Chapter 12
If Corentin is surprised,he doesn”t show it.
But what is he doing here?
“Florence?” calls out the blonde who must be Clara, the second bride-to-be. “So you exist?” I frown, and she continues, airily. “Corentin talks so much about you, but since he hasn”t bothered to introduce you, I thought you were a myth. Glad to see he”s not completely crazy.” She laughs, teasingly.
My curiosity is instantly piqued. So, Mr. Thomas is gossiping about me with this woman. It”s an interesting piece of information my brain doesn”t fail to analyze. I suspected my first name had already been mentioned to those close to me, but not as much as Clara would have me believe. True, I often talk to the girls about him too. Enough to drive them crazy at times.
However, a question creeps into my mind: why would Corentin talk about me? I”d like to ask him, but I realize this isn”t the time or place to do so, especially in front of these women. They may be friends, but I doubt this is the information to share in front of them. I mustn”t forget these are my customers. We have to keep a professional distance.
Corentin”s eyes narrow slightly as he regards Clara, silently conveying his disapproval. However, Clara remains unperturbed, her focus entirely on studying me intently. The subtle shift in Corentin”s expression leaves me uneasy, as if he”s detected a flaw on my face. While I”m aware of Corentin”s reserved nature, I hadn”t expected him to uphold this level of restraint even in Clara”s presence, especially given their seemingly close relationship.
“Darling, you”re going to scare her by staring like that,” intervenes her fiancée, who probably sensed my unease.
“Darn, I”m sorry. Let me introduce myself, Clara, Naisha”s future wife and incidentally, Corentin”s older sister.”
My eyes widen in shock at this unexpected news. Naisha had warned me earlier her fiancé was in the company of her little brother, and I hadn”t made the connection until now. The two of them being as different as the moon and the sun. How impressive.
“From your expression, I guess he didn”t tell you about me? That”s nice.”
I”m aware Corentin has an older sister, of course, but he”s vague about anything to do with his family.
I can”t blame him; I do the same.
My mother is my guardian angel, but she lost her feathers, all because of me. I am the sole cause of her misfortunes. Her tears when she thought I couldn”t hear. Her anxieties about how she would manage everything alone. The fear of not being good enough.
So yes, I”m not going to ask him any more about his family.
“I wasn”t going to tell her my sister was a nutcase,” teases Corentin.
“You know as well as I do that”s what you love about me,” she retorts, getting into his game.
I smile, shaking the hand the blonde holds out to me.
“In any case, I”m delighted to meet you, Clara.”
“Especially since, in addition to being my brother”s famous Florence, you”re also the one who”ll be organizing our ceremony. I”m so excited! This wedding is going to be incredible.”
“She”ll become our planner once you”ve settled down and we can start discussing our wedding with her,” retorts Naisha.
Clara doesn”t let go of her dazzling smile and approaches her fiancée to kiss her. It”s clear she”s the opposite of her brother, who maintains a calm, neutral expression at all times. I wonder how he keeps from cracking up at this ball of joy. He”s consistently displayed no hint of emotion, like a superpower. There”s no way he can proceed without the slightest grin. It”s best not to play goatee with the lawyer.
“I should leave you to it,” begins Corentin, ready to turn on his heels.
“No!” exclaims Clara. “Stay? I don”t suppose Florence minds you being here. Does it?”
“No, I don”t mind at all.”
Clara nods and makes herself comfortable, while Corentin hesitates. Finally, he decides to stay and sits down opposite me. There”s still a hint of guilt in his eyes, and I know we”ll have to talk. There”s no way he”s going to believe any longer he”s responsible for my outbursts.
“Perfect! So, what were you talking about before we arrived?”
“Naisha gave me your guest list and reception venue, so I showed her a few options. But don”t worry, we”ll go through everything point by point so you can better make the choices suiting you.”
I do my best to concentrate on my customers and not on Corentin. Whenever he”s around, he takes up all the space in my mind, but this time I have to stay focused on the brides-to-be.
Stay focused Florence, this is your only chance to make your dream come true!
