Follow Your Star, Jennifer Bohnet [best fiction novels to read txt] 📗

own? I was hoping that we could combine them both, with me taking a sabbatical for a few months.’

‘Shall we have a business meeting tomorrow morning and start to sort things out?’ Mathieu said.

Jean-Claude hesitated. ‘I was going to suggest I took Nanette down to Zac’s apartment but when we get back would be fine.’

‘JC, don’t worry about that,’ Nanette said. ‘I’ll drive myself down. Leave you free to discuss business with Mathieu. Vanessa will come with me, won’t you?’ Nanette turned to her friend.

‘Of course.’

‘Are you sure?’ Jean-Claude asked.

‘Definitely. My convertible has been sitting in your garage far too long. It’s time I got mobile again.’

Nanette parked in one of the underground car-parks near the circus tent in Fontvielle.

‘Do you mind walking to the apartment from here?’ she asked Vanessa. ‘You can tell me how the plans for the cooperative are coming on as we go.’

She winced as a particularly noisy helicopter came in over the Mediterranean to land at the shoreline heliport, just yards away from where they were standing.

‘I’m still looking for sponsors for the first year. Flying down here for Zac’s funeral was the main reason I’m here but it isn’t the only reason. I need to talk to you about Fruits of the Forest.’

Nanette looked at Vanessa and waited.

‘I know you said you didn’t want to be involved because you were going to be spending more and more time down here and I planned to run Fruits from the UK. Well, I’ve changed my mind. Ralph and I are going to relocate here. He can work from anywhere, the twins like their school and seeing more of Mathieu – and, of course, the co-operative will benefit from the tax breaks Monaco can give. So, will you change your mind?’

‘Oh Vanessa,’ Nanette said. ‘I’m sorry the answer is still no, but I do know someone who needs a job and who would be perfect. Evie. Her boss got caught up in all this smuggling business and she lost her job recently.’

‘This Boris Takyanov certainly spread his business tentacles widely, didn’t he?’ Vanessa said. ‘Unbelievable that so deep in the jungle, we should cross the same criminal organization that Mathieu was investigating. Apart from Ralph’s accident, the only time I was truly scared, was when the villagers accused us of putting the evil eye on them because of Maksim Takyanov’s failure to honour their deal.’

‘I find the fact that Zac got taken in unbelievable,’ Nanette said. ‘And trying to involve me in Vacances au Soleil to give it respectability was despicable.’ She shook her head. ‘I just took it as the final proof that he didn’t give a hoot about me but then, this happens,’ and she looked up reflectively at the apartment building where they were now standing.

The concierge welcomed them politely, pointed out which lift they needed to take for Apartment 210 on the twelfth floor and returned to tending the vast pots of lilies that graced the foyer.

Stepping out of the lift and inserting the key in the apartment door, Nanette shivered.

Vanessa glancing at her asked, ‘You OK?’

‘I’m fine. Probably reaction to the last few days. This whole Zac thing still feels unreal.’

‘We don’t have to do this today, do we?’ Vanessa asked. ‘You don’t have to rush into sorting things out.’

‘No, but I need to make a start,’ Nanette said, before resolutely turning the key.

‘This is surreal,’ she murmured, looking around the sparsely furnished sitting-room. It was full of things she recognized from Zac’s old apartment – things they had chosen together.

The two white leather settees facing each other across the glass topped coffee table, the music centre, the Persian rug, the grand piano from Zac’s grandmother. All brought back poignant memories of her time with him.

She brushed away a tear before walking across and picking up a silver-framed photo standing on the piano. It was one of Zac standing in the cockpit of Pole Position looking relaxed and happy.

‘I’ve never thanked you properly for having the twins for me and coming back to Monaco,’ Vanessa said unexpectedly. ‘I know it was a difficult decision for you to return.’

‘I’m glad I came. Getting my memory back, clearing things up between Zac and me – imagine how I would have felt if Zac had died and we’d never talked about the accident.’

Nanette took one last look at the photo and gently replaced it on the piano before turning to face Vanessa.

‘You did me a favour in more ways than one by going up the Amazon for five months.’ Nanette smiled at her friend as she moved towards the master bedroom door. ‘It’s thanks to you I’ve now got Jean-Claude in my life.’

‘The rain forest was such a great experience. I can’t tell you how much it changed the way I look at things,’ Vanessa said quietly.

Nanette barely heard her friend as she looked at Zac’s bedside table. Yet another silver-framed photo – and this time Nanette couldn’t stop the tears from coursing down her cheeks as she looked at it.

Taken the night they got engaged at a party in the Automobile Club in Monaco, she and Zac were standing with their arms entwined in the traditional manner, toasting each other with champagne, her engagement ring sparkling in the camera flash.

‘Do you think Zac’s got any tea? I think we could both do with a cup,’ Vanessa said. ‘Come on, let’s inspect the kitchen.’ Gently she led Nanette out of the bedroom.

By the time Vanessa had found and made a pot of tea, Nanette had stopped crying.

‘I’m sorry. I thought I was all cried out over Zac Ewart but apparently not.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Such a waste but life moves on. At least his reputation as a brilliant racing driver will remain intact. He’ll never have to face the criminal charges that Boris and the others will.’ She took a sip of tea.

‘This is a great apartment,’ Vanessa said looking around. ‘Are you going to keep it and live here?’

‘I’ll probably sell it.