“Yes,” I confirm with a smirk. “He’s my security for the day. Ronan doesn’t let me go anywhere without it.”
“I suppose that’s a good thing considering all the close calls you’ve had lately.”
“Um… yeah, I’d rather not even think about that. Enough about me. How’s the gallery? You’ve been so busy preparing for your next showing.”
Chantal’s dark eyes immediately light up. “Girl, it’s this weekend, and you better come this time! You missed the last one because of your honeymoon or whatever.”
“It wasn’t a honeymoon. It was me being held captive in Callahan House.”
“Same difference. But seriously, you’re coming, right? Promise me.”
“I promise, I promise. I already mentioned to Ronan how important it is, and he agreed to let me go.”
“Let you,” she sighs, rolling her eyes. “The bar is in hell with these men, I swear.”
I snort. “You’re telling me. I never thought I’d see the day where I had to ask an Irish mobster for permission to go anywhere.”
“Well, at least it’ll be a chance for you to meet Gregory.”
“Gregory?”
“My new man, remember? He’s a hedge fund manager. Fifty-three years old. Distinguished. Sophisticated. Knows how to treat a woman and knows how to eat pussy like it’s a delicacy.”
I nearly choke on my sparkling water. “Okay, maybe cool it on the X-rated language. We are at a restaurant who’s average patron wears pearls. Literally.”
“Let them be scandalized. If it’s not that then it’s the age people are tripping over,” she says, shrugging. “I introduced him to my father the other day. Daddy did not approve. Turns out, he wasn’t comfortable with his daughter dating a man only ten years younger than him.” She rolls her eyes dramatically. “But please. He had no issue sleeping with his intern before he and Mom got divorced. She was only five years older than me! The audacity of that man to judge my choices.”
I laugh despite myself. “You’re unbelievable.”
“I’m fabulous,” she corrects. “There’s a difference, Sim.”
Our food arrives, and we dig in, the quiche flaky and rich, the café au lait is creamy and smooth. For a while, we lose ourselves in gossip and light conversation.
Chantal updates me on the nightmare artist from London who’s been driving her crazy with even more last-minute demands. I tell her about Oona and her bread pudding and how the caretaker has become my unexpected ally in Callahan House.
It almost feels like my life is still the same. Almost as if I’m still the Simone I was before the arranged marriage. Before the enemies who fuck dynamic started with Ronan. Before drive-by shootings and prison murders and bodyguards tailing my every move.
For the hour or two we have brunch together, sipping our café au laits and laughing over stories, I can pretend nothing’s changed.
After brunch, Chantal and I hit Madison Avenue.
For a few blissful hours, we lose ourselves in retail therapy. Fionn trails behind us like a silent shadow, his disgruntled expression unchanged whether we’re browsing silk scarves at Prada or trying on cashmere sweaters at Ralph Lauren.
By the time we’re done, we’ve both accumulated several shopping bags, and my arms are aching from carrying them.
We’re stepping out of our last store when Chantal gasps and checks her phone.
“Shit. I’m running late.” She’s already backing away, her heels clicking on the pavement. “I promised Greg we’d meet up this afternoon. He has something really important he wants to tell me. I completely lost track of time.”
“I can give you a ride,” I offer.
She waves me off. “You forget I’ve got my own driver? He’s around the corner.” She blows me a kiss, already turning to leave. “Stay safe, girl! Text me later!”
I watch her disappear into the crowd of shoppers, wondering if this is the last time we’ll spend alone time together for a while. It seems like things will never be like before, where we’d meet up several times a week.
Chantal’s so busy with her art gallery and the older man she’s dating while I’m in the middle of an arranged marriage and intricate mob war dynamics…
Fionn appears at my side, wordlessly taking the bags from my hands. He loads them into the Rolls-Royce parked at the curb, then opens the back door for me.