Chapter 5 AméLie Petit

• I remember how rough Tommáz took me in that room at the Moulin Rouge, how even though he agreed to be blindfolded, he tried to give me as much pleasure as possible, how even with the sound of the other dancer on stage performing loudly, the sound of our moans was enough to create a bubble with the arousal we felt at that moment. Creating a connection with him there surprised me.
• It's been a few months since I ended my last relationship, mainly because I had the crazy Jacques on my tail. I ended up staying out of fear that he, the loan shark, would end up killing my ex. I didn't want to have an innocent person's blood on my hands.
• I start pouring myself some coffee from the table for the mansion's servants. Even though my boss liked me to sit at the table with her, I didn't see any reason to be there alone when, apparently, they were in a meeting with the matriarch of the Miller family.
• Madame Enora Miller is a charismatic lady and always said that my relationship wouldn't go anywhere, that I had the beauty to destroy Troy and make men of dubious character surrender to my charm. I always burst into laughter when she brings up this subject.
• But it's impossible not to like Madame Enora; she's like a grandma I'd wish for, the kind who would sit beside me to listen to her life stories, just like I've heard some of her youthful escapades.
• I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even notice when Elisa approached and touched my shoulder, causing a startle and making us laugh as I spilled some coffee on the kitchen table.
• "Leave it there, girl," I hear the meal preparer saying as I try to clean up the mess I caused.
• "Sorry if I startled you, but do you know my mother? She's at the table waiting for you to have coffee," Elisa says, causing me to roll my eyes at my concerned boss.
• "And have you had yours yet? Your big moment is coming up soon!" Elisa's eyes widen with excitement, making me happy.
• Even though I work directly for Noely, I've always had a good relationship with all the women in the family, even with my boss's ex-husband whom I had to deal with occasionally. But when they finally separated due to various accusations of infidelity, I was relieved to no longer have to look at that jerk who didn't deserve the wonderful family he ended up with.
• "I'm elated...." she begins, but we're interrupted by Madame Enora, who breaks into our conversation as we approach the coffee table with the whole family gathered.
• "Good morning! Amélie, how are you, dear?" the sweet grandma greets me, and I return her smile.
• I stand beside her, noticing that the usual place I sit is occupied, leaving only the chair across from Tommáz vacant for me.
• "You must know Tommáz, don't you, chérie?" I look at the grandson she's indicating and simply nod.
• "They just met a little while ago, Mom," I notice a glance being exchanged among everyone at the table, which intrigues me with the silent communication.
• I walk to the empty chair, and Tommáz's younger brother stands up and kindly pulls the chair out for me to sit. The table is engaged in light conversation about what to expect from the ceremony that will take place in a few hours and especially about the first day of the fashion show, which will be in the early evening.
• "Dear, if it weren't for Amélie today, I'm sure we wouldn't be able to handle the events," my boss speaks to Tommáz's mother, who smiles kindly at me.
• "I just did my job; it's my duty to do everything to make your lives easier today," I say affectionately to Noely, who is a few chairs away.
• We begin a conversation about today's events. I notice when Elisa gets up and excuses herself to go get ready. I sip my coffee slowly while listening to Noely's kind requests to talk to the models, especially this wearing lingerie.
• "Speaking of which, aunt, last night I found a white piece signed by you," Tommáz's voice interrupts, causing everyone to look at him. "At the Moulin Rouge."
• When he spoke, I choked on the brioche I had just put in my mouth. Damn, he recognized the piece. But how does he know that the piece I was dancing in is part of a Miller collection?
• "So that's why you came home so late!" I hear his mother Emily reprimanding him, but he continues to calmly drink his coffee.
• This shifts everyone's attention away from me and towards the smirking scoundrel in front of me. I feel a blush rising on my face, almost as if confirming that I was the masked woman wearing an exclusive haute couture piece while dancing on the pole at the world's most famous brothel.
• I lower my gaze when I realize that I've drawn the attention of the last person I wanted to at that moment: the Miller matriarch. Her narrowed eyes scrutinize me, while a parallel conversation circulates among the other members of the table, practically engaging in a staring contest with the sweet grandma.
• "But what piece is it? Maybe it'll help you find the masked lady," Noely says amid laughter, bringing my attention back to the conversation.
• "A white one with Portuguese lace, the back of the panties was thong-like..." I feel my boss's gaze on me.
• "I don't think that piece is mine, Tom!" I hear Noely say, and I keep my eyes on my empty cup.
• I felt ashamed to look at either of them, simply because the blabbermouth had disclosed where he found the exclusive lingerie, not because I had slept with him, just the embarrassment of admitting it was at the Moulin.
• I let out a breath, feeling saddened by the thought of facing the two women, who would probably bombard me with questions as soon as they could.
• "Let's get ready, family, it's almost time to marry our Elisa," Emily's voice interrupts, prompting me to rise from the table and attempt to go to work.
• "Amélie, I need you to handle something with me!" I sigh defeated when I hear Enora's voice at the head of the table. I turn towards her and approach to help her get up.
• I assisted the little lady to walk, leaving the others to chat about the night in Paris; apparently, Tommáz and Ethan already had some plans for the night after the first night's fashion show. Madame Enora had a smile on her face that seemed like she was plotting something. We walk, and I enter with her into the office next to the staircase, so beautiful and full of ornaments, adding a certain refinement to her mansion's luxury.
• As soon as we entered the spacious office, we walked over to a couch facing the dark oak desk. I helped her settle among the cushions that adorned the place.
• "Why do I see guilt in your eyes, young one?" I heard her question, feeling a lump in my chest, almost suffocating me. I just shrug in response.
• "I noticed your glances, even though they were very discreet, I noticed them," she said, not accusingly, just letting out what she had observed. I take a deep breath and decide to tell the truth.
• "I was just dancing to earn some money, Madame," I confess. "I didn't imagine it would catch your grandson's attention, but he didn't see me," I say.
• I hear her laughter, which startles me, and I look attentively at the old lady sitting next to me on the couch, now holding my hands. I can't explain how comfortable I feel between them. When I met them, I felt welcomed by them as soon as I started working directly for Noely, and I was always doing something to assist Madame Enora or Elisa with her wedding.
• "I don't care what you were doing or what you do after your shift, dear. What interests me is that you did something that piqued my grandson's curiosity," she says, holding my gaze with a serious expression.
• "I don't understand what you're trying to tell me, Madame..." I begin to say, but we're interrupted by Noely, who opens the door with a triumphant smile on her face.
• "Tell me it's you, Cinderella!" Noely enters the office with a huge smile, and I sink into the couch, embarrassed in front of the two women who are icons to me.