Hortense had not slept a lot that night, she had too many thoughts in her head, too many questions that remained unanswered. At seven she laid awake and was waiting eight to knock on the neighbour house's door. She dressed in a black dress, it was one of her most revealing pieces as the top of her cleavage was visible; she would have to look welcoming and warm. So she had to make her appearance more… Well, inviting. Her curves were generous despite her muscular frame and small waist; she was not very tall but compensated with higher heels than the usual fashion. She had to look as imposing as she could in business, which was made difficult by her size and feminine silhouette.

When she arrived in front of the wood door of the mighty villa, she was hit by the beauty of the estate, even if ivy and wild vines were covering the walls after years of neglect.

She knocked on the door and announced her presence. After a few minutes without any answer she decided to check if the door was locked. It was not.

The door creaked open and to her utter surprise she saw a man standing right in front of her. Her eyes had to adapt to the lack of light in the entrance but she soon was able to discern the face of her neighbour. He was dressed in black trousers and a white frilled shirt that was far too open to be called decent. His dark hair was all over his features, and… Oh, what was on the right side of his face? A mask? Was he a crook? She wondered. She was tempted to turn back and run away to the safety of her house, but good manners made her open the dialogue.

"Hi… Hum, sorry to interrupt I didn't know the door was opened, and, well you didn't answer so I didn't know anyone was there…" She started walking toward the tall stranger that stared at her in confusion. "My name is Hortense de Montmarin, I live in the villa Joly, just across the road… I wanted to come to introduce myself and meet the new owner of this long abandoned house."

She stopped walking when she was a couple meters from the man. She had dealt with intimidating clients and collaborators but never had she felt such a dark aura around someone. Piercing green eyes were gauging her from head to toes, she felt a shiver run down her spine. His face, at least the part she could see, was handsome, but a cold and intimidating kind of handsome. All her senses felt troubled by his presence.

"You're in my house Madame." He stated coldly. A thick silence fell on the room for long seconds. "I am Erik de Raincourt, a relative to the former house's owners. Whatever has been the cause of your curiosity; now that you know that no thief has settled next to you, you should leave Madame, I have much to do and I am in no mood to talk."

On those words he turned his back on her. It was the first time in a long time that someone has disrespected her so. No one walks back on Hortense de Montmarin! She felt the initial fear turn into anger.

"This is no way to treat a neighbour that only asks for introduction Monsieur de Raincourt. I see that a noble name doesn't mean being a gentleman. I won't bother you any longer but you should know that…"

"Have a good day Madame" He said coldly bending next to the piano.

She couldn't believe her ears. Who was this rude man with a mask that was dismissing her like a mere loose woman? She let the anger take the best of her and ran to his side to force him to look at her.

"I doubt that you know who I am Monsieur, I…"

"I do, you've just introduced yourself, thank you." He cut her, annoyed.

"How dare you interrupt me when I am speaking?" She spat raising her voice. "You will look at me and remember well this face. I own half of this city and you will soon learn that I am not a person you want to count as your enemy."

He let a cruel laugh escape his lips before, raising to his full size once more. He was much taller than her, and now very close to her petite frame. She had beautiful angry brown eyes he thought, like Christine's… No, not again, I have to stop thinking about her. That musing made him even angrier, first she entered HIS house uninvited, second she refused to leave, and third she was threatening him. He was now waiting for her to talk about the mask… But if she did, he couldn't answer of his actions.

"Well, you'll soon learn Madame that I am not one that you can threaten lightly. I don't care how important you are, I just want to settle in my house, hire my servants and start a quiet little life here that doesn't include your babbles."

He hissed, moving closer to her face. She felt weak and as if she had just been caught in a spider web. She took a step back and replied with as much self-assurance in her voice as her trouble allowed.

"Then I am leaving, but as much as I dislike you I am afraid our paths will cross again monsieur, and don't come to complain after such a behaviour if things turn out to be more complicated than you had first planned. I don't wish you a good day."

She slammed the front door as she left and Erik released a breath that he didn't know he was holding. God, who the hell was that infuriating young woman? And why was she dressed in black? Maybe she was a widow… He admitted that he had not been very welcoming either, but she didn't have the right to stroll in his house. This Hortense de Montamrin was at least as rude as he was and had a terrible temper. Well, she didn't ask about the mask… But why this fury of a woman was his new neighbour? Why couldn't he get an old couple of blind people, that wouldn't see his face and let him live his life the way he intended?

Fate was against him, and he started to regret accepting this offer from Jeanne.

She was furious, no, that was not enough to describe the state of irritation this hateful character had put her through. She shouldn't have yelled but… How dared he?

She decided that life must go on and thus walked towards one of her friend's house.

"Hortense? How are you, I feel like it's been ages since I haven't seen you! You've been working so much." A red hair woman of about twenty-six years old said, a smile on her freckled face as she invited her friend in the living room.

"Oh Joséphine… I am so sorry I was not very present lately… Please tell me you have time to catch up with me today? We could go and drink a hot chocolate at Miremont, what do you think? I have much to tell you…"

"Is everything alright my dear? You look distraught…"

"I have just met an obnoxious person about half an hour ago… And he turns out to be my neighbour. We had quite an improper exchange and were very rude to each other, not a very good way to start the day is it?" She let a nervous laugh escape her full hearted shaped lips and pushed her friend toward the entrance door of her house. They started walking toward the city centre and Joséphine realised that it had been a long time since she had seen her friend in such dismay. She used to come to her when she was back from complicated meetings. She would insult everybody including herself, saying that she wasn't able to handle anything in business and the task was too big for her. But it hadn't happened in months. Her self-confidence had improved greatly, or at least her impassive façade made her seem more confident and had protected her heart.

Sat on a table by the back window, they looked at the waves crush against the rocks while sipping a hot chocolate and eating a croissant. They talked about daily things and the city's freshest gossips. The morning's incident was soon forgotten and life went on as usual.