui vous fait penser que vous êtes différent de l'un des autres?”

The last five companies that were brought over, all failed. Damaging. They all promised the exact same thing you do. What makes you think you're any different than any of the others?

“Eh bien, c'est une question simple. Ces cinq dernières entreprises n'étaient pas les miens.”

Well, that's a simple question. Those last five companies weren't mine.

He smiled and shook his head. "Les mêmes promesses, ils ont aussi promis." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Que pouvez-vous promettre qu'ils ne l'ont pas fait? Que pouvez-vous fournir, pour leur faire savoir que vous êtes digne?"

"Same promises, they too promised. "What can you promise that they didn't? What can you provide, to make them know you're worthy?"

I grabbed a piece of paper and tore it off the tablet. I wrote down a few words, before glancing back up at Mr. Reneux. "Y at-il un notaire sur votre personnel, Monsieur?"

Is there a notary on your staff sir?

His eyes gleamed as he pulled out his phone and sent a text. A few minutes later, a short red headed older woman entered the room.

“Monsieur?”

He pointed to me, and she walked over.

"Demande d'avoir ce notarisé s'il vous plaît?"

Request to have this notarized, please?

She looked back to Mr. Reneux before taking the document and quickly read it over. I inwardly smiled as her eyes grew wide at my words. Mr. Reneux looked on curiously. He nodded to her, giving her permission to proceed. She pulled out her pen, and I watched as she carefully applied her signature to the document. She glanced up at me a few times, probably to make sure this was all legit. She finally placed her stamp.

I nodded my thanks as she slid the document back over to me and promptly left. I glanced down one last time at the paper before me then slid it across the table to Mr. Reneux. He took a look at it and a mask of shock took over his features.

I leaned forward. "Est-ce que nous avons d'autres préoccupations?"

Do we have any other concerns?

He glanced up at me chuckling. “No, no concerns at all, Mr. Mandrake.”

We both got up and shook hands. I gave him one last nod, grabbed my briefcase, and exited the room.

“Holy fuck what’d you do?” Chace came walking up to me with Claudia by his side.

I shrugged, as I motioned for them to follow me out the front door. “I gave them an offer they couldn’t refuse. But the good thing is the patent is ours and we will move forward with breaking ground.”

We got in the awaiting car. “Thank fuck. I love Paris, but I am ready to go home,” Chace said as he leaned his head back against the headrest. Chace continued talking as I checked my phone. I wanted to leave to head back home now. Even with video calls and texting, it wasn’t enough.

“Fuck,” I muttered.

Chace looked to me. “What is it? They fell through again?”

I shook my head. “I wish, that would’ve been easier to handle. We can’t fly out until tomorrow because of the fog.”

“Good.”

I looked at Chace. “Good?”

“Yeah. We celebrate. We deserve it. We just spent three days in Paris and haven’t had a bit of fun.”

Claudia spoke up. “I agree. I could use a few drinks. Let my hair down.”

I tried not to frown. “You two go ahead.”

Chace moaned. “Grayson, come on! Will you live a little?”

I sighed, running my hand through my hair, all the while wondering just how dangerous was it to fly in fog. Surely they do it all the time. I jumped as an ice cube hit me in the chest.

“Four drinks.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Two, now leave it.”

He smiled, tipping his cup back, chewing more ice. Bastard.

Two hours later, I had gone down to the hotel bar. Claudia was sitting at the bar and waved me over. I briefly hesitated before making my way. “Where’s Chace?”

She rolled her eyes. “He got a phone call from the girlfriend.” She shrugged. “So, who knows if we’ll ever see him again tonight.”

Asshole. He gets a call from his girl and he’s out. Course, I actually couldn’t blame him. In fact, if Emmalin called now, I would be upstairs, watching her make herself come. The thought was already making me hard. It was after nine p.m. here, so it was just after two there. I’m sure I can bother her, get her to stop whatever she’s doing, and show me that pretty pink pussy.

“What’ll you have?” Claudia looked to me, waiting for my reply.

“Um…Cognac.”

Claudia smiled, raising two fingers to the bartender. “I like a guy that knows his brandy.”

I didn’t say anything as I took my drink then looked out at everyone else. Some were dancing, others having a late dinner. I checked my phone again to see if any messages from Emmalin came in. I also took that opportunity to send a text to Chace, to let him know what a dick he was for bailing.

