21 - Gucci Dress

Nadine put her phone on her ear.

The voice of the overexcited redhead that flirted with her in the café beamed, "Hello? Nadine? My sweet lady ?"

"Is it Henriette?" She asked, knowing fully that was her. She knew that doing this would annoy the girl.

The young girl chuckled, "I'll never get bored by your phone voice," There was a silence, then, a burst of a laugh, "You're calling me! Finally! Sometimes I can't believe it."

Nadine stuck the phone between her shoulder and her ear. She opened her closet and took two crystal champagne flutes, "Friendship always have a beginning, you know."

"... Friendship?"

The tone in her voice dripped with coldness as she said this dreadful word. Fuck. Nadine was losing her affection. And she couldn't lose it. She had to find that pellicular information. She had to earn her trust, not losing it by speaking her thoughts truthfully.

Henriette wanted her love and she'd give it to her, "And friendship grows step by step to become more deep and profound..."

From her headset, Nadine heard her smile. Good.

"That's why you're inviting me in your residence, Ô Mighty Nadine?"

She nodded more than three-time, "Exact."

"It's not an excuse to make me return your Art History book and slammed the door on my face right? Because I finished it last week but gave it to Samira. Sorry."

"What did you...!" No, not anger. She wanted her sweetness, "Take your time." She said with her most calming voice. Well, she was doing her best, "I'll be seeing you later."

Nadine ended her call. An old portrait was hanging on her wall, and she made eye contact with herself from three years ago stared, grinning, while she posed for her first photo as a Prime minister.

It was the former Prime minister, her own father, who took the photo. She gave her most angelic smile As he asked her to.

That was her moment of joy before Charles de Gaulle's gem slipped under her fingers.

Since then, her life was a nightmare. Pictures of that son of a bitch clouded her mind.

Zheng Tai climbing the podium steps (her podium!). Zheng Tai touching the Dragon's Breath with his dirty hand, conjuring up black star clouds in the beautiful gem.

Nadine closed her eyes and shook her head to dispel those thoughts. He'll stop mocking her soon. When she'll find the jewel and prove her innocence...

When she re-opened her eyes, her glance fell on her reflection on her turned off TV. She saw her deep V cut that showed all of her cleavage.

"Big problems, big measures." If she wanted to find the jewel, Nadine had to make things go a little faster between them.

Around one hour later, while Nadine took her Champagne from the fridge, the door buzzed.

She opened the door, and the young girl, like every poor people that entered her flat, she widened her eyes.

"But... But? It's prettier than I thought!" She came into her flat and checked her kitchen, "It's fully equipped!"

She didn't even ask her permission to come inside. Nadine swallowed her rage and closed the door, "Of course, how do you intend to cook a decent meal then?"

She strutted from the sofa to the balcony, "Waw! Paris view!" Then she waved at the Eiffel Tower, "You're sure it's not a five-star hotel instead?"

Nadine coughed. The young woman stopped with her touristic spirit and met her gaze. Well, she especially met her two traps.

She gulped and didn't manage to talk, "Sorry, Miss Ndongo."

Very good. Nadine wasn't anyone. She came into her living room and sat on a sofa, "I said: no formality, Miss Daucourt." She taped on the textile couch, "Settle in."

She gulped again and accepted Nadine's offer before giving her goldfish attention to the hallway to her right.

She came inside, "Song! I'm with your flatmate. Your next stepmom is here!" She glanced at her to made her understand not to take her seriously.

What an annoying woman she dragged here! "Song-ho is absent."

"Ah? I thought he recovered from his fever here."

That what she told him so she wouldn't worry about him missing class for a time.

"It's better for him to be...cut from the world."

Henriette put her hands on her heart, "Poor boy...I hope he'll get better soon. And I'm not only saying that for the dance club! I honestly care about him, I swear!

She finally sat on the sofa next to Nadine, and she poured herself one of the cups of Champagne.

She stared at the liquid without saying anything (a first for Henriette) and finished it in one gulp. She showed her empty glass, "Can I?"

Nadine poured her a second glass, " Do as you wish."

Henriette finished the second one faster than the first one, "I don't even drink home." She poured herself a third one, and threw some drops on the sides, "I'm just preparing for what you're going to say to me."

Nadine dropped on her cheek the alcohol she was prepared to drink, "What?"

"I know you want something from me. It must be the case since we're not in your usual café."

Kinda clever.

Henriette re-poured herself and emptied one more glass "Anyways, you're always talking to me with some benefit in mind. That pisses me off..."

Ouch...The mission seemed to get harder. Nadine put her hands on her thighs and bombed her torso, "Of course not, I just want to know you more. Your hobbies, for example. Tell me more about the Dragon's Breath..."

The young woman hit the table with her glass, "I knew it! You wanted to clean yourself for the judges!"

"What?"

"You thought I didn't know? You think I'm dumb enough to not know you were debating on national TV?"

Nadine lowered her eyes. If she knew everything, it was the end.

The girl was red, "I don't give a damn about what they say. I just want to be closer to you." Henriette asked for a hug, arms open.

Nadine's shoulders jumped. She had to do it. Nadine gave her what she wanted.

Henriette relied on her weight and smashed Nadine on the sofa.

She tried to flee from her dominance, but Henriette squeezed her arms on hers, "I'll tell you. But before, I want to know if you're kidding with me. Then, I'll tell you everything." She lowered her face and kissed her cheek. The alcohol warmed her skin. Nadine would have never thought she was the kind to be a lightweight.

This is going too far. But I can't waste a Gucci dress, she thought.

She took her in her arms, "You matter, of course. It's just that I...I'm not used to holding partners every time."

Henriette's cheek reddened from embarrassment and alcohol. Satisfied, she set her tongue-wagging, "Samira and I are fans of urban legends. And the jewel's disappearance was too...way too strange. So we conducted our investigation. And..." She stopped talking and planted a kiss on her collarbone, "This isn't mutual, right? You're doing nothing..."

That was bad. Nadine groped her and kissed her on the forehead, "What did you found?"

"The jewel traveled hand to hand and was sold and re-sold. We could finally find it. But they kicked us out..."

"Who kicked you out?" Nadine framed her face with her hands and kissed her lips, "Do you hear me, Henriette? Who was it?"

She looked at nothing in particular, then moaned, "Again."

Nadine inspired then repeated her move, "Who did, Henriette?"

Henriette took her head in her hands, "Why are you so hard on yourself? Why are you putting pressure on yourself?"

"Henri.."

"Tell me I'm wrong. Try to prove it when your muscles are that stiffed." She had a weak smile, "Just relax. Don't work this weekend. Show me you can have fun."

The endless slideshow of pictures filled her: Zheng Tai sitting on her throne. Zheng Tai kissing the crowd with his pink-painted lips.

She was right. Nadine was always overthinking.

She kissed her again, but this time, she used her tongue. She took the young woman's hand and made her unzip her dress. Henriette froze.

"Okay. I just want to know one more thing. Then, I'll screw you as long as I want. Who possesses the Dragon's Breath?"

In a moan, Henriette murmured the name of Francis Chauvel.