Chapter 4

POV Lisa.

I'm awake at the first light of dawn, my body is totally ankylosed, but it's a pretty nice pain, one I've never felt except maybe when Brian took the virginity in the backseat of his Lamborghini. I stretch and watch him sleep, he's so handsome I can't believe he was interested in me for a moment. 

And that's what it was all about, a pause, a moment of distraction that I must now forget. I slowly get out of bed and pick up my things. I know this kind of men, it is the style of men who sleep with women and throw them away the next day, I refuse to be a number more his list of conquests. I put on my clothes and grab my purse and shoes as I go. I tiptoe out and close the door behind me.  I head for the elevator and lean against the wall. I burst out laughing, taking my head in my hands, I can't believe it's me who did such a crazy thing, but what the hell was I thinking? 

But I wouldn't change a thing, I loved what happened, no I loved it, but I'm realistic enough to know that it will never happen again. The doors of the elevator open in the hall, fortunately for me, it's not the same old receptionist who is still there, it's another one, at least she doesn't give me a look full of disgust, in fact, she doesn't give a damn about me, she probably saw others. The huge doors of the hotel open, I stop a cab and I rush inside. I give him Amélie's address and he starts, the sun rises on the horizon, I have the chance to attend a magnificent sunrise in Paris, I will miss this interlude. I arrive at the house and one of the maids opens the door for me. 

I smile to her and I go to the kitchen where I pour myself a coffee. 

Nadine the cook offers me a piece of cake which I take with pleasure. 

Thank you, it's delicious," I tell her in French. Amélie is already awake? " 

"No, she is not back yet. " 

We hear the living room door open and Amélie's cheerful voice shouting. 

"Good morning, everyone. " She says in a singing voice. 

"You seem to be very happy, tell me. " 

"You," she said, pointing at me, "I want you to tell me absolutely everything. " 

"I have nothing to tell you, you weasel. " 

"Of course you do, you went home with the super charming hunk and on top of that you spent the whole night with him. " Says she by making big gestures. 

She goes to the coffee pot and pours herself a cup of coffee, then she takes a piece of cake and comes to join me on the big table. Amélie is an only child, I can't even imagine how hard it is for her to live alone in this huge house. I have a little sister with whom I live, my mother went back to live with hers in their cottage and my father... My father, well! He died, he committed suicide. Amélie is a child psychologist, she has always loved children and I know she is dying to have her own. But with the companion she has chosen, I wonder how she will manage.

"So are you swinging or do you want me to pull the worms out of your nose? "

"He took me back to his hotel room. Oh my God Amelie it was so intense. " 

"I see that yes, you look radiant. So you took his number? " 

"I don't even know her name figure you, so her number even less. " 

"But why? 

"I'm sure that for him it was only about sex. And I don't want to get into a relationship right now either. " 

"What's with the necklace? It's new." 

I put my hand on my chest and touch the gold locket with my fingertips. It's the necklace he put around my neck while we were having sex. I smile and let Amelie know. 

"He gave you his locket?" 

"Yes, he put it around my neck. " 

"If all he wanted was sex, he wouldn't have done it. "

"It's just an Amelie necklace and with all the money he has, I'm sure he can afford more. " 

"Sweetheart believe me, in the BDSM world, a dominant never offers something like this for nothing. It usually means he owns you.  " 

"Cut the crap Amelie, I don't belong to anyone, anyway, we won't see each other again, I'm going home tomorrow. I have responsibilities. "

"It's been three years that you've been depriving yourself of everything. And you keep running away. " 

"I'm not running away, I have responsibilities, a family to take care of. " 

"I know very well that no matter what I say, you won't listen to me. So we'll do something else. " 

"What then?"

"You're going back to Sydney tomorrow and you're going to work for a multinational company, so you need a wardrobe to go with it, so all day we'll go shopping! " 

"Amélie, I'm not sure..." 

"And who's asking your opinion? For once I can blow my credit card and for a good cause too! " 

I know very well that it is useless to discuss with Amélie, she is the most stubborn girl I know, so I content myself with going to take a shower, then I put on shorts and a tank top with sandals. Amélie drags me to the biggest luxury stores in Paris. From Dior to Louis Vuitton to Sephora, she doesn't let anything go by and even redoes my lingerie. 

We finish the evening in front of the fireplace, a blanket each on our thighs and glasses filled with wine in our hands, we talk, we recall our childhood memories. And we fall asleep there. 

We are awakened in the morning by the sound of the coffee machine whistling in the kitchen. 

"Oh fuck Lisa, hurry up you need to go get ready. " 

"Shit! " 

We both run upstairs to the bedroom to get my things in order. 

"There's no way you're going back with this junk, you're going to leave it all here. And leave with the clothes we bought yesterday. " 

I shake my head and let her put the clothes in the suitcases, if with all this I don't pay extra for luggage, I should say thank God. I run to the shower to take a bath and then I find Amélie who has finished putting my things away.

"I already put your plane ticket inside your purse. " 

"Thank you," I said with a smile. What is certain is that I will miss your way of pampering me a lot. " 

"Only my way of pampering you? " 

I'm going to miss you too," I said, throwing my towel at her head. "  

She catches it while bursting into laughter, then she goes out and lets me get dressed, I put on a pair of pants and a T-shirt, I tie my hair in a ponytail and I moisturize my lips with lip gloss. I'm ready! I go down to the kitchen to meet everyone for a last breakfast. I'm going to miss them all, these people are more than servants, they are an integral part of Amélie's life and mine as well. Amanda, the cook outdid herself today, much like the first time I arrived. 

"You shouldn't have bothered with me. " 

"But of course I did miss, it's been so long since anyone has eaten my food with as much appetite as you have during this past week. " 

"And I must have gained at least ten pounds. Maddie is going to put me on a diet. " 

"And she'll be absolutely right," said Amelie. Let's finish this breakfast quickly so I can drive you to the airport. " 

We all sit down at the table and start eating, I'm going to miss these moments of laughter, these people I've made new connections with, these moments we've all shared together so much. The goodbyes are heartbreaking, we all part with our eyes filled with tears. Amélie drives me to the airport and we wait for the plane together. She sits next to me and hugs me. 

"I will miss you so much. " 

"I don't know how to thank you and your family for everything you have done for us. " 

Because again, it was Amelie and her family who helped me find this new job, she ran into me one day while I was mopping the floor at a fancy store. She paid for my plane ticket and found me a job. I owe them absolutely everything. 

 When it was finally time to board the plane, I hugged my best friend one last time and walked to the gate, presented my ticket and passport. 

"Sorry ma'am but you can't board here. " 

"What? But how is that possible? Is this the flight to Sydney? 

"No, what I mean is that you travel first class, you have to show up there," she says, pointing to a door. 

I look at the ticket that Amélie put in my bag, it is indeed a first class ticket. I turn towards my friend who winks at me. I smile at her, a hand on my heart, she has decided to empty my stock of tears today. As I board the plane back home, I feel like a new life is opening up for me.