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Her heart squeezed in his chest. She wanted to ask more questions, to know what really went down, but the serious expression in Mr. Montague’s face kept her from probing.
No wonder Luc didn’t seem so interested in his father. He probably resented him, and carried a lot of pain. Poor Luc.
“I’m sure my son will fill you in the details. I figured I could trust you.”
Trust her? Kira’s eyebrows knitted together. Maybe this was a test—maybe he was testing her and not telling the reason why Samantha Fraser was important yet. He’d tell her this personal tidbit and see what she did with it. Though, what could she? She’d signed an NDA. She needed Mr. Montague much more than the other way round.
“You can, of course. I’ll let you know if he mentions her again.”
“Excellent. I want you to keep Luc on a close watch for the next few weeks.”
“That won’t be a problem,” she said, and meant it.
* * *
“I’m sorry, Mr. Beauford. But I need to be with my father during this time,” the nurse said on the other end of the line.
Luc looked at his phone, then rubbed his temples. Merde. His mother’s head nurse had just called him to say she’d need to take the next few days off unexpectedly as her own elderly father had fallen in his home and was in the hospital.
Nurse Aurelie was the one who’d been with his mother since the beginning of the demise of her health, always overseeing everything and caring for her.
“I understand. Who will fill in for you when you’re gone?”
“Eve is out of town, so I was already filling in for her. The other nurse, Margarite, can stay, but I’ve called the agency and asked them to send someone else for backup. Margarite can’t be with her round the clock, since she has children of her own.”
“Maman doesn’t do well with new nurses.”
“Madame Hélène doesn’t,” Aurelie said, sighing into the phone. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. Look, I’ll call my pilot and I’ll fly in tonight,” he said. “I know some of her quirks, so I can make sure the transition with the new nurse will be smooth.” Or as smooth as can be, he told himself.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’ll text when I’m boarding,” he said, then hung up the phone.
Truthfully, a trip overseas was the last thing he needed right now. It would delay his plans, and he’d have to rearrange his schedule. But he wouldn’t be able to sleep for the next few nights knowing his mother wasn’t all right.
The funny thing about dementia was she didn’t always remember her nurses, but she sure didn’t enjoy new faces. He’d consider moving his mother with him to the States, but he didn’t want for her to have to adjust to a new environment, new people, and leave her beloved home. Her surroundings. If comfort was the only thing he could provide for her, he’d do everything in his power to give it to her.
He logged on his laptop, texted his pilot and made a mental note of a few things to grab at home, before the flight. When Kira walked inside his office, he drew in a breath. He’d need to tell her too.
“Everything okay?” she asked, coming in with a file folder.
“Yes. No. My mom’s nurse had an emergency, so I’ll need to fly to France for a few days, to make sure everything is smooth with the hiring of a new nurse.”
“Really? When?”
“I’ve texted the pilot. He’ll call the airfield and check with maintenance, so I’m thinking in a few hours.” That’d also give him time to take care of what he had to before he left. “I’ll tell my father that I needed to check on an urgent business matter,” he said. He wouldn’t mention his mother, as she was usually absent from his father’s lips. As for Luc, he was afraid if they got deep into it, he’d make his feelings known—and spoil his revenge.
“Okay. I’ll let his assistant know. I just need to pack.”
“You don’t have to come.”
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her gaze scanning the room, then landing on him. Did he upset her? “We just got married. We never had a honeymoon. Don’t you think it’ll be weird if you travel to Paris without me?”
“This won’t be a romantic trip.”
“But the public doesn’t know that. It may be easier if I come along. I don’t have to meet your mother if you don’t want me to. But do you want paparazzi breathing on your neck because they’re trying to break news of a possible affair?”
