The Billionaire’s Desires Vol.12-13 (4 page)

“No.”

“Gabriel, please.”

“Amande, it drives me insane to imagine you with that guy. Don't you understand that you're the only one who matters to me? The only one I think about, the only one who tortures me? Stop making me jealous with your dandy and I promise I'll do everything I can to give you what you want. Let me have a little time. Let me work out my problems with Eleanor and you'll see, nothing else will ever be in our way again.”

“When?”

“When I'm sure she's stable enough to meet Virgile. And to meet you.”

“What are you afraid of, Gabriel?”

“That she'll abandon me again. And that she'll chase you away.”

“That won't ever happen,” I say, nestling into his arms.

Around eleven o'clock, Diamonds' mobile starts to ring and interrupts our passionate lovemaking. I see Silas' name on the screen and before my lover can stop me, I pick up the call, turning on the speaker phone.

“Gabriel, Virgile ran away. We've been looking everywhere for him for an hour, but he's nowhere to be found! He must have found the messages from Eleanor, I shouldn't have let him play with my phone! Shit, if anything ever happened to him...”

Barely fifteen minutes after this nightmarish phone call, the two brothers have already covered heaven and earth, searching for the young fugitive. For once, Gabriel hasn't tried to hide his distress. After making a dozen phone calls, he isolates himself on my balcony and motions for me to leave him alone. I go to be with him anyway after a few moments and he's still there, pacing in the shadows, on the brink of tears.

“He was born with the deck stacked against him,” he murmurs. “A completely insane mother and a father who walked away. No wonder he hates everyone.”

“Gabriel, don't say that. How are you going to find him? Who did you talk to?”

“I put a few guys on his path and Silas called the cops. I woke up the chief of police, I'm waiting to hear back from him. We'll comb the entire city if we have to, but we'll find him again. I should have told him about Eleanor. Now I've put him in danger with my foolishness,” he says, his throat tight.

“Aren't you going to warn... his mother?”

“No. All of this is because of her. She's already done enough damage!”

My tormented lover trembles with fear and rage. I come closer to him and try to soothe him by caressing his arms. I hope with all my heart that nothing happens to Virgile. As much for the tortured teenager as for his father. If they don't find him safe and sound, I don't think Gabriel will ever get over it. As if he could read my mind, Diamonds stands up and tries to put on a positive face.

“Let's go, Amande. There's no time to waste.”

“Where are we going?”

“I'll drop you off at my mansion. That might be where Virgile ends up. If that's the case, you'll be there when he arrives. Meanwhile, Silas and I will go around his favourite spots in Paris.”

“Gabriel, it's almost midnight. Everything's going to be closed,” I say, as gently as possible, so as to avoid coming across as harsh.

“I know. That's what scares me. A 13-year-old kid doesn't have anything to do at that time of night, alone in the streets.”

Left to my own devices in the gigantic mansion, I try not to imagine the worst-case scenario. In vain. The doorbell finally rings around 2 o'clock in the morning and I rush to open the door, praying that Virgile's standing behind it. I cry with relief when I see his blond hair. I take him in my arms without realising it's the first time we've ever had physical contact. In tears and exhausted, he doesn't even flinch for a few moments. Then, just like his old self, he pushes me away and goes to sit down in front of the TV. I immediately call Gabriel, who bombards me with questions about how his son is doing, then begs me not to let him out of my sight until he gets here. Which is what I do, completely ignoring the dark looks and unpleasant comments directed towards me.

He's just 13 years old.

But why did they outlaw corporal punishment?

Diamonds comes barging in at top speed, shouting “Where is he? Where's Virgile?” He finally sees him and heads straight towards him. Forcing him to drop his Xbox 360 controller, he grabs him by the shoulders and looks him up and down, as if to make sure he's still in one piece. Then, in a gesture full of emotion, he takes the teenager's head in his hands and brings it to his chest. Time stands still for a moment. The earth stops turning. This bubble of tenderness explodes when my lover's deep voice fills the entire room.

“What came over you, Virgile? You scared me to death! Do you have any idea what could have happened to you?”

“I wanted to find her again. I didn't know where to look, so I gave up and came back here.”

“It's too early for you to see her, Virgile.”

“But she's my mother!”

“Yes, but you don't know her, and...”

