Free Honeymoon in Paris by Juliette Sobanet Page A

is important now, though, is that Luc knows the truth.”
    “So what
is
the truth? If Luc’s dad didn’t embezzle the money, then who did?”
    Nicolas tapped his fingers nervously on the edge of the seat. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you that, Charlotte. I need to speak with Luc first.”
    I pulled out my cell phone, brought Luc’s number up on the screen, then handed it to Nicolas.
    “Here’s your chance.”
    Nicolas’ dark gaze intensified as he took the phone. “Charlotte, after I make this call, you need to be aware that things might get complicated for a while.”
    I reached for the door handle. “And you don’t call this complicated?”
    Nicolas placed his hand on my arm. “No, Charlotte, I mean it. This is serious. Your name will be in the papers, you’ll have reporters calling the house. This was a high-profile case back in the day, and opening it back up again isn’t going to be easy—especially after the truth comes out. Just remember that no matter what happens, Luc is a good man. And judging from the little bit of time I’ve spent with you, I understand why he married you. You’re smart and beautiful and… well, I don’t want what I’m about to do to ruin what you have together. Promise me you won’t let that happen.”
    “Nicolas, what you need to understand about me is that no matter what happens, I’m with Luc for the long haul. I love him unconditionally, and nothing you could say or do will ever change that.”

    As soon as I left Nicolas alone in the limo and stepped outside, a wall of flashing cameras descended upon me. I shielded my eyes and pushed my way past the intrusive photographers, but suddenly their attention shifted.
    Marcel Boucher strutted out of the club like the superstar that he was with Lexi and Fiona pinned to his sides. Cameras flashed furiously as the paparazzi couldn’t get enough—and apparently Marcel and the girls couldn’t either. They all stopped to pose for the cameras, Lexi of course being the one to work it the most, before they finally made their way over to the limo.
    Marcel reached for the door, but I placed a hand on his arm, stopping him. “Nicolas is making an important call. We should give him a minute.”
    Marcel tilted his head at me, a cocky grin passing over his lips. “Is that what you call it in English,
making a call
?” Then he shrugged my hand off of him and reached for the door once more. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell Luc,” he whispered in my ear before slipping inside.
    “That’s not what’s going on here,” I said. But my protests were drowned out by my two giggling girlfriends climbing into the limo behind Marcel.
    Peeking inside, I noticed Nicolas hanging up my phone, a disappointed look on his face. “No answer,” he mouthed.
    It had been well over two hours since Luc had left Paris, so he was definitely in Lyon by now. The fact that he wasn’t answering his phone didn’t bode well with me. Even if he was busy taking care of Adeline, he would’ve picked up his phone. He never ignored my calls.
    The paparazzi vultures lined up at my back, the clicking sound of their cameras making me flinch. I could understand why celebrities lashed out at them—they were relentless.
    Marcel was already passing around glasses filled to the brim with champagne when Lexi reached for me. “Come on, Char. We could all stand to blow off a little steam right now, don’t you think? After everything that happened today, what’s a limo ride around Paris and a little champagne going to hurt?”
    Lexi was right. The damage of the day had already been done. Luc wasn’t answering his phone, and the longer I stood out on that sidewalk, the higher chance I had of making it into every French tabloid first thing tomorrow morning.
    I took Lexi’s outstretched hand and climbed into the Boucher brothers’ limo, where champagne flowed heavier than the River Seine, washing all of our troubles into a bubbly abyss.

NINE
    “
Mmm… Nicolas, je