Page 67 of Enthrall
“But--”
“That will be all, thank you.” He gave one of histhis conversation is overlooks.
I headed out with a tightness in my chest. Had I really thought last night might lead to something? I cursed my naivety, this self-limiting trait never failing to let me down. I returned to my desk, wondering if he might change his mind about the party.
Lotte stepped out of the staff hallway and made her way towards me. “Mia, Monsieur Trourville will be here in less than an hour.” She sat on the edge. “If he asks why you’re not wearing his gift tell him to speak with me. I don’t want this to be something that makes either of you uncomfortable. He’s very sensitive.”
“Of course,” I said. “I was going to thank him and tell him Richard thought it best--”
She waved off that idea. “Say nothing. Direct him to me on the matter. I know how to deal with him.”
My gaze drifted to the elevator.
“I’ll tell you what,” said Lotte. “I’ll be here to greet him too.”
I liked this plan. I twisted my mouth and held her gaze.
“What’s wrong?” she said.
“I’m sorry for eavesdropping. But your friend’s condo?”
“You don’t want anything to do with that. It’s a headache. There’s a bloody great big fish tank in the sitting room and you’ll be expected to feed these tropical fish and keep them alive while he’s out of town.”
“How long for?”
“Six months. Maybe longer.”
“Is the rent high?”
“It’s Malibu, Mia, so yes.”
I sat back. “It was just a thought.”
“I’ll tell you what, why don’t I speak with him later and see if he can come down on the rent.”
“Really?” I said. “That would be fantastic.”
“Can’t promise anything but I’ll do my best.”
“What kind of fish are they?”
“One of them is an Asian Arowana,” she said. “At least I think that’s what it’s called.”
I gave a nod, having no idea what one of those looked like and hoping it wasn’t a piranha. She walked back through the door and headed down the staff hallway.
I Googled Asian Arowana.
My heart sank as I read the first article.
Asian Arowana’s were virtually extinct and according to the news article a man in Seattle had faced federal charges for selling one to a federal officer thinking he was a dealer.
Damn.
There goes my beachfront dream home.
The idea hit me to Google Richard Booth. I typed in his name and read the list of articles. None of them were about Richard. In fact there was nothing pertaining to him at all. Not even a facebook page. There wasn’t even anything about Enthrall. I navigated back to the Asian Arowana article and asked myself just how much I wanted to get out of that studio.
With half an hour before I had to face the monsieur, I had enough time to grab a coffee, add some milk, and quick foot it back to my desk.