“Who's fault is that? She left because of you! Nobody ever told me anything! I want a normal family! I want a real family!”

“Virgile, you have a family. I know it's not perfect, but for now, it's all I can give you.”

“I want a mother! And a father.”

“Then what am I?”

“I don't know! You're never there! Sometimes I live with you, sometimes with Prudence or Silas. Nobody wants me. They toss me around like a ball. I always feel like I'm in the way!”

“That's not true! You're my son, my flesh and blood. I love you and I always will! But life is complicated, Virgile. I know I'm not always there, but I want to give you the best.”

“So let me see Eleanor.”

“Soon.”

“Tomorrow!”

“Virgile, trust me. I'm doing this for your own good.”

“You don't understand! I always feel alone!” the child says, as tears start rolling down his cheeks again.

Gabriel takes his son in his arms and whispers a few words in his ear. I can't hear what he's saying and I don't know what he's telling him, but the teenager starts to sob violently, then calms down little by little. Finally, when their bodies separate, I see the hint of a smile on Virgile's face.

“So I can get a golden retriever?”

“Yes, if you respect our deal.”

“Dad, I understand.”

“Okay, I'll call the breeder tomorrow!”

“Amandine, do you want to see it?”

The two heads full of blond hair turn towards me and give me radiant smiles. It's the first time Virgile has given me such a gift and my heart leaps. I realise that I feel a deep affection for this adolescent and that, maybe, one day we'll all be a part of the same family.

Over the next few days, Gabriel doesn't have a minute to himself. We spend every night together, nestled lovingly against one another, but he devotes his days to his son, his business and... Eleanor. I don't know anything about their meetings, but they've started some kind of therapy during the most recent one, supervised by one of the most highly-regarded psychotherapists in the capital. I can't bear the thought of them rehashing the past, but Diamonds wants to have a professional, objective opinion before he introduces Virgile to his mother. His priority is the protection of his child. In the meantime, the teenager is once again smiling thanks to Paris, his hyperactive puppy.

Marcus would probably have preferred Hilton.

The adorable furball has become the bane of Soledad's existence. He gets into trouble all the time and breaks everything in his path, but I've had orders to not interfere. Gabriel thinks it's Virgile's job to watch over the puppy. This new responsibility should have a positive effect on his morale.

Just so long as Rover doesn't attack my shoes.

I'm right in the middle of telling the latest canine escapades to my coworkers when Marcus taps me on the shoulder and asks me to follow him.

Uh oh. What did I do now?

“Baby girl, we need to talk,” he says, admiring himself in the large mirror of the meeting room.

“Yes, Marcus, your figure would make a skinny model jealous,” I say, trying to hit the right target.

“I know, darling. I melted like a Mr Freeze in the sun. But that's not what we're here for.”

“Oh?”

“The subject is more serious.”

“Marcus, stop being such a diva and spit it out! You're scaring me!”

“Ferdinand is in love with you, my dear. And I get the feeling that you know it and that you're playing with his feelings.”

“Pardon?”

“Flirting – even innocently – is deceitful, isn't it?”

“What are you saying? I'm with Gabriel, and I've never been so much in love before!”

“Maybe, but if you play with fire, you're going to get burned, honey. And you'll end up alone.”

“I'm not playing, Marcus! Beauregard knows I don't feel anything for him and that's not going to change!”

“Then keep your distance from him. Stop letting him tell you his secrets and get closer to you.”

“He's the one who provokes me all the time. How am I supposed to react, then?”

“Ignore him. A rejected man in love is capable of anything. He could destroy your relationship with lover boy.”

“Oh baloney! He wouldn't do that! And Gabriel and I have seen it all, believe me!”

“Right. So it's not a good idea to get tangled up with your boss precisely when the fiancée of your billionaire resurfaces. Anyway, all I'm saying is this...”

“Stop. First, I'm not getting tangled up with anyone. Second, ex-fiancée. Third, since when are you an expert in relationships?”

“Ouch, that hurt! Listen, the truth burns, baby girl,” he protests, leaving the room.

Grrr...

