18. Daniel
18
DANIEL
Breaking News
Yves Blanc and Elisabeth Bernard are embroiled in a multimillion-dollar art charity scandal. Their non-profit charity has been embezzling millions of dollars to support their lavish lifestyle. This information came to light as Yves is embroiled in a sexual assault case. Video footage has been obtained of him putting a date rape drug into a non-identified woman’s drink, then he’s seen walking the unconscious woman from the club to his car, and then through the front gate of his apartment complex.
Now that this information has come to light, more women have come forward recounting their tales of sexual assault via Blanc. With the mounting evidence against Blanc and Bernard, many people in the art industry have distanced themselves from the two of them, and they have lost many of their multimillion-dollar endorsements.
It also appears that Blanc and Bernard have parted ways, with Bernard putting out a press release exclaiming her shock over the accusations about her partner. That she no longer feels safe around him, which is evident in the video footage that was shown of Blanc screaming at a cowering Bernard outside their Paris apartment a few nights ago.
“ R evenge is a dish served cold.” I laugh as I read out the media report to Louis and Matthieu. I’ve popped over to Paris to finalize everything before we leave for New York in a couple of days.
“They got what they deserved,” Louis adds.
“Everything she has is gone. All her assets have been seized. Everything. She’s going to have to declare bankruptcy and start again,” I tell them as I continue to read.
“Apparently, she’s in Moscow. She’s the guest of some film producer. A woman like her will always find a way ...” Matthieu trails off.
“It’s good news that all these women are coming forward to tell their stories of his abuse,” Louis says through gritted teeth. “Have you heard from Emily?”
“Actually … hold on,” I say, getting up off the sofa and heading to my bedroom. I grab the canvas that Emily gave me to give to him. I didn’t think sending something this intimate would be a good idea through the mail, I wanted to give it to him in person. “Emily gave this to me weeks ago, but I wanted to wait.” I turn the artwork around and show him. His eyes widen as he takes in the canvas, emotion shines on his face as he realizes the painting is of a moment in time when they were happy. “She thought you should have it. This was painted when she wasn’t in a great place. Before she said yes to New York.”
“What does this mean?” my brother asks.
I shrug my shoulders. “All I know is she is coming, that must mean something.”
Louis nods and stares at the canvas before getting up and taking it from me. “I need a moment,” he says, leaving the room with the canvas tucked under his arm.
Matthieu and I look at each other with concern. “You think he’s going to be okay over there?” my cousin asks.
“I sure as hell hope so. I need a drink,” I say, heading toward the bar. “Everything set for New York?”
“Yeah, Deveraux said Louis’ art has arrived in one piece as has Emily’s. He’s really impressed with Emily’s work and thinks the exhibition is going to be great. What happens if this launches Emily onto the art scene? Do you think Louis is going to be okay with that?”
I hand him a glass of scotch. “Are you asking if Emily becomes the new ‘it’ artist if Louis is going to be jealous?”
“Not jealous because I think he would be proud of her, I don’t know …”
I take a sip of my drink and think about what my cousin is saying. “If she does become the hot new thing, and they can fix what has happened between them, the two of them together would be unstoppable.”
“They could be the power couple of the art world. If they wanted to be,” Matthieu adds.
“I have faith. From what I’ve heard, Emily has been working with a therapist and every day she seems to be coming back to herself.”
“Who have you been hearing this information from?” he asks.
“Rosie,” I answer before realizing, and Matthieu bursts out laughing.
“I knew it. You couldn’t keep your eyes off her the entire time she was here. Has something happened? Have you been hooking up with Rosie?” my cousin questions me.
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “I’ve actually hired her to decorate my cottage down in Kent.” Matthieu raises a brow at me. “Look, things between Rosie and I are delicate.”
“So, there is something?”
I nod. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but please, this is between us. I don’t have anyone else to talk to about it, and honestly, I don’t know what to do.”
Matthieu indicates to follow him out to the terrace. We take a seat and take in the sights of Paris. “Continue, I promise I won’t say a word.”
I nod. “Months ago we hooked up at a party before either one of us knew who the other was. And we had fun, so much fun, and then she left me. She didn’t want to catch up and do it again.”
“New experience, hey?” my cousin teases.
“Yeah, something like that. I couldn’t stop thinking about her, and then Ivy brought her designer to the art gallery and it was her. But she wasn’t happy to see me.”
“Was she playing hard to get?”
I shake my head. “She didn’t want to be got at all. She told me point blank that we would never repeat that night, she wasn’t interested. Then Ivy goes and leaves us together for lunch, and you know things were stressful between Louis and Emily, and I was dealing with his bullshit. I needed to let loose, and once sex was off the table we both ended up enjoying each other’s company. It was weird. I liked hanging out with her. We laughed and talked, and it was easy.”
Matthieu bursts out laughing. “I shouldn’t be laughing because it’s kind of sad, but that is usually what a healthy relationship looks like. They are your best friend. Look at Mom and Dad, when you see them together, they are always making the other laugh. Guess this is the first time I’ve realized how much your parents messed you up.”
“You think I’m messed up?”
He shakes his head. “No, but I think the toxic environment you grew up in with your father may have done more damage than you realize. I mean, after everything Louis has been through, he still has hope for love.”
“You don’t think I want love?” I question him.
“Yes, you do, but maybe you don’t know what it looks like.”
“And you think I’m in love with Rosie?”
“Whoa now, I didn’t say that, but it’s interesting that you went there. What else has been happening between the two of you?”
I scrub my face as I lean forward. “So much. I can’t stop thinking about her. I hired her to decorate my cottage so I could be closer to her.”
“That’s messed up,” Matthieu adds.
“I know, but she is also the best person for the job, she is a phenomenal designer,” I add quickly.
“Do you hang out with each other a lot?”
“I may find excuses to be with her,” I confess.
“You’re so gone on this girl. I knew it the moment I saw the two of you together the other month, you were distracted by her.”
“I didn’t even know she and Emily were linked until she arrived with her friends to catch the plane. My heart almost stopped, especially when she told me she was going away with her family. She lied to me.”
Matthieu bursts out laughing. “And yet you’re still running around after her like a lovesick puppy.” I turn and glare at my cousin who only laughs harder at me. “And then her best friend hits on you, so she had no idea the two of you had something.” He continues to laugh at my expense.
“You’re not helping me,” I grumble.
“What do you want me to tell you?”
“I don’t know, something. Anything. I’m sick of thinking about her every minute of the day.”
“Then date someone else,” he offers. Knew this was a stupid idea. I should never have told him. I ignore him and sip my drink. Silence then falls between us. “You aren’t interested in anyone else, are you?” I shake my head. “Fuck. Have you even tried?”
“The offers haven’t stopped. I had Mariana come to an event the other day and she kissed me. I hated it. Rosie saw, she wasn’t happy.”
“She was jealous?” I nod. “How do you know?”
“We had a fight and she told me before pushing me away,” I explain to him.
“Why?”
I let out a heavy sigh, “Her career is important to her as is her reputation.”
“And she thinks dating you would be bad for her reputation?”
“No, dating a client is.”
Matthieu smirks. “Guess your plan backfired hiring her.”
I shrug as I sip my scotch. “Yeah, it has. She wants us to be friends.” The word is bitter on my tongue.
“She’s friend-zoned you?”
Guess you could say that. “Yeah.”
“And you don’t want to be friends?” Matthieu asks.
“Not my first choice, but I like hanging out with her, so, I’ll take what she is giving,” I confess to him.
“I feel for you,” my cousin says, “that’s why women and men can’t be friends.”
Knew he was the wrong person to talk to about this.