Free The Billionaire’s Desires Vol.12-13 by Emma M. Green Page B

Scandinavian-inspired light wood with a few touches of the color sorbet is what I picked out for our sanctuary on île de la Cité almost a year ago. I wanted to bring a little of each of us to the mansion. And by we, I meant Gabriel, Virgile and me.
    I sink into the steaming bath and sigh, savoring the fragrant steam rising from the foamy water. When he knows I’m going to miss him, Gabriel always leaves a souvenir of himself for me. Like adding a few drops of his cologne in the liquid that is caressing my skin.
    I rest my head against the back of the tub and close my eyes for a few long, heavenly minutes, then try to reconnect with reality by going over my plan for today in my mind. Virgile is spending the day with his uncle and won't be back until late this evening as Silas is taking him to a Cold Play concert. Tom and Jerry, our wedding planning team – two Americans in Paris – are coming to update me on the latest at eleven this morning. I must remember to give them my guest list. Come to think of it, where is it? Oh, the middle drawer of my dressing table! Marcus is supposed to be dropping by the Body Agency to take delivery of the exorbitantly priced furniture for his office – in his opinion, the only acceptable reason to go into the office on a Saturday. As for Marion (visiting from Normandy) and Camille (visiting from Australia), they have summoned me for “afternoon tea in the sun” later on.
    In other words, for a thinly disguised bachelorette party!
    That said, I have absolutely no idea what they have in store for me...
    ***
    My prediction was correct! Suspiciously cheerful, my sister and my best friend hand me a scarf and order me to tie it over my eyes. I blindfold myself, blocking out the brilliant May sunshine, and descend into darkness.
    "All good?" asks a third, slightly out-of-breath voice that has emerged from nowhere.
    "Céleste?! What are you doing here?"
    "I booked a round trip just for you, Baumann," she grumbles, pecking me on the cheek. "Manhattan should be able to live without me for a couple of days."
    "Walk ahead, Amandine. Careful where you put your feet..." murmurs Camille, holding on to my arm to guide me.
    I let myself be led to a stationary vehicle just a few steps away and clamber inside, though not without knocking my head, before dropping down onto the cool but comfy seat. Finally, a pair of hands unties my blindfold and my vision returns. Shrill screams suddenly fill the vehicle as I take in my surroundings: I'm in a sumptuous limo surrounded by a small crowd of familiar faces: Louise, a childhood friend; Émilie, my former coworker; Claire, Alexandra and Lise, my new colleagues; and more... The girls take turns in welcoming me with a hug and a kiss as the car gets on its way. I am clueless as to our destination but I willingly accept the flute of champagne handed to me. And thank the girls from the bottom of my heart for being here for me today.
    "You'll see, it's a stroke of genius!" boasts Marion with a wink.
    "Geniuses plural," corrects my sister, just to emphasize the point that she also had a hand in the behind-my-back scheming.
    Despite the small rivalry between them, they've actually become great friends.
    A tragedy can bring even the worst of enemies together...
    The limo comes to a halt in front of an imposing, slightly dilapidated building at the farthest edge of the Bois de Boulogne. As I move towards the entrance, I spy a horde of terrifying gargoyles peering over the wrought-iron doors. I turn to look at Céleste walking alongside me. Her smirk doesn't reveal even the slightest hint of what awaits me.
    "Are you taking me into a haunted house?" I laugh nervously. "It's a bachelorette party not a wake! You know I'm a scaredy-cat, right? Horror films leave me traumatized for months, you do remember that?"
    "Knock three times and wait," order the two organizers, in fits of giggles. Traitors!
    The door swings back before I can even take a step forward. A severe-looking