Page 60 of Forgiving Paris
“Yes, my love. This is your night. The world is waiting for you.” He helped her out of the car, and they stepped onto the stretch of red.
That’s when Ashley noticed the photographers. Gathered on the other side of the divider, they started snapping photos as soon as Ashley and Landon began the walk toward the gallery.
“Ashley Baxter… Ashley?” A man lowered his camera. “How does it feel to be the most famous American artist in Paris?”
How does it feel?Ashley stopped and turned to the man.Was this really happening?“It… it’s wonderful.” She looked at Landon. “I’ve loved Paris since I was a young girl.”
With her husband’s arm around her, they continued the red carpet walk past three storefronts, the entire time smiling for photos and pausing so Ashley could answerquestions from reporters. This had to be a dream. How did so many people know about her work? When they reached the front door, Ashley saw one more thing that took her breath.
A line of people in the opposite direction, all clearly waiting to enter the gallery. Fifty people at least. “Ashley,” someone called out. “Over here!”
She waved and smiled at the people and at the same time she could see Jean-Claude Pierre again, making his way into the Montmartre Gallery past a crowd like this one. Could it really be that Marguerite and Jean-Claude were wrong? That her work not only was good enough for public display… it was loved by the very people who knew art best?
The people of Paris?
“This is all for you, Ash,” Landon whispered near her ear. “Come on… Emilie is waiting for us.”
“Yes.” She waved once more to the patrons in line, and then to the paparazzi. And in a moment straight from a movie, she breezed into the gallery. With the fanfare outside the building, Ashley expected more of the same inside.
And definitely the place looked all done up, same with Emilie. There were tables with sparkling cider and pastries, and all of Ashley’s twenty paintings graced the walls and display areas.
But Emilie didn’t look right. She was standing with Edward, her husband, at the back of the gallery. There was another man with them. A man vaguely familiar.
Ashley felt her excitement fall. What was this? And who was the man?
When Emilie spotted them, she motioned them close.
“Something’s wrong.” Ashley was suddenly afraid. “That man… I’ve seen him before, Landon. I… I don’t like this.”
Landon stepped in front of her. “Emilie…” His voice was stern. “Please tell us what’s going on.”
“I’m sorry.” The gallery owner sounded distressed. “It’s… it’s okay. I promise, you can join us.”
After a few seconds, Landon brought Ashley back to his side and led her to the others. “Please… can someone explain this?” He put his arm around Ashley’s shoulders, and he looked at the stranger. “Does my wife know you?”
“He’s with our foreign intelligence agency.” Edward spoke up. “He’s police. There’s nothing to fear. I’m sorry you were startled.”
As amazing as the entrance to the gallery was, this was taking a hard turn in the other direction. Ashley blinked a few times. Why in the world were the police here? “You…” She stared at the officer. “You look familiar.”
“Yes. I’m sure I do.” The man took a badge from his pocket and showed Ashley and Landon. “I wasn’t always with the secret police like I am now.”
Edward nodded. “His badge is legitimate.”
“Please… explain.” Landon still sounded upset. Or maybe he was just being protective. Whatever it was, Ashley liked it.
“My name is Guy Hollande.” He paused and lookedstraight at Ashley. “First, madame… you were in serious danger this week. But not any longer.”
“What… how?” Ashley’s knees grew weak.
Landon tightened his hold on her. “Danger?”
“Oui.” The man paused. “Twenty-three years ago, my colleague and I were hired by Jean-Claude Pierre… to kill you.”
If it wasn’t for Landon’s arm around her, Ashley might’ve fainted. She’d been right all this time. The danger she’d been in had been real, after all. “I knew it… I saw you. You and another man. A… number of times.”
Monsieur Hollande nodded. “When we failed, Jean-Claude attempted to kill us.”
Emilie and Edward looked horrified. Same with Landon. “So… what happened?” Landon still had a tight hold on Ashley.
