Becoming an Expatriate: Part 3/3

While driving Sarah back to her hotel, the normally quiet Pierre asked, "Mademoiselle Sarah, was that an extraordinary experience at Jules Verne?"  With some slurring she simply said, "You betcha Pierre." Entering the hotel, she had an insane thought that there was still more she wanted to experience in the evening. However, her tripping on the first step of the hotel changed her mind. Once in her room, she again opened the french doors overlooking the street below. Looking out towards the Eiffel Tower, she said out loud, "Claude addressed me as Chere." She then stood. by the bed to remove her purple gown. Doing so, she lost her balance and landed on the bed and laid down. She didn't stir until the morning.

At 8:35 in the morning, the room phone sounded. Still in somewhat of a daze, she answered. It was the front desk. There was a delivery for her. "Madame, do you wish the delivery to be brought up to your room?" "Ahhhh .... Oui!, leave it outside the door, s'il te pláit" Within moments she was in the shower with the sandalwood soap she had purchased on her first visit. It was that particular creamy and woody scent that so relaxed her. After her shower she opened the room door to find a bouquet of French lilies, symbolizing French royalty, with a note from Claude signed Chère. She liked that. He wished her success in finding an apartment. By 9:45 she was dressed in her linen slacks and loose cotton blouse. Her now-favorite brasserie was only minutes away.

Taking a table on the patio, the waiter recognized her and brought her an English menu. "Bonne journée, Madame. "Bonne journée, Monsieur." "Would you like the croque monsieur and café créme again?" "Oui" Taking the menu, she stated. "I am now in Paris for the next 4 months at least, and I have a personal goal of reading your French menu soon." "Of course, Madame" Once the waiter left, she pulled out her cell phone to check for messages. There were none.

Once she finished the Petit-déjeuner, she sat back with a second café crème thinking about the night before with the arrival of Chloe. Chloe had correctly guessed Claude's action. She felt assured that it was about Chloe marking her territory as a former lover. She thought that may be an issue for her being the center of a series of pieces in the magazine Vogue, France. But then she remembered Claude's comment that with 2 gins, Chloe would let it go. But, Claude most likely doesn't truly understand a women's mindset when romance is involved.

With la addition paid, including her now normal extra €3, she was back in her room to plan her day as to visiting various arrondissements. Her first visit would be the 15th arrondissement where Claude resided. That would be followed by th 9th and 10th. She called Pierre to request him to pick her up around 10:30, or when he was available. He agreed to the time. She wanted to dress somewhat professionally, but casually, assuming she would be talking to possible landlords or real estate agents. With a sprayed mist of her perfume, she checked her appearance in the mirror as she exited her room. She waited for Pierre in the lobby, and of course he was right on time. With their normal greetings they were off. Although it was not probably necessary, he offered to assist her in any meetings to provide translation. She liked and accepted that offer. He stated that he had made a list of possible visits in anticipation of assisting her. He escorted her the car.

The day was long with 6 meetings, 2 for each arrondissement. The comfort of the 15th arrondissement was her choice for a furnished 1 bedroom studio at a rate of $2,000 per month. Plus it was a month-by-month rental. Her consulting fee would readily cover that fee. Feeling quite satisfied with her apartment hunting, Pierre returned her to the hotel at 6. She thanked Pierre for his time and needed assistance in several of the stops. Upon arriving in her room, she quickly removed her clothes and took a shower. Once out, she put on jeans and her Harvard sweatshirt. She was quite hungry having not stopped for lunch. But she was also somewhat tired given the intensity of the day. It would be THE brasserie again tonight. Before leaving her room, she opened the French doors to enhance the air with the baking scents of the boucherie next door. 

