The phone kept ringing.
Aria looked at Damien.
He took his own phone from the pocket of the robe, opened the recorder, and set it on the desk beside hers. Then he answered her call on speaker.
"Hello," Aria said.
A soft breath on the line.
"Bonsoir, Aria."
Low, amused.
Aria's fingers went cold against the desk. Damien stood behind her chair, one hand on her shoulder.
"You left my message unanswered," Valérie said. "I was hurt."
"I was busy."
"Yes. Buying flowers." A pause. "Rue Saint-Honoré is charming at noon."
Aria fixed her eyes on the cassette player and kept her voice flat. "Is this the part where you threaten me? Because I've had a long day."
Valérie laughed. It was a warm laugh, the kind people laugh at dinner parties.
"No threats. Two women, doing business. You have two things of mine."
"Your son eats three meals a day," Aria said. "I'm guessing that's more than Leo gets."
