Okay see one of the many previous chapters if you need a disclaimer. I have a few ideas of how to wrap this up and then maybe do a timeskip version. However, I don't know how long that will be but anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!
Francis sat in the meeting hall with a nervous face. He had confidently called Lili and made the appointment to meet up with her like Arthur told him to and had Arthur's notes and talking points in hand. He said that Lili was bound to be as stingy as her brother was and his nerves began to grow. At the same time, this was the first steps to his fantasies becoming a reality and it seemed like a dream. Could this really be happening? He thought as a short, bright eyed young woman with short blonde hair came in and set a folder down. "Hello Mr. Bonnefoy, I am glad to speak with you about your findings." She looked at the folder. "Hmmmm one of our associates that will be joining us is named Bonnefoy as well."
"That's interesting, it's not a common name." Francis said. His heart was racing. He had dealt with people who wanted to have company dinners or big events at his restaurant before and as one of the head chefs to go over what was needed for what the customers wanted but this felt different. He was slightly intimidated by this young woman. This Lili girl seems very young. I mean she's Professor Zwingli's little sister and she seems like she's younger than Natalya! And yet I would rather be in Natalya's presence.
"Well I hope you don't mind a delay, my two other associates are interested in the idea and they are just running a little late." Lili said.
"Of course not…." Francis smiled. Stay calm…. this is very important. You do not want to blow this. He thought as Lilli moved some papers around.
"Do not be nervous Mr. Bonnefoy." Lili assured him. "I would not have asked to meet you if I did not think your idea was worth my time. It's something my brother taught me well. Do not give the wrong impression and only say what you mean and mean what you say." She opened her laptop and checked her phone. "Okay my associates are going to be here soon."
"That's good." Francis sighed.
"I will say this though, we all agree that with some improvements and a definite change in management that the place you found could be a viable tourist destination." Lili replied. "It is an area with many outdoor attractions, and there are a few festivals we could work to bring more people in. One of my associates, Ms. Héderváry specializes in spa tourism and thinks we could add onto the existing building."
"Oh I had never really thought much about that…." Francis admit.
"I know, I do not wish to seem condescending, but I read your husband's business plan. It is sound and written as if you two had planned to be the only ones putting in the investment of both manpower and resources." Lili explained.
"Yes, well we did not expect anyone to take a real interest in it and as uptight as mon amor can be, he did have a valid point and I did not want this to be a failure and we'd have to move in with one of our sons." Francis replied.
"Oh you provide a valuable resource yourself, even if your husband does not want any hands on involvement." Lili began. "In the business plan, part of the attraction for customers is the food in the morning that will be provided. We had a meal at various times that you were head chef on duty and it was delicious."
"Sorry for being late. There was a traffic snarl." A brown haired woman with a pink flower in her hair came in.
"Took them much longer than expected to clear it up." A blonde woman with glasses came in and looked over at Francis. "Oh mon Dieu! Grand frère. Je ne t'ai pas vu depuis des années..."
"Lucille?" Francis asked. "I didn't know you were the Bonnefoy that Ms. Zwingli spoke of."
"Francis!" Lucille said surprised. "I haven't seen you since dear Matthieu's wedding. How have things been?"
"Oh, where do I start…...?" Francis smiled.
"Maybe with this meeting." Elizabeta said. "I am Elizabeta Héderváry, the H of BHZ enterprises."
"Oh, I get it now…." Francis said.
"And it's just alphabetical order, nothing more than that." Lucille said simply. "But I am sure that Lili had said that we are interested and our capital is up for use and we want to put it on your find. Here is the deal we have put together and we will give you a significant interest as well as hire you on to manage the kitchens. Your skills and experience are invaluable." Francis looked disappointed his sister did not want to discuss the family more. She didn't speak with them much since they had last seen each other. Noticing this, she added, "We can catch up at dinner tonight. Bring Arthur, why not? I have seen a lot from Alfred from his social media profiles."
"Is this going to take that much longer?" Francis sighed. Who knew this would become so boring….?