As she approached her now-favorite brasserie, she noticed only one table was available outside. She hastened her step to obtain it before possible others. As she sat, the familiar waiter approached her. "Bonsoir, Madame" ""Bonsoir Monsieur. I wish to try some other delights tonight. But first un verre de Chardonnay, s'il te plaît" "Oui!, I will be back in a moment with your wine and menus." As he walked away, she thought 'Why did he say menu(s)?' As she waited for her wine she opened her cell phone and texted her parents about her new abode. She knew they would be excited, especially given their stated desire to come to Paris. As she pursed her cell phone, the waiter arrived with her Chardonnay and 2 menus. "Madame, here are both a French and English menu to begin your French lessons as to food, at least." She smiled, "Merci beaucoup, Monsieur. Un instant, s'il te plait" She saw the item moules marinière, which she knew were mussels steamed in a broth of wine, butter, and herbs. Her French friends at Harvard spoke of them constantly. Not to be found in Omaha she thought, that was her order.

As she waited for her meal, she glanced at the occupants of the other tables. This was her first time in Paris to seriously observe other customers, especially couples. She noticed a radiance around them as they interacted so casually, so comfortably. Their conversations were so often accompanied by hand gestures. This was not what she was use to when in Omaha or Boston. When at restaurants/bars in the States, she would play the mental game of guessing if couples were married or on a date. But tonight, the couples universally were 'lovers', as simple as that. This sense of romance had been increasing in her mind since her return to Paris. The moment that Claude accidentally, or maybe not, referred to her as Chère was a spark in their mind.

Wih the mussels served along with another Chardonnay, her exhaustion from the day was starting to take hold as she took the first mussel to be an extraction tweezer for the rest. The mussels were excellent, but it was the white wine broth with crushed tomatoes and fennel that was so extraordinary. She used her entire basket of toasted baquette pieces to soak up the broth. Well satisfied with her meal, she signaled for la addtion and reflected on how her AMEX card had been serving her well since graduating from Harvard.

As she entered her room she noticed the slight, comforting scent of the lilies that were on a table next to the door. She had never been sent flowers before. Several of the stems had fully blossomed in a random, yet balanced presentation. She separated one of the flowers from its stem and placed it in a glass of water on a night stand by her bed. She decided that she would place it in the right side of her long hair during her shopping spree the next day. She had a number of outfits she 'needed'/ wanted to purchase for her job. 

As she undressed and slipped info her silk teddy, she smiled thinking about Chloe's fatuous attempt to interrupt her dinner with Claude. He had handled it firmly and quickly. Clearly, there were some angles to this woman's personality that she had not perceived on the plane ... that she would have to understand. She remembered Claude saying that Parisians seek out celerbities and that her coverage in Vogue would be excellent for that reason alone. She opened the French doors to the streets below and stepped onto the small landing to observe the night life. By 10 in the evening, le Marais was quite busy with couples and several minstrels traversing between the brasseries and restaurants with outdoor seating. The blending of voices and music added a mild level of complexity to this otherwise serene locale during the day. She liked that. She hoped that her apartment in the 15th arrondissement will have a similar nightly atmosphere and be as the ashionable le Marais. Checking her Iphone again before going to bed, there were no messages or emails. She called the front desk to place a 9 wakeup call. Leaving the French doors open for both the slight wind and the white noise of the street, she was soon asleep.

Answering her wake-up call, the first scent was that of bread baking at the boucherie next door. She rolled on her side and reached for the ilie in the glass and placed it on her chest. She could hear the street cleaners in their green jumpsuits sweeping the debris from the night before into the drainage ditches .... as they did every morning. She sat up and called the front desk to order her petit-déjeuner of café crème and croissant. If at a brasserie in the morning, the order would be croque monsieur and café crème. These delights had become her standard breakfasts while in Paris, or in France wherever. It was a bright morning in Paris, and she would have an excellent day to shop both le Marais, but also along Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré. This rue offered a number of  designer boutiques and retailers including Hermé, her first stop.

Having taken a quick shower, she dressed casually, but with no Harvard sweatshirt this day. Brushing her hair, she slipped the lilie into the right side of her hair. With a sprayed mist of her perfume, she was on her way. She stepped out of the hotel taking in the morning scent of Paris as she remembered from her first trip. As she walked along Rue de la Verrerie on her way to shop at Hermé, she knew it was a fair distance for her to go. But, she preferred walking on the streets instead of taking the Metro. She had plenty of time to achieve her shopping desires. 

