Chapter One
Her flight to Paris was two hours late, but Aya Lyon should still be okay. She is a flight attendant on Virgin Airlines, and she arrived at Charles De Gaulle Airport around 5 P.M., local time. She was supposed to meet him at 7 P.M. She would just have time to drop her bag off at the hotel and change her clothes.
Two hours later her and Robert St Claire entered L'Arc, one of the most exclusive clubs in Paris. It was located under the Arche de Triumph. You had to know someone, and she means SOMEONE to get in. Fortunately, Robert St Claire was SOMEONE. Once they were inside, she split away from him and headed for the bar. There were several rich and powerful members of High French Society there. She stepped between two middle-aged men in tuxes.
One spoke immediately, "Cherie, I have not seen you here before. If you may pardon an old line, are you new here?" She knew who he was. He was Andre Bardot. A very successful French industrialist.
She answered in perfect French, "Yes, monsieur, I arrived only this afternoon."
"And, how long are you planning on staying?"
"Not long, I am afraid. I have a friend who works here, and he said I HAD to see this place before I go home to New York tomorrow."
"Your friend is absolutely correct, my Cherie. This is a wonderful place. Have you eaten yet?"
Aya smiled her best smile and spoke. "I'm afraid I have not."
Then the man stood up, bowed, and said, "Then I must insist you have dinner with me tonight before you leave." He held out his arm. She put her hand on his arm and smiled.
"That would be wonderful, thank you so much. My name is Celia Dumas, and yours is?"
"It is not important, but you can call me Andre. Let me take you to a wonderful little cafΓ©. The food is magnific, and the atmosphere is Parie."
He went out into the street. A car appeared as soon as they got to the curb. They were off. She conducted small talk on the trip. By the time they had arrived, Andre was laughing and had a twinkle in his eye. She had seen that look many times before. She had him hooked.
She took a moment to survey his team. Besides the driver, he had two security men, very capable looking. He also had what was obviously a secretary of some type. He sent the secretary ahead and by the time they were inside, a manager type was there to guide them to the best table in the establishment.
The dinner was very good, and Aya made sure the conversation was better. She made a point of touching his arm and hand on more than one occasion. Every time she did, he jumped just a little more.
After dinner and drinks, she yawned, "It's getting late. I really must be getting back to my hotel. Thank you for an unforgettable evening." Time to set the hook.
He stood up and pulled her chair out for her as she got up. "The night is still young. It is Paris, after all. You can't go so early."
"What would you suggest instead?" She smiled her best smile.
"If it would not be too forward of me, I have some very fine wines in my cellar. I would be honored to have you sample a couple with me."
She waited just the right amount of time before she smiled. "That would be very nice, thank you."
He led her back to the car, and they were off. They passed though the winding streets of Paris. They eventually came to a very nice part of Paris. She knew where he lived and had seen the interior layout beforehand. The chauffer stopped at the front door where a butler met them. The butler took
his coat and her shawl. They went into his den. After she sat down, he went to a bookcase, pulled a certain book out, and a hidden door opened. It would have been important for her to know that if there was anything other than a wine cellar behind the bookcase. It was a fine wine cellar. He hurried down the stairs and returned with a couple of wine bottles.
"This first one is a little 2014 bottle of Clos Rougeard. Nice wine. The second is better. It is a 2015 Champayne of Clos Rougeard. I suggest we start with the first and work our way to the second."
Aya smiled. Nice wines, not over the top. Each worth approximately two thousand American. Not a rare one. Just enough, he hoped, to get the job done.
The next couple of hours were spent in drinking a couple of bottles of nice wine. She made sure the conversation was fine too. Finally, he appeared to be done with foreplay.
He stepped up to her and kissed her on the mouth. This is what she had been waiting for. "My dear Andre. Please. I don't know you."
"You are in Paris, my love. You can have a memory to last a lifetime if you choose."
She looked down just for a second. "Maybe it's the wine talking, but I think I would like that." She reached up and kissed him back.
He took her by the hand and headed upstairs. The butler cleaned up the room as they disappeared up the stairs.
They passed a room she knew was his den. There was a door from his room into that room. Security had stayed downstairs, out of sight. She knew there was a closed-circuit system. It was everywhere except his bedroom and den. He didn't want any snooping there.