Choking On Sapphires

60 It Must Be Love

It took plenty of planning and patience but surely with its practice you would be rewarded. You pack your trunks, you call your uncle Altar to let him know you're coming to Paris and to send some of his workers over to your place. You'd have a driver, a cook and a maid to take care of you both during your stay. You take a boat first class, then a train of the same and arrive in your old home of Paris. Alfie tried to contain his complaints for he didn't care much to travel but he knew it was important to you and he thinks of it as paying his dues before being rewarded once you reach your destination. By the time you're exiting the train, a cart with your trunks behind you, you're both feeling rather tired and grumpy.

"Oh there he is!" you say with relief as you pick up your pace to a boy that had driven you around last time in front of a town car of your Uncle's. Alfie is looking at his pocket watch and only half paying attention, just keeping his eye on you, following you as you moved like a frightened pheasant through the group of people. "Benji! Bonjour! Bonjour cher!" you say with matching kisses to his young and angular face. Benji was an errand boy for your Uncle, a strong and stout thing despite his baby face.

"Hello Lil- uh, Genevieve." he corrects himself with a laugh.

"This would be my dashing companion Mr. Alfie Solomons who will be joining me on this holiday." you say placing a hand on Alfie's shoulder to give him a supportive rub.

"'Ello lad. Benji, was it?" he gruffs out.

"Yes, sir." he says with a nod and polite smile. "We have your apartment warmed and stocked Genevieve. I'll put your luggage away, there are refreshments in the car." he says quickly before moving to your trunks.

You and Alfie take off your coats and sit inside the vehicle, yawns and stretches and bored looks on your faces. You see him watching the boy as he ties things to the roof after filling the back.

"This child is supposed to be lookin' out for ya?" he says with a quirked brow.

"Alfie, shush." you say with a weak pat to his arm. "He's a lot tougher than he looks. He helped me last time I was here. He's a sweetheart so be nice."

"But what if we run into trouble?"

"Then it's you, me and Benji, dear." you roll your eyes. "There are guns under the seat and men stationed outside my apartment. If you would PLEASE just stop being so uptight for a moment, we're here you can breathe now." you say with an exhausted tone and an expression to match.

He lets out a grumpy Hmmph of a sound and sits with his bottom lip tucked under his mustache.

"Where would you like to go first Miss?" Benji calls from the front seat.

"To the apartment, please, I believe we're both in need of a rest after that trip." you say while side eyeing Alfie who returns the same glance to you.
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Once he sees the nice street you'll be staying on, the men out front, the cautious but friendly doorman, his mind starts to ease. Inside there are two women waiting, both of which you greet with hugs and their first names.

"Would you draw us a bath please, Yoni. Then we'll take tea in the bedroom and have a nap." you say while your coat and gloves are taken.

Alfie's face softens as he sees your apartment, it was hard to remain grumpy in such a light and airy place. The white high walls with elaborate border, the tall and thin windows with billowing curtains from the wind from the balcony made it very pleasant. A view that would be even more stunning come nightfall to be seen from any window he looked. Everything was black, white and grey, all still elaborately decorated with filligree to your tastes, but it made the place feel huge and clean. A wall of heavy framed paintings went up alongside the stairs to the second level. There was a fireplace and a seating area adjacent a tall window, a piano, bookcase, and easel all sat in front of each other just left out of the small entryway. To the right, a kitchen that was concealed from where he stood, a small room he assumed was a bathroom and a dining table in the middle of it all with a chandelier hanging over it draped in crystals. The air is crisp and cool from the open windows, they must have them open to air out the place, he thinks. He stands and takes it all in before feeling you take his hand and tug him towards the stairs.