As René entered the hotel restaurant the next morning, after laughing so hard at Sylvan's appearance that he ended up crying, he could hear soft piano music.
As he got closer to the piano, he saw that it was Leila who was playing on it. He didn't recognise the tune she was playing and lingered close to the piano, in the hope she would have the sheet music.
She didn't. She was playing off by heart, another thing about her that amazed him. He didn't know she could play the piano. And from what he could see, she was really good.
"What were you playing, Leila? It sounded quite nice."
She looked up from the piano keys and smiled sheepishly.
"Something a little morbid. The Death March. I've always liked that."
René nodded.
"How's Sylvan this morning? Still dolled up?"
"Let me tell you this. My abs got such a workout from my laughing that they're sore. I won't need to work on them today."
That told Leila that the make-up she and Sophie had applied on Sylvan was still in place. And that reminded her about the photos.
"Have a look at these."
She handed René the photos that she had picked up just before and he glanced through them, almost laughing the whole time.
"The one of you hamming it up is a good one!"
René showed Leila the relevant photo and she went to grab it, in order to destroy it but René's free hand grasped her wrist.
"I want to keep it. To remind me of you."
"I'm drunk and I have a stupid look on my face yet you want to keep that?"
René nodded. How else was he going to remind himself of her?
"I'll have to show you how lovely Sylvan looked this morning before we do anything today."
Leila was a little annoyed that René seemed to take her acceptance for granted but she followed him to his hotel room, where Sylvan was starting to surface.
"What?" he grumbled, still not fully awake yet aware of the face that Leila was in the room. He rubbed at his face, noting with some concern the red lipstick on his hand.
"We just came to see how you were."
Sylvan didn't miss René winking at Leila. She was trying not to laugh but was failing miserably.
"And you expect me to believe that, do you?"
Sylvan got out of the bed, hastily pulling on his La Résistance robe as he did so and proceeded to go to the bathroom, with René and Leila both waiting for the insults to start flying and fly they did.
"Who did this to me?"
"Sophie and I did it last night. That will teach you for getting so drunk you fall asleep in the hotel's club. We've even got photographic evidence too."
Sylvan looked as if he was about to either throw up or find a paper bag and wear that over his head for the day, or maybe both. The way he was clenching his hands told René that he had better get Leila out of there while he could.
"Take a chill pill, Sylvan. Within a few days, they'll forget about this and move onto something new."
Sylvan's top lip curled up in disgust and René and Leila left, laughing when they were out of the room.
"That look on his face was a classic!"
"It sure was. I might just leave the photos for later on. You know, let him cool down just a little."
Leila nodded and the two of them headed out of the hotel, without any plans for the day apart from having some fun.
They weren't aware that they, but in particular Leila, were being watched. Not by Sylvan. Not by Sophie.
By someone Leila would least expect.

A/N: I know this is short and sweet but let's just say I'm feeling the effects of way too much Coke right about now. Next chapter will definitely be longer.