A Deal With The Devil | Ben Barnes | Sebastian Stan

Chapter 1

Francesca

Paris, France

The city became less frantic as the night slowly descended over it. Lights have been starting to puncture the darkness here and there until you could barely look at the view and not fall in love with it. I do agree to that saying that says Paris is the city of love, but oh it's so much more. It's about the art and its culture, it's about the history and the people. It's about all the memories that you can make here.

And now, while I was watching the city fall asleep only to see it wake up a few moments later, I could only think about how much I'm going to love living here for the unforeseeable future. I was not afraid to admit that here I was feeling like home.

"Oh, chéri, I can't believe you're actually leaving me alone for two whole weeks" Maurice dramatically sighs ending my introspection. I glanced at him and noticed he was already looking at me with that specific frown of his, one that said I was about to get scolded. "I mean, aren't you going to miss seeing this" he asked, moving his hand up and down, pointing to his body which I was supposed to admire.

"To be honest, I'm only going to miss Jeannot" I answer looking at the sleepy dog that could barely keep his eyes open, but was curiously watching us. It's incredible how much I could love this dog and how hard it was for me to imagine my life without having Jeannot in it.

"I want to be angry with you for what you just said, but I can't. I mean, look at my baby, he's adorable" my friends exhales, placing his wine glass down so he could pick Jeannot into his arms. The dog made a protest sound as he was disturbed from his comfortable position on the balcony floor.

"Plus, let's not forget that I asked you to come with me. It's not my fault that you're busy" I continue to say, leaning over to pet Jeannot.

"Don't remind me" he scoffs. "Sometimes I think maman is doing it on purpose. If it wasn't for this important auction that we have coming, I'd rebel against her and come with you."

"Maurice, you're 28 years old. It wouldn't be a rebellion, but a normal act of you being an adult" I remind him, not bothering to hide my amusement.

"Details chéri, details."

"Raluca is amazing, I can't wait to come back and see her cruelty." I wickedly said the last word, mocking Maurice for trying to picture his mother as a person who forbade him to have fun. In reality, his mother was such an amazing and fun woman, she was the one to actually push us from behind, always reminding us that there was more to life than school and work. Not rarely did she accompany us to our nights out to his husband's irritation who, at times, only wanted a little more silence than we were offering him.

"That's what you say now, but we'll talk again after you've worked with her and mon père on a daily basis. They're annoyingly perfectionists and they always have me do that and then change that. They'll do it with you too."

"I'm totally okay with that. Still, we both know Raluca has a soft spot for me. I'll be perfectly fine working with her."

"It's not fair, everyone has a soft spot for you. You and your Italian accent and looks and oh, I can't even look at you anymore, you're très belle" he pouts. I laughed and placed my hand on his shoulder, squeezing softly.

"I'm truly going to miss you, Maurice" I finally admit, smiling. He looked at me and smiled back and, in that moment, like so many others before, I was feeling so grateful towards him and everything that he has ever done for me. Because he hasn't only been a friend to me, he's been more, something I never believed it was possible, especially since back home, no one does anything for you if it's not in their best interest.