Miraculous: Tales of Love From Paris' Sweetheart Matchmaker

Jean Part 5: A Tasty Start?

The next day, Jean spent all morning attending to tasks in the lobby, whether or not they needed attending, hoping to get a chance to talk to Claudette. But, she had been very busy and he didn't have a reason to interrupt.  A few minutes before Jean knew that Claudette took her lunch break, Jean finally got his chance to speak with her.

He approached her desk and stood quietly.

"One moment," said Claudette while she finished what she was doing.  She stacked some papers and then looked up.  "How can I— Oh," she finished once she saw just who was standing before her.  She studied his face, suspicious as to why he was at her desk. He seemed to be smiling in what she thought could be an apologetic manner, so she reined in the sharp words that had been on her tongue and waited to see what he would say. "Monsieur," she said with a small nod.

Jean couldn't tell whether she was happy to see him or not, so he moved right on to his apology.  "Madame Claudette, I would like to apologize for my behavior on your first day here.  I acted in an ungentleman-like manner when I mistakenly tried to escort you from the desk.  May I please make it up to you by taking you out for ice cream?"

A small smile appeared on Claudette's face when she heard his apology- a real apology and not one of those ones where the person only says says 'sorry if you felt offended' and then doesn't own up to the behavior. His apology was even better as he offered to take her out for her absolutely most favorite dessert. A coincidence or insider information? she wondered.

"I love ice cream- did you know?"

He hesitated a moment before nodding.

"Sébastien?" said Claudette, insider information basically confirmed by the nod as who else might they both know?

Jean nodded again.  "Yes.  He is a very polite and well-spoken young man.  You must be very proud of him."

Claudette nodded.  "Yes, I am," she replied, though she wondered just what Sébastien was up to.  Why is he talking to Jean about me?  Claudette glanced at the clock.  "Time for my lunch break."

Jean watched her face for some clue to what she was thinking, nervous since she had yet to accept his offer of ice cream.

Claudette grabbed her purse out of the drawer and came around the desk.  "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to eat dessert before lunch. Or maybe just eat dessert for lunch.  What do you think?" she asked him with a smile.

Jean breathed a sigh of relief.  She accepted!  "No, nothing wrong with that." He returned her smile. "Shall we go?"

"Yes, I would like that," she said and she started to head toward the door.  When she was standing on the sidewalk she realized she had no idea where she was going. "So, where is this shop?" she asked, turning toward Jean who had just stepped out beside her.

"It is not actually a shop.  André has an ice cream cart he pedals all around the city, but I've already looked it up and found where he will be today.  It is just a five minute walk. This way," he said as he gestured for her to pass in front of him.

"Thank you," said Claudette as she walked in the direction he indicated.  She cast an appreciative glance at his trim figure and his well pressed suit as he fell in step beside her.  "So you and Sébastien have been talking?" she asked him.

"Yes, we have struck up a friendship of sorts.  Partly as he has taken an interest in Chloe and since I—".

"Chloe?" she interrupted, trying to remember whether she should know who that was.

"Yes, Mademoiselle Chloe Bourgeois," Jean clarified once he realized she didn't know who he was referring to.  Not terribly surprising considering she's only worked at the hotel for two days, he thought.  "I have been her . . . well. . . I've never really been given an official title by Monsieur Bourgeois. Chloe calls me her butler. Nevertheless, I have been her assistant and companion since she was a little girl."