“You don’t look so pleased to see me.”

“Hi, Pete.” Tom sounded calmer than he felt. “Don’t call me kid.”

“Oooh.” The pudgy slob rolled his eyes. “Big talk from a guy that’s about to get canned.”

“What?”

“Canned. Fired. Sacked. Au revoir,” Stockton gloated. “Ain’t that how they say it in Frog?”

“You can’t fire me, Pete. We have an agreement—”

“Had—an agreement. Now that I’ve got your shares I really don’t need you. And to be frank, nor does anyone else. Specially my shareholders. I’m taking this job away from you and giving it to a real expert. Continuity, that’s what they want.”

“Giving it to who, exactly?”

Pete Stockton grinned. “Your mom’s old pal. Gregoire Lazard. I’m reinstating him and giving him your office. Poetic justice, since it was a Massot who canned him. Don’t you think so?”

Tom flushed with anger. “You can’t. I have it in writing. I become chairman and chief. . . .”

“Yada yada yada.” Stockton described a circle in the air with his Monte Cristo. “Need to read your contracts a little better, kid. Said I’d make you chairman. Didn’t say for how long. Got to fire you; stock’s down almost seven percent. To be honest, though, would have done it even if the stock went up.”

“Why?” spluttered Tom.

“Don’t like you. Privileged little brat, never had to work for it. Snooty Eurotrash. You and Montfort and your hoity-toity mom. That uptight old maid nearly got me fired. Refusing to sell. I tell you,” Stockton chuckled, his chins wobbling, “she wouldn’t have made a rookie mistake like you. Guess that’s what you get for selling mommie dearest down the river!”

Tom didn’t hesitate. His fist lashed out and caught Stockton in the temple.

“Ahhhh ... FUCK YOU! I’ll fucking sue! I’ll—aaaaahhhhhh!”

Tom’s left foot had swept up neatly and kicked him in the balls. Stockton squealed and toppled over, clutching at the table.

Celine had been listening outside the door. She opened it, and stared at Tom, wide-eyed.

“Call the police! Call the goddamned police!” Stockton shrieked.

“Why, Monsieur,” said Celine quickly, “then they’ll arrest you, for I saw you assault M. Massot, completely unprovoked.”

“Bless you, Celine.”

“And I quit. I don’t want to work for a man like that,” she said, then held the door open for Tom as he followed her out.

“You didn’t have to quit for me,” Tom said gratefully.

She looked at him coolly.

“I didn’t. I heard what he said about Mme Massot. She was an amazing woman to work for.” Celine looked at him with disapproval. “You were wrong to dismiss her, Monsieur. She was brilliant.”

Tom sighed.

“Mme Sophie inspired everybody here. If you want to understand why people quit, that is the reason. She was the difference. She understood jewels. She understood beauty.”