“And why are you telling me this?”
“I want to be sure that you know what you’re getting into.”
“I wasn’t aware that I was getting into anything.”
“I can assure you that Evan does not see it that way.”
“So what do you suggest that I do about it?”
“You can leave Provence.”
“I’m actually planning to leave on Saturday. If I do, you’re saying this enormously successful businessman with a possessive nature would just let it drop?”
Rice sipped his coffee and then fiddled with his spoon. “Perhaps.”
“So has this sort of thing happened before with Evan?”
“You mean with other women? Yes, it has.”
“And what happened to the other women?”
“I don’t really know.”
“You’re not being very convincing.”
“That’s ironic, considering I’m telling the truth.”
“So who are you protecting here? Me or your boss?”
“I thought it was clear. I’m protecting Evan. I don’t even really know you.”
“I appreciate your frankness. So protecting him from himself?”
“That’s one way of looking at it.”
“Well, for me, it’s the only way of looking at it.”
“So will you leave? Now? Don’t wait until Saturday.”
Reggie rose and put down some euros for her coffee. “I don’t think so, no. I’ve made plans to go with him to the market tomorrow, and I plan to follow through with it.”
Rice stood. “Leaving now really would be the wisest thing you could do, trust me.”
“That’s the rub, Alan. I’m having a hard time trusting anyone right now.”
A few minutes later Alan Rice stood next to a treadmill where his boss was performing his daily jog. Waller wiped his face with a towel and drank from a bottle of water as he increased the incline on the machine.
“You look troubled, Alan.”
“I just had a chat with our little friend.”
“Our little friend?”
“Jane Collins.”
Waller slowed the machine and reduced the incline. “Why did you do that?”
“I’m worried.”