She passed several boutiques on her way, but Hermé was her first destination. The store front of the Hermé was amazing; nothing like that in Omaha. As she entered the store she found the grandeur to be a bit intimidating at first. But, this is Paris, and she realized that she should not expect anything less. She was quickly approached by a sales woman speaking French. Sarah had practiced one phrase, Je ne parle pas bien francais, meaning that she did not speak good French. With just the first 3 words spoken, the women continued in English with a disarming French accent. "Madame, what can I do for you this morning?" Sarah briefly explained that she had a job in Paris. and she was not sure of the styles she should wear. "Madame, I understand perfectly. Please follow me to the 'show room' where my assistant Marie will try on a number of outfits for your consideration." 

Once seated in the room, another assistant delivered macaroons, a bottle of water, and a café crème to her side table. Altogether, over the next hour, she was shown 10 outfits ranging from long skirts to pant suits. At the end, she selected 6 of the 10. She thought perhaps the others may be appropriate once she had settled into her position and the atmosphere of the company. With her measurements taken and the bill charged on AMEX, she left and headed down the Rue tidu Faubourg Saint Honoré to visit various boutiques to find outfits for casual situations. The first boutique she entered and was greeted by a young American lady who imediately spoke to her in English. When she mentioned her interest in casual clothes, the young lady suggested that her best approach was to go to the Galeries Lafeyette in the Opera Qtr. She thank her for the candid suggestion and left.

Again, she decided walk to the Opera Qtr. It was now just past noon and she decided to get a sandwich. On a side street she took on her way there was such a small shop with a line waiting outside to place orders. She decided to try it. She had yet to have a baquette sandwich. Once in the shop, she ordered a bottle of water and a baquette filled with brie and country paté. It was extraordinary with an unexpected addition of a thin layer of buerre. (That is the French way.) Finishing her sandwich, she arrived at Galeries Lafayette. She realized that it is a complex of 3 buildings, i.e., Home, Men, and Main. Entering the main store, she was once again taken back by the magnificence of the interior. She noted that there is nothing like this in Omaha. A directory next to the escalator listed women sport clo thes on the 4th floor. Once there, she was dazzled by the variety of women outfits. She spent nearly 50 minutes picking out various outfits and combinations. Upon trying on what she had chosen, she was pleased with her selections. She then went to a caissière location and made her payment. She had only one more chore for the day, She needed to open a checking account and deposit the check in Euros that she had been given by Claude to get her financially settled in France. She had noticed a BNPParibas bank location in the Opera QTR and went there directly. With her passport and apartment lease in hand, it didn't take long to open a checking account. In the future, all of her consulting payments would be sent directly there. It was time for an afternoon delight of wine and a snack of sorts at the celebrated Le Grand Café Fauchon that she knew was only several blocks away.

Entering the Café through its outdoor terrace, she remembered Pierre had mentioned the menu included French seasonal cuisine, gourmet pastries, savory creations, and signature weekend brunches. He also mentioned that the fanciful Bisou Bisou dessert is a must-experience. Shaped like the perfect kiss (hence its name), it consists of layers soft dacquoise, almond crunch, strawberry & espelette pepper confit, and a fresh mint–infused vanilla ganache. It is finished with a red glaze (Oh my!). She decided on un verre de vin rouge du Rhône and a Bisou Bisou on the terrace.

While she waited for her dessert and wine, Claude called. "Bon après-midi Sarah." "Bonne journée Claude." "How are things going as to settling into Paris?" Speaking rapidly, "Claude, I am so excited. I have a lovely apartment in the 15th. Additionally, I have deposited my Euros check, and I am shopping for my office outfits. In short, I will be ready to come into the office by Friday." "Sarah, make your presence known on the following Monday. Give Pierre your address. Meanwhile, enjoy your free time." Laughing lightly, "You will be quite busy here for awhile." She quickly responded, "Claude, I will be quite ready. Do your best to challenge me." Continuing with a laugh, "WE will, Chère." Her eyebrows raised. There it was again, Chère "Please leave Saturday night open. I will be back to you. Au revoir" "Au revoir, Claude." She wasn't comfortable yet in saying 'Chère'.

