By the time she reached La Verrière, she was exhausted.
But she straightened her shoulders.
Adjusted her uniform.
Tied back her hair.
And entered the staff corridor.
The restaurant manager, Étienne Laurent, was waiting near the kitchen.
He was forty-three, immaculately dressed, and capable of becoming anxious about details that most guests would never notice.
“Elena.”
She stopped.
“Yes?”
“Private room tonight. Delcourt group.”
She nodded.
He looked serious.
“Very important dinner. Several investors. There are negotiations scheduled tomorrow.”
“I understand.”
“Please be discreet.”
Elena almost smiled.
She had heard those words hundreds of times.
Étienne continued.
“Mr. Delcourt expects flawless service.”
She nodded.
“Of course.”
He glanced at her name badge.
Then said, “And don't engage the guests in unnecessary conversation.”
Elena looked toward him.
“I never do.”
He seemed satisfied.
“Good.”
Then he walked away.
Her colleague Nadia Benali approached from the other side of the corridor carrying a tray of folded napkins.
Nadia was twenty-eight, French-Algerian, and one of the few people at the restaurant who knew about Elena's research.
She took one look at her friend's face.
“Long day?”
Elena laughed quietly.
“Very.”
Nadia leaned closer.
“Then you're going to love tonight.”
“Why?”
“Delcourt.”
Elena frowned.
“What about him?”
Nadia rolled her eyes.
“Last time he came here, he sent a perfectly good dessert back because the chocolate decoration wasn't symmetrical.”
Elena sighed.
“Wonderful.”
Nadia smiled.
“Also, he likes asking staff questions nobody expects them to answer.”
Elena looked toward her.
“What kind of questions?”
“Geography. History. Wine production. Anything that lets him feel clever.”
Elena laughed softly.
“Perhaps he should attend a university lecture.”
Nadia grinned.
“Don't say that in front of him.”
They entered the dining room together.
Outside, Paris glowed beneath the evening sky.
Inside, the long table had been arranged for eleven guests, with crystal wineglasses, polished silverware, white floral arrangements, and candles placed carefully along the center.
Elena examined the seating chart.
She recognized several surnames.
One belonged to a Spanish investment firm involved in the independent project review.
Another to a Portuguese infrastructure group.
Then she saw the name at the head of the table.
Antoine Delcourt.
Her stomach tightened slightly.
She knew the name.
The Delcourt Group was one of the principal sponsors of Corredor Azul.
Its proposed expansion was the subject of the assessment she'd been helping prepare all morning.
Elena looked toward the doors.