Edmond Lattone's POV
I smiled at the stranger before I was taking another champagne from the passing server. I sipped a little before I was looking at the stunning woman that was in front of me. She was looking around before she was smiling at me.
"I must say that I was surprised to see a woman like you being here alone tonight. What, you got no date?" I said before the woman smirked at me as she was sipping on her champagne. She was looking at me seductively over the rim of her glass.
"I don't think I was not allowed in here if I was alone. Or is that just your standards, monsieur?" She said to me before she was walking away from me. I chuckled before I was walking beside her. She was looking around before I was clearing my throat.
"I'm sorry if I offended you, mam'selle. But it was hard for me to think that a woman like you was walking alone tonight. Maybe I can keep you company?" I asked before the stranger was looking at me.
"What's your name?" She asked as I was smiling at her.
"Edmond Lattone, at your service mam'selle," I said as I was taking her hand into mine.
"And you are?"
"Lyana. Lyana Debaux," she said as I was kissing her knuckles. Her hands were soft and I was caressing her hands like I never did with anyone before.
"May I have my hand back, monsieur? It would seem that you enjoy it too much,"
"Was I?" I said before I was releasing her hand. "I haven't noticed," I said before I was ushering her to walk around the exhibition.
"So, what do you do, Edmond? It would seem that you are not the type of man that would be interested in the art or history," Lyana said as I was smiling at her. She did not know that I do have a passion for art but I don't usually show it to people.
"Should I be showing then if I was to attract your attention then, Miss Lyana?" I asked before Lyana was smiling at me.
"Perhaps," she said as she was moving around the corner before I was smirking at her. When there was a server that was about to knock Lyana out, I pulled her to my side as I was possessing her waist like I have any rights.
"My, my. You work fast, Mr. Edmond," she said as I was releasing her before I was missing her contact already. She smiled seductively before Pierre was on the stage and we turned to hear what he had to say right now.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I am proud to say that tonight will be the grand opening of our newest collection for the Gems around the World exhibition. I would like to thank you for all the personal that involved making this exhibition happened tonight," Pierre said as I was clapping with the others. Lyana was sipping on her wine.
"Now, without further ado, I would like to introduce you all to Tanzanite of Africa," Pierre said before the stage was moving and the gem was on display.
It was big but not too big. It was a perfect weight if our cat burglar would come to take it. I was mesmerized as Lyana was gripping my arm.
"It's beautiful. C'est incroyable!" She whispered as I was pulling her by the waist. She did not move out of my hand as I was gripping her. She turned to look at me.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I did not mean to—"
"No, it's my fault. I just can't keep my hands off myself it seems," I said before Lyana was smiling at me.
"Well, you sure have your charm, Edmond Lattone,'' she whispered to my ear before she was putting something into my pocket.
"But I'm afraid I cannot stay long. I have to go to work. Maybe we can continue to talk later if you wish to," she said before she was patting my pocket as I was looking at her retreating figure. I was looking at her ass before she disappeared through the crowd.
"And now, this gem will be in the highest tech of security. If La Femme Bleu was to take it, she would have to work for it," Pierre said as I was looking at the mysterious woman before I was looking at the card that she put.
Lyana Debaux, curator.
I smiled before I was putting the card away as it was a precious thing that I have tonight. I turned to look at the gem before Pierre was happy and the crowd was clapping at him. I did as well but my eyes were on alert for any possible cat burglar that would come tonight.
We were chatting away and there was no sign of La Femme Bleu. Was her threat was a joke to her? Does she strike when the time has come? I mean, doing it when there was a crowd would be the best course of action.
Or maybe she was elusive for this thieving.
"Lattone, it would seem that the cat burglar did not show after all. She did not dare to mess with the new security tech that I got. This will be the glorious day for us that La Femme Bleu was afraid to show up," Pierre said before I saw someone that I was familiar with earlier was coming toward us.
"Mr. Pierre Vouivre as I live and breathe," Lyana said before Pierre turned to look at her and he was clearing his throat.
"Ms. Debaux. I did not know that you were coming," Pierre said as Lyana was smiling seductively with her red lipstick. I was feeling rage when I saw that Lyana was trying to seduce Pierre right now.
"How's your wife? I hope she was doing fine," Lyana said before she was turning to look at me.
Now you acknowledge me?!
"Sasha was doing fine. I think she was happy to sit this one out," Pierre said before I noticed the wedding ring. So, maybe Lyana was not seducing the director.
Maybe it was for a different target.
"What a shame. I would love to talk to her tonight. That's why I came. How disappointing," she said before she was smiling at Pierre before she turned to look at me.
"And who's this?'' She asked Pierre and before Pierre told her who I was, I interrupted her.
"We have met earlier mam'selle. If you recall, I was the one that was pulling you to safety before you can get wet with champagne,"
"Ah yes! The wandering hand. I remember," she said before she was smiling at me. I felt a lump in my throat before I was sipping on the champagne. Someone was calling for Pierre before I was looking at him.
"Excuse me, I have to go," Pierre said before I was left again with the magnificent Lyana Debaux.
"So—" we both said simultaneously before we both chuckled. I smiled before I was looking at her.
"Sorry, you go first then,"
"No, it would be alright. I was hoping that you would go first, Edmond," she said my name and it rolled perfectly on her tongue. I was smiling at her before I was hearing the music for the dance. I put away my glass before I was offering her my hands.
"Shall we dance then, Ms. Lyana?" I asked before she put away her glass as well.
"Don't mind if I do, Mr. Edmond," she said as Lyana took my hand and we were walking toward the dance floor.