A Friend For A Funeral

1. Arriving In Paris

    Adam Lucas was standing in line to check through customs. There had to be at least thirty people in front of him and it showed no signs of moving along any faster. For a bunch of people who just spent several hours crossing the Atlantic Ocean, you'd think the people at customs wouldn't make them wait any longer than they had to. Yet there Adam stood, sweating his ass off in a suit as he waited for the line to move. Almost as if it could sense his impatience, the line simple refused to budge. As if things couldn't get any worse, his cell phone started to buzz in his pocket. Adam fished it out of his pocket and glanced at the screen. It was Jenny. She wasn't home when he had packed and was sure to flip out, especially when she eventually fished all the details out of him. He had to pack and get ready to go without any notice what so ever.

     His Dad had called him while he was at the gym, working out before coming down to see him. He always worked out with his cell phone because all his favorite music was on it and also in case his Dad wanted to get a hold of him. When he answered that call, the conversation was a little less awkward than the one he was about to answer.

    "Hello." He said as he turned the machine off he was running on.

    "Adam, it's Dad." His father called out to him.

    "I know it's you." Adam said as he wiped his brow with a towel. "I assigned a specific ringtone to your contact profile. So I knew it was you the moment it rang."

    "We have a problem," His father said, disregarding the comment about how awesome cell technology has gotten. "I need you to pack up and fly to France."

    "France?" Adam repeated back to him, somewhat confused.

    "Yes, France!" his Dad repeated, "Where all the frogs are."

    "I know that." Adam said, as he sighed. "Why do I need to go there?"

    "A client has passed away." The old man replied, "Have you ever heard of Caroline Bouchard?"

    "The actress?" Adam asked, somewhat knowledgeable about old movies. She was a star back in the days of black and white classics of the 50s and early 60s.

    "The very same," His father said with a tone that suggested he was rather impressed. "She kicked the bucket a few days ago and we need to send someone out there to represent the company."

    "I don't get it," Adam said, trying to grasp the situation, "Why do we need to attend the funeral of an old actress?"

    "Until a few days ago, she was the owner of Bouchard Enterprises." His father said as he wound up for the punch line. "They own a small company we do business with; L'Auberge Rouge."

    Adam stood there at his treadmill in stunned silence. "You're shitting me!"

    "I shit you not, my boy." His father said with laugh, "That old bat was the owner of one of the biggest hotel chains in the world, which also made her one of our biggest clients. This is why I need you to fly out there asap and represent!"

    "Hold on," Adam said, "Why aren't you going?"

    "I hate to fly." The old man answered, "You know that."

    "And when is the funeral?" Adam asked.

    "Tomorrow," His Dad replied, "I need you out there yesterday!"

    Adam paused for a moment. "Alright, I'll go home and pack right now."

    "Good, I'll book your ticket." His father said, sound rather happy he wasn't going to have to jet out to do this task.

    "Don't you mean tickets?" Adam corrected, "Can't Jen come with me?"

    "Absolutely not!" the old man roared back at him. "The entire reason I don't want to go is because I don't want your mother going along and spending a fortune in Paris. The whole point of sending you is to save money!"

    "So I'm going to Paris and my fiancé stays home?" Adam repeated back to the old man, hardly believing it himself.

    "Unless you want to cover her ticket and let her shop with your credit card." His father said, knowing what the answer would be.

    "Thanks Dad," Adam said, "Can always count on you to drive that wedge."

    "That's my job," His father replied, "Misery loves company. Now get packing!"

    Adam took a hot shower at the gym and was back home before nine-thirty. He was hoping to beat Jen before she left for work but he was too late. This would make things more awkward but Adam didn't care as he quickly packed and made his way back to the living room. As he came down, he was greeted by Jen's mother who was in the living room, watching her morning game shows.

    "Hello, Audrey." He called out as he came downstairs.

    "Adam?" Audrey said as she turned around. "What are you doing here?"

    "Packing to leave," Adam answered, "Urgent out of town business."

    "Where are you going?" she quickly asked, nosy as ever.

    "To a funeral," Adam answered which was pretty much true, "The owner of a big client passed away. Dad wants me to hit the funeral and represent the company."

   "I see." Audrey said as she pried further. "Where is that?"

    "Don't have time to talk," Adam said as he walked down the hall, "Tell Jen I'll be back in a few days and to call me when she gets back from the school."

    "Alright." Audrey said as he left before she could ask anything else.

    He didn't want Jen to get the details from a third party, so he thought it would be best to tell her when she called long after it was too late and he was already out of town. He knew she was going to be upset but Adam knew if he got her something nice and didn't have too much fun at the funeral, she shouldn't hold it against him. Adam had honestly thought she would have called a lot sooner. No doubt her mother likely called her the moment the lunch hour started, but he was already in the air at that point. He was asked to turn off his phone for takeoff and he just happened to forget to put it back on until they landed. Now the phone was ringing and he had to pick it up.

    Adam took a deep breath and then answered it. "Hello?"

    "Don't you hello me!" The voice on the other end replied with deliberate hostility, "Where the hell are you?"

    "I told your mother," Adam answered, "Dad is sending me to a funeral. The owner of a big client just passed away."

    "And where is this funeral?" Jen asked.

    Adam took a deep breath. "Paris."

    "What?!" his fiancé roared back at him, "You went to France without me?"

    "I wasn't exactly given a choice," Adam replied, "You know how stingy Dad is with the budget. He booked me economy and my knees are killing me. He wasn't going to pay for you and we're saving money for our own trip in the summer. We've been planning that honeymoon for months and it's going to be ten times more fun. I'm only here for a few days to look at a body and schmooze to the client in the hopes that they don't dump us and cost us millions. I'm not going to have an ounce of fun. None what so ever."

    There was no words being spoken out of the other end but Adam could hear Jen breathing on the phone. That wasn't a good sign. She was brewing over the details and getting ready to explode like a volcano.

    "You're in the most romantic city in the world." Jen started, "And you didn't even bother to ask if I wanted to go too. Don't bother coming back, we're finished."

    Adam wanted to say something but the line disconnected. He looked back at the phone and groaned. "Un-fucking-believeable."

    The line finally moved but nowhere near at the pace he preferred. Adam paused for a moment and then dialed a number. "Dad, it's me."

    "Hey there, Sport." His Dad replied, "How are things in gay Pair-ree?"

    "Still in customs," Adam replied, "Listen, I need you to send Glenn to the house with one of the trucks."

    "What for?" his dad inquired.

    "I have a feeling Jen might be tossing everything I own onto the front lawn." Adam answered, "I think we're finished."

     "Damn," his father replied, "That's not good. Not surprising..."

    "Dad!" Adam called out.

    "Okay, okay." His father replied, "I'll send Glenn down."

     "Thank you." Adam said as he disconnected the phone. His father never liked Jen and while he never expected her to react that badly, he was sure the old man did this to piss her off. Mission accomplished because she was super pissed.

    Finally the line in front of him started to move a bit and he was finally able to get through customs. After that he had to run down to the terminal to fetch his luggage. Despite being in customs for what seemed like forever, Adam was shocked to realize their bags hadn't been unloaded yet. It was frustrating to the umpteenth degree but he took a few deep breaths and managed to compose himself. He was there waiting again for quite some time, but nothing happened. Most of the passengers managed to get through customs before any bags started to come out to be retrieved. While he was waiting for the luggage to come out, there was a text message from his father. He popped open the link to see that it was a video. Glenn had arrived at his house and was standing there, taking video while Jen tossed all his clothing off the second floor balcony. She was tossing all his sports stuff, his game system, even his designing tools off the ledge as well, making a scene in front of the entire neighborhood.

    "Oh my gaud." Adam said to himself as he rubbed his forehead.

     "What on earth is that?" Someone called out beside him.

     Adam turned around to see a young woman with short blonde hair. She had noticed the video on his phone and was curious.

     "That is my now ex-fiancé," Adam said with a strained smile. "She's tossing everything I own onto the front lawn."

    "Oh dear." the young lady said as she couldn't help but giggle. "I'm sorry, that's just so funny."

    "It's okay." Adam said she he couldn't help but chuckle as well.

    "What on earth did you do?" the young lady asked.

    "Seriously?" Adam asked with a surprised look on his face. "Where are we?"

    "We're in Paris..." The girl answered and then she figured it out. "Oh my gaud! You went to Paris without her!"

    "I'm not even here for pleasure. It's all business." Adam said as he held up his hands. "But apparently that was all it took to bring everything crumbling down."

    "Well, I can see how that might upset some girls." The lady replied, "Paris has that kind of effect on us. The romance, the canals, and the shopping! It would be like her taking off for Vegas without you. Would you really believe her if she said it was just for business?"

    "I guess not." Adam said as he wasn't in the mood to debate. "But this isn't pleasure for me. I'd rather be in Vegas than here."

    "Oh that's mine!" the young lady said as she reached out for her bag. It was very heavy and she was struggling with it. Adam came over and picked it up for her and placed it onto her cart. "Thank you very much."

    "My pleasure." Adam said as he continued to wait. He let out a big sigh.

    "Try to relax." The lady said as she stroked his arm to comfort him. "I'm sure she'll settle down, especially if you buy her something nice to make up for it."

    "Not a bad idea," Adam admitted as it was sound advice. "But right now I'm tired and I just want to get to the L'Auberge Rouge, have something to eat, and take nap."

    "You're going to L'Auberge Rouge?" the young lady asked. "So am I!"

    "Not surprising at all." Adam said with a smile. "It's a very popular place."

    "We should share a cab." She said to him, "Save a few dollars."

    Adam's Dad didn't give him much to play with so he was all in favor of saving a buck whenever he got the chance. He kind of assumed that she wanted him to help heave her luggage in and out of the cab, but he didn't care.

    "Sure." Adam finally said, "That would be great. I'm Adam."

    "Pleased to meet you," The young lady said as she shook his hand, "I'm Fiona."

