The Paris Connection

by Cerella Sechrist

  Emma released her breath in a rush and then tried to rein in her frustration. Counteroffers were always tricky in this business.

  “Have you alerted Arrow Tech to the situation?”

  “I have,” Giselle responded. “They’d like to make a counteroffer themselves.”

  Emma sighed a second time. “All right. Find out the terms and write up the offer. We’ll present it to Delacroix on Monday.”

  “No, we won’t.”

  Emma jerked her head around as Cole entered the conversation. From the corner of her eye, she saw Giselle do the same.

  “Excuse me?”

  “We’re not going to advise our client to counteroffer just because the guy got greedy. It would be in bad form.”

  Emma stared at him, but he stared right back, his coolly assessing gaze unflinching.

  “You can’t be serious. We’ve come too far to lose this guy now. He’s a genius, one of the most sought-after executives in all of Europe.”

  Cole made a face. “Yeah, I’ve heard that one before.”

  Emma tensed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Giselle cleared her throat, and Emma shifted her gaze as she saw Cole do the same.

  “Giselle, perhaps you could give us a moment to sort this out? I’ll let you know once we’ve made a decision.”

  “Of course.” Giselle acquiesced and made her exit, clearly eager to avoid being caught in the middle. She closed the door behind her, and Emma faced Cole again.

  “Delacroix is brilliant. If we place him, it’s a huge feather in our cap.”

  “Maybe so, but I’m not going to begin my time here by promoting that sort of action.”

  Emma ground her teeth together in frustration. “Listen, I don’t know exactly how different recruiting is on the other side of the ocean, but over here, counteroffers are simply a fact of life. If the client is determined, you make a counteroffer of your own.”

  Cole waved a hand in dismissal. “Of course I know how it works, but that’s not how Aquitaine is going to do business, now that it’s part of Reid Recruiting.”

  She felt every protective instinct she possessed rise up within her. “You may be the CEO, but don’t you think that kind of business model is something that Julien should approve?”

  Cole shook his head. “I’m not saying we’d never advise our clients to counteroffer, but what I am saying is that if this Delacroix is as cagey as Giselle indicated, then throwing more incentives at him isn’t going to do any good. The man clearly prefers the company he currently works for and was probably using us just to get an increase in salary.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “Oh, I’m being ridiculous?” He raised his eyebrows. “Aquitaine, we’re not going after this guy like we’re single and desperate for a date. We’re better than that.”

  “We?” She scoffed. “You just got here, remember?”

  He scowled, and she realized how petty she sounded.

  “I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I just don’t understand why you’re so adamant on this. What’s the harm in counteroffering? The worst that can happen is that Delacroix rejects it, and we’re back to square one. If we don’t even offer, we’re already there.”

  Cole fell silent as the seconds ticked by. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, as though about to share something confidential. Emma scooted her chair closer.

  “Emma, have you ever heard the term ‘the heart wants what the heart wants’?”

  Her breath caught at the way he spoke these words and their close proximity as they each leaned over the desk.

  “Yes, I have. It’s attributed to Emily Dickinson.”

  “Then she knew what you don’t seem to grasp. If Delacroix wants to stay where he’s at, no amount of additional incentives or salary will sway him. I witnessed the same thing recently, when we tried to negotiate Dane Montgomery out of retirement.”

  Emma remembered the name from her background research on Reid Recruiting, when Julien had first mentioned the merger. Montgomery had been a star in the advertising universe before he left the corporate world to run a coffee plantation in Hawaii. Reid Recruiting had negotiated him out of retirement and back to New York to work for Bianca Towers, international hotel-chain heiress, but Montgomery had soon renegotiated the terms of his contract and returned to Hawaii to work for Towers from the islands. She briefly recalled Cole’s name being attached to the situation, but the more prominent figure had been Lillian Reid’s daughter, Ophelia, the lead recruiter on the assignment.

  “So what?” Emma countered. “As I recall, that situation was a success in the end. Montgomery still works for Towers. He just does it on location at his coffee plantation.”

  Her summation didn’t seem to impress Cole in the least.

  “Obviously. But my point is that Montgomery wanted to stay where he was at, and upping our offer didn’t really change that. Sometimes, you have to let the heart take charge. If Delacroix really wants to switch companies, offering more money isn’t going to make a difference either way. If he’s unhappy with his existing employer then our current offer should be satisfactory. And if he’s just using this as a means to increase his salary, we’re not going to give him any more leverage.”

  She found his reasoning flawed, but she knew it was pointless to say so.

  “You have a daughter,” Cole went on. “Hasn’t she ever tried to play you against your husband?”

  “Ex-husband,” she automatically corrected. “And how did you know I have a daughter?”

  “Julien told me. Anyway, hasn’t your daughter ever asked you for something and then gone to her father to see if she could negotiate a better deal?”

  “Avery is not that sort of child, and I resent the implication that she could be that devious.”

  He sighed. “I’m sorry, Aquitaine. I didn’t mean any offense. I’m sure your daughter is a lovely girl. I’m only pointing out that candidates know how to play these games as well as we do.”

