Surrender

“I would go with the lighter one.”

“Eloise.” I hopped up from my seat. I would have recognized her cinnamon curls anywhere. “It’s so nice to see you.”

“How is the decorating going?” she asked.

I shook my head. I needed to forget Lana Foley. For now.

“I’m almost done. Kind of.” I laughed. “It’s a big space. I’m going room by room.”

“Which table are you going to buy?” She pointed at my final choices. “Is this for the living room?”

I sighed. “Actually, it’s for the sitting room. I can’t make up my mind. You really think the lighter one is prettier?” At this point, I didn’t care. I’d buy a milk crate.

“You could go with that one, but I think Vaughn likes darker hues. You do still call him Vaughn, don’t you?”

I felt my veins slowly turn to ice as her words sank in.

I tried to keep my voice calm. “I’m sorry, I think you’ve confused my husband with someone else. It’s Leo,” I emphasized. “Leo and Kate Birch?” I tried to jog her memory, but my stomach was already flipping over.

“It’s ok,” she whispered. “I think we should talk, Emily. Freely. But not here.”

My heart raced. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. She wasn’t supposed to know who I was. No one did. I had practiced multiple scenarios. Never this one.

I stumbled backward, looking for a way out of the store. I had to get out of here. Away from Eloise. Away from the stupid coffee tables. As I pushed through the glass doors, Eloise was only a few paces behind me.

“Follow me to the park,” she instructed.

I wanted to turn and run, but something told me to listen to her. It was a couple of blocks to one of the squares. I didn’t want to be outside today. It was gloomy and cold. A dreary day in December. I shoved my hands in fine leather gloves and matched her quick pace. Of course she wore a beret cocked to the side. Everything about her had been perfect. Even the way she bossed me around.

The narrow street opened into the park. I caught up to Eloise as she sat on a bench. I glanced at her before taking a seat at the opposite end.

“How do you know who I am?” I asked. I wanted to be the one to control the conversation. I learned with Agent Kenneth that whoever started first was able to steer the discussion.

“I work with Vaughn,” she replied.

I wasn’t ready to admit I knew him by that name, but it was clear I wasn’t going to be able to go along with the facade.

“I asked how you presume to know me.”

She smiled. “I work for Blackwing, Emily. I know a lot of things.” Her beautiful French accent had disappeared.

I reached down and wrapped my hand around the side of the bench involuntarily. I could feel the cold metal through my gloves.

“What is this about?” I asked.

Eloise nodded at a mother who walked by with a stroller. Once they passed she shifted toward me. I realized that was probably not her real name. The cinnamon curls were likely as fake as her accent had been.

“It’s time for you to do your part.”

“Excuse me?”

“We could sit here for hours and both pretend we don’t know what we know, or we could be brutally honest with each other and cut this conversation down to five minutes.”

“What I know is that you were our realtor. You helped my husband, Leo Birch, buy a beautiful flat that I’m decorating. I’m shopping for coffee tables today. I have to get home to meet my husband.” It sounded strange saying it. I doubted she believed me anyway. Vaughn would be gone all afternoon.

She laughed lightly. “At least you are guarded. That’s a plus.” She checked the time on her phone. “The situation in Paris has changed. Vaughn needs to do more. He needs to act faster, but because of you he’s hesitant to do that. He’s never hesitated. Not once.” She eyed me. “It took a management decision, but I knew you were the right person to help. I’m coming to you since I know you want him to be successful. He doesn’t want to listen to me for whatever reason.”

“I’m not following any of this.” If my head would stop pounding, this would be easier.