His response?

Chace: Pussy calls ; - )

---

Fucking prick. Truth be told, I was actually jealous.

“So how about it?”

I turned my attention back to Claudia. “I’m sorry?”

She rolled her eyes and pointed to the dance floor. “How about a dance?”

I looked to the dance floor and slowly shook my head. “I’m sorry, not tonight.”

She studied me for a moment. “Why not? You need permission first or something?”

I silently laughed. “Not at all.”

“Don’t tell me because you’re married, you can’t do something as innocent as dancing?”

I drank the rest of my drink, and signaled for another. “No, but I’m also putting myself in the mindset that if an attractive man asked my wife to dance…would I like it?”

She moved closer. “So, you find me attractive?”

“You know you’re attractive, Claudia. You don’t need me telling you that. I’m assuming your partner tells you that.”

She frowned. “I’m single.”

I took a sip of the new drink I had. “Well, I’m sure you’ll find someone.”

She smiled wide. “I already have. He just doesn’t know it yet.” I watched as she placed a skinny straw in her Cognac and drank it like it was a goddamn vodka cranberry. My phone vibrated in my pocket. I took it out and smiled when I saw it was Emmalin. Claudia started talking again, and I held my hand up to stop her.

“I’m sorry, I really have to take this. Excuse me.”

I didn’t wait for her to respond as I made my way to a quiet corner in the bar. I called Emmalin back. She answered on the third ring, most likely for the sole purpose of making me wait. Fucking minx.

“Hey,” she said breathlessly.

“Bad time?”

“Not for you. How’s Paris?”

“Shitty without you. What are you doing?”

“Just came in from a late lunch.”

“Yeah? Are you in your office?”

She giggled. “Yes.”

“Good, take off your panties.”

She whispered. “What makes you think I’m wearing any?”

I groaned. “Fuck baby, you’re killing me.”

She laughed. “I have a meeting, talk to you later?”

I sighed. “Of course. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

I hung up, wishing I was there to really find out if she was wearing panties or not. I barely turned around and jumped when I saw Claudia standing right behind me, holding two drinks.

“I got you a refill. You looked stressed.”

I looked at the drink she handed me a little wearily. It had a lime floating in it. I smelled it. Sure, as fuck wasn’t tea. I held it up. “What is this?”

“It’s called a Pepa. It’s well known here. Combination of Cognac and Vodka.” She waved her hand around as she sipped hers. “It’s really good. Try it.”

I smiled. “I said just two drinks tonight.”

“So, you’ll have three. Is it really so bad? Have three and then you’re free to do anything you want.” She gave me a smile before she slowly licked her lips.

I stared down into my drink. Fine. Three, then I can fucking leave. I sat at the nearest table and casually sipped my Pepa as Claudia kept glancing at me. “So, where are you from, Claudia?”

“That’s a little hard to answer. We moved around a bit, but finally settled in Virginia, where my sole purpose in life was to get the hell out of there. I graduated high school, then went on from there.”

I nodded and she raised her drink up. “Are you sure you don’t want another?”

I stared down at my drink. I had drunk maybe half of it but already felt myself getting sleepy. I rubbed my eyes, and it took me a minute to register Claudia talking to me. “You look like you’re ready for bed.”

I shut my eyes tight for a second and then finally looked up at her, blinking a few times before she came into focus. “Yeah, maybe that jet lag is finally catching up with me.” I shakily stood up, and Claudia rushed to my side.

“Whoa! I think someone can’t hold their liquor.” She wrapped her arm around my waist. “I’ll help you to your room.” I found myself leaning on Claudia as we made our way to the elevator. I watched her press the button for what I assumed was her floor. She didn’t bother pressing the button for mine. I couldn’t even lift my arm to press it. Maybe that drink was stronger than I thought. The elevator door stopped on her floor, and she helped me out. I tried telling her this wasn’t my floor but nothing came out. At this point, I didn’t even care. I would’ve been happy sleeping right here in the hallway.

“I just have to get something, and then I’ll take you up.” She spoke, at least I think she spoke, as she helped me to her room. “Come on. You can have a seat while I grab it.”

I don’t even think I had a seat, more like dived into her bed. The room started spinning, and everything became fuzzy. I’ll shut my eyes for just a minute I told myself. Just a minute.