“She needs someone to go with her. First, she’s on crutches and I can help with her bags, and second, she’s distraught and needs a friend right now.”
“A friend? But I thought you didn’t like her?” Peter said slowly.
“We’re friends,” Quinn replied simply.
Peter hesitated, but said, “Alright, then. Will you still be able to do some work while you’re away?”
“I will bring my laptop, yes.”
“Okay, I guess keep me updated and give Margot my condolences,” Peter said, a hint of something in his voice. Quinn couldn’t tell if he was pissed off or jealous or both.
“I will. Talk to you later,” he muttered, hanging up before Peter could reply.
His friendship with Peter was slowly deteriorating. They were just not getting along anymore. Additionally, Peter threatened to fire him for the way Quinn spoke to him on the phone while he was in London. Quinn made a decision after their little discussion that he was going to find another job anyway. He would finish this Trump contract, then quit. He could either work as a free agent, or find another corporation for work. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do yet; maybe he could even start his own business.
After printing out their tickets, Quinn wrote Margot a quick note. He quietly placed it on the pillow next to her then left. He needed to go pack for their trip, and then he could come back and spend the night with her. He would comfort her as much and as best as he could.
~~~~~
Margot woke up not realizing that she even fell asleep. Her room was dark. Her room? How did she get in here? Then she remembered that Quinn came over, and she cried in his arms until she fell asleep. She was so glad that he was there. She was shattered, with no one to hold her together. Margot stretched, and her hand hit a piece of paper on the pillow next to her. She sat up and turned on the lamp next to her bed. She picked up the paper and read the note scrawled out in Quinn’s elegant handwriting:
Margot,
I bought us plane tickets to Paris. We leave in the morning. I just ran home to pack a bag. I will be back shortly.
Quinn
Margot’s bottom lip quivered as she tried to fight off the tears that threatened to fall. Quinn was taking her home to her family. He bought plane tickets for both of them. She didn’t want to go to Paris alone, there was no way she could carry bags while on crutches. She was sure she could get someone at the airport to help her, but it would just be easier with Quinn there. She could also use the support he would offer.
Her sister called shortly after Quinn had left earlier. Their father had a massive heart attack at the dinner table. He slumped forward, and as soon as his face hit the table, he was dead. Her father has always had heart problems, he even had a few minor heart attacks in the past, but she never expected him to pass away when she was not there. Her sister, Colette, said that their mother was a mess, and has not stopped crying since it happened. Margot was just devastated. Her father was a great man. She was going to miss him terribly.
“Margot,” Quinn’s deep voice said from the doorway.
Margot’s head shot up and she let out a startled gasp. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t even hear him come in. Margot pressed a hand to her racing heart and used the other to wipe away the couple of tears that slipped from her eyes.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” he murmured as he moved toward the bed. He sat down next to her hip. “Did you just wake up?”
Margot nodded and held up his note. “Oui, I just read your note.”
Quinn’s gaze was soft and sympathetic. He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Is that alright? If I go to Paris with you?”
“Of course it is! I did not want to go alone and I could use the help.” Margot sniffed, trying to hold back the new flow of tears that wanted out. “I do not know how I will thank you for this.”
Quinn shook his head. “Don’t worry about that. You would do this for me if it was the other way around.”
She smiled slightly. “Oui, I would.”
The corner of Quinn’s mouth lifted. “Let’s just hope I don’t get strip searched this time.”
Margot snickered causing Quinn to narrow his eyes at her teasingly. She reached up to cup his jaw as she leaned forward to kiss him softly on the lips. His eyes slid closed as his arm slipped around her waist to tug her closer. She nipped at his bottom lip, making him groan. Quinn then pulled back, his dark brown eyes searching hers.