They share their vision of the wedding with me before we delve into discussions about menus and caterers. Despite the consideration table service is more cost-effective and practical given the time left before the big day, they opt for a hot/cold buffet.
“All Florence”s ideas are good ones. Personally, I loved the buffet presentation, I”m salivating thinking about it,” comments Naisha to his future wife.
“I agree!” Clara exclaims with evident enthusiasm in response.
Her fiancée smiled with all her teeth, but all too soon, a veil of sadness and apprehension crossed her eyes.
“But what will your father think?”
Clara responds with a shrug as Corentin visibly tenses. He signals to a waitress and orders tea. Restlessly, he fiddles with his hands, his eyes flitting around the room, revealing his unease. I”m curious about his thoughts, but it seems I”ll have to wait a while before I learn more.
“He can say what he wants, it”s not his wedding. My preference is to let people decide what they want to eat and not impose a meal on them they might not enjoy.”
“Well, we”ll go for a hot/cold buffet, I”ll make a note of it,” I say with equal enthusiasm as they do.
We discuss the required service providers. In the case of music, for example, I suggested an excellent DJ, but Clara feels it would be better to employ musicians. She provides an explanation about her family”s particular tastes, emphasizing for orchestration, it”s the only feasible option. Corentin nods firmly, his expression resolute. I assure him that I”ll secure a band to ensure it won”t upset the guests, especially their father. We delve into activities for the older children and arrangements for transportation for those unable to drive home. Considering the potential for some guests being intoxicated, I aim to avert any accidents.
It”s not entirely up to me, but since I like them, I suggest some good addresses for their ceremonial outfits, as well as those of the bridesmaids. Regarding the decoration, I introduce them to Manille and arrange a meeting with her. She takes care of everything contributing to making a wedding aesthetically pleasing; she”s the queen of decorating, and I believe the young couple won”t find anything better anywhere else. I may not be entirely objective, but I consider my roommate to be the best in her field. Her tastes are unfailingly refined and elegant, and she consistently discovers the perfect match for our customers. That”s why everyone in the firm values her. It”s also one of the reasons I feel fortunate to have her by my side in both my private and professional life.
Corentin remains in his corner, awfully silent throughout, merely nodding when the girls ask his opinion when, out of nowhere, Naisha”s words take me by surprise. “You absolutely have to come!”
I smile tenderly. “Don”t worry, I”ll be there. It”s my job to make sure everything is in place and your wedding goes off without a hitch.”
“No, I meant as a guest. What do you think, Clara?”
She flickers her eyes in the direction of her lover, but doesn”t have time to try and convince her, as the latter is already nodding.
“I couldn”t agree more. Especially knowing you are Corentin”s precious friend.”
“She”s right,” bounces Naisha, “we”d be delighted to have you as a guest. Your job is to give us satisfaction, isn”t it?”
“Of course, but?—”
“Then join us!” exclaims Clara.
I turn my head toward Corentin, who is suddenly interested in the conversation. I hesitate to agree. I don”t mind the idea, but I don”t want to be unprofessional, especially not when it”s my first contract. However, when Corentin gazes at me with a tender plea in his eyes, I forget everything and accept immediately.
“It would be a pleasure, thank you,” I finally relented.
“And who knows, maybe you”ll even get to go home with someone. We can put you at the singles” table, can”t we, Naisha?”
Corentin raised his face sharply, glowering at his sister.
“It”s not a bad idea,” adds Naisha.” Do you want to do it this way?”
I don”t need to hear what Corentin thinks. His furrowed brows and downturned lips reveal his discontent. He tries to hide it, but I know him too well not to notice the anger shining in his green irises. His clenched fists speak volumes too.
“No,” says my friend.
“That won”t be necessary,” I reply at the same time, as if our two brains were perfectly connected.
Right now, all I care about is my career.
“Oh! I didn”t ask you, but maybe you”ll be accompanied?” Clara blows awkwardly, embarrassed.
“She won”t be coming with anyone; she”s been single for ages.”