With 6 days ramaining until her first day on the job, and no more shopping required, she decided to do several expected tourist activities. She planned several days for traveling outside of Paris. The first trip would be visiting the grounds and palace of Versailles, which was most conveniently done by taking the RER-C train. The following 2 days she would rent a car to explore several of the Renaissance castles of the Loire Valley.  To be sure, she would be back on Saturday as per Claude's request.

Arriving back into Paris early Friday evening, she returned her rental car to Port Maillot on the west side of Paris. It was only a 20 minute ride on the Metro to arrive at her hotel. Once in her room, she opened the French doors to the street, and a light breeze quickly filled the room with the aroma of the boulangerie next door.  The street was relatively quiet in that It was too early for those having dinner at the nearby restaurants and as the boutiques were closing down for the day. Her first desire was to take a long shower with the sandlewood soap. Even though there were curtains for the French doors, it never occurred to her to close them while she showered and dressed. Paris provided her with the feeling of freedom and openness which was contrary to her time in Boston and definitely unlike Omaha.

It was nearly 8:30 when she had dressed for the evening; again, with the Harvard sweatshirt and jeans. With a mist of perfume as she left her room, she snipped off one of the lilies and placed it in the right side of her hair. She had often thought about the Polynesian charm that the right side placement of a flower was an indication of being 'available': and that she is. But, available for what? Arriving at THE Brasserie, she sat at a corner outdoor table furthest from the entrance. Her usual waiter noticed her and greeted her with only the French menu. "Bonne soirée Madame". "Bonne soirée, Monsieur." With the slight tilt of his head and a sliver of a smile, he continued, "Here is your French menu Madame" And with a grin she replied, "Merci beaucoup, Monsieur" She  paused, then "Un verre de Chardonnay, s'il te plâit." "Oui. Madame" With the waiter gone she studied the menu. Given her familiarity with the English version, she could translate and identify a number of the items listed. When the waiter returned with her wine and a basket of baguettte pieces, she confidently said. "Plat de pâtes, s'il  te plaît Monsieur." He looked somewhat puzzled, as in saying 'Really?' "Oui, Madame", and he left leaving the menu with her. She always loved different pâtés, as in her sandwich several days earlier, and she could make small sandwiches with the pieces of baguette on the table.

With the restaurant being in the adjacent 20th arrondissement, it was a relatively short drive from her hotel. Upon arrival, she was somewhat surprised at the open environment of the restaurant. Being enclosed in glass, its interior is bright with a Southern France decor. Claude was seating inside by the back wall. As she approached his table, he stood to receive her and she noticed a folder with papers in it. He immediately stated how enchanting she looked in her outfit.

With a kiss to each cheek by both, he placed her chair as she sat down. As he moved to the other side of the table he said, "I have several interesting points to talk with you tonight. To be clear, your consulting position is firm, but there may be an alternative you may wish to consider. It will be your choice, of course." She tilted her head in bewilderment as she placed both hands on the table. He reached across the table and took her right hand in his. "Sarah, I have exciting news for me ... and hopefully for you."

The waiter had just arrived and handed them each a menu. Claude first ordered a bottle of Bourgogne blanc to be delivered. Sarah began, "You certainly have my attention Claude. "There has been a major change in the management of the company which I will explain. But first, again, I assure you that your consulting position remains if you wish so. However, there is another path that you may want to consider when I explain what has just happened. What you most likely do not know about my business background is that I have started and sold several firms over the years. When I offered you a consulting position with the firm, I had no intention of selling it in the near future. However, in the last several days there have been serious discussions between myself and a major AI conglomerate. They have offered to merge my company into their array of firms. And most importantly, they are willing to include all of my personnel without any dismissals for at least 3 years. AI is expanding in so many ways that they understand that my personnel are important for that growth. In short, your consulting position is solid for at least 4 months. However, it is still in my power to offer you a permanent position assuring your employment for at least 