2. Checking In

    The ride to the hotel with Fiona was very pleasant. She didn't ask but Adam was more than willing to help toss her heavy luggage into the cab. Thankfully he packed light and there was enough room for everyone's stuff. It was clear by how much she had brought with her that Fiona's trip to Paris was going to be a lot longer than Adam had intended to stay. He couldn't help but notice it was a very nice day in the city. Lots of people riding around on their bikes and sitting at the parks to enjoy the weather, almost making him want to get out and enjoy it himself. Adam quickly remembered he wasn't there to enjoy anything and sat patiently while the taxi carried them to their mutual destination. He couldn't help but notice Fiona was still giggling to herself.

    "Are you still laughing about my stuff being tossed out onto the front lawn?" Adam asked as he couldn't believe it.

    "I'm sorry," Fiona said as she patted him on the lap, "They'll be other girls, other stuff to have flung out the window."

    "Actually, the guy filming the video was there to pick my stuff up." Adam informed her, "I guess he wanted to wait until she's done to avoid having something tossed at his head."

   "Sounds like a good plan." Fiona concurred, "Women will toss things at anyone if they get into the line of fire."

    "Is this coming from theory or practice?" Adam inquired.

    "More like observation," Fiona said as she had another giggle, "I should thank you though. This has been a terrible week for me, and I hadn't laughed like that in quite some time."

    "Glad to be of service." Adam said as he was thankful someone got a kick out of today's festivities.

    After a few more minutes of silence, the taxi finally pulled up to the main doors to the lobby of the L'Auberge Rouge. It was one of the most prestigious hotels in all of Paris. The first started by Bouchard Enterprises, which eventually led to several other five star hotels that were located in other various cities around the world. The hotel was almost like a castle out of the past. Red carpets, fine doors and many servicemen who were waiting for any chance they could get to help any client with a warm smile. Adam quickly hopped out of the taxi to get the bags for Fiona but she quickly waved him off.

    "It's all right." She called out, "The bell hops can get it from here. But thanks for your help at the airport and for the laugh."

    "It was my pleasure," Adam said as he handled his own bags. Since he had packed light, he didn't need a lobby boy to assist him as he strolled into the hotel lobby behind Fiona and her luggage.

    He waited patiently as she checked in and then walked up to check in himself. It took less than five minutes to get all the details out of the way, which was a welcome change since customs had taken so long. He had taken an elevator up to the fifth of seven floors, strolled into his room and tossed all his luggage onto the couch, took off his shoes and jacket before lying down on the large king sized bed. Adam sighed deeply. He should be enjoying himself but all he could think of was poor Glenn being verbally abused by Jen as he tried to pick up all of his stuff off the front yard. What a spectacle it must have been. His father must have be loving it. Almost as if the old man could sense that his son was thinking of him, Adam's cell phone went off with the specific ringtone that told him it was his old man.

    Adam put the cell phone on speaker. "Hey Dad."

    "Hey there champ." The old man called back.

     Oh shit, Adam thought to himself, Dad only called him champ to brace him for some really bad news. "What the hell did she do?"

    There was a long pause. "She burned your house down."

    Adam sat up in bed. "She did what?"

    "She didn't do it on purpose," The old man replied, "At least we don't think so."

    "What the hell happened?" Adam asked.

    "She was trying to toss one of your electronics out the window and the cord was still plugged into the wall," his father started to explain, "The socket sparked and lit the walls on fire. Because your clothes were all over the place, the fire quickly got really out of control."

    "Oh my gaud," Adam said as he laid back down, "This is all bad dream."

    "Fraid not, sport." The old man didn't sound happy but had this kind of sorry about your damn luck tone as he gave him the news. "The bad news is the bitch and her evil mother got out of the house alive."

    "That's actually good news," Adam corrected, "No matter how mean they are, we don't want them to die in a fire."

   "Speak for yourself," His father replied. "Look, all of the stuff Glenn managed to save from this fiasco is in my garage. You can crash in the guest room when you get back from gay Pair-ee."

    "Don't you mean the guest room that used to be my room?" Adam asked.

    "The very same," His father confirmed, "Don't be a smart ass."

    "Well, thanks for booking the room." Adam said as he stood up and looked out the window. "It's really nice."

    "It is?" his father asked, somewhat surprised.

    "Yeah," Adam said as he looked around. "King sized bed, full mini bar, I can actually see the tower from my window."

    There was a long pause. "That's not the room I booked for you."

    "What do you mean?" Adam asked.

    "You were supposed to have the cheapest room in the building." His father answered, "With a single bed, no added stuff and a view of the dumpster in the alley. I don't know who upgraded your room, but I am not paying for it!"

    "Gee, thanks for caring Dad." Adam said as he walked over to pick up his cell.

    "I mean it mister!" his father roared at him, "Don't you dare touch a single thing in that mini..."

    Adam disconnected the line because he already knew was his father was going to say. Don't touch anything in the mini bar that will be charged to his account. The truth was Adam hadn't upgraded the room but just in case they were still paying for it he decided to enjoy the king sized bed and not push his luck with the mini bar. He stood by the window and enjoyed the view while he could. A part of him was expecting someone from the staff to show up and admit a mistake was made and the show him to the really shitty room that his Dad actually booked. Adam was so sure something like that was going to happen that he was afraid to unpack. He sat there on the corner of the bed, looking at the tower for several minutes until someone knocked on the door. Expecting it to be that staff member, Adam got up and immediately went to the door. Yet when he opened it, there was a surprise waiting for him on the other side.

    "Fiona?" Adam said with a shocked look on his face. "Can I help you?"

    "I'm actually here to help you." Fiona said with a smile. "I was wondering if you'd like to join me for dinner. There is this amazing place just a few blocks from here that is my absolute favorite but I hate going alone. Can you join me so I don't have to sit at an embarrassing table for one? Pretty please?"

    "I'm not sure." Adam said as he thought about it.

    "It's my treat of course." Fiona added, quite sure Adam was on a limited budget.

    "Oh," Adam said as he was quite surprised. He was never used to a woman offering to buy him dinner before. "Let me grab my coat."

    "Leave it behind," Fiona said, "It's too warm out there for it."

    "Alright." Adam said as he grabbed his key and locked the door behind him. "This is my first time here so lead the way."

    "Fair enough," Fiona said, taking his arm as they walked over to the elevator.

    As they strolled through the lobby after getting off the elevator, Adam realized he had forgotten his cell phone. But once he thought about it, Adam was all right with leaving it behind. All it did today was deliver bad news. He wasn't in the mood for anymore of that and was eager to enjoy dinner with this lovely lady. As they strolled down the street from the hotel, Adam was happy that Fiona had chosen to walk to this place rather than take a taxi. Looking at Paris from the ground was just as awing as looking at it from his window. When they finally arrived, the place they were stopping at was a far cry from the hotel they had just left. It was a small building but not a table was empty and Fiona gave Adam's arm a tight hug.

    "I'm so excited." Fiona squealed, "I haven't eaten here in a while."

    "You've been here often?" Adam inquired.

    "I used to come here every summer when I was a child." Fiona said as she thought about it with fondness. "My Grandparents used to live here. It was great to come down and see them. This was her favorite place too."

    "Your grandmother?" Adam guessed.

    "Yes," Fiona said, "Being here reminds me of good times with her."

    It didn't take long to be shown a table and when they got to it, Fiona didn't even need a menu as she ordered everything for them in perfect French. Adam was simply amazed by how well she spoke the language.

    "I hope you ordered something great." He said with a smile.

    "You will love this place. I ordered a few glasses of white wine and some appetizers." Fiona enthusiastically replied, "We'll order more depending on how we feel after the apps."

    "Sounds like a plan." Adam said as he tried to stay within his own space without bumping into anyone else. He wasn't used to any food establishments being so cozy like the one he and Fiona were currently in. When the wine arrived, Fiona took a short smell of it before holding it up to toast.

    "Here's to new friends." Many cheerfully said.

    "To new friends." Adam said as he raised his glass and softly touched her glass with his own. "Did you know that the origin of the toast was to prevent assassination?"

    "Seriously?" Fiona asked as she found it hard to believe.

    "I'm not kidding." Adam said as he sipped his wine. "The custom of touching glasses started as a means to avoid poisoning by touching the glasses together which would cause all the drinks to spill into one another. So if someone refused to drink, they would know that person poisoned one of the glasses."

    "I don't want to believe it." Fiona said as she whimpered a bit.

    "How come?" Adam asked.

    "The idea of the toast having such dark origins depresses me." Fiona replied as she finished her first glass. "I'm not here to be depressed. I've got enough of that."

    "My whole purpose for being here is depressing." Adam said as he also finished his first glass of wine. "You should run away if you are trying to avoid depression."

    "So what are you here for than that is so depressing?" Fiona asked, "It can't be that bad if you're doing it here in Paris."

    Adam sighed and wished his glass would magically fill up. "I'm here for a funeral."

3. Personal Time

    Fiona felt bad when Adam informed her of the depressing reason that forced him to be in Paris. She almost felt bad for him but for more than one reason, curiosity was getting the best of her. Before she asked a single question, Fiona waved to the waiter and asked her for some more wine. She was tempted to order the entire bottle but decided to hold back on that for at least the time being. When their wine finally arrived, she took a quick sip and watched Adam do the same before finally asking a single question.

    "So, who kicked the bucket?" Fiona finally asked.

    Adam's stunned face was priceless. "That's not a nice way to approach the subject. I'd like to think this person passed away quietly, without suffering and in the company of her loved ones."

    "I hope so too." Fiona replied, "This person had to mean something to you if you're flying over an ocean to attend the service."

    "Truth is, I don't even know this person." Adam confessed, "Not personally that is. Though I had always wished I had."

    "That's very confusing." Fiona said as she was even more curious. "Please continue. I want to know more."

    "The truth is the person was the owner of a very enormous enterprise that owned several companies." Adam began to explain, "One of them does business my Dad's company. This company is one of our most loyal clients."

    "What does your company do?" Fiona asked.

    "We design logos and marketing stuff." Adam answered, "We have a lot of big clients now but back in the beginning when things were tight and a struggle, it was this company that came through for us and helps us ride the waves."

