“We’ll finish the presentation tomorrow at the hotel in Switzerland. I’ll have a suite, and we’ll have plenty of room to spread out and work. Okay?”
“I’m going to Switzerland?” she asked in a squeaky voice. “Tonight?”
“Yes, you’re going to Switzerland. You’re getting your first stamp on your passport.” Gherring’s face broke out in a broad grin, flashing his dimples. “Now, am I forgiven?”
“I guess so. I’m too excited to remember why I was upset.”
“Perfect!” Gherring pumped his fist in the air.
“I can’t believe it, Mom! You’re going to Switzerland? You’re so lucky! Switzerland this week, Paris next week. What’s next? Venice?” Charlie was so excited Anne saw her dancing around on the computer screen.
“I don’t have any time. I tried to get Emily, and she didn’t answer. Will you tell her for me?”
“Don’t worry your little head about that. I’ll be glad to call Em and tell her all about your fabulous surprise trip to Bern, Switzerland. On a private jet. With Steven Gherring.”
“It’s for a presentation, and it will be me and Jared and Mr. Gherring. You make it sound like a tryst.”
“If I’m telling the story, I’m telling it my way. Besides, it sounds so much better like that. So, have you told Henri yet?”
She’d been dreading it, but she had to let him know. “That’s my next call.”
Anne placed a FaceTime call to Henri, half hoping he wouldn’t answer and she could just leave a voicemail. He answered, dark circles under his green eyes, which had lost their usual sparkle.
“You are calling really late tonight,” he said. “But I am glad because I missed your call earlier. I was at the doctor’s office, with my sister and my niece.”
“What did they say? Do they have test results yet?”
“The numbers do not look good, but we do not know for certain. They are doing the scans tomorrow and Thursday. We will know something on Friday.”
“Henri, I’m so sorry. I’ll keep contacting you every day, but it may be at a different time. I’m going to be in Switzerland tomorrow through the weekend.”
“And why will you be in Switzerland?”
“It’s for work. We’re doing a big presentation in Bern.”
“Yes, I know. You have told me about your work, but you were not going before. Or you did not tell me.”
“It’s an emergency. It’s a long story that starts with a man named Jeff Murphy…”
“That man is scum. What does he have to do with this?”
“I didn’t even realize you knew him. But Gherring fired him. He was… he was making suggestive comments to me.”
Henri’s brows furrowed. “Gherring should have never hired that man. I am glad he is gone.”
“But Jeff was doing part of the presentation, and the date got moved up, and I have to go so I can help them finish tomorrow because the presentation’s on Thursday. Please don’t be upset, Henri.”
“You are going with Steven Gherring?”
“Yes, with him and Jared. It’s not like we’ll ever be alone. It’s my job, Henri, and it’s important to me.”
Henri’s face relaxed. “I am sorry, angel. I do not want to cause you stress. I will not say any more about it. But if he does anything to hurt you, he will answer to me.”
“Thanks, Henri. Maybe I’ll get to practice my French in Bern. Then I’ll be ready for Paris.”
Henri waggled his eyebrows. “I am hoping you will practice your French with me, mon ange.”
“If Anna-Laure is really sick, will you still want me to come next week?”