“Okay,” I said. “Thanks.”
“Vera…” André warned before hanging up. “I suggest you focus on tomorrow’s trial. It’s very important to Saidi.”
I knew. I was going to do my best not to mess it up.
“I’ll try,” I replied. “But after the trial, I want to know if you’ve found out anything, please.”
André, mimicking my voice, said he would try.
He hung up.
With a sigh, I tossed my phone onto the bed. Then I stepped away from the window and searched for a jacket among Eloïse’s pile of clothes, now folded on a chair and sorted by colour. I picked a yellow one. Draping it over my shoulders, I packed my few belongings into the backpack I had brought with me and checked the time. It was only a quarter past one in the afternoon. Unlike Gina, I had slept well and didn’t feel like going back to bed. I also wasn’t comfortable withthe idea of going to sleep in that house while everyone else, except my friend, was still awake.
Which meant it was time for me to go home.
I tied my hair back in a ponytail, slipped my phone into my pocket, and, with my backpack on my back, headed down to the main lounge.
Chapter 27
“Why can’t I leave yet?” I shouted, flailing my arms in frustration.
I felt like I was on the verge of a meltdown. It was Sunday afternoon, and I had only a few hours left to spend the money. Over a hundred thousand pounds were waiting for me in my apartment in London, though I had resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn’t be able to make it. I couldn’t spend that much money in such a short time, not with the limitations I had been given.
On top of that, at noon the following day, André and I had thetrial of Julian Garros to prepare for.
I should have been at home, drinking honeyed peppermint tea and reviewing the case while a facial mask prepped my skin to be captured by the cameras waiting at the courthouse entrance.
Instead, I was in the middle of the Dubois’s lounge, wearing a dress that was far too tight, and a chicken-coloured yellow jacket draped over my shoulders, facing off against Enzo with the little patience I could muster.
Enzo gestured toward the window.
“Have you not seen the storm?”
As if in response to his words, the sky thundered. I shivered
“So what? Don’t cars in this country work in the rain?” I mocked. “Increíble.”
“Laurent has sent some of the guests home. All our drivers are busy.”
“I’ll call a taxi.”
He didn’t move to block my way. Although I intended to leave, my legs wouldn’t budge. We both stood there, motionless, staring at each other. His eyes had darkened, his jaw was clenched. Despite his demeanour, I could tell he was only trying to see through me, to understand why I was a different person compared to the day before. I decided to give him just that: a reason. A motive.
“I have a very important trial tomorrow,” I said, charging my words with double meaning.
Enzo tilted his head, almost relieved, and his fingers brushed against my wrist.Ah, so that was it.She’s worried that she won’t make it back on time, I read in his expression.
“Vera, we’ll get you to London in no time. My father can make some calls…”
I pulled my arm away.
“I need to concentrate, and I can’t do that here.” I shot back before adding, “You wouldn’t want Saidi to lose your dear friend’s trial, would you?”
Enzo took a step back, as if my words had struck him in the chest. Curious, I had the feeling he had been the one to strike me, with all his lies.
“How…?”
Not a single attempt to deny the facts, nor any explanation for why he had deceived me.
