"It's beautiful."

Jean turned to look at the woman standing next to him in the viewing gallery. Her sculpted looks and fashionable clothing were remarkable, even for Paris. "The city council agrees with you. They put a preservation order on the whole area."

"Places can change so completely - and not always for the better. But this!" The woman gestured at the view of Paris, spread out before them. "I'm just happy the Eiffel Tower survived so I could see this."

"Well, there was that fuss about the ironwork. But that was twenty-odd years ago. The tower should be good for another couple of centuries, at least."

"Good." The woman edged closer to Jean. "Maybe I'll come back then and see."

"If only!"

The woman slid her hand through the crook of Jean's elbow. "Come on," she said eagerly. "I've only got a day, and I want to see the sights. Do you want to be my guide?"

Jean stared at her. "It's a bit sudden. I don't even know your name."

"I'm Anne." The woman fumbled in her bag and pulled out a jet-black credit card. "And don't worry. I'll pay for everything,"

Jean hesitated. It wasn't as if he had any other plans for the day, and this felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. "Where do you want to start?"

The pair spent the day running around Paris: museums and galleries; department stores and boutiques; pavement cafés and bars. Everywhere they went, doors were opened for them. All Anne had to do was produce her credit card, and her every wish was fulfilled. Her appetite for sensation and spectacle knew no limits, and Jean found himself being pulled along in her wake. At the end of the day Anne used her card to book them into a hotel suite, where they both collapsed.

"I need a rest," Jean groaned as he flopped onto a couch that was as big as his bed.

"No time for that," Anne replied. "You order dinner. I'm going to have a shower and then ... ." She winked at Jean, then headed for the bathroom.

In the morning, Anne rose early, leaving Jean alone in the bedroom. He was roused by a knocking at the door of the suite; but when he went to see what was happening, Anne had got there first and was talking to a man in a white uniform. She caught sight of Jean and hurried over to him.

"I have to go now," Anne said. "My time is up. But don't worry. The room is paid for."

Jean blinked. "Can I see you later?"

"No. I spend my time in stasis. I only come out one day a year." She bent forward to kiss Jean on the cheek. "But I enjoyed my time with you."

Jean clutched at her arm. "What about next year?"

Anne shrugged. "Perhaps. I can't promise anything." Then she left.

Jean reached for his phone, to set a date on his calendar.