Bistro Saint Georges
1:56 PM

"Veronica!" waved a titian-haired beauty seated at the far end of the bistro.

"Maddie!" she walked hastily to her girlfriend, making sure not to collide with busy waiters clearing the tables. Lunch service had just ended.

The smell of parmentier and beef bourguignon wafted in the air. She squeezed into the little space to give her friend a tight embrace.

The family-owned restaurant seemed like the best place for a much-awaited reunion. What she needed right now was someone like Mads. Her friend was detached from her crazy world now which gave her a big advantage.

Madeleine Perrault was the first person she ever made friends with in Dubai. She was one of the operating flight attendants on the way to her new homeland, Dubai.

She never thought they would bump into each other again. But when she started her six-week intensive training, Madeleine did her First-Class service training at the same Aviation Academy. This was when their friendship started.

After graduation, they would make it a point to catch up despite their contrasting schedules. After three years of flying, Madeleine decided to go back home to continue teaching dance at the Conservatoire de Paris. It broke Her heart when she left but celebrated her friend's new beginnings.

She took her black and white coat off and hung it at the back of the wooden chair.

"Well, it's about time you did a Paris flight again! I thought you were avoiding me!" Madeleine teased her.

"So sorry, Maddie. I had to have a break from this city—this whole continent. It was painful to come back—" she said, struggling with words.

"Hey, I was only joking," she reached out her arms across the table and clasped her friend's hands.

"Of course," she forced a smile while she wiggled her nerves off.

"So what really happened? Wolff was a great guy. And you both were in love. I thought you were moving to Switzerland," she asked after asking a waiter for another wine glass.

Madeleine had only met Wolff once. She thought of him as a very genuine person. She'd witnessed how he looked at Veronica with so much love in his eyes. Although pretentious, she liked him because he took good care of Veronica.

"I was crazy about him but I didn't want to leave my career," she sighed as a garçon approached their table to put a wine glass in front of her.

She thanked the waiter in French after he poured sauvignon blanc that Madeleine had pre-ordered before she arrived.

"You made the right decision. I know how perfect you were together. Especially in bed," she winked thrice.

She almost choked on her wine. As soon as she caught her breath, the two girls burst out laughing. And it took a while before they could settle down again.

"The sex was great. It was always hard to say no to him. Wolff was good to me, and so was his family. I always felt bad for not reciprocating the intensity of his love," she admitted, her voice becoming serious once again.

She had to stop herself from thinking about the many ways he gave her pleasure.

"Did you truly love him?" Madeleine asked, bursting her train of lustful thoughts.

"Yes, I did. We both did. I felt it in many different ways. I just couldn't sacrifice my lifestyle. He couldn't do the same either. Our love felt good, but it wasn't good enough to last," she sighed.

There was no commitment on both sides.

"You were both so young when you met. And you still are. I think it's the best decision to be apart. People grow. And people change. Your priorities are different from his, and this will keep changing," she emphasized.

Madeleine had noticed how she wasn't herself anymore when she was with him. She had forgotten how to enjoy her travels and discovering new places. She had neglected her friends and herself. Her focus was just seeing him.

"I want to apologize for disregarding you all this time. I did many Paris flights, but I called you only twice. The first time was when I introduced you to Wolff. And the other time was when we only spoke over the phone," she sighed.

"I understand that you had limited time, ma belle," she said with the familiar sweetness she missed. She was a few months younger than her but she was so much wiser beyond her years.

"I'd understand. I mean, I can imagine how delectable Wolff is," she winked again.

The two girls roared in laughter. How she missed this so much!

"Well, at least I'm more relaxed now even if I get lonely sometimes. Perhaps one day, I could be in a normal relationship," she gave a hopeful smile.

"And if that time comes, please, please find someone who lives in Dubai! A long distance relationship almost never works," Madeleine declared with one eyebrow raised.

"Touché! Listen, I've requested more Paris flights on my roster. I hope the system picks it up so we can really catch up," she said with excitement.

"I hope so! I'm glad you're speaking French again."

"Just for you and this flight layover, I will."

Madeleine and Wolff were the only two people who encouraged her to continue speaking the language. It would be a waste if she didn't since she studied it for years in college.

She first fell in love with French in high school. She was obsessed with Edith Piaf's songs after a summer in Corsica.

When she went to college, she took her interests a step higher. She finished a double degree in French Studies and Painting to satisfy her passion. Before anything else, Veronica was a very talented artist. She was also a very diligent student and graduated with honors. Hence, her abrupt migration to the Middle East was a shock to everyone.