    "What company was that?" Fiona inquired, wanting to know more.

    "We've already seen it," Adam answered, "The L'Auberge Rouge."

    "Oh my," Fiona said, as it was all making sense. "You're here to attend the service of Caroline Bouchard!"

    "I am," Adam confirmed. "My Dad usually makes trips like this but it was very last minute and he doesn't do well on flights, so he passed the duty onto me."

    "And how do you feel about flying over for the funeral?" Fiona asked.

    "I have mixed feelings." Adam honestly replied, "Part of me feels awkward attending the service of someone I never personally knew the deceased. But at the same time, Mrs. Bouchard and her husband were very good to us; it would be disrespectful for no one from our side to up and pay our respects."

    "That's probably true." Fiona said as she kept listening.

    "But a part of me is very humbled to be here." Adam said as he was trying to think of the right words to say.

    "Why humbled?" Fiona asked.

    "When I was a young, very impressionable man," Adam started, "One of the first moves I ever saw was 'Dancing in the Stars'."

    "I love that movie!" Fiona said in complete agreement. "Didn't she win an Oscar for that role?"

    "She was nominated, but never won." Adam answered, "But she should have."

    "Oh, for sure!" Fiona agreed, "I can't get enough of that movie."

    "Neither can I," Adam concurred, "That was Caroline in her prime, the black and white musical from the 50's that takes your breath away. I didn't care how cheesy everyone thought it was; I loved every part of it. I know every song by heart. I've seen it dozens of times on the big screen and its true classic in my books."

    "And out of dumb luck, you are here to attend her funeral." Fiona said as she loved the irony. "That's so romantic and in Paris of all places."

    "Do you remember her last movie, titled 'Casting Away Stones'?" Adam asked.

    "Yes, isn't that the one with the lovers who could never be together?" Fiona replied with a question of her own.

    "Do you remember the end when her lover passed away?" Adam asked, curious to see if she remembered.

    "I do." Fiona said as she did her best to recall. "She came to the funeral with two roses and ended up placing one in the hand of her lover..."

    "And she took the other one home with her to remember him by." Adam said with a grin. "Another great movie and that's my plan."

    "What is?" Fiona asked.

    "I'm going to hit a flower shop and try to find the most beautiful flowers I can." Adam started to explain, "I'll buy just two of them, just like in the movie. I'll leave one with her and take the other back home with me."

    "That is so romantic." Fiona said as she just gushed over the idea. "I'm sure she would have loved the gesture."

    "She was one of my icons growing up." Adam said as he took another sip. "I thought it would be a nice gesture to someone who was a very sweet lady."

    "That is awesome." Fiona said, loving the idea. "I wish I could be there to see you do it."

    "Well, I can't see why not." Adam said with a shrug. "Are they going to kick me out for bring a plus one? I mean everyone else is bringing someone with them, right?"

    "I wish I could." Fiona said with whimper. "But you're not the only one in town with family business. I'm going to be swamped after today, which is why I rushed to get you here today to try this awesome place. I thought it would be nice to do something fun before we all started our dreary business."

    "And that was very sweet of you." Adam replied, "Thank you very much."

    Just as he said that the waiter finally arrived with their food. There were small toasted pieces of a baguette pieces with mozzarella cheese that was topped with small tomatoes. Their other appetizer was a warm bowl each of tomato bisque. Despite how simple they both looked to Adam, the food was out of this world. Each bite was a sensual explosion of flavor and these were just the appetizers!

    "This stuff is amazing!" Adam said between hearty bites.

    "I know, right!" Fiona said as she was eating with no regard for manners.

    They had their fill of food until they couldn't handle anymore. Adam even took a doggie bag, hoping to use it at the hotel to save him from having to order room service when he got hungry later in the night.

    Fiona grabbed his arm and gestured to a spot across the street. "There's a very nice park over there we can stroll through. It passes by the canals. We could just stroll around and walk of some of the kazillion calories we just ingested."

    "Sounds like a plan." Adam said as he didn't realize how fatty those foods were. "Lead the way my dear."

    So let him through the park and seeing all the sights, such as the canals, he could hardly believe how amazing it all looked. The movies he had watched over the years clearly did the city no justice. It was colorful, vibrant and even with character. It was like the city was painted by an artist who was a romantic a heart. The streets just oozed with energy as the city was such a breath of fresh air to someone who worked as a drone bee for the majority of his life. He had no idea if he'd be able to do any sight-seeing before he went back home, so Adam was determined to enjoy this day with Fiona as much as he possibly could.

    "You never told me what you did for a living." Adam said as he strolled along side one of the canals.

    "I'm an illustrator." She quickly answered. "I draw pictures for children's books."

    "Of course you are," Adam said with a smile. "Seems like an amazing job."

    "It is." Fiona confirmed, "I enjoy it every day. Do you like your job?"

    "I do." Adam admitted. He would never confess that to his Dad but he was all right telling this to Fiona. "It's not as cool as your job but it's also very creative."

    "I believe you." Fiona concurred, "I've seen some of the advertisements that you guy do for L'Auberge Rouge, it's amazing work."

    "Thank you." Adam said as he was blown away by her comment. Based on his field, he wasn't used to getting compliments like that.

    It was all so ironic to Adam that considering all the hell he had gone through earlier that day, he could hardly believe he was suddenly having one of the most amazing nights of his life. Fiona showed him so much that night. Adam not only learned what an amazing city Paris was but also the fact that he didn't need his former fiancé to have any kind of fun. If anything, Fiona proved to him through her charm and kindness that live and possibly love could be so much better than what he had been settling with for the last half a decade. When Adam looked back at her he felt such joy, such happiness. He hadn't felt this way in a very long time and he didn't want the moment to end.

    For the first time since he left the hotel, he was beginning to regret not bringing his phone along with him. He didn't miss the calls that were coming from home to remind him how terrible his life was back there. No, instead he was sad that he wouldn't be able to take a picture of the sights, the food and even of the lovely woman that was showing him such a great time. He wanted a picture to capture the moment, just in case it never happened again. When the L'Auberge Rouge started to become a part of the distant background, he started to dread the next few days that were ahead of him. Like he had told Fiona earlier that day, he didn't like the duty his dad had forced him to take but he was determined to make the best of it.

    When they reached the lift after crossing the lobby, Adam hit his floor and then looked to Fiona. "Which floor are you?"

    "Same as yours." Fiona said with a smile. "Do you like your room?"

    Adam looked back at her. "Is there a reason why it's on the exact same floor as yours?"

    "You mean right next door to mine?" Fiona said as she started to blush. "I thought it would be nice, especially considering the awful room you had originally booked. I know some people here who owe me favors so I had you bumped up. I hope you like it."

    "I love it." Adam admitted to her. "The view is amazing."

    "I know, mine is even better than yours." Fiona bragged playfully.

    "Well then." Adam said as the elevator opened. "If I can find a minute, I'll drop by and check it out sometime."

    "I look forward to it." Fiona said as she walked up to her door. "Also don't worry about the mini bar. It's covered too."

    "Thank you very much." Adam said as he gave her a courteous bow.

    "You've made what has been a terrible week a little brighter." Fiona admitted as she opened her door. "It was my way of thanking you. Good night."

    "Good night." Adam said as he watched her walk inside and the close the door.

    He strolled into the room and put his doggie bag into the small fridge. There were a lot of drinks in there as it was fully stocked. He managed to squeeze the food in there and then made more room by taking out a small soda and some whiskey to put into it. The next time his dad called, he planned to tell him everything he took from the mini-bar. In the meantime, Adam thought it would be fitting to let the old man He'll sweat a bit before telling him that someone else upgraded the room for him and it won't cost him a penny more. Fair play considering that he was enjoying the tragedy of his break up with Jen just a little too much...

4. Caroline's Funeral

    Adam had woken up very early that morning, somewhere around seven in the morning. He still wasn't used to the time difference so he was a little tired as he stepped into the shower. Feeling the hot water pound on his head and back for about twenty minutes seemed to do the trick as he felt refreshed and ready to take on the day. He had pre-ordered his breakfast and it arrived at seven forty five as he had requested. Before eating the simple dish, Adam made sure his clothes were laid out and ready to go after he cleaned up and brushed his teeth. Adam's Dad didn't have to lecture him about representing the company but that never stopped the old man from lecturing him the night before. He took great pleasure raiding the mini bar while the old man tried to give his pre-funeral pep talk. He didn't say anything about his former fiance and given what he was about to do, Adam was relieved his Dad didn't bring her up. He imagined where she could be right now, whose couch she was crashing on. Considering what a fine suite he was in at the moment, Adam couldn't help but laugh at the situation. He still had a funeral to attend, something he had studied up on while his Dad was yapping at him.

    They had certain traditions in France and Adam took the time to look them up so that he wouldn't do anything that would give his father a reason to strip him a new one. It took him less than a half hour to finish his breakfast and get ready to go. As he was walking down the hall, Adam had hoped that he would run into Fiona but it never happened. She was probably either still asleep or doing the business she was in town to do. Rather than mope about it, Adam took the lift to the lobby and had the man at the desk call a taxi for him. His father had given him all the information he had needed. The address, what he should wear and even what he should say if approached by the new owners of their client. Adam took notes in case he got stuck and needed a little help but was confident he would be all right. While he was waiting outside the lobby for his taxi, Adam couldn't help but notice an amazing array of flowers growing in the garden next to the main doors. They were a beautiful purple flowers growing out of the ground and since his taxi was already on the way to pick him up, Adam made a bold move as he plucked two out of the grounds and made them presentable. It took the taxi less than ten minutes to drive him to the requested location but things looked strange when they arrived. The cab had taken Adam to what looked more like a residential area. A neighborhood that had fancy homes and no sign of where they would host a funeral, which made Adam feel rather uncomfortable.

    "What's wrong?" the driver asked. "This is the address you gave me."

    "Well, I'm here for a funeral." Adam explained, "But this doesn't seem right."

