A Franc or Two - Les Misérables [IN EDITING]

Packaged - Chapter 19

You were horribly sore the next morning.

Thankfully, Timeo (who had done you in just before you dozed off) had already disappeared, which meant you could enjoy your own company.

That bought you time to think.

Sleeping with at least a dozen men was most definitely exhausting. Of course, after being gone for so long, you didn't expect any less— but it was also surprising to see that so many of them were still interested in you.

Now, with your dress discarded on the floor next to you, you sat up in bed, keeping the sheets over your chest should someone decide not to knock.

You had been right...

It was another Christmas alone.

You didn't know how to feel about that. You most definitely had mixed emotions about your perverted boss not being there when you woke up, but it was difficult to describe it— you were happy that he wasn't there, but a little disheartened that he still didn't care about you whatsoever.

You were so caught up in thought that you jumped when a knock came on your door.

"Come in!" you called out. You didn't even think to tell them that you were indecent, as your hopes truly began to look up— you finally had a visitor...

But you couldn't have at all expected for Courfeyrac to be standing at the door. He was standing without a coat (brilliant man, he was) with a package tucked underneath his arm.

"Holy hell, it took me forever to get past that man," he said. You didn't exactly know who 'he' was, but after assuming it was Timeo, you just nodded. "Merry Christmas. Madame Houcheloup said you were probably home, so I was guessing that meant..."

He stopped to catch his breath.

"Okay... Sorry, I just ran all the way up here... Holy hell..." As he caught his breath, he let out a chuckle and rested against the doorway. Once he noticed he was still partially in the hallway, he was quick to head into the room and close the door behind him. "Happy Christmas, by the way."

He tossed the package— which was a neatly-wrapped box— directly onto your lap... But he paused when he noticed that you were holding the covers over your chest. He slapped his hands over his eyes.

"Ouch," he muttered. "Go and get dressed— we've got a lot in store for us today."

"Really?" you asked, hardly making a move. It took you a few moments before you finally kicked off your covers, and you rushed to pick up your underwear. "Like what?"

"Well, Madame Houcheloup wanted to make dinner for a few friends and I," Courfeyrac said. "And I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you came along with... And I'm sure Gavroche would like to see you again."

"I would love to come with," you said with a small smile, jumping in place as you struggled to get your clothes back on... after a moment, however, you remembered where you were. "Wait— actually, I'm not sure that I can..."

"Oh?" Courfeyrac's face dropped, and from the lower portion of his face not being covered by his hand, you saw his lips turn into a small frown. "Why not?"

You gave a bit of a nervous chuckle.

"Do you even remember almost getting killed?" you asked, finally getting to the point where you could lace up your corset.