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“Alma. I assume you also worried unnecessarily about the traffic?”
“Yes, I didn’t think I’d get here so quickly.”
“You know, even though I was born in this country, I’m not sorry to be going back to Paris. Sunshine all year round is nice and all, but it’s not the be all and end all.”
She continues to grumble, before brusquely calling a server over.
My head is so full of Vadim that I can’t bring myself to make small talk.
“Look, I’m not usually one to lend an ear, but I can make an exception. What’s going on with you, Alma? Anything you tell me will stay between us… even if it involves our boss.”
I stare at my glass.
“Oh, family stuff, the usual,” I lie. “I wouldn’t want to bore you with it.”
“I understand. But if you need to talk about it…”
She seems sincere, perhaps even kind. Her sympathetic smile takes me aback.
What happened to the Kate Monroe I know?!
“I don’t know about you, but I have no idea what that exchange with Skylight’s management was all about.” I succeed in changing the subject, in a way that I hope sounds casual.
“It was certainly odd. And rather worrying. Apparently, there’s some kind of history between Dimitri Monkov and Vadim. I have no idea what the story is there. But I’m convinced that this man won’t give up.”
“Do you think our company is in danger?”
“Well, King Productions definitely isn’t. It’s one of the most successful distribution companies in the U.S. Unfair competition or not, they’ll pull through. It’s a different story for King France. Despite our excellent results so far, our foundations are still very fragile.”
“We’re going to fight back, though.”
“Yes, and I believe there is cause for optimism. The reason we came to L.A. was to learn exactly how to defend ourselves better. And Vadim has confirmed that this trip has been a success on all fronts.”
I’m not sure about that…
“Do you want something to eat?” I ask, in an attempt to chase away my dark thoughts.
“No, but I wouldn’t mind a beer.”
“Kate, are you feeling alright?”
“Don’t look at me like that, Alma. Yes, I like beer. And I even occasionally smoke a cigarette and eat with my fingers!”
“I don’t believe you.” I smile back.
“Let’s go out for dinner together one evening, soon. Wherever you want—your choice. I’ll prove to you that I’m not as stiff and uptight as you think.”
My mind immediately jumps to a karaoke night… and I stifle a laugh.
***
Vadim didn’t end up flying with me. He let me know just a few minutes before I boarded the plane, in a cold, impersonal email. There wasn’t even a polite sign-off or goodbye, let alone a tender word.
It was what I expected.
I return to my Parisian apartment. Lily is still living there, and so is her new boyfriend now. At work, my desk threatens to collapse under the weight of the files piled on top of it. The usual routine immediately resumes: coffee breaks with Sophie and Clarence, Sunday family lunches, coffee dates with Clem, impromptu dinners with Niels. All the people I love and without whom I can’t imagine my life.
All of them are here, except him.