    "It likely is." The driver replied, "In this country, it is French custom for the deceased to 'lie in state' at their place of residence so that friends and family do not have to travel far to pay their respects. The surroundings of home also make people feel more comfortable than being in a place they've never been inside before."

    "I had no idea," Adam said as he paid the driver, "Thank you very much."

    "Your change?" the driver offered.

    "Keep it," Adam replied, "Thanks for your help."

    "Au revior." The driver said before speeding off for his next client.

    Adam walked up the long driveway and then followed another crowd that had just arrived to not stand out. Once he was inside the large house, he was reminded again how popular and very wealthy the deceased was. She was a retired actress but didn't need to work because her husband was one of the biggest business men in Europe. It was rumored that the hotel chain was started just to give the lady of the house something to do and then it turned out to be a very lucrative endeavor as well. Adam grabbed a glass of water, relaxed and strolled around the first floor, looking around for the location of the ceremony. It was then when Adam found the large living room that had been converted to host the wake. There were seats everywhere for people sit down, likely for a ceremony later on. There was also food, coffee or tea and even some wine for those who needed something stronger. For now, Adam had chosen to take some water and a few small bite sized pieces of food while waiting for the line to die down a bit as there were a long of people waiting to pay their respects. Adam could also see four people standing up near the casket, which he knew was likely the family saying hello to those in line as they passed through to pay their respects. The new owners, the very people his Dad wanted to make sure Adam didn't embarrass himself with or it would cost their fragile company one of their biggest clients. Eventually Adam got into line when his nerves settled down and it only took about ten minutes for him to reach the family waiting. Adam walked up and offered his hand while holding the two purple flowers in the other.

    "Hello." Adam said as he reached out his hand out to the first family member. He was a young man about his own age. "I'm Adam Lucas."

    "From Lucas Images?" the young man replied, "I really hope you didn't come all the way out here to just pander for business."

    "No, of course not." Adam replied, already in damage control mode. "I actually volunteered to come out because I am a fan of your mother not only as a business woman but as a fine actress as well."

    The young man's demeanor changed as he also noticed the flowers. "I am honored you made the trip to show your respects. I'm George Bouchard, Caroline was my grandmother. This lady is my mother, Barbara Bouchard. Her late husband was Caroline's only child."

    "I'm sorry we couldn't meet under better circumstances." Adam said as he shook Barbara's hand. "Please accept my sincere condolences."

    "Thank you Mr. Lucas," Barbara said with a smile, "So nice of you to come."

    Adam could have sworn he saw someone else there but that person wasn't there when he arrived to the front of the line so he disregarded it and moved onto the casket itself. As he slowly approached the old lady, she was as shadow of the women he remembered watching in all those movies when he was younger. Still, he could make out the features of the woman he adored on screen, the graceful smile was there and she looked so peaceful. Adam paused for a moment before taking one of the purple flowers he had brought with them and tucked the stem under her elbow. He didn't want to put it into her hand like in the movie as he was afraid that someone would think he was trying to lift her watch or rings. After the quick movement to place the flower, Adam moved on and b-lined to what looked like a full bar. Leave it to the French to let everyone get laced at a funeral. When he got there, Adam ordered something modest and nursed it. He was after all still representing the business at what could be the biggest funerals he'd like ever attend in his lifetime. An award nominated actress, owner of a billion dollar empire. It was all so surreal that he could barely believe it. He was a few sips into his drink but nearly dropped it when approached by the last person he expected to see there.

    "Fiona?" Adam called out. "Hi."

    "Hey you," Fiona said as she walked up, "How are things going?"

    "Not bad," Adam replied, "I just paid my respects, did my thing."

    Fiona looked down and realized he was only holding one flower. "You gave her the flower already! I missed it?"

    "Sorry," Adam apologized, "I didn't know you were here."

    "I'm the one that should be sorry," Fiona said as she sighed, "I went to the bathroom and that just happened to be the time you did your thing. But you really did your homework, nice job!"

    "What do you mean?" Adam asked as he literally had no clue to what she was referring to.

    "You brought an Iris," Fiona replied, "It's so beautiful and it also happened to be her favorite."

    "How do you know that?" Adam asked.

    "Well, there are whole bunch of them outside the hotel." Fiona answered, "She planted them all there herself."

    "I didn't know that." Adam said as he was only being half honest about that. He gave her a warm smile and held out the other. "Would you like this one?"

    Fiona reached out and took the Iris from him. "Thank you. That's so sweet."

    "I had no idea you coming." Adam said, trying to keep the conversation going. "You didn't come out here to keep me company, did you?"

    "No, I'm afraid not." Fiona replied as she bit her bottom lip. "Remember I told you I was here on family business."

    "Oh dear," Adam said as he thought back about their lunch together. He had been rambling on and on about the funeral and never bothered to ask what her business in town was. "You're related to the deceased?"

    "Yes," Fiona confirmed with a half smile, "I'm Fiona Bouchard. If you've paid your respects, then that means you've met my mother Barbara as well as my brother George."

    "Okay," Adam said as he processed the news, "So you're also Caroline's granddaughter?"

    "Yes," Fiona answered, "I'm so sorry I didn't mention it earlier. I just didn't want to make things awkward."

    "No, it's all right." Adam said as he was once again in damage control. "I really hope I didn't say anything disrespectful last night."

    "No not at all," Fiona confirmed for him, "What you said about her, what you did today with the Iris'; that was so sweet. You've made what should have been the ugliest week of my life just a little more bearable and I'm thankful for that."

    Adam took a deep breath. "I'm just glad I didn't make an ass out of myself."

    "You did a little," Fiona said with a giggle. "But it was so sweet."

    Before they could say anything else, George walked up and pretty much barged in between the two of them, as if he was defending his little sister.

    "Excuse me." George said with a tone that was as harsh as his glare towards Adam. "My sister needs to return to the line to greet her guests."

    "Of course," Adam replied, "My apologies for holding her up. I was merely paying my respects because I didn't get a chance to when I went through the line."

    "I understand, Mr. Lucas." George said as he turned to Fiona. "We must return to the line."

    "Alright," Fiona said as she patted George on the shoulder. Before she left, Fiona turned back to Adam. "Please don't go. I would really appreciate some company at the service."

    "I'll be here," Adam confirmed, "Happy to help."

    "Thanks." Fiona said as she grabbed his hand and then held onto it for a second before letting go to follow her brother back to the main room to continued greeting people in line.

    Adam watched from a distance as Fiona stood there with her mother and brother and shook hands, kissed cheeks and hugged each person as they came through the line to pay their respects to her grandmother. She must have been there for at least an hour as more people continued to stream in. Thankfully the wake started at nine in the morning as they might need all day to give everyone a chance to grieve. Adam wasn't used to how they did things in this country, but he did his best to go with it. It was at this point when Adam spotted someone in the hallway that was crying. She was pretty broke up, a lot more than the average person there, and naturally Adam was drawn to see if there was anything he could do to help. While walking towards the lady, he reached into the pocket of a man that was eating horderves and swiped a very fancy handkerchief from his pocket. The lady was of African ethnicity, looked to be a little older than Barbara but seemed to be like him a fish out of water. He didn't reach that conclusion based on ethnicity, he could just tell she was more normal than the other people there, except for Fiona of course.

    Adam inspected it to make sure it was clean before finally offering it to the older lady that was crying. "Here you go."

    "Thank you." The lady said as she took the hanky from him. "Do you always have one of these handy in case a lady needs it?"

    "Only at funerals." Adam admitted, "I'm Adam Lucas."

    The lady smiled back after wiping away a tear. "I'm Cynthia."

5. A Sincere Request

    Adam spent the better part of the morning talking to Cynthia, not only because she seemed such a nice person but also because she spoke his language and seemed to be from the same side of the pond as he was. A fellow American was hard to come by in the middle of France, so he kept her company while waiting for Fiona to finish working with the lineup waiting to pay their respects to her grandmother. Cynthia also stood out amongst the majority of the people who were attending the wake. She was a very dark skinned lady, but Adam never seemed to mind as the lady was great company and helped him kill a lot of time while waiting for Fiona.

    "So what brings you here?" Cynthia asked.

   "The late Mrs. Bouchard owned a company that does a lot of business with the company my father owns," Adam explained again, "But to be honest, I've been a big fan of her movies so asking me to come here didn't require much arm twisting."

    "I loved her movies too," Cynthia admitted with a smile. "But I'm actually related to the deceased, which is why your handkerchief is ruined."

    "Keep it." Adam said with a grin. "I have plenty more. I'm also sorry for your loss. Losing any family, no matter how close or distant is heartbreaking."

    "Thank you," Cynthia said as she wiped it on her cheek again. "And thank you for your company. I would say you didn't have to stay here on my account but I'm getting the feeling you're waiting for someone."

    "I am," Adam said as it was rather obvious even to her. "But I was happy to be helpful while I did so."

    "You are a true gentleman," Cynthia replied, "I rarely see such manners where I come from."

    "Where is that?" Adam asked.

    "Johannesburg." She answered.

    "South Africa. That's quite a distance." Adam said as he thought about it. She travelled just as far as he did to be there that day.

    "She's worth it," Cynthia replied, "Caroline and I were very close."

    "I can see that by the way you talk about her." Adam said as he could tell. Cynthia's face and eyes would light up whenever she spoke of the late Madam Bouchard. It wasn't just about the movies but of the woman's appeal to do well by her fellow persons. She was a very charitable person and Adam had naturally assumed that was how the two knew one another, possibly through one of Caroline's many charitable missions that might have reached as far as South Africa.

    Moments later, Fiona came walking over to where Adam was and he stood up to greet her. To his surprise, Fiona came up and gave him a big hug. She gave him a big squeeze and he didn't seem to mind one bit. She then noticed that Cynthia was sitting there on the couch beside them.

    "Oh hello," Fiona said as she reached out her hand. "I'm Fiona."

    "This is Cynthia," Adam filled in, "She was nice enough to keep me company while I waited for you."

    "That was sweet of you," Fiona replied with a smile, "Thank you very much."

    "It was no problem," Cynthia replied. "I'm attending the service at the cemetery so I have to wait here too."

