Emily, Mindy, and Camille huddled together in Mindy's apartment, their minds racing as they tried to make sense of everything that had happened. The dead rat and the ominous note left by Doug were bad enough, but now there was this mysterious "Aimé" who had gotten both Emily and Camille fired from Savoir. The situation was spiraling out of control, and they knew they needed help.

"We have to figure out who Aimé is," Camille said, pacing back and forth. "There's no way someone from HR would show up out of nowhere and fire us like that without a proper investigation."

Emily nodded, still clutching the note in her hand. "It has to be connected to Doug. He's the only one who would go to such lengths to mess with us. But why? And how does this Aimé fit into all of this?"

Mindy, sitting on the edge of the couch, leaned forward with a determined expression. "We need to talk to Gabriel. He knows a lot of people in Paris, and if anyone can help us figure this out, it's him."

Camille agreed. "Yes, let's go to L'Esprit de Gigi. Gabriel might have some insights, and honestly, I could use a distraction. I can't sit here and obsess over that rat any longer."

Emily and Camille quickly changed into casual but chic outfits, trying to focus on anything other than the gnawing fear in their stomachs. Mindy, already dressed, grabbed her bag, and the three of them left the apartment, their nerves on edge as they made their way to the restaurant.

The walk to L'Esprit de Gigi was tense, with each of them stealing glances over their shoulders, half-expecting Doug—or someone worse—to appear out of nowhere. When they finally reached the restaurant, the familiar sight of the charming bistro offered a brief moment of relief. But that relief was short-lived as they spotted Gabriel inside, already waiting for them with a serious expression on his face.

"Gabriel," Emily called out as they entered. He looked up and gave them a small, tight smile, but there was something off about his demeanor.

"Emily, Mindy, Camille," Gabriel greeted them, his tone warm but subdued. "I'm glad you're here. We need to talk."

The three women exchanged nervous glances before following Gabriel to a table near the back, where they could speak privately. As they sat down, a server brought over a selection of French dishes—delicate escargot, rich coq au vin, and a basket of freshly baked baguettes.

Despite the delicious spread in front of them, none of the women had much of an appetite. Gabriel, noticing their unease, decided to get straight to the point. "Something strange happened last night," he began, leaning in closer. "A man came into the restaurant. He said his name was Ross, and he was from Indiana. But the way he looked… it was unsettling. He looked so much like Doug."

Emily's heart skipped a beat. "Doug? Are you sure?"

Gabriel nodded. "I'm positive. I even asked him if he was Doug, but he acted like he had no idea who that was. He was convincing, but something didn't feel right."

Mindy, her eyes wide, chimed in, "That's not all. Last night, I met a guy who looked exactly like Doug too. He said his name was Derek, and he flew in from Oregon for Savoir. I thought it was just a weird coincidence, but now I'm not so sure."

Camille shook her head in disbelief. "This can't just be a coincidence. These men—Ross, Derek—are they part of some plan to confuse us? To make us doubt what's real?"

Emily took a deep breath and pulled out the note that had been left with the rat. "Gabriel, there's more. Doug left us this." She handed the note to Gabriel, watching as his eyes scanned the disturbing message.

Gabriel's face hardened as he read the note, his expression growing more troubled by the second. "This is beyond sick," he said, his voice low. "He's not just trying to scare you—he's trying to break you."

"Why the rat, though?" Emily asked, her voice tinged with frustration. "What does it mean?"

Gabriel looked up, meeting her gaze with concern. "Rats are a symbol of filth, of something unwanted. He's trying to make you feel worthless, like you're nothing but vermin. It's a psychological attack."

Mindy shuddered at the explanation, and Camille looked away, disgusted by the imagery. Emily felt a wave of nausea wash over her. "This is all so twisted. And there's something else… I forgot to mention earlier. Sylvie called this morning and fired both me and Camille. She said someone named Aimé came to Savoir and asked questions about what happened last night."

Gabriel frowned deeply. "Aimé? That's not a name I'm familiar with, and I know most of the HR people in Paris. This is getting more complicated by the minute."

Emily's mind raced. "Do you think Aimé is connected to Ross or Derek? Could they all be part of the same plan?"

Gabriel nodded thoughtfully. "It's possible. Whoever this Aimé is, he's clearly not acting alone. Doug—or whoever is behind this—has resources and people working for him. We need to be very careful."

The tension in the air was palpable as they all sat there, absorbing the gravity of the situation. The once comforting environment of the restaurant now felt suffocating, as if the walls were closing in on them.

"What do we do now?" Mindy asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"We need to dig deeper," Gabriel said, his tone resolute. "I'll start asking around, see if I can find out more about Aimé, Ross, and Derek. But you three… you need to stay vigilant. Don't trust anyone new, and if anything feels off, don't hesitate to leave."

Camille nodded, though her face was etched with worry. "We can't let him get to us. We have to stay strong, but this is terrifying."

Emily reached out and squeezed Camille's hand, trying to offer some comfort. "We'll get through this together. We have to."

But even as she said the words, a cold chill settled over her, a gnawing fear that no matter how strong they tried to be, the nightmare was only just beginning.