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The elevator doors opened, and they filed in behind a woman dressed in a white and black pantsuit, a grey-haired man reading a newspaper, and a father with two young children. Mulberry cooed at the baby in his arms, her features relaxing into something soft and feminine. Ick shook the thought away, the doors opened, and the grey-haired man got off.
“Bye-bye,” Mulberry waved at the kids at their stop.
Realizing the woman in the pantsuit was going with them to the 17th floor, Nick gave her the once-over.
Her nails were perfectly manicured, and her brown hair was chin-length. She looked austere and regal. Maybe she worked with his mother.
She glanced at them, then away. Did she recognize him or Mulberry?
Nick wrapped his arm around Mulberry’s waist, pulling her closer to him. She stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, a tight smile n her face as the elevator finally stopped on their floor.
Laurent Industries’ blue and gold signage had already been set up, and Nick guided Mulberry past posters of his father’s smiling face into the ballroom.
“Gorgeous,” Mulberry said.
It was an impressive space, with gold and crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and marble and hardwood floors.
“Yeah, it’s not bad.”
The woman they’d ridden the elevator with cleared her throat. “Hi. Do you know where Colette is?”
“Who were you?” Nick asked.
“I’m Gwen, a friend of hers.”
“She’s probably in the room down the hall. We’re going there. I’ll show you.”
A woman stopped in her tracks on her way into the ballroom.
“Mulberry Stevens? Are you her?”
Mulberry flushed to the roots of her hair. Nick placed an arm around her protectively. “Excuse us,” he said and wandered past the woman.
“Sorry! I was just taken by surprise.”
“It’s okay” Mulberry smiled at the woman, but Nick felt her tremble slightly.
“Let’s go,” he briskly escorted her down the hall to the meeting room, Gwen following them.
“Hello,” he called, stepping into the room.
“Nicky! Tu es à l’heure pour une fois.” His Maman rushed over, kissing both his cheeks.
“Yes, of course, I’m on time,” Nick said, returning her kiss.
“Gwen! There you are!” In a copycat of his mother, Colette rushed over to her friend, his father following.
“Come in. I need you to see this file,” Henri said, holding his tablet to Nick.
“Nick, who is this?” Colette pursed her lips together, looking down at Mulberry.
“Maman, Dad, Colette, this is my girlfriend Mulberry.” By some miracle, he got the words out and past the lump in his throat.
“Girlfriend? Colette, he has a girlfriend!” Gwen sounded outraged.
“I guess he does. It must be new. So sorry, Gwen,” Colette said.
“What do you mean a girlfriend?” Henri asked.