    "Did you know my grandmother?" Fiona asked.

    "I did," Cynthia replied, "I am very sorry for your loss."

    "Thank you," Fiona said as she then looked back at the middle aged woman on the couch. "If you're coming to the service, you can ride with us."

    "Are you sure?" Cynthia asked, not wanting to intrude.

    "I am," Fiona insisted and then looked to Adam. "You're coming too, right?"

    "Yes, of course." Adam replied with a smile.

    "Then it's settled." Fiona concluded. "Let me get my stuff and we'll take one of the cars up in a few minutes."

    The ride up to the cemetery was rather quiet. It was as if all three of them were afraid of feeling guilty if they said something funny. They didn't' want to be disrespectful, or at least seen as such while on their way to what was going to be Caroline's final resting place. Adam realized he didn't have to go to the ceremony but wanted to be there not only out of respect for Caroline but to help Fiona who was obviously going to need a shoulder to cry on when it was all said and done. It took the cars less than fifteen minutes to reach the cemetery where Caroline would be put into the ground. The mourners all walked up to a place in the cemetery that had chairs and a podium already set up. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, so no one had to carry any umbrellas out with them but took fans to cool themselves down if the heat became too much for them to handle.

    Adam looked over at Fiona and noticed that she still had the Iris that he had taken from the hotel's garden. It pleased him that it meant so much for her to take it with her and not dispose of it. A part of Adam was also hoping that Fiona didn't know the exact count of how many Iris' there were in the garden or she would instantly realize where the two he plucked had originated. He didn't care, it was the thought that mattered and he had picked them because they were beautiful and not because he was cheap or cruel. He was proud of his choice, it was just coincidence that they also happened to be her grandmother's favorite. Many family members took a seat in front of where the casket was placed, but Fiona refused. She stood behind the chairs and as the priest was saying a few words before committing the body to the ground, Fiona reached over and took Adam's hand into her own and held it for the majority of the service. Adam didn't mind and held onto her hand and not wanting to let go of it either.

    "Are you all right?" Adam whispered to her, softly so it would disturb anyone.

    "I'll be okay." Fiona replied, just as quietly.

    They stood there with hands clasped and waited patiently for the service to end. Once the body was lowered into the ground, various family members were allowed to step up and throw a handful of dirt into the hole. Fiona didn't want to but they watched as several other members of her family did so. To their surprise, Cynthia stepped forward and did the same, grabbing a big handful and tossing it in once the other members had all take their turn. Adam had forgotten that Cynthia had mentioned that she was family with Caroline but he didn't find out what the relation was. They would never get a chance to find out that day. Once the service was over, Cynthia wandered off and most likely called a taxi to return her to whatever hotel she was staying at.

    With hands still locked together, Adam and Fiona wandered back to the car that would take them back to their own hotel. They sat in the car and were even more silent on the ride back than they were on the way there, even though they both thought that wouldn't be possible. Finally it was Fiona who broke the silence with a question.

    "They're going to read the will in a few days," She said to him, "We're all going to find out how the empire is going to be divided."

    "That must be stressful." Adam replied.

    "Not really," Fiona told him, "I never needed her money before and I don't need it now. I'll take whatever I get and appreciate whatever she had in her heart to share."

    "That is such a mature outlook to take." Adam said to her as he was amazed by how modest she was concerning the massive amount of wealth that was at stake. All Adam could imagine was how Jennifer would have responded if it was her fortune that was at stake. She's go crazy waiting to find out and might even consider knocking off the competition the night before just to make sure she got a bigger piece of the pie. Fiona's attitude towards funds was a breath of fresh air to him, filling up his lungs and his heart with warm feelings.

    "I'm sure everything will be all right." Adam said to reassure her.

    "I know," Fiona replied, confident he was right. "My grandmother loved me very much. I have no doubt she'll leave me enough to keep me busy. I'm just concerned that my brother and mother are going to duke it out over what's left."

    "That would be their problem, not yours." Adam said.

    "Will you be there with me?" Fiona asked.

    "Of course I will." Adam said as he couldn't bear to be away from her and would take any chance he could to remain in her company.

    "Thank you so much," Fiona said as she reached over and kissed him on the cheek, "And I'll cover your room until then so don't worry about that."

    "Thank you." Adam said as he was pleasantly surprised. He had decided once again not to mention this to his father, just to freak him out a bit. "But what are we going to do for the next few days?"

    "We'll do all the tourist stuff!" Fiona replied with a smile. "I've done this a million times and I'd love to be your guide."

    "Why not," Adam said with a wide smile, "Let's do the scenes!"

6. A Late Visit

    It was in the middle of the night when the phone started to ring. Adam groaned as he sat up and looked around for the phone. According to the alarm clock it was almost one thirty in the morning. Adam sighed as he reached over and picked up the phone after a few rings. He was rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as he answered it.

    "Hello?" Adam called out.

    "Hello there, Mr. Freeloader." The voice at the other end answered.

    "Oh... hey Dad," Adam said as he slowly sat up in bed, "Do you realize that it's half past one in the morning over here?"

    The old man was calling him at eight-thirty and wasn't used to the time zone difference. Knowing his Dad, the old man was probably still at the office doing last minute work and decided to call. "Sorry about that."

    "It's okay," Adam said as he lay down on his pillow. "What are you doing?"

    "Working," The old man replied, "Something you're not doing."

    "What makes you say that?" Adam asked.

    "Cause you're still in Gay Pair-ree." His father answered. "I sent you there to attend a funeral, not stay an extra few days and take some personal time."

    "I was asked to stay," Adam explained. "What was I supposed to say?"

    "You're supposed to say no." His father coldly answered.

    "What if the person that made the request is named Bouchard?" Adam countered, loving the chance to drop that truth bomb on the old man.

    There was a long, uncomfortable silence. Adam waited for that little detail to sink into his father's head. It didn't take too long.

    "You were asked to stay in town by the Bouchards?" his father asked.

    "Yes, I was." Adam confirmed.

    "What about your room?" his father cried, worried he was still in the suite. "Are we still holding the tab on that?"

    "Nope," Adam said as he finally let the old man off the hook. "It's being covered by the Bouchards for the entire duration; even the mini bar."

    The old man on the other end laughed. "I should send you out on these business trips more often. You seem to have a knack for connecting with clients."

    "You have no idea." Adam said with a soft chuckle.

    "Well done kid," His father said as he also chuckled. "Well done!"

    "Thanks for the vote of confidence." Adam said as he looked at the time. The reading of the will wasn't until after lunch so there was plenty of time to get ready. "Do you mind if I go back to sleep now?"

    "Alright," The old man said as he also sighed. The idea of the Bouchards picking up the tab seemed to relieve his worries. "Give me a call later today and we'll talk more about this and you can give me all the dirt."

    "Will do," Adam replied, "Wait, hold on a second."

    "What is it, sport?" the old man asked.

    "What's going on with Jen?" Adam asked, "She hasn't tried to call me."

    "The house burned down," his father reminded him, "She barely had enough time to get out alive, so she didn't stop to pick up her mobile phone. She doesn't have your number and I'm not moved enough to give it to her."

    Adam couldn't believe what he was hearing. "She's asked for it?"

    "Once or twice," The old man confirmed, "The authorities ruled the fire was indeed accidental, despite what she was doing when it started. But the house is still a write off. Everything inside is unrecoverable."

    "At least no one was hurt." Adam said, thinking about it.

    "Do you want me to give her the number?" his father asked.

    Adam paused for a moment as he thought about it. "Not yet."

    "Well halle-fucking-luyya!" his father called out.

    "Try not to get too excited," Adam warned him.

    "Screw that, it's about fracking time!" the old man replied. He was never a fan of Jen's and her recent act of destruction didn't improve things. He was pleased to hear his son might be finally seeing things from his perspective.

    "By the way," Adam continued, "This is not a vacation, I'm doing business out here. This is time away with pay, since I probably have to do apartment hunting when I get home."

    "As long as we still have clients in France when you get back," his father warned him, "then I'm okay with that. If you manage to land new business, you'll get the standard commission I give our sales people on top of that."

    "Alright," Adam replied, feeling more motivated than ever. "Is it okay if I go back to bed now?"

    "Sure, Sure," the old man said, as Adam could hear his wrist jingle as he was checking his watch. "I'll try not to do that again."

    The line went dead. His Dad was never the 'I love you' at the end of the call kind of guy but the fact that he called so often just to check up on him was all the evidence he needed to hear that the old man still cared.

    Adam put the phone down, turned the light off and closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep. Less than five minutes later, where was a soft knock at the door. Adam wasn't anywhere near asleep so he hopped right out and walked over to the door. Standing there in a nightgown and a robe was Fiona. She looked a little stressed and tired.

    "I had trouble sleeping," she started, "I heard the phone ring and since you were awake I thought we could talk for a second?"

    "Sure," Adam said as he opened the door wider for her to enter. Adam was the kind of person who needed time to sleep anyway, so talking to her wasn't going to cost him any shut eye, unless she stayed a while. He watched as she walked over and sat down on the couch near his bed. It was beside the window so she was able to look out at the amazing view she procured for him.

    "So, who was on the phone?" Fiona asked, as it was apparent she wanted to discuss anything except the will reading, which was the next day.

    "It was my Dad," Adam answered, "Updates on the ex."

    "Oh!" Fiona said, remembering the video. "What's happened?"

    Adam paused for a moment. "She burned the house down."

    Fiona's eye went as wide as saucers and her mouth gaped open. "No way!"

    "I'm afraid so," Adam confirmed for her, "It was accidental. Something was still plugged in when she was trying to toss it, it sparked and started a fire. With my clothes all over the place, it spread rather quickly."

    Fiona tried to hide it, but she started to laugh uncontrollably. She rolled onto her back and was convulsing in hysterics.

    Adam couldn't help but giggle as well. "No one was hurt in case you were wondering."

    "That's good," Fiona said, sitting back up, wiping a tear from her cheek from laughing so hard. "Oh I needed that."

