On the way out, I thought Mrs. Brittany would be proud of me. I had hit all the marks.
One way or another, I was sure it wouldn’t be long before I would find out.
15
“Not that I don’t appreciate you taking me places and spending time with me, but don’t you ever have to work?” I asked him on our way back to the villa.
“A good CEO creates his own schedule. I have some very good assistants, too.”
We heard his mobile phone vibrate. He looked at me.
“Maybe I spoke too soon. Paul Lamont,” he said into it, and listened. Then he looked at me and smiled. “Yes, we went to lunch at Café de Paris. Now we’re returning to the villa for a swim. Well, why don’t you ask her?” He handed me the phone.
“Hello,” I said.
“Bonjour, Roxy. It’s Norbert. Is everything all right?”
“Yes, everything is fine. I was introduced to the playland of the rich and famous,” I said, smiling at Paul.
“I’m sorry I’ve been too busy to call. There was a little crisis here. I will call you again later, and you have my mobile number if you need anything until then.”
“Yes, merci, Norbert. Don’t worry,” I said. “I never completely let go of the handlebars.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. I’m fine. Merci.”
“Let me have Paul again, s’il vous plaît.”
I handed him the phone.
“Yes, Dad?” he joked, and listened. “I understand. I’m on my best behavior. D’accord. À bientôt,” he said, and closed his mobile.
“I guess you really do have a reputation,” I said.
“It’s hard to say what worries Norbert more, you being upset with me or Mrs. Brittany being upset with him.”
“Probably one and the same,” I told him.
He looked at me strangely, the impish smile gone. “If she were Italian, I would think she
was the head of some Mafia family or something.”
“She’s not Italian.”
“Yes, I know. How long have you known her?”
“Not long,” I said.
He nodded.
“How long have you known Norbert?” I asked him.
“Oh, well over fifteen years. I think you might have picked up that we don’t exactly travel in the same circles, however.”
“Some of my best friends are Chinese.”
“Pardon?”