Page 42 of The Midnight Club

“The FBI are investigating, Ori. I’ve already had a call about you being interviewed.”

Ori sighed, leaning against Maceo, who put his arms around her and looked up at his friend in gratitude. “Thank you, my friend, for everything. We could not have done this without you.”

Alex smiled. “My pleasure. Look, we need to talk security later, but for now, I’ll give you two some space.”

When they were alone, Ori looked at Maceo with shining eyes. “It’s over, isn’t it?”

Maceo nodded, smiling. “It looks like it,bella.”

“Thank God.”

Benoit had insistedon driving Shiloh to the airport himself. Shiloh had been quiet all day, and now he looked over at her. “Are you excited?”

“I am,” she said softly. “I’m just not a fan of traveling. Besides, I worry about Beau in the cargo hold.”

“I would offer my private jet, but I know you don’t approve.”

She gave him a half smile. “I’m not going to lie; I would be torn about my principles and having Beau in the cabin with me.”

“You will email me? We can Skype often too, and I can keep you up to date on my projects, if that would be of interest?”

“Of course.” She looked away and out of the window, and Benoit nodded to himself. He would not make this separation harder by telling her just how desperately he would miss her. He was already grieving for the loss, but he was damned if he’d show it. This was the best opportunity Shiloh had been offered; Benoit Vaux knew how rare these things were. Over the past two weeks, Shiloh had seemed to have drifted away from him emotionally and physically, and he knew she was absorbed in her work.That was good.That was how he had become a self-made billionaire.Work was the key.

At the gate, he kissed Shiloh’s soft pink mouth and felt the silky strands of her light blonde hair drift through his fingers. “Shiloh Holt,” he said. “You are a magical woman. You will go on and change the world, I have no doubt about that. I am lucky to call you a friend.”

There was a little flinch, he noticed, but she smiled at him. “And the same to you, Benoit. Thank you for changing my mind about your kind. Look, I have to go, but I will email you.”

“As soon as you’re settled,” he said, and kissed her again. He leaned his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. “C'est avec vous que j'ai commencé à dire oui au monde.”

It is with you that I started to say yes to the world. “Paul Eluard,” Shiloh breathed, touched beyond comprehension, “I know that saying. It’s beautiful.”

Benoit nodded and opened his eyes. “And very appropriate.”

Shiloh stared at him, and he thought he saw a flash of tears there, but she smiled brightly at him. “I must go.”

“Goodbye, Shiloh. We will see each other again.”

She nodded but said nothing, as if not trusting herself to speak. She walked through the gate, only looking back once more to see him waving.

Benoit watched her disappear, his heart sinking.If I had known one year ago what an effect this woman would have on me …Love, he decided, was a distraction. Love was the willowy blonde walking away from him right now.

He drove back into the city through the cool Paris night and went to a bar near his home. He ordered a scotch and nursed it for a while before walking back to his apartment. Knowing Shiloh was in the air made him feel the emptiness of his home keenly.

He snagged his phone and dialed a number he knew by heart. Marcella answered, her smoky voice purring down the phone at him. “Benoit, darling, it’s been too long.”

“How was your trip, Marcella?”

“Too much sun, too much drink, too many young lovers. Iadoredit.” She gave a throaty laugh.

Benoit grinned. “Marcella, what say we get together for a drink? I need a beautiful distraction.”

Twenty minutes later, he was in a cab to her apartment and when she opened the door wearing nothing but a long silk robe, Benoit only hesitated for a moment before walking into the room. Marcella studied him.

“Mon chére,” she said, without criticism, “you have changed.”

Benoit nodded. “I have. Someone changed me. But now, Marcella, I need to forget her. Will you help me with that?”

Marcella smiled and held out her hand, letting her robe fall open to reveal her lithe, athletic body. “But of course, my dear, but of course….”