    "It's write off," Adam said, laughing as well. "Much like the relationship I had with her."

    "Are you sure about that?" Fiona asked, curious if he was serious.

    "Well, she ended it," Adam started, "But in the end, she'll always be that crazy lady who burned my house down because I went on a business trip. You don't go back to someone that nuts unless you're a glutton for punishment."

    "Makes sense," Fiona agreed, "What does your Dad think?"

    "He never liked her," Adam informed her, "I think he broke out the bubbly."

    "Oh my," Fiona said, smiling at the thought, "So he's a happy camper?"

    "Pretty much," Adam said, "He's also happy not to be footing the bill for this room. He's surprised I'm still in town, but I said it's for business."

    "So you lied?" Fiona asked.

    "I exaggerated," Adam corrected, "This time tomorrow I might be talking to the new owner of Bouchard Enterprises. I'd say that might be good for business."

    "Touche," Fiona said, though her face soured as the subject came up. "I don't know if I want anything, just to avoid having to deal with George and mother."

    "From what little I know of your grandmother," Adam started, "I'm sure she was more than fair to everyone. That might not fly well with them, but I'm sure whatever she left you was done with love so you could continue to pursue your own goals without any kind of financial burden."

    "It sounds so loving when you say it," Fiona said as she grabbed one of the pillows and laid her head on it. "It won't sound that way tomorrow at the reading. Just numbers and cold business jargon."

    "Is that why you'd like me there?" Adam asked, "To deal with the jargon?"

    "That and for support," Fiona confessed, "Things just seem easier to deal with when you're around. You know what I mean?"

    "I do," Adam said, as he was in full agreement. The last few days in Paris with her had been amazing. They both had a good time, and he hadn't felt that happy in quite some time.

    "What are you thinking about?" Fiona asked, noticing his mind had wandered.

    "I was just thinking about the last two days," Adam confessed, "I had a really good time out there. I hope you did too."

    "I did," She said, "What part was your favorite?"

    Adam thought about it for a moment. "I would have to say the art gallery."

    "Why?" Fiona asked, "Besides the oblivious answer."

    "I'd have to say it was the company," Adam told her, "I always loved going to galleries whenever I had the chance, but no one ever wanted to go with me. Not even my parents when I was a kid. They were raised to blue collar to apprentice stuff like that so the answer I would always get was no. So whenever we did business in New York, I'd always sneak off and take a subway to the gallery and museum. Jen wasn't that cultured either, so asking her to look at art was like asking a child to help you eat Brussels sprouts. Dragging people out to share moments like that seemed like a chore and I stopped asking people a long time ago. The same goes for watching your grandmother on the big screen. No one wanted to go, but I refused to let them spoil my fun. I went there myself, and I know it sounds strange that a kid would be there watching black and white movies along, but I didn't care. So when you suggested the gallery, I was more than just eager to go; I was elated that it was someone else's idea to do it. It was also nice being there with someone who also knew just as much about the art there than I did, which was fun cause I like learning new stuff all the time. I had a lot of fun there, and it was nice of you to suggest it. It was quite refreshing actually, because usually I was the one on my knees begging to go out there. You know what I mean?"

    Adam expected a reply, but didn't get one because Fiona had fallen asleep on his bed while listening to him jabber on. He took a deep breath and then grabbed a blanket to cover up the young and very attractive young lady. Because the room was a suite, there was a couch that was large enough to substitute as a bed. Adam grabbed a spare blanket from the closet and a spare pillow from the bed and crashed on the couch. He liked Fiona but wanted to make sure the wake up the next day as un-awkward as possible. He really liked her, and didn't want to spoil it by coming on too strong, so he crashed on the couch just to be cautious. He checked the alarm to make sure it was set so neither of them would be late for the next day's reading, and then went to sleep.

7. In the Board Room

    Adam was ready to go earlier than requested just in case Fiona wanted to leave earlier than planned. She never said anything when she woke up and went back to her room to shower and change. He never took that long to shower and put on something business casual, but not too formal. A dress shirt with no tie, and some nice dress pants. Something that said he wasn't there in an official capacity but also formal enough to be taken serious when he needed to be. He didn't even shave and let the three day old scruff he had grown since the funeral stick around. He left the room around ten after eight, which was about fifteen minutes earlier than he needed to. Rather than knock on her door, Adam stood outside her door and checked for messages and what not on his cell phone and patiently waited. Fiona emerged from her room about five minutes later and was startled to see he was waiting out in the hall for her.

   "Whoa!" she called out when she noticed he was there. "You gave me a freight!"

    "Sorry about that," Adam said, as he pocketed his phone. "I was going to knock at the proper time. I apologize."

    "It's alright," she replied, "I'd rather have you be earlier than late. I prefer to get to this meeting on time and just get it over with."

    "Why is this being held so soon?" Adam inquired.

    "There's no time to waste," Fiona answered as the started to stroll towards the lift in order to take it to the lobby, and the car waiting outside. "We need to find out who is in charge, and of what so there is no chaos. We have to get this over with like ripping off a band-aid. Painful, but completely necessary."

    "Fair enough," Adam said, letting her enter the lift first.

    Once in the lobby, Adam followed her to the fancy car that was waiting for them outside. Once they were both in the back, the driver didn't need any instructions as he knew exactly where they were all going. It took about fifteen minutes for the driver to cross town and come to a stop before the building that was waiting for them. Once out of the car Adam followed Fiona into the building, and there was a surprise waiting for them in the lobby. There was an older woman waiting for the elevator.

    "Cynthia?" Fiona called out as she walked over and gave the woman a hug. "What are you doing here?"

    "I was invited," Cynthia replied, "But I promised not to say why, so please don't ask for the time being."

    "Duly noted," Adam replied, "Can we at least come up with you?"

    "Probably not a good idea," Cynthia said, as she entered the lift alone. "People would get too paranoid. I'll meet you up there."

    Adam and Fiona watched with stunned faces as the doors closed. Adam didn't hesitate to push the button again, as they waited for the next lift. Adam stood there and remained quiet as he was unsure of what was going on.

    "What the hell did that mean?" Fiona finally asked.

    "Don't take it personally," Adam answered, "It might all be clear when we get up there and find out for ourselves."

    It took only a few minutes to take the lift up to the tenth floor as instructed, and into the law offices that represented her grandmother's estate. The lady at the front desk showed them to conference room at the end of the hall, which was huge. Despite it's size, there was only a handful of people in there. Fiona's mother and her brother George who were sitting together, and Cynthia who was sitting across from them. To avoid taking a side, Fiona and Adam sat at the end of the table.

    "What is he doing here?" her brother spat out.

    "I invited him," Fiona replied, "For emotional support."

    "Only family should be here," her mother added.

    "He's with me," Fiona said, as she took Adam's hand in her own. "You better get used to that idea, quickly."

    "She hasn't even inherited anything," George grumbled, "And the gold diggers are already crawling out of the ground."

    "Excuse me?" Adam said as he tried to stand up.

    Before George could repeat himself, one of the law partners strolled into the room with two associates right behind him. He walked over and took a seat at the other head end of the table.

    "Good afternoon," he said, "My name is Vincent Shaw, and this is my firm. We have been entrusted with the estate of recently deceased Caroline Bouchard. If there are no objections, we can start with the reading."

    "I have an objection," George started, "I want to know why this woman and that man are attending this meeting?"

    "This lady was invited by the estate," Mr. Shaw replied, "And if I heard her correctly, the young lady brought his fellow for support. You brought your mother for support, even though she wasn't invited."

    "Hold on," Mrs. Bouchard finally said, "I wasn't invited."

    "You were not." Mr. Shaw confirmed, "I apologize if you were given that impression. If you want only invited people to be present, your mother would have to leave as well as the young man."

    "Let's get on with it." George conceded, tight lipped and furious.

    "Well, the reading isn't going to be handled by myself." Shaw said as he presented a disc from his folder. "Mrs. Bouchard wished to address you personally so if there isn't any objection, I will play the reading of her will."

    No one said anything as Mr. Shaw proceeded to hand the disc to an associate who placed it in the machine behind them and the picture appeared on the massive screen attached to the wall. Sitting there in a fancy chair, which was a bit of a flair for the dramatic, was Mrs. Bouchard herself, smiling at those who were watching.

    "Hello darlings," She called out, "thank you for coming."

    Fiona put a hand to her mouth as she wasn't expecting it. Adam was expecting it might get emotional so he took a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to her. She wiped the tear from her cheek and continued to watch.

    "I'm here to let you know how the pie is going to be split," the old lady continued, "So let's get right to it. The entire estate, all assets and the business that is Bouchard Incorporated will be split three ways between by grandchildren George and Fiona, and my daughter Cynthia. Yes, you heard that right. The woman sitting across from you is your aunt. I had her years before I met your grandfather and she was raised by her father in South Africa. I hope you take a moment to get to know her because she's a wonderful person and now your business partner. This is not negotiable and any attempt to challenge it will result in a forfeiture of your cut, so don't even think about it George. You have to play nice, or the two women can overrule you on just about everything. You are going to be well off, so I expect you to be on your best behavior and do what is best for the family and the company. Do not disappoint me and try to represent the family and my legacy as best you can. I wish I could be there to see the three of you in the same room, but I cannot. Please do your best to get along. You are all family, after all. Cheerio, my babies!"

    The video went dark and Mr. Shaw had his associates hand out a large file folder to each person at the table, a full detailing of the will and how everything was being split up. George was starting to turn into a shade of red, as he clearly was impressed.

    "So you're her daughter?" He asked the woman across from her. "Why did we never hear a thing about you before now?"

    "Probably to respect your grandmother's privacy, dumbass." Adam called out.

    "I wasn't asking you," George said as he stood up.

    "I didn't give a shit who you were asking." Adam said, also standing up. "I'm sure you're upset that this reading didn't go better than you hoped for, but you're going to have to accept it rather quickly."

    "And what if I don't want to accept it?" George asked.

    "Then we would seize your assets and holdings and split them amongst the other two as per your grandmother's wishes." Mr. Shaw answered, "Do not challenge this will or I will take it all away from you and do it happily."

