Page 51 of The Paris Trip

It was a photograph of them sitting close together in the booth at Chez Jean, their hands almost touching. The caption under the photograph read, Popular artist Leo Rémy dines out with his new English girlfriend, Maeve Eden.

Swearing, he seized the phone and read the rest of the scurrilous report. ‘Pictured together at popular city bar Chez Jean… The couple enjoyed an intimate dinner before returning to Château Rémy, where Mademoiselle Eden is staying while in Paris.’

He tossed the phone back to her and stalked to the window, glaring out across the rooftops of Paris. ‘I’m going to strangle Jean,’ he said thickly. ‘I saw him take that photograph. He swore he hadn’t but clearly he lied. And this is the result.’ Fury rocked him. ‘How could he do this to me? My own cousin. Well, he can kiss goodbye to his job. Chez Jean is no more. It can be Chez Alphonse, for all I care.’ He gave a hoarse crow of laughter. ‘Or Chez Bernadette. Yes, my sister might do a good job.’

‘Jean must have been desperate for cash, that’s all I can think. Or desperate for publicity.’

Leo sucked in a breath, remembering that evening at the bar. Had he brought this situation on himself by not being sensitive enough to his cousin’s problems?

‘I’m going down there to see him.’ He ushered her out of his studio and shut the door behind them. ‘I can’t simply let this go. I need to have this out with Jean right away.’

‘Let me go with you,’ Liselle said, following him along the corridor.

‘No.’

‘I’m your manager, Leo. Remember? This kind of publicity… It’s good for you in some ways.’ She ignored his furious protest, speaking over him. ‘Look, I agree Jean should never have taken that photograph or released it to the press. But if this drums up public interest in the exhibition –’

He spun on his heel. ‘Did you put him up to it?’

‘No, God, no. But I do need to find out who else he’s spoken to about you and Maeve, if anyone. So we can be forewarned.’

He wasn’t sure he believed her. She loved publicity and he wouldn’t have put it past her to coax Jean into sneaking a shot of him with Maeve… But he had no proof of that. Besides, as she’d pointed out, she was still his manager, so this business concerned her too.

‘Fine, then come along,’ he said reluctantly.

Chez Jean was half full. He found his duplicitous cousin laughing and chatting with customers as he served them dinner. Leo stood a few feet away, glaring at him, arms folded, until Jean caught sight of him and straightened, his look nervous.

‘I want a word with you,’ Leo said grimly.

Wishing the customers, ‘Bon appétit!’ Jean hurried towards the kitchen, pushing through the double swing doors just as Leo strode after him, catching his arm.

‘I… I can’t talk now,’ Jean insisted, trying to pull free. ‘We’re too busy. We’re short-staffed today.’

‘I don’t care if you’re running this place on your own,’ Leo told him bluntly, ‘you’re going to sit down and talk to me right now.’ He propelled him back towards an empty table and pressed his cousin into a seat. ‘Wait there.’

Flagging down a passing waiter, he ordered three cognacs.

As he turned back, he found Liselle already seated beside Jean, whispering in his ear. Taking the seat opposite them, Leo tried to suppress his temper. What was she saying to him? Had she secretly organized that photo finding its way to the press?

He leant forward so he could keep his own voice discreetly low too. ‘Liselle showed me the photograph you took. She says it’s all over social media. Why did you do it, Jean?’ His cousin flinched, glancing at Liselle. ‘I understand your resentment towards me. That’s always been obvious. But Maeve? She’s a victim in all this. She’s been stranded in Paris with no passport, no money, not even any clothes. I took out to dinner to make her feel better. And you’ve built that up into be some grand romantic gesture.’ He shook his head. ‘She’s our guest. How could you behave so badly towards her?’

‘I never said you and her were together… I sold the photograph to an online magazine, yes. And maybe a few other places too.’

‘What?’ Liselle exclaimed, looking annoyed.

‘But I only gave them her name,’ Jean finished hurriedly, seeing Leo’s face harden. ‘I didn’t suggest that you and Maeve were an item. That’s just the spin they put on it.’

‘You’re lucky I don’t beat you to a pulp,’ said Leo.

‘Do it,’ Liselle muttered.

‘What, and give him another photo opportunity? He’s trading on this situation, on my name, in order to promote himself. And why? Pure jealousy.’

‘Me? Jealous of you?’ Jean gave a bark of laughter, shaking his head. But there was a glint of temper in his eyes. ‘You’re talking rubbish, Leo. As usual.’

‘Is that so?’ Leo had himself back under control. He surveyed his cousin coolly. ‘You think you’re better than this place, don’t you? You think you should be running the wine-tasting at the vineyard, not a corner bar in Paris. That’s what this is all about.’

Jean didn’t reply at first, but pulled a face, looking away. His earring caught the light. Then he exploded, ‘All right, you’re not wrong. I do think I’m better than manager of a café. I’ve taken Chez Jean as far as it can go. Is this it for me now? Am I going to be here for the rest of my life?’ He slammed a hand down on the table, his lips drawn back to bare his teeth. Leo thought his cousin looked almost feral. ‘You have everything, Leo. You have power and money and influence. But me? I have a few waiters to boss around, some kitchen staff to keep in line. It’s not enough. I’ve got so much potential. You need to trust me more. Give me work that fits my abilities.’

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