I beg your pardon!I hold back a vexed grimace and, feeling completely humiliated, I add nothing more. I wouldn”t stoop to such behavior in front of my customers. Sister or not, I refuse to show Corentin”s words hurt me, echoing those of Manille. I”ve put aside romantic relationships and any possibility of having one because I simply don”t have the time. I”m far too focused on starting my career, to invest in a relationship ending up in the wall due to my lack of interest.
I try to change the subject, but Clara is insistent. Clearly, she too is surprised this could be the case. It”s crazy, but when people find their other half, they think everyone else will do the same, as if that”s all there is to life. However, I can”t complain since love puts the butter in my spinach. I might as well avoid criticizing the hand feeding me before I get karma.
As the great Taylor Swift once said, Karma is a god.
“Is it true?” Clara asks again. “I must admit I”m surprised.”
“Yes, it”s true. She has no one, and it”s not likely to change.”
My mouth opens, but the wrong words are spoken.
“No, it”s not,” I assert with conviction, letting my anger do the talking for me.
Did I say that? Or is it a collective hallucination?
Judging by the smile on Clara”s face, it”s definitely the first option. Seriously, why did I have to blurt it out? I have to admit Corentin wasn”t much help in preventing the blunder. He”s literally teasing me about my single status, which doesn”t usually bother me when we talk about it privately. Not in public, and especially not with his sister.
“Really?” Corentin exclaims, his voice husky.
His eyes widen in surprise, but then darken with a somber, almost mournful expression. But before I can respond, Clara interrupts.
“Well, that”s that! We”re adding you and your plus one to the list!” she exclaims, ecstatic.
Before I can get hit with more questions, I shift the conversation elsewhere to distract the couple, hoping to dodge Corentin”s probing stare. All the while, he”s silently seething, and in my anger at myself for lying, I feel a slight satisfaction at seeing him like this. He”s the one who started it all.
Yes, I”m acting like a child.
The meeting over, I greet the girls who slowly walk away, clearly pleased with my presentation and the progress of their union. I put my things away, ready to set sail, when a presence materializes behind my back. I don”t need to turn around to know it”s Corentin. I swivel toward him, glowering. My sudden change of mood surprises him and he steps back to give me more space.
“Did you have anything to do with this contract?”
He remains silent, but soon recovers. “No, I haven”t. I haven”t done anything.”
I take a few steps forward and scan his face for the slightest trace of deception. He remains unmoved, maintaining a singular expression even under my insistent gaze.
“Okay, I believe you. Don”t you dare lie to me.”
He nods and I decide to tackle the subject that”s been haunting me all weekend.
“We need to talk about Friday. It wasn”t your fault I had a seizure.”
A veil of relief covers his eyes.
“It had been a hectic day, and with all those people around me, my body was cracking. You don”t have to worry about it, it”s not your fault.”
It”s another lie. Again. I feel guilty for lying to him, but I”m not ready to discuss the sensitive topic. I don”t know if I ever will be. Reviving the nightmares of my childhood will bring me nothing but pain and guilt. Corentin offers to drive me home, which I accept. Once in his car, he brings up the topic I was hoping he”d forget.
“So you”ll be accompanied. Coming with Manille or Charlotte doesn”t count as a date, you know?” he asks in a slightly haughty tone.
Out of my mind, humiliated once again by my own friend, I slip up and get further bogged down in my fabrication.
“Why do you think I”m going with the girls and not a guy?”
He casually raises his shoulders, his lips remaining neutral, while his eyes twinkle with amusement, much to my greater annoyance than I anticipated.
“Since we”ve known each other, you haven”t been with any other man but me. I”m the only one in your life.”
I barely hold back another vexed grimace. His remark hurts, but fists clenched, I realize he”s right. As far as I can remember, I haven”t dated anyone since I moved to the City of Light. I live in Paris, the capital of love, but when it comes to romance, it”s a complete void. I spend all my time watching romantic comedies, hoping one day it will happen to me. Sure, relationships aren”t what I”m seeking right now, but I could have taken the time to meet other people and see if the feeling was right. Instead, as Corentin pointed out to me, I was content to stay in my bubble and get away from the world.