    George looked at Shaw and while he wanted to say something, he chose against it. He grabbed his copy of the will and stormed out of the room which his mother quickly following behind him. Adam turned to face Fiona who was still crying.

    "Are you alright?" he asked her.

    "I'll be alright," Fiona said, looking down at the lawyer at the other end of the table. "Would it be possible to get a copy of that video, Mr. Shaw?"

    "I can have one made for you, Ms. Bouchard." Mr. Shaw said with a smile on his face as he was slightly impressed. "You just inherited a massive amount of wealth, and all you think of is keeping her video. You are just as your grandmother advertised. It's a pleasure to make both your acquaintances."

    With that said, Mr. Shaw stood up and took his leave. As his associates left the room as well, it left Adam, Fiona and Cynthia there looking at one another.

    "What do I call you?" Fiona asked. "Auntie?"

    "Cynthia will be fine," Cynthia said, smiling back at her. "I'm sorry I couldn't say anything at the funeral, but I promised to keep things quiet until the reading."

    "I understand," Fiona said as she finally stood up from her chair. "I was so nervous about this that I couldn't eat breakfast. Can we go out and get something to eat and talk about this more, Cynthia?"

    Cynthia smiled back at her niece. "I'd like that."

8. Clearing The Air

    Cynthia had asked if she could pick where they'd eat, and much to everyone's surprise she had selected the exact same restaurant that Fiona had taken Adam to the first day he was in Paris. Fiona was very excited as she took a seat at their table, and Cynthia was probably onto her.

    "She took you here too?" Cynthia asked.

    "Every time I was in town!" Fiona said, literally gushing about it. Rather than feel threatened someone else was spending time with her granny, Fiona felt excited to have someone else she could connect with and share memories that wasn't her brother or mother. Hanging out with them and trying to talk about anything that didn't involve money or the business was a total bore. She hated them and the feelings were quite mutual.

    "I only came here a few times," Cynthia confessed, "But I knew this place was her favorite."

    "It really was," Fiona said, thinking about her. "This will be one of many places I can turn to when I want to reconnect with her."

    "That's nice to hear," Adam said, but his mind was still on what happened earlier that day. "Are you guys alright?"

    "I'm alright," Cynthia said, looking back at the young couple. "George knows better than the challenge us or the will. Fiona and I own a majority stake, so we could just fire his ass anytime we wanted to. I prefer to mend bridges, but he better not give us much attitude or Adam can kick him out of the building my mother built."

    "As much as might enjoy that," Adam confessed, "I believe it might be wiser to look for a compromise that makes everyone happy."

    "He's right," Fiona said, almost disappointed. "We need to negotiate with George first rather than just gang up on him. I mean if him and mother had done that to me, I wouldn't find it much fun. We can't be like that."

    "That's up to George," Cynthia said, not budging an inch. "I'm open to compromise as long as he is too. Respect is a two way street, I'll give it as long as I get some in return."

    "That's a fair stance to take," Adam said, "But I think George's response has more to do with surprise than actually disapproval. People don't like to be hit with the unknown, especially when they're grieving. It can be difficult to handle secrets from someone after the fact. Give him time, and hopefully good judgement will get the best of him and he'll apologize."

    "Don't hold your breath," Fiona countered, "I'm not."

    "Fair enough," Adam said, as he surrendered. It was her brother so she obviously knew more about him than Adam ever could.

    They three of them change the subject and discussed other things, and Adam backed off and let the two ladies trade amazing stories about the dearly departed. Many of them were positive tales of a great person who was good to them. The memories they shared was more valuable than anything they had inherited that day, and the fact that they had each other to reminisce with was also quite priceless. Adam could tell that the two women were bonding and this might be a friendship that was going to last for a very long time. They had discovered one another and were to kindred spirits that were going to be near inseparable from here out. Adam got so distracted thinking about it that he never heard them speak to him.

    "Adam," Fiona asked, "Are you still here?"

    "Sorry," Adam replied, "I was deep in thought. It happens sometimes."

    "That is so cute," Cynthia said, laughing.

    "I know, right?" Fiona agreed.

    Adam was beginning to realize they just happened to be talking about him when while he had spaced out. It was a tad embarrassing.

    "I apologize," Adam continued, "I didn't mean to lose focus."

    "It's alright," Fiona said, as she took his hand in hers. "It wasn't anything earth shattering."

    "Just about your house burning down." Cynthia said, before laughing. Fiona also couldn't help but giggle as well.

    "Oh that's where we're at?" Adam said, grinning back at them. "I'm so happy that my misfortune managed to help take your minds of more serious matters. No one asks to have their crib torched. I've enjoyed my time here cause I really don't relish the idea of moving back in with my Dad. He's conflicted about it as well. We don't always get along, but he's also happy I'm single again as he wasn't fond of, well... her."

    "Got it," Fiona said, "No one liked her."

    "Not even the family dog," Adam added, "I should have heeded that red flag."

    "You should have," Cynthia agreed, "Well, I'm going to take off. It's been a long morning, and I need to rest. Let me get this..."

    "No, no," Fiona said, stopping her from pulling out her wallet. "I got this. You get it next time, because there will be a next time. I promise."

    Cynthia smiled at the thought. "Alright, I'll get it next time. Thank you."

    After she had taken off, Fiona and Adam went for another walk, strolling by the dams and taking in the sites again. He was really enjoying himself, but Adam really didn't want to move things too quickly. When they sat down on a bench near the river, he felt it was time to have a serious talk.

    "I want to let you know this week has been amazing," he told her, "But I don't want to rush things. We've had a great time, but I don't want to be that guy to took advantage of someone at a funeral. You're a great person Fiona, but I don't want to jinx us by moving too fast too soon.

    Fiona didn't respond but instead sat down beside him and took his hand again.

    "I get it," she said, smiling back at him. "You're coming out of a bad situation too. You just got dumped for doing what your dad asked. I don't want to be a rebound anymore than you want to pick up someone at a funeral. We're better than that and I get what you're putting down."

    "It almost feels like a fairy tale, doesn't it?" Adam asked.

    "Yes, but we can't fall for the trap." Fiona said, "Real relationships require time, trust and commitment. We can't figure that out in less than a week. Trying something that serious now would be like rolling the dice, and I've seen far too many people get snake eyes. I like you too much to be that risky."

    "Exactly," Adam confessed, "I feel the same way."

    "Then take the day," Fiona suggested, "Let's think about it and meet again tomorrow for lunch. Regardless of what happens, I will enjoy meeting you this week as you were a savior when I needed a good laugh in these dark days."

    "Happy to help," Adam said, taking a slight boy.

    They held hands as they walked back to the hotel, but when they strolled into the lobby, she let go and went to the elevator alone. Adam checked the front desk for messages, but there were none. He turned away from the desk and started to walk t the elevator himself but was interrupted. Someone had swung a fist as him, clocking Adam in the head and knocking him off his feet. His nose was bleeding, and Adam took a moment to look at it before he glanced up to see his attacker. Standing above him with his jacket take off and sleeves rolled up was George, Fiona's brother.

    "This is all your fault," George said, through grit teeth. "Get back on your feet so I can give you another helping of what you deserve!"

9. Hitting The Bar

    It took Adam a few moments to realize what had happened, and he looked back up at George. The man was obviously still fuming over what had happened that morning and needed someone, anyone really, to take his anger out on. He had obviously come to the hotel maybe to talk with his sister and the guy he blamed all his troubles all just happened to be in the lobby. It was likely an urge that George wasn't able to resist, especially since he had the element of surprise. Adam slowly got back to his feet, and looked back at George who still had his fists raised, as he was clearly eager to go a few rounds. Adam rubbed his eyes for a moment, as he was still a little dazed from the unexpected sucker shot that knocked him down. He help up his hands, trying to calm the matter down rather than make things worse. At this point there was a crowd gathering and making this a full blown scene for all involved.

    "Look," Adam started, pausing for a moment. "I get why you're upset but you're clearly talking this out on the wrong bloke."

    "Am I?" George asked, "Doesn't seem that way from where I'm standing!"

    "Come on man!" Adam chided back, "You're a smart guy. There's no way you can blame me for what's going on here. Odds are that will was written up years ago, way long before I came to Paris, or even started working at my Dad's company for that matter. What happens here isn't going to change that. So what are we doing here?"

    George looked around and finally noticed the scene they were making. He slowly lowered his fists and took a deep breath. Good judgement was finally starting to take control over the man as he started to think like a C.E.O. instead of a spurned grandchild that just got shafted by the old lady.

    "I'm sorry," George finally managed to spit out.

    "Everyone break things up!" someone from the hotel's staff called out as the people started to clear the lobby.

    Adam walked up and put a hand on George's shoulder.

    "I don't know about you," Adam started, "But I think we need a drink."

    "Alright," George agreed, "Let's hit the bar."

    Once the staff realized things were becoming more civil between the two men, they let everyone break things up and go back to work. This was especially true for the hotel workers since George was technically their boss, so they were happy to back away and let it dissipate on its own. Both men walked into the bar, and as they approached the counter it was George who called out as they approached the counter. Both George and Adam took some stools at the bar as George waited for the bartender to arrive.

    "Mr. Bouchard," the bartender said, "What can I get for you?"

    "Two glasses of scotch," George answered, "Two fingers each, and I'll take a pack of ice for my friend here."

    "Yes, Mr. Bouchard." The bartender replied, "I assume this can be added to your tab?"

    "You assumed correctly," George confirmed. "We'll take two menus as well."

    "I'm not that hungry," Adam admitted as he watched the bartender walk away.

    "Doesn't matter," George replied, "Order whatever you want, my treat. Take it to go and stash it in the mini bar fridge in case you get peckish for a late night snack."

    "Okay," Adam said, as he liked the idea. "Thank you."

    "It the least I can do," George admitted, "The last time I punched someone like that, I was sued for it. I shouldn't have done that."

    "I'm not going to sue you," Adam said, "You've had a rough day. I would be feeling the same way if I was you. But thank you for ordering the ice."