  Still rankled by his theory, she shrugged. “You’re the boss,” she offered by way of submission, though she knew her tone said far more than her words.

  He frowned but didn’t comment.

  “I’ll inform Giselle.” She stood to go.

  Her hand was on the door handle when he finally spoke. “And I trust you’ll present things to Giselle in such a way that she recognizes this was a mutual decision.”

  She replayed Julien’s warning in her head, about supporting Cole and the merger, and injected a sweetness into her words that she didn’t feel.

  “Of course. I would never even think of implying otherwise.”

  Cole narrowed his eyes as she plastered on a blatantly false smile and left the room.

  CHAPTER THREE

  EMMA ENTERED THE Aquitaine offices on Monday morning with a new outlook. Spending a weekend with Avery had done much to restore her attitude. She had played games with her daughter, caught up on some errands and taken Melanie with them to the market. She’d even found time to read a couple of chapters in a new novel she’d purchased. She walked into Aquitaine with a lighter step and smiled pleasantly as she approached her office and found Henri, one of the janitorial staff, watering the plants nearby.

  “Bonjour, Henri.”

  The man’s eyes lit up at the sight of her. He had once told her that she was the only Aquitaine recruiter who bothered to speak to him. The rest worked around him as if he wasn’t even there.

  “Bonjour, Emma.”

  “Did you enjoy your weekend?”

  He sighed. “I went to see my daughter’s ballet recital. I had hoped to take her and my son to dinner afterward, but my wife refused, saying they had other plans.”

  Emma felt herself frowning with sympathy. “Oh, Henri. I’m so sorry.
If it’s any consolation, things should get better. Those beginning stages of divorce are when both parties feel wounded and betrayed. Hopefully, she’ll ease up in time.”

  Henri appeared skeptical, despite her reassurances, but she couldn’t blame him. She remembered how much hurt she’d experienced when she and Brice had been in the first phase of their divorce. Her situation was different from Henri’s, though, in that Brice had wanted nothing to do with Avery and had accepted whatever custody terms Emma chose to lay out. She’d been hopeful he’d eventually exhibit more enthusiasm, so she’d allowed for him to take Avery every other weekend and some holidays, but he rarely took advantage of the offer. Henri, on the other hand, seemed to be struggling in the opposite direction. It pained her to know how much he wished to be with his children and to witness how his wife continued to withhold them.

  “How are the custody hearings coming along?” she asked. To her dismay, Henri’s mood seemed to sink even further.

  “She is suggesting I only get one weekend a month, a week in the summer and no holidays. With my background, I am not sure I have a chance of more. There is a lawyer who feels he can help, but his fees are exorbitant.”

  Emma knew that Henri had once had an issue with gambling. His habit had never become as damaging as some, but it had been enough to cast a black mark upon his character, one that his soon-to-be ex-wife seemed to be using to her full advantage.

  “If you need money, I could loan you some,” Emma offered, but Henri was already shaking his head.

  “No. I owed enough to friends after I recognized my gambling addiction. I vowed never to borrow a single euro again.”

  Emma nodded with sympathy and then noticed that the conversation nearby, in one of the smaller conference rooms, was growing to a steady buzz. She ignored it for the moment.

  “Enough about me. How was your weekend?” Henri asked.

  “Very nice.” She hesitated, unwilling to mention Avery in light of Henri’s own plight.

  “And how is Avery? You haven’t shown me any pictures lately.”

  She relaxed since he broached the subject first.

  “She’s grown at least three inches in the past few weeks. She’s going to be as tall as her father one day.”

  Henri clucked his tongue, presumably at her mention of Brice. He slid a glance around. “And the new American boss? What do you think of him?”

  She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. Henri might only be the janitor, but Julien’s warning on Cole’s first day had been clear. She would support the merger and CEO. “I think Cole is the perfect person to manage this company for the days ahead.”

  “He has a very flashy smile,” Henri observed.

  Emma smothered a laugh. “Yes, that’s true.” Cole’s smile was certainly something of note. It made his handsome features even more attractive.

  “Everyone here just beams whenever he comes around. I hope you plan to challenge him, keep him sharp,” Henri remarked.

  She grinned at this idea. “I should tell him you said so.”

  Henri’s head jerked up in alarm. “I do not think—”

  “It’s all right, Henri,” she assured him. “I won’t say a word to him. But I promise, I’ll do my best to keep him on his toes.”

  The hum of chatter in the conference room was unmistakable now and growing by the second. Emma turned her head in that direction.

  “What’s on everyone’s mind, that they’re talking so much?”

  Henri gave another shrug. “I overheard a few things—that Julien is arranging some sort of company getaway.”

  Emma furrowed her eyebrows. Julien had initiated plans without consulting her? It was unlike him.

  “I better go see what they’re buzzing about.” She paused before leaving and reached out to give Henri’s arm an affectionate squeeze. “Good luck with everything. Let me know how things go.”