“I”ve met someone, and we”ve got a date for Thursday night,” I said, my cheeks turning tomato red.
“Really?” he asks coldly, his gaze fixed on me without wavering.
Corentin thinks I”m not capable of finding a boyfriend and I want to prove him wrong. I”m not going alone, even if I have to call an escort agency. There”s no way I”m going to agree with him and let this humiliation go!
My ego can”t take it.
“Yes. Why do you ask? Are you interested?”
We arrive in front of the apartment, and I quickly get out of the car, no longer able to stand the energy in the small cabin. Corentin rounds the corner to join me, eyebrow raised in question, but with his clenched jaw and fists so intense, I fear for a moment he”s going to hurt himself. The further he goes, the more goosebumps my skin becomes. I swallow hard, short of breath. My heartbeat becomes frantic as my neighbor keeps his eyes on me. His gaze reflects an expression entirely unfamiliar. Dark. Enigmatic.
“I”m curious, that”s all,” he snaps gruffly. “I wasn”t expecting such news.”
I can see he doesn”t believe me, his body tenses at the thought. So I go on, diving headfirst into an ever bigger lie.
“These things happen, you know. A man and a woman who meet and like each other. He asked me out and I said yes.”
Shut up, Florence!Stop digging in, again and again.
“Was this before Friday?”
I freeze. My brain is racing to come up with an effective answer. Behind my back, I nervously fidget with my fingers. His gaze unsettles me, and it takes a moment before I pull myself together.
“No, Saturday,” I say as he punches the code and opens the door.
“Is so? Well, the girls told me you stayed in your room.”
Of course, they told him since he came to my apartment. But I refuse to give up easily. I”ve got myself in too deep to make a U-turn.
“I still have the right to go out without you knowing. What are you exactly? A spy? A private detective? Stop staring at me like that, Corentin, you”re annoying me,” I say, picking up the mail.
“I didn”t do anything,” he says, raising his arms in innocence.
“You wear a smug expression, which is quite annoying.”
“No, I”m surprised. Anyway, that”s great, I can”t wait to meet him,” he grumbles. “He”s going to come and get you, isn”t he? If he exists.”
My mouth opens into an O as we climb the stairs.
“Of course, he exists, who do you think I am?” I belch, still more vexed than ever. “What would be the point of deceiving you?”
“I”m asking myself the same question. Why are you lying, Florence?”
We”re in the ring, Corentin and I, staring at each other like two wrestlers ready to make the first move. I”m not going to lose this fight. Victory would be too good to pass up!
“You”ll see for yourself. He”ll come searching for me, and you”ll be forced to admit you”re wrong and you”re a moron. Either way, I”m going to enjoy a pleasant evening in good company, whether you believe me or not.”
We arrive at my landing. I brace myself against my door, while he stands in front of me, arms against his chest.
“What”s the name of the guy you have your supposed date with?”
His air of superiority horrifies me. It seems impossible for me to find someone. Sure, I”m no Taylor or Beyoncé, but it doesn”t mean I”m filthy.
“His name is none of your business. I don”t ask you about your dating life, do I?”
“Apart from my neighbor, a beautiful brunette, I don”t have anyone in my life. I think her name is Florence or something. I can”t tell.”
I know he”s teasing me, but he certainly doesn”t expect my revenge. I approach Corentin gently, my mouth close to the hollow of his ear. My breath against his skin seems to unsettle him, as I can feel his body twitch under my touch, and I smile.
“You know what I think?” I whisper seductively.
“No,” he answers with a hesitation making my smile widen.
I step back a few inches. My face to his, I lick my lips. Corentin misses nothing of my deliberately slow movements.
“I think I”m going to go home, and you should put some effort into remembering your friend”s exact name. It would be a shame to upset her more than you already have, wouldn”t it?”
I place a light but sensual kiss on his cheek and return to my apartment, leaving him behind, alone and lost.
Checkmate.