"No. How the deal is going to work is the firm will buy the establishment, and you would be the kitchen manager and general manager unless we see a need to have the hotel department you will help run that." Elizabeta said as Francis looked nervous. "Don't worry, the things like books and finances are often handled by our employees of the firm. All you would worry about is making sure people want to spend money there."
"This is much more than I thought it would be…." Francis said taken aback.
"We'll meet again Friday so you can talk about it." Lili replied. "We have to be at the women in business conference in an hour."
"I will meet you tonight at this quaint place I have found for dinner." Lucille said as she gave an address to Francis. "I am slightly beginning to regret not visiting you more often. It's so hard to think Alfred a father now…."
"Matthieu too." Francis said.
"Mon dieu." Lucille sighed. "Well later tonight my brother."
"Yes my little sister…." Francis said as he took the paperwork and headed back home to wait for Arthur and then later meet up with Lucille.
Ivan opened the door carrying bags full of groceries. "Fredka, Nikita, Dimitri, can someone help me with the groceries please?" he sighed as he shut the front door with his foot and headed to the kitchen. He and Katyusha were planning a surprise birthday party for Matthew and Alfred, knowing their birthdays were so close. Noticing no one was coming to help him, he rolled his eyes but when he walked through the living room into the kitchen, he looked over and saw something that made him smile. "Oh that's precious." He smiled as he walked over to see Alfred laying on the floor asleep, glasses askew with Dimitri laying on his feet while Nikita was laying over Alfred's stomach, all asleep. He pulled out his phone and took a quick picture and laughed just loud enough for Alfred to hear.
"Huh?" What's going on?" He asked adjusting his glasses carefully.
"I got a picture of the most adorable thing ever." Ivan teased as he showed Alfred the picture who smiled back but also looked slightly annoyed. "Just what were you doing that this happened? Normally it's near impossible to get the twins to nap."
"We were playing a game, went from hospital to police then some weird "Daddy is a bunch of dinosaur bones so we need to poke around" and Nikita was holding me down and Dimitri was looking at my feet and they both fell asleep. I didn't want to disturb them, and I guess I nodded off too…." He looked up at Ivan and motioned to Nikita. "A little help please?"
"Sure." Ivan said as he gently picked up Nikita and carried her to her bedroom, and tucking her in. "I think we should count this as a nap. If they fell asleep on their own, it saves us the trouble."
"Good idea." Alfred whispered as he was now able to pick up Dimitri and take him to his room. "I'll help you with the groceries once we get the twins tucked in." Alfred said as he carefully kissed Ivan on the cheek, not wanting to wake Dimitri up. He then tucked in Dimitri and handed him his favorite stuffed dinosaur. God this kid is so cute. It's the best thing ever. He smiled as in his sleep, Dimitri held the dinosaur closer and tighter. Quietly walking out the room and shutting the door he turned to Ivan. "Okay so now to help you with the groceries."
"Yes, found something that will wear that boy down…." Arthur said as he looked at a picture that Ivan had sent him of Alfred and the twins asleep on the floor. At this, Francis came back in the house. "Oh, you're home sooner than I was expecting."
"Well the company does like everything, and I will have to review this agreement they gave me but it's not that I am amazed about." Francis said as he lay down on the couch on Arthur's lap. "It's well…."
Arthur ran his fingers through Francis's hair. Noticing a grey hair, he pulled it out and laid it on Francis's nose. Felling the tickle, he picked it up and looked at it. "You see, you are getting old grand pear. May need a new dye job." Arthur teased.
"Oh says you, who stole my dye." Francis said back.
"Oh I have been thinking and it may make me look more distinguished in my old age to let my hair go grey gracefully. Some sort of Sean Connery thing."
"Sean Connery is from Scotland." Francis said.
"Still part of the British Isles even if my bastard of a brother Allister lives there." Arthur said.