I haven't seen Marion since forever, and she doesn't miss the opportunity to reproach me for that. To avoid an imminent argument, I decide to save my Saturday for her. We plan on going to see a film in the morning, having a gourmet lunch sprinkled with mimosas, then going on a shopping expedition to the Lafayette Galleries. I take advantage of the occasion to cross something off my to-do list: search the racks for a new dress for Gabriel and Silas' birthday. Next weekend, we'll all be in LA to watch them blow out their thirty-six candles.

“You know Diamonds has reserved tickets for both of you,” I say to my best friend, between two high-end pret-a-porter display cases.

“Yes, I got his email. I still don't understand why he's invited me and Tristan.”

“Marion, you're a part of my life, so you're a part of his life.”

“Sure. I guess it's true: the Aubracs always end up getting their name out there!” she adds, laughing.

After a dozen round-trips to the dressing room, I choose a pale pink American Retro dress, embroidered and belted. Marion opts for a print beige suit, hippy-chic style. In front of the cashier, Ms Foot-in-her-mouth can't hold her tongue.

“Wow, buying a dress for less than a hundred euros? But you're going out with a billionaire, Amandine!”

“Marion! Not here.”

“There's no shame in it! If I were you, I'd take advantage of it. Look at that Chanel bustier. Doesn't it just make you dream? You should wear more luxury clothes if you don't want to lose your guy to the first it-girl who walks by!”

Stop trying to get my goat, Aubrac.

Once we've paid for our purchases, I grab my best friend's wrist and pull her to the side of the crowd.

“Fine, well, tact is for hypocrites!” she tells me, after listening to my sermon.

“We have our dresses, let's get to the shoes,” I say, grumbling.

“Hey, wait a minute – did you see the ones I have on? Guess shoes. That's right! Violette forgot them at the flat, but I couldn't let them go mouldy in a corner!”

“Please, don't start talking about that...”

“I forgot to tell you! She's been sending me messages! Each time it's from a different number.”

“What does she want?”

“She asks how Tristan is doing, and that she feels bad for hurting him, and that she really loved him, and whatnot.”

“You don't say.”

“You're going to be surprised, but I believe her. I don't know why, but she seems... sincere. Maybe she does have a heart after all!”

“A brain, rather. She knows far too well how to use other people. Far too well.”

“Do you think she's trying to manipulate me? Me?”

Yes, you, Sherlock!

“I don't know, and right now I don't really care. Where are the shoes? I need a good pick-me-up!”

“A glass of Louboutin and a pint of Vuitton, waiter!” Marion jokes.

My best friend is best enjoyed in small doses. That's what I realise as I head back home. She's both delicious and exhausting. Brilliant and insufferable. But that's why she's so charming. Marion isn't a bland person. She's rough around the edges, she tells it like it is, she doesn't wear a mask, I can criticise her all I want, but I know I couldn't get on without her. I just needed to slip off and get a breath of fresh air, and it worked. But after this turbulent encounter, there's only one thing I want to do: go back to Gabriel at the mansion, where I already feel like I'm nearly at home.

I said, 'nearly'.

As I leave the subway, I call my billionaire to find out what he's got in store for me tonight. But I get his voicemail instead. I don't let it upset me and I march up to the front door, counting down the seconds that separate me from him. Once inside, I start looking for my lover. But he's nowhere to be found. I have a hard time hiding my disappointment when Soledad, who is mixing something behind the stove, tells me he won't be home before midnight. Where is he? She doesn't know, or maybe she gets some sort of nasty pleasure out of not telling me. As for Virgile and Paris, they've gone to "sleep at the residence of Mr Silas and Ms Camille”.

Even the dog gets more attention than me!

Camille must have torn her hair out watching that hairy monster come into her house. Now that must have been a sight!

You're getting prickly, Amandine.

Urgent need for a bubble bath!

On my way to the bathroom that's attached to our master bedroom, I pass by the teenager's bedroom. My eyes immediately light upon a photo glued on the dark wooden door. I guess it's some sort of collage: the original photo dates back over fifteen years, it shows Gabriel and Eleanor happy and smiling. In between them, Virgile's head has been digitally added. Below the shot, the boy has scrawled something in marker: “Dad, mum and me”. I'm mad at myself for being so weak, but my eyes are already filled with tears. A mixture of jealousy and sadness. Virgile has every right to hope that his parents get back together, and he's probably not the only one to want this idyllic tableau to come to life. For me to give my place to Eleanor. Or for her to come and take it from me.