Deliver Us To Temptation

Chapter 12: Method

"It's one of our hottest scents right now, Madame. Would you like to try it on?"

"Non, non." She flicks her wrist and looks away, signifying her disinterest. Sydney, however, knows otherwise. She didn't become the youngest branch manager Nicolas had ever seen by letting things be.

"Mais, Madame! I know it will be amazing on you. You must try it on..."

The woman's eyes return to Sydney's too quickly, shining with the excitement she had attempted to hide. "Mmm, it really is beautiful. I will take it. Put it on my bill."

"Yes, Madame. We will post it on the fifteenth as scheduled."

"Bon." She leans in conspiratorially. "Now, tell me about this Dominic gentleman Nicola had mentioned." It is in times like these that Madame Beaufort proves just how recently she had gone from Madmoiselle to Madame.

Sydney has long since taught herself to blush by instinct when the gentle police officer she loves is mentioned. "He is a very nice man. I met him—" She stops suddenly, mouth half open, openly staring at the man entering the boutique.

"Yes?"

She smiles and continues, returning her gaze to the woman before her. "I met him just outside one day. I couldn't get a taxi and he offered to take me home."

"Oh, that is so romantic! When is the wedding?"

"We haven't set a date yet, but I will be sure to send you an invitation."

"Sarah, you are too kind."

"I am only returning the favor, Véronique. Your wedding was lovely." Her eyes stray to the man once more as she receives a reply. He is standing speaking on his cellphone, looking out the large window that makes up the entire storefront.

Sydney cuts her off. "I'm sorry, Véro, but Nicola is busy and there is a customer I should take care of."

"I'm sorry. I will see you soon, in a wedding dress I hope!"

Sydney gives her a quick smile as she starts towards the man. He clicks off his phone and turns towards her. They both start as they finally lock eyes on one another. Sydney finds words and speaks. "Bonjour, Monsieur, I am Sarah. Are you looking for something specific today?"

"Yes. Do you have any American imports, such as Calvin Klein?" He drives her to her origin, rather painfully, and she has to shake herself as she pastes a smile on her face.

"Right over here." She leads him to a corner of the store where no one is, rambling about their various choices as they walk. When they reach their destination, she stops and he speaks in Russian.

"How long have you been here?" He skips all shock of discovering her alive. She has long since suspected that he knew that she had not died that night, and this only proves it.

She stutters slightly in her answer. "I'm sorry, Monsieur, I do not under—"

He repeats his question, more roughly this time, as his cell phone starts a two-beep pattern. He turns it off without removing his eyes from hers.

"Almost three months." The language feels foreign on her tongue even as she replies automatically. "And you?"

"Longer."

"Are you famous again?" she asks sarcastically. He grabs her wrist, almost sweeping her off her feet. He removes his hand quickly, shocked at his reaction to her question. He clears his face of emotion.

"Of course. Haven't you heard? Or are you personally involved with my V imprint?"

She looks at the bottles of perfume before her. "I thought that was you."

"Did you?"

She doesn't say anything. He takes a cellphone out of a different pocket in his black coat and puts it in her hand. She stares at the tiny silver box of metal and wires. "I'll talk to you soon."

She watches him leave with an amount of surprise that rivals that of when he first entered.