Apart from good wine, French was also the reason why she and Madeleine became great friends. But these days, she wasn't in the mood to practice. French was the tongue she and Wolff shared, too.

She exhaled in frustration. She had to remind herself that she shouldn't associate her ex with who she really is. She loved the French language. And that should never change.

Although, she did leave her life as an artist to run away from her first love. Some things never change!

Her hand subconsciously dug inside her bag to check her phone. Instead, she got a hold of the pink stone she'd just bought at the crystal shop. Suddenly, a beautiful energy filled her. She had to slowly get back to normal.

Little by little.

"Oh, ma belle! This is so surreal! I still cannot believe you are here again. I missed you!" her girlfriend exclaimed as she topped up their glasses.

"Likewise, babe," she replied, taking another sip of her drink.

Drinking wine and chatting till the wee hours of the morning was a weekend thing they did during their training days. The alcohol and the presence of her dearest Madeleine was finally warming her spirit.

Admiring her chic friend, she noticed how Madeleine got her Parisian accent back. She used to have an English twist in the way she spoke. Most of their instructors at the Aviation Academy were from the UK. For a non-English speaker like Madeleine, it was inevitable that she picked up their accent.

She was about to voice this observation of hers. But she stopped herself as Madeleine waved at someone behind her. She turned around and gasped. A good-looking bespectacled man with cropped curly hair and caramel skin walked up to Madeleine and gave her a long kiss on the lips.

"Veronica, I'd like you to meet Austin, mon amour," she beamed with pride, her eyes sparkling.

She felt guilt rush over her. It was her fault she wasn't updated on her best friend's life. Without hesitation, Austin went over to kiss her twice, one on each cheek.

"What a pleasant surprise! How lovely to meet you, Austin," she was so happy for Madeleine.

"And to you, too. So I finally met Miss Veronica Ramos from Dubai. Maddie hasn't stopped talking about you," he said as he sat next to his proud girlfriend.

While sharing another bottle of white wine, she learned that Austin was a music producer from Los Angeles. She also noticed that he had a strong Californian accent. He's been in Paris for a year now and plans to live in the city of love for good.

She gave Madeleine a smile of approval. He was moving to Paris to be with her. That's the most romantic story she's ever heard. She was content knowing that her dearest friend seemed to have found her perfect someone.

Austin looked like a wonderful person. She could feel the kindness in his voice. And as much as she wanted to ignore it, his face and demeanor reminded her so much of the handsome Mr. Smith. 

Subtle chaos filled the air as he entered the establishment. He crossed in between a waiter and an old couple. They were conversing just by the door, not minding the people passing in front of them. Waiters ran around with empty bread baskets and trays of empty wine glasses. The kitchen was closing.

Before he could reach the bar, he saw a familiar face come out of the corner.

"So you changed your mind?" asked the figure in front of him.

TJ declined his cousin's treat earlier today. He refused to have a drink with him at the nearby bistro and said he'd rather work on the music track.

"A drink should clear my head before I hit the studio again," he declared, although surprised that he changed his route.

He was a very calculating man and believed in planners. And he liked sticking to his schedule. But since his flight from New York to Dubai, he's been doing things on a whim. Instead of flying straight to Paris, he stayed in Dubai for a week!

"You've been acting very weird since you arrived. You know that, right?" the man chuckled.

TJ shrugged even if he knew exactly what he meant.

"Well, why don't you join us? Madeleine's been so excited to see you. She's right over there with a friend of hers who just arrived from Dubai," said his best friend and cousin, Austin Smith. 

At the far end of the bistro, he noticed Madeleine chatting with another girl. He couldn't see her face. All he could see was her insanely long, black hair splayed on her back.

Paris sure was teasing him that day.

He'd just spent five days in the Sheikh's luxurious desert villa in Dubai before flying to Paris. Hence, this friend from the city of gold intrigued him.

"TJ, how wonderful to see you again!" Madeleine stood up as she whipped her long red hair to the side to accommodate cheek kisses from him.

As soon as he turned his cheek to give her a kiss, his eyes fell on the lady seated across the table. As if seeing an apparition, his eyes widened as he felt his jaw drop to the floor.

"Miss Veronica!"

Wow. I'm finally back updating Mr. Smith! Rusty, but happy. I hope you liked it. Thanks, Dani DanPaul01 for the push!