Read Online The Little Antique Shop Under the Eiffel Tower by Rebecca Raisin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rebecca Raisin
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mutinous expression and was making his way straight to Tristan.
“Oh no! We have to stop him!” I went to push the curtain back but Gustave grabbed my arm to stop me. Tristan Black didn’t deserve to cop a mouthful from Joshua. As much as I distrusted the newcomer, I couldn’t stand by and watch him get berated on account of me.
“Wait, Anouk. I have a feeling your Monsieur Black can look after himself just fine.”
“He doesn’t know the story, Gustave. He has no idea what he’s dealing with! I have to warn him…”
“Wait. I think you underestimate the new guy.” Gustave pulled the curtain aside an infinitesimal amount so we could peek out.
Joshua tapped Tristan on the back with an index finger, pointed like a gun.
I held my breath, wishing for the hundredth time Joshua would just walk off and disappear out of Paris for good.
Tristan took his sweet time, chatting to the office clerk, and totally ignoring the finger in the back.
Joshua tried again, this time using the palm of his hand.
Tristan turned, annoyance clouding his face. “What can I do for you?” he said, his voice clipped.
“Any reason you snuck in a bid like that? Or was it just to win her over?” Joshua pulled a sour face like he’d been sucking lemons, angry that someone had got the better of him. “She’s not worth it, you know.”
I gasped. That lowlife! Gustave shot me a look that said,
see?
I clung on to the curtain that separated us from them. Through the gap I could see Tristan pull himself up to full height. “
She
has a name if it’s the person I think you’re referring to, and I don’t like your accusations, or your tone.”
Shivers raced down my spine. “Yeah?” Joshua snarled like a beast. “Watch your step, I’m warning you now.
She
,” he spat the word, “isn’t who you think she is.”
I reeled back. “What does that mean?” I mouthed to a shocked Gustave who shrugged. It was bizarre to hear myself discussed, and it was especially odd when it made no sense.
“Well who is she then?” Tristan asked, an edge of menace in his tone.
I inched closer again, intrigued too.
“Who knows? It’s all an act with her.” Joshua’s lip curled. “What you see isn’t what you get.
Comprendre?
”
An act with
me
? With him more like it! The hide of that guy. I wanted to storm outside and berate Joshua for making trouble. Again. But Gustave held my arm firmly, shaking his head.
“The only thing I understand,” Tristan said, leaning right into Joshua’s face. “Is that you’re a man with no principles, and if I see you bid her up again for no reason, there’s gonna be trouble.
Comprendre?
”
I bit back on a laugh at the way Tristan mimicked him.
Joshua narrowed his eyes, and said, “You were warned. Next time I won’t be so nice.”
“Duly noted. Now go away.” Tristan shooed him like he was a fly and turned his back, leaving Joshua standing there like a fool.
He finally stalked off, with an angry glint in his eye. I’d never seen anyone upset Joshua before. I had a new level of respect for Tristan knowing instinctively how to act around that rat of a man.
When we could finally talk properly without fear of being caught behind the curtain I said quietly to Gustave, “Why did he say it was all an act with me?”
Gustave pursed his lips and then said, “To make trouble. You know he manipulates the situation in his favor.”
I nodded, not convinced it was that simple. “Every day I wonder if I was under some kind of spell to have ever thought I loved that man.”
Gustave gave me a paternal pat on the back. “Don’t beat yourself up about it, Anouk. None of us knew what he was like.”
“I was so awful to Tristan a few minutes ago and then he goes and does that.” I gave Gustave a thin smile. “So, we walk out and pretend we saw nothing?”
“You’re just protecting yourself with new faces on the circuit, and rightfully so.” Gustave smiled. “We walk making small talk, and you
“Oh no! We have to stop him!” I went to push the curtain back but Gustave grabbed my arm to stop me. Tristan Black didn’t deserve to cop a mouthful from Joshua. As much as I distrusted the newcomer, I couldn’t stand by and watch him get berated on account of me.
“Wait, Anouk. I have a feeling your Monsieur Black can look after himself just fine.”
“He doesn’t know the story, Gustave. He has no idea what he’s dealing with! I have to warn him…”
“Wait. I think you underestimate the new guy.” Gustave pulled the curtain aside an infinitesimal amount so we could peek out.
Joshua tapped Tristan on the back with an index finger, pointed like a gun.
I held my breath, wishing for the hundredth time Joshua would just walk off and disappear out of Paris for good.
Tristan took his sweet time, chatting to the office clerk, and totally ignoring the finger in the back.
Joshua tried again, this time using the palm of his hand.
Tristan turned, annoyance clouding his face. “What can I do for you?” he said, his voice clipped.
“Any reason you snuck in a bid like that? Or was it just to win her over?” Joshua pulled a sour face like he’d been sucking lemons, angry that someone had got the better of him. “She’s not worth it, you know.”
I gasped. That lowlife! Gustave shot me a look that said,
see?
I clung on to the curtain that separated us from them. Through the gap I could see Tristan pull himself up to full height. “
She
has a name if it’s the person I think you’re referring to, and I don’t like your accusations, or your tone.”
Shivers raced down my spine. “Yeah?” Joshua snarled like a beast. “Watch your step, I’m warning you now.
She
,” he spat the word, “isn’t who you think she is.”
I reeled back. “What does that mean?” I mouthed to a shocked Gustave who shrugged. It was bizarre to hear myself discussed, and it was especially odd when it made no sense.
“Well who is she then?” Tristan asked, an edge of menace in his tone.
I inched closer again, intrigued too.
“Who knows? It’s all an act with her.” Joshua’s lip curled. “What you see isn’t what you get.
Comprendre?
”
An act with
me
? With him more like it! The hide of that guy. I wanted to storm outside and berate Joshua for making trouble. Again. But Gustave held my arm firmly, shaking his head.
“The only thing I understand,” Tristan said, leaning right into Joshua’s face. “Is that you’re a man with no principles, and if I see you bid her up again for no reason, there’s gonna be trouble.
Comprendre?
”
I bit back on a laugh at the way Tristan mimicked him.
Joshua narrowed his eyes, and said, “You were warned. Next time I won’t be so nice.”
“Duly noted. Now go away.” Tristan shooed him like he was a fly and turned his back, leaving Joshua standing there like a fool.
He finally stalked off, with an angry glint in his eye. I’d never seen anyone upset Joshua before. I had a new level of respect for Tristan knowing instinctively how to act around that rat of a man.
When we could finally talk properly without fear of being caught behind the curtain I said quietly to Gustave, “Why did he say it was all an act with me?”
Gustave pursed his lips and then said, “To make trouble. You know he manipulates the situation in his favor.”
I nodded, not convinced it was that simple. “Every day I wonder if I was under some kind of spell to have ever thought I loved that man.”
Gustave gave me a paternal pat on the back. “Don’t beat yourself up about it, Anouk. None of us knew what he was like.”
“I was so awful to Tristan a few minutes ago and then he goes and does that.” I gave Gustave a thin smile. “So, we walk out and pretend we saw nothing?”
“You’re just protecting yourself with new faces on the circuit, and rightfully so.” Gustave smiled. “We walk making small talk, and you
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