*

Jules

They passed a pleasant hour in Ladureé, plates of rose pink and cream, lilac and mint macarons, washed down with tea. Jules discreetly tapped away at her phone, the background noise melting away as her senses sharpened and honed in. A steep rise. An unexpected fall. A netting effect. Her brain ticked over quickly, wondering what to do next. She could feel the girls politely ignoring that she was working, no doubt thanks in part to her admission outside Le Crillon, their conversation continuing with occasional glances in her direction.

‘I’ve just realised,’ Nina was saying, ‘how similar it is in here to your drawing room, Alice.’

‘I may have taken a little inspiration,’ Alice was grinning. ‘If anyone can make teal walls, blush-pink ceilings and a leopard-print carpet work, it’s Ladurée.’

‘And you!’ Nina chuckled. ‘I love your carpet.’

Jules was sitting opposite them both so they couldn’t see her phone, which was fortunate. They’d never understand the sums involved. The high stakes. They’d think she was mad. It might look like she was consumed by it, but it was good for her, this sort of mental workout. Pity the man with nothing to keep his brain occupied, her father used to say. Paul didn’t understand it, he wanted her to go back to being carefree, as she had behaved in the early days of their relationship, but what he didn’t realise was how hard Jules had had to work to appear that way. To appear like she could be chilled out and relaxed, seizing the day. It was exhausting. Jules loved the deal. Always had, always would.

She didn’t realise how quickly phone batteries drained until a ‘low power warning’ flashed up; ordinarily she would have it plugged in most of the day, either at work or at home. She gasped in alarm and quickly tried to save and close down all her accounts so nothing would be lost. ‘Fuck’s sake,’ she muttered under her breath, drawing an ‘is everything okay?’ from her friends. She nodded quickly, not having the time – or the words – to explain.

‘Well, that was fun,’ she said breezily, moments later, sliding her phone into her bag. ‘Shall we get the bill?’

‘Sure, we can get the rest to take away, or…’

‘Brilliant idea!’ Jules said, waving the waitress over and standing and stretching her legs as they waited for the bill. Nina and Alice were still finishing their tea when Jules was outside and beginning to walk back to the apartment.

‘What’s the rush?’ Alice asked, catching her up.

‘No rush,’ Jules said simply, but her long legs continued to stride ahead, Alice and Nina having to work hard to keep pace with her along the bustling streets.

‘Shall we stop at Sephora?’ Alice enthused. ‘You two can tell me what products I need to buy!’ But Jules visibly recoiled at the suggestion and Alice’s stomach clenched with embarrassment.

‘Can we head straight back?’ Jules asked. ‘I really need the loo. I forgot to go at Ladurée. And to be honest, I’m feeling quite tired. Why don’t you and Nina hit Sephora? I’ll go back to the apartment and chill out for a bit.’