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“Yes, but most of it is under construction.” He glances away for a moment before returning his intense gaze. He wasn’t very good at eye contact back in the day, but he’s definitely overcome that. “You could stay with me if you want. I have plenty of space. It’s really too big for just me, but I had to make a statement.”
I grin, poking him in the stomach. “Are you sure?”
“Definitely. I have two spare bedrooms. You are welcome to one of them.”
“Fuck, man, I would love that. I’ve been sick thinking about staying in my old bedroom.”
Michel laughs softly, turning back around to continue our walk. “I’m glad I could help you for once. Did I ever thank you, Eli?”
“Yes.” I bump his arm with mine. “I wish I could’ve done more. I gotta say, this is the last place I ever thought I’d see you again.”
Michel’s jaw tenses as he stares straight ahead. “I cannot lie to you, Eli. I’ve spent the past decade consumed by a desire for revenge. I took great steps to be in this position.”
“You came back to fuck everybody over?”
“No. I came back to make Neubrook what it should be. There are good people here, but there are many bad ones too. Some of them are responsible for the decline. You remember Garrett Landon?”
“How could I forget?”
“Did you know he was mayor for eight years?”
“I heard bits and pieces of it from my folks. Did he make this place a mess?”
“He did.” Michel pauses again. “And he’s still determined to keep it down. He’s my greatest enemy.”
The way his voice drops sends a chill through me. It’s foreboding, but weirdly, kind of hot.
“Tell me more about your life while you were gone, Eli.”
We sit on a bench in front of another green area, watching people pass by us. Nearly everyone smiles or greets Michel. A few people study me, likely wondering where they know me from, but no one approaches. Michel gives off an air of superiority, as if you need permission to approach him. What a change from the high school kid I knew.
“It was mostly just work,” I continue.
“Did you marry? Have children?”
“Oh no. Nothing like that. I never even had a serious relationship.” I squeeze my eyes closed, breathing out slowly. “Um, Michel?”
“Yes?”
“I don’t know if this is the right time to tell you, but—”
His phone rings loudly, startling me. Michel makes a growling noise that seems to vibrate the bench and rolls his eyes. “I’m so sorry, Eli. I have to answer this.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Michel,” he answers. His face is back to that businesslike mask I’ve seen a few glimpses of.
The thick French accent from his youth has mellowed a lot, and if it weren’t for his eyes, it would be nearly impossible to recognize him. As a kid, he laughed a lot. I have to wonder what his life has been like that it led him to become this stoic man.
“I believe I was abundantly clear on the deadline. If you can’t supply the tile, I’m sure the ten suppliers in line behind you would be happy to take the purchase order.”
If a tone of voice could kill, the person on the other end would drop dead.
“Perfect,” Michel says to the caller. “I knew you could do it.” He ends the call, sliding his phone inside his suit jacket. “What were you saying?”
“Nothing important. Just um, I’m happy to see you. I thought of you a lot over the years.”
Michel tilts his head, his lips parted. “You… you thought of me?”