    "Yeah, it has been a rough day." George agreed.

    "It wasn't as bad as you thought." Adam countered.

    "What do you mean?" George asked.

    "I talked to both women today," Adam said, "And neither of them look like they want to run this company. They're nice people that can be reasoned with, and you need to also remember they're family. I realize you'll have to get used to one of them just showing up out of nowhere, but from what I've gathered she's a good person who isn't going to fire you for now reason. You're also a good CEO. You've run this company well over the last decade, and only a fool would want to let you go."

    "You really did your homework," George said, taking a sip of his drink after it arrived. He watched as Adam ignored his drink and grabbed the ice pack and placed it over the cheek that took George's sucker punch.

    "I didn't study you," Adam replied, "Most of this is common knowledge. I happen to know more than the average person cause my Dad has been doing business with your company and this hotel for decades."

    "Then why isn't he here instead of you?" George asked.

    "He doesn't fly," Adam answered, which was partially true. "I volunteered to come over because I thought someone should, and also because I was a big fan of your grandmother's movies."

    "Then how do you know my sister?" George inquired, eager to know more.

    "We met on the flight," Adam answered, "I had no idea she was related to the dearly departed until I bumped into her at the funeral."

    "Wow, that is quite interesting." George said, trying to evaluate what he was told. "And now you're dating or something?"

    "Not really," Adam corrected, "We've toured the town a bit, had a few dinners but this hasn't gotten any more serious than that. I'm not going lie to you George, I do like her but I'm not eager to push things, especially considering she's still morning the passing of a loved one."

    "I appreciate your honestly," George said, as he took Adam's drink since he wasn't going to touch it. "Most men are uncaring goofs that see her as an expense account to cash in."

    "She's an amazing person," Adam said, "And you need to realize that she's not your enemy. She's your sister and she loves you."

    "I guess I needed to be reminded of that," George confessed as he finished Adam's drink. "I can be seem uncaring, but that's how I have to be when running a company this big."

    "I can understand that," Adam conceded, "But you shouldn't push everyone away, especially your new partners."

     "That's going to take some getting used to." George admitted.

    "Would you prefer she just give everything away to charity?" Adam asked, "I've seen bigger fortunes be given to a cat or some trust and the kids are left with bupkis. While things didn't go as you expected, trust me, it could have been a lot worse."

    "Fair enough," George said, as he understood. "Sorry about the punch."

    "Shit happens," Adam said, as he took the pack away from his cheek. He turned the pack over and applied the colder side back on. "I'll survive."

    "Try to keep this between us," George said, "I'm in enough trouble."

    "I'll try," Adam said, "But I can't promise anything. I'm definitely not going to lie her. So just hope this bruise goes away rather quickly."

    "I understand," George said, as he waved the bartender to come back. "Let's get some food and more ice for that."

    "Why not," Adam said as he realized something. George was angry but he was also a tad lost. He was yearning for someone to talk to, someone his own age and not related to him. In other words, someone with no skin in the game.

    Since he had no plans, it didn't cost Adam anything to hear George out and give him what he really needed. A person to vent to and have a drink with. Adam didn't mind hanging out with George as he didn't have any ill will towards the man and he definitely felt for him. He also lost his grandmother, and he'd rather have the man take his hostility out on him rather than the girl he's taken a liking to. And since the extra food was on him as well, Adam decided to order a few extra items for the trip back to his room. Something to share in case Fiona decided to visit later that night to talk.

10. Recovering In The Room

    Adam woke up to the ringtone that made him groan in displeasure as he got out of bed to answer the call. He left the cell phone on the dresser on the other side of the room, but had forgotten to put it on vibrate. Adam grabbed the cell and answered the call, already well aware of who was ringing him up.

    "Hey Dad," Adam said, looking at the bright sky outside his window. "At least you're not calling in the middle of the night this time."

    "For a guy who only went over there for a funeral," his father barked back, "You sure are having a gay ole time over there, my boy."

    "No longer on your dime," Adam reminded him, "And things are great, thanks for asking!"

    "If you plan to stay there," his father continued, "Give me an address and I'll ship all your stuff over to you. Well, what's left of it."

    "Don't tempt me," Adam chided back, "I really like it here."

    "What's her name?" his father then asked.

    "What?" Adam said, trying to act shocked.

    "There's a woman, there has to be." His father repeated, "What's her name?"

    "That's none of your concern," Adam said, refusing to budge but he knew that was all his father was going to need.

    "Ha!" his father said, giving out a bellowing laugh. "How did I not see this coming. You're in Paris and were always a bit of romantic!"

    "Dad, give it up." Adam asked as politely as he could, resisting the urge to just hang up on the old man.

    "Alright, alright." The old man said, taking a deep breath. "Just give me an update when you find out what's going on out there."

    "I will, but forcing the issue might not be the right path," Adam said, rolling out of bed. "I'm in a good place, but I need to be careful. Just give me more time."

    "Alright," his father finally conceded, "But if you're there for another week I'm moving your stuff to the basement."

    Adam paused for a moment. "It's already in the basement, isn't it?"

    "Gotta go," the old man replied, "Bye!"

    Adam left the main room and strolled into the bathroom to inspect his eye. It was still bruised, and despite all the ice he used to take the swelling down he was stuck with that shiner for at least a week. He sighed as it was something that just couldn't be avoided. He told Fiona that he was tired and crashed early to avoid her seeing the eye before it swelled down. Adam knew this was the moment of truth as he was sure that Fiona had heard his phone ring and suspected he was awake.

    There was a loud knocking at the door.

    Adam slowly walked over to the door and opened it. It took Fiona only seconds to see the shiner and gasped in surprise.

    "Adam!" She called out, "What happened to your eye."

    Adam sighed. "Do you want the truth or a lie?"

    Fiona crossed her arms and gave him a stern look. "What do you think?"

    "Alright, come on in." Adam said, as he watched her slip by and jump onto his bed to make herself comfortable. "I had a small run in with George."

    "What?" Fiona said, shocked. "You got into a fight with my brother!"

    "I wouldn't say that," Adam corrected her, "It hardly qualifies as a fight, just two hits really. Him hitting me and me hitting the floor."

    "Oh dear," Fiona said, distressed. "Are you alright?"

    "I'm fine," Adam said, smiling at the thought she was so concerned. "George felt bad about it and took me to the bar for a drink and ice for my eye. We had a good talk and our encounter ended far much better than it started."

    "Oh," Fiona said, surprised to hear that. "He was nice to you?"

    "Maybe to avoid a lawsuit," Adam said, "But honestly, he was just frustrated and I happened to be there. Afterwards, he seemed genuinely sorry about it and we had a good conversation about what's been going on."

    "Well, I guess that's alright." Fiona said, "But that's one hell of a shiner he gave you. Maybe I should talk to him..."

    "No, that's alright." Adam reassured her. "He feels bad already, and I accepted hi apology. We resolved it over cocktails and food. I guess he just needed someone to talk to because George appears more ready to accept the terms we hear from your grandmother about the company and about Cynthia too."

    "Wow," Fiona replied, rather impressed. "Thank you?"

    "You're quite welcome," Adam said, "Please remember this when my dad's company want to renew our contract."

    "I will," Fiona promised, "But I'm sure George will do right by you guys just to make up for the shiner. So way to take one for the team!"

    "Fair enough," Adam admitted, "Never thought of it that way. Dad will be please about it for sure."

    "What is your dad like?" Fiona asked.

    "He's loud," Adam started, "Quite the talker but has always been a smart ass. He'll taunt anyone for a good laugh, even his own kids. He never like my ex and is happy that I'm hanging out with someone new here in France."

    "You told him about me?" Fiona inquired.

    "I did not," Adam clarified, "He just suspects there is someone, cause there's no other logical reason for me to want to stay in Paris this long."

    "You mean besides the amazing landmarks and galleries?" Fiona said, "And as much as I'd like to take you to some I have to cancel our plans. Cynthia and I are going to meet with some board members and get things rolling. Are you alright to stay here and just chill for the day?"

    "Yeah, I'll be fine." Adam said, going with the flow. "I can just rest and keep icing the eye and see if that takes the bruising down."

    "Doubtful," Fiona informed him. "You're stuck with that shiner for a while."

    "I kinda figured," Adam agreed, "You might have to get used to it."

    "Thanks for the warning," Fiona said as she hopped out of bed and gave him a pretty decent hug. "I'll be back after the meetings. Maybe we'll go out for dinner?"

    "Sounds good to me," Adam said, "I'll be resting here if you need me."

    "Thanks," Fiona said as she walked to the door, "I'll see you later."

    She closed the door behind her, and all Adam could do was flop onto the bed. He managed to tell the truth without tossing George under the bus. His entire boys will be boys defense seemed to work and the peace he managed to broker between the two siblings seemed to be holding for the time being.

    Peace came at a price, Adam thought to himself while rubbing his temple above or just around his bruised eye, but it was so worth it. He'd happily take the hit again if it meant standing up for Fiona and her new auntie. He laid there on the bed, just relaxing and wondering what if anything he could do that day. Adam considered just seeing the city by himself but he didn't relish the idea of walking around looking like someone gave him a good beating. He decided it would be best to stay in and raid the mini-bar while watching movies on the tube. He was checking the movie menu to see what films he could choose from when there was a decent knock at the door. Adam hopped up as he thought that was strange, as Fiona should be on her way to meet up with Cynthia. He looked around but there didn't seem to be any forgotten items lying around as he walked up to the door to see what she wanted.

    Yet as Adam opened the door, there was a different person on the other side.

    The lady who was standing before him was the last person that Adam had expected to see. He was even stunned to the point that he was speechless.

    Yet there she was; Jenny.

    The same woman that had dumped him for flying off to Paris for a funeral, and then accidentally burned down their place while tossing his stuff onto the front yard. Adam stood there with that look one would expect a deer to have when caught in the high beams of oncoming traffic. The words he wanted to say just didn't rise up and emerge from his face. He had nothing.

    "Hey Adam," Jenny finally said to him, "Can we talk?"