His eyebrows pull together. ‘Replaced me with who?’
Manon jerks a thumb at Noah.
‘That guy?’ Francois-Xavier explodes. ‘He’s a misogynist of the finest order.’
What?‘You don’t even know him,’ I say, hoping I’m right.
‘Oui,I do. After my last visit I went into his bar. You know to take the edge off, because you… you broke my heart, Anais.’ His voice cracks with emotion that I presume is all fake. ‘And I got into everything with him. He agreed that women are not worth it. That the world would run more smoothly if women kept quiet and did as they were told.’
‘Noah?’ I ask, my heart dropping. If this was a romance novel, this would be the misunderstanding that drives the couple apart while the reader rolls their eyes at their stupidity. This is real life and Noah isn’t that type of guy. No one who cares about Chloe the way he does, about a love story as special as hers, would say such a thing. ‘Actually, don’t answer that.’
Noah gives me a reassuring smile, like we’re already a team, a team of two. I get a flutter deep in my belly at the thought. ‘No, let me explain. He did come into my bar, but I didn’t know who he was, and I didn’t recognise him today either until he spoke about the misogynistic stuff, which I hate to say happens every now and then. There’s a certain type who prop themselves up at the bar and drink to forget their mistakes. They get sad and sloppy or mean and nasty. I learned early on to let them talk, to be agreeable for the sake of other patrons in the bar. They’re mostly itching for a fight and I’m not there for that, and so the best way to handle it is to nod and water their Scotch down with soda water.’
‘You watered my Scotch down? That’s criminal.’
‘So sue me.’ Noah gives a lofty shrug.
‘You can’t fight stupid,’ Manon says with a laugh. ‘But you can take their money. Very clever, Noah.’
We’re interrupted by a woman wheeling a suitcase towards us. ‘Hello, erm, everyone. Is this The Secret Library Hotel?’
‘Oui.’
‘I’m Renee. Checking in for the next few weeks.’
Our first guest! ‘Welcome!’ I motion for her to walk with me towards the reception desk, but she’s rooted to the spot, gaze going from face to face. ‘You’re staying in the suite calledMeet me in Paris. On the bookshelf in your room, you’ll find the book by Juliette Sobanet.’ It’s such a sweet touch, I hope the guests get as much enjoyment out of the themed suites as we’ve had searching for the perfect Paris memoir to highlight their stay.
‘Great. I hope I do meet someone in Paris. Maybe a hot French guy.’ With that, she gives Francois-Xavier a wink.
The smoke alarm goes off in the middle of the night and I wrench the covers from my bed and race downstairs, tumbling into our guest, Renee, who wears a sheepish look.
‘Sorry, I lit a cigarette in the dining room, figuring everyone was asleep, and doesn’t everyone smoke indoors in Paris?’
‘Ah.’ I grimace. ‘Not any more. And we do have other guests staying here. The dining room is a smoke-free zone.’
‘Right. Can I have one of those cheese platters brought to my room? I am allowed to smoke on the balcony, am I not?’ Her voice is suddenly clipped.
I check the time; it’s almost three in the morning. Why does everything weird in the hotel happen then? ‘Erm – sure, cheeseplatter coming right up. Andoui, you can smoke on the balcony if you want, but not in the suite.’
‘Yeah, yeah. And a bottle of wine.’
‘A bottle of wine what?’
‘To my room.’
‘Oh, right, OK.’
Merde!I make a note on the computer system Manon has set up so the cheese platter and wine are charged to Renee’s room and start preparing it. The life of a hotelier is really a twenty-four-seven gig. I only hope the noise of the alarm didn’t wake the family of six who are staying on the third floor.
41
20 DECEMBER
Renee comes downstairs, her lips pursed in a tight pout. ‘Last night, there was so much noise from the bar next door, I couldn’t sleep.’
I find it slightly jarring switching back to speaking English for our British guest after speaking French for so long, even though it’s my native language.
‘Is it like that all the time?’ She folds her arms across her chest.