  He nodded and turned back to his work as she moved down the hall and toward the conference room. She entered to find a small group of the top four recruiters chattering excitedly and passing around what looked like colorful brochures. Julien was nowhere to be seen, but as she prepared to move farther into the room, she felt an arm brush hers; she looked up to see Cole Dorset, tall and striking as ever, studying the room at large.

  “What’s going on in here?” he questioned without looking at her.

  She forced her gaze away and back to the group before them. “I don’t know. Henri said something about a company getaway.”

  “Henri?”

  “The janitor,” she replied with distraction.

  Cole fell silent so she dared to look at him once more. He was staring at her.

  “You’re friends with the janitor?”

  She stiffened. “It’s not like we go to lunch every day, but we’re friendly, yes. Why?”

  “No reason. I just...never thought about being friends with the janitor.”

  She looked away from him. “Well, maybe you should. Henri’s really nice.”

  His voice sounded amused as he replied, “Maybe you’re right.” He waited a beat before speaking again. “By the way, we heard from Delacroix this morning. He’s decided to take the job with Arrow Tech after all. I guess he really was unhappy enough with his current company to make a switch.”

  She felt a jolt of surprise at this news.

  “What the heart wants, remember, Aquitaine?”

  She didn’t reply. After another pause, she felt his touch, warm and solid, beneath her elbow as he began to steer her farther into the room. “Let’s see what Julien has gotten us into now, shall we?”

  She didn’t protest how he moved her along, and when his hand finally dropped away, she found that she missed the gentle touch.

  “Good morning,” Cole greeted everyone.

  The room suddenly fell silent as they turned to face their new boss. “Um...bonjour?” he tried again, and Emma nearly rolled her eyes at how the group broke into smiles and returned Cole’s attempt at the French greeting.

  “Everyone seems particularly cheerful for a Monday morning,” he remarked. “Does it have something to do with that?” He pointed a finger at one of the leaflets.

  Giselle handed it over, and Emma was forced to ease closer to Cole in order to see what sort of information the literature contained.

  Scenic pictures of woodlands, a dining hall and rustically chic suites were splashed across the glossy paper beneath words advertising the “Château Bonnaire: an idyllic, team-oriented retreat center for professionals.”

  She felt Cole shift uncomfortably beside her and clear his throat. Ah. She realized the brochure was entirely in French, and Cole had no idea what it said.

  “A team-oriented retreat center for professionals?” she prompted. “Where did you get these?”

  “Julien,” Louis informed her. “He said to look it over, and that he’d be back shortly.”

  “Is Julien sending us on a retreat?” Aurora questioned.

  Emma looked at Cole and found his frown mirroring her own. If Julien had chosen to send them on a retreat, he hadn’t informed her...nor Cole, it seemed.

  “I’m sure Julien will be back soon to enlighten us,” Cole offered.

  “You mean, you don’t know?” Marc asked.

  Emma felt Cole stiffen beside her at the implication he was clueless as to the goings-on at the very company he was meant to be heading.

  “You know Julien enjoys his little surprises,” she jumped in to spare Cole having to reply.

  “Emma is correct.”

  They all turned at the sound of Julien’s voice. “I decided to surprise you. I thought it would be good for you all to get away for a weekend, as a team. To get to know your new leadership.” He dipped his head in Cole’s direction.

  Excited murmurs rip
pled through the group, but Emma watched Cole carefully. He frowned in dismay, obviously not quite as pleased as the rest of the group. Little wonder, given that Julien hadn’t clued them in to his plans beforehand. She slid her gaze in the older man’s direction, but he did not seem to recognize that he had possibly caused offense.

  “Julien,” she murmured, but he was too busy beaming in reaction to his other employees’ responses to the news.

  “Julien,” she repeated more forcefully. His eyes found hers, and she frowned. “Could we speak for a moment in your office? Please?”

  His pleased expression faltered, and she noticed his eyes shift from her face to Cole’s.

  “Oui. Certainly.”

  The others didn’t seem to pick up on the unease clouding around their American counterparts as Julien led Cole and Emma from the room. As they arrived at Julien’s door, Emma reached out and laid a hand on Cole’s arm, leaning in to whisper softly enough that Julien would not hear.

  “Give him a chance to explain.”

  Cole glanced at her briefly and then nodded before stepping into Julien’s office. Emma closed the door behind them.

  “Julien, why wasn’t I consulted about this decision?”

  Julien frowned at Cole’s question. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

  Emma stepped forward before Cole could speak again. “Julien, I think you should have informed Cole of your idea before announcing it to the others. He— We both,” she corrected, “were at a loss in there.”

  Julien’s eyes suddenly widened in understanding. “Ah, I am so sorry.” He shifted his gaze from Emma to Cole. “I apologize, to both of you. I only thought a retreat might be a helpful way for you to get to know your team and give them the opportunity to embrace you as a leader.” Julien took a step forward and addressed Cole. “It was utterly thoughtless of me. I have been so used to making all the decisions as owner of the company, I forget that as my CEO, you should be allowed to take the lead.”

  From the corner of her eye, she saw Cole relax. “It’s all right, Julien. No harm done.”