"He's older than you. He may not even be alive anymore." Francis sighed. "But speaking of siblings we have not seen in a long time…." Arthur looked curiously at his husband. "Apparently Lucille is doing quite well for herself…."
"Oh really?" Arthur asked. "Did she contact you today?"
"In person." Francis replied. "She's one of Lili's businesses associates and wants to catch up over dinner tonight."
"Small world." Arthur replied. A tense silence filled the air as he looked away. Francis had kept nagging him to speak to Allister again. And deep down in his more rational side, Arthur couldn't disagree. He was his older brother. He still kept contact with Dylan, and when Patrick wanted to call, it wasn't that disagreeable but he just hardly did. Why is it Allister that Francis keeps nagging me about trying to talk to more?
"Look, I know you're probably wondering why I am nagging you about Allister and not Dylan and Patrick." Francis said as he sat up, causing Arthur's eyes widened. "Mon cher, we've been married how long now?"
"Too long sometimes…." Arthur growled.
"And your sarcasm is why I love you." Francis smiled as he kissed Arthur's cheek and put his finger playfully on his nose. "But Allister is the one of your brothers you need to do the most work with. I have never seen sibling relationships so bad. And it would be so sad if one of you died without trying to make amends."
Arthur scoffed. "Like we need to make amends."
"You ran away to the new world." Francis teased. "You are avoiding him."
"Well Ivan and Katyusha did the same." Arthur pouted.
"Cher dieu dois-tu être un âne si têtu" Francis sighed. "That is different. They were children and were taken in by their great uncle." Francis said, recalling the story that Matthew had told him about Katyusha and Ivan's childhood. "Well, we should really start getting ready if we are going to go to where Lucille wants to meet us. The restaurant is near where she, Lili and one of their partners Elizabeta are having some sort of women in business conference. She's so busy it sounds."
"Sounds like." Arthur replied. "Well, give me a few minutes to freshen up and I will go with you. I have to say Lucille is at least pleasant to be around. They headed out to the address of a restaurant Lucille had provided them, a small seafood place that was near where her conference was.
Heading to the hostess to see where their seat was, Francis spoke up, "I am Francis Bonnefoy and I am with my husband Arthur Kirkland, we were to meet my little baby sister Lucille Bonnefoy here today."
"Oh yes, she's here already, I will lead you to her seat." The hostess said as she headed to a table in the corner where Lucille was looking at her phone typing a message. "Ms. Bonnefoy?"
"Oh hello." She said looking up. "Francis, Arthur, so good to see you too. So much has happened since we last met." Lucille said as she got up and hugged Francis then Arthur in turn. I had seen the pictures that Alfred had posted of his and Ivan's twins, but I had not heard about Matthew having a baby of his own with Katyusha."
"Yes well, Matthew is a bit more reserved than Alfred and with his new job he has to watch what he posts on his social media pages a bit more than Alfred does. Same with Katyusha." Arthur explained.
"Oui, I understand." Lucille nodded. "I saw him on the news the other day when I came into town. To think he would be considered for a job like that, I knew he could if he wanted to, but I never saw him as being such a public figure."
"Oh, my boy is so charming, he just was overshadowed by Alfred in childhood." Francis smiled. "Although you should hear Alfred talk about how people at the store fawn over him thinking he's Matthieu."
"Quite the opposite from when they were boys." Arthur nodded as the waiter gave them the menus and Lucille ordered a bottle of red French wine for the table. "And it looks like I am driving tonight…." He then turned to Lucille, "Will you need a ride back to where you are staying?"
"No, I will be fine. This place is actually within walking distance of the hotel we had the conference at." Lucille smiled. "It is so nice to have something like this so close. Many of these I have had to speak at an airport hotel where the best I could get was some chain restaurant." Francis stuck his tongue out in disgust. "I know, I know, it's sad but it is part of the life I chose. Making deals like we have done with your big brother is only part of it."
"I do hope you do not work yourself to death my dear little sister." Francis pleaded.
"I do not see myself as doing so. Honestly part of this is like going on constant vacation." Arthur looked confused. "You see as a company that invest in leisure properties and ventures, I must go and see how viable our interests are as such. So sometimes I go to a prospective property like a tourist would. This would tell me what they would see for myself, and I can also go in behind the scenes too with the business side of things. That's how I concluded that your idea was viable. Lili, Elizabeta and I all visited over a period before we drew up the contract we did. It was a place we could have something secluded and attract people who want to get away somewhere quiet. I take it Alfred and Matthieu both report that the town they live in is peaceful?"
"Yes, quite." Arthur said. "Many of the local shops in town itself proper are trying to drum up business with a few of the local restaurants, galleries and antique shops."
"I see, I see…." Lucille said.
"I thought we were here to catch up." Francis said. "You do not want to mix business with pleasure too much."
"Of course not, sorry, I guess some old habits do die hard as they say." Lucille said as the waiter came by to take their order. The rest of the evening was filled with gossip over the past 5 years had been, since there was very little contact Lucille had with Francis, Arthur and the rest of the family outside of social media posts and Christmas cards they had sent each other that no matter how well Arthur could write a letter informing the rest of the family they hardly ever got to see, was never the same as an in-visit person.
"You know Lucille, Ivan and Katyusha have invited us to a surprise party for the boy's birthday on July 3rd. Would you be in the area for that? I am sure they would be more than happy to see their Tante Lucille again." Arthur offered.
"Oh, Lucille is much too busy, and you know that Katyusha invited that blasted Natalya sister of hers…." Francis spoke quickly.
"I'm sorry?" Lucille asked.
"Oh, Katyusha and Ivan have a little sister named Natalya, who does not get along very well with Francis. She is a very headstrong woman who recently graduated with a business degree and has a highly coveted paid internship in her filed while working on an MBA degree." Arthur said. "And besides Francis, you know that Natalya would not start a fight or anything that would upset the twins. Nikita loves her and she knows it would upset them if she was mean to their "grand pear"" Arthur laughed.
"Grand pear?" Lucille noted.
"The twins are only 3." Francis huffed.
"Three and a half. They will correct you on this. Alfred and Ivan have both told me of this." Lucille smiled. "You see their birthdays are in September. Francis is trying to teach them how to say grand-pere, but they are still young, so it comes out as 'grand pear'"
"That's so cute. I would be able to make it then. Sure." Lucille smiled. "It would be so nice to reconnect with those I haven't spoken with. And to see if I can still take Alfred to the cleaners. He may play poker well, but I am better." She smiled.
"I'll make sure they only play with potato chips, things that won't leave anyone broke and where foolish raising of the stakes involves only losing your potato salad…." Arthur said.
"Fair enough." Lucille replied as she noted it down on her phone's calendar. As the evening wrapped up, they each paid and headed out when Arthur got behind the wheel and headed back to their house with a slightly tipsy Francis.
"You had too much." Arthur said.
"I can see the road fine." Francis replied indignantly.
"I don't trust your driving sober." Arthur said. "And I think Natalya may see Lucille as a great mentor. They are in similar fields after all."
"Yes, you have a point." He agreed. "Maybe you should use this as an example when you reach out to Allister again…."
"Maybe." Was all Arthur could say to avoid a long-drawn-out fight. Deep down, he knew there was a point to what Francis was saying but he couldn't bear to admit it.
Translation Guide:
(Obtained via Google Translate)
Oh mon Dieu! Grand frère. Je ne t'ai pas vu depuis des années...-French-Oh my god! Big brother. I have not seen you in years...
Cher dieu dois-tu être un âne si têtu-French- Dear god must you be such a stubborn ass
Tante-French-Aunt
So how was that? Good? Bad? Long? Short? Let me know in a review. I don't know how fast my updates will be with tax season coming up soon and my workload increasing but I will do so. I love this story and I do want to leave off at a good spot before my timeskip fic. Anyway, remember to read (well you just did) and to review. Ciao for now,
Otherrealmwriter
Aka
Realm.