Chapter 203

Olivia

The jet descended through wispy clouds as Paris materialized below us, a sprawling tapestry of Haussmann architecture and winding streets. Morning light glinted off the Seine, and I pressed my face closer to the window, catching my first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower rising above the cityscape.

“There it is.” I breathed.

Alexander looked up from his laptop, a smile playing at his lips. “First time seeing it?”

“In person? Yes.” I couldn’t tear my eyes away. “Pictures don’t do it justice.”

“Wait until you see it at night. The whole thing lights up.”

The jet touched down smoothly at Le Bourget, Paris’s private aviation hub. Within minutes, we were through customs and settling into the back of a Mercedes waiting on the tarmac. No lines, no crowds, just seamless efficiency that still felt surreal.

“Bonjour, Monsieur Carter, Madame Carter,” the driver greeted us in accented English. “Welcome to Paris. We go to Le Bristol now, yes?”

“Oui, merci,” Alexander replied, his French flawless.

Of course, he spoke French.

The drive into the city center was everything I’d imagined. Elegant buildings with wrought iron balconies lined wide boulevards. Cafés spilled onto sidewalks where Parisians sipped espresso and smoked cigarettes. The Arc de Triomphe loomed ahead, traffic circling it in controlled chaos.

“It’s beautiful,” I murmured, watching Paris unfold outside my window.

Alexander’s hand found mine, squeezing gently. “It is.”

Le Bristol Hotel sat on the prestigious Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, its pale stone facade exuding understated elegance. A doorman in a crisp uniform opened my car door before we’d fully stopped.

“Bienvenue, Madame Carter,” he said with a slight bow.

The lobby was a masterclass in French luxury. Marble floors gleamed under crystal chandeliers. Fresh flowers the size of small trees occupied massive urns. Oil paintings in gilded frames lined silk-papered walls.

extended. “What a pleasure to have you

Alexander replied, shaking his hand. “Everything

Suite, as requested. And the roses you ordered have been placed in the

Alexander,

head up

directly into the suite. I stepped into the entrance hall and stopped

“Holy shit,” I whispered.

decorated in soft creams and golds. Antique furniture mixed with modern comfort. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked a private terrace.

bedroom is through here, Madame,” the butler

Alexander trailing behind with that amused expression he

A canopy bed dominated the space, draped in silk. And on every available surface, red roses. Dozens of them.

turned to him, genuinely touched. “You

looking almost bashful. “Thought you

the nearest

show you the rest of the

I said,

a marble tub big enough to swim in. The office had a mahogany desk and built-in bookshelves. The dining room seated ten comfortably. There was even a kitchen, which seemed

needed would be provided immediately, I

announced. “People actually live

meetings starting at two. That gives us a few hours.

phone. Just after nine in the morning. “Explore.

say that.” He pulled out his phone, typing

Mercedes, this time heading toward the city center. The driver navigated with practiced ease through narrow streets

Chapter 203

I asked as

“You’ll see.”

55 vouchers

1

in a charming square I didn’t recognize. Small shops and cafés surrounded a central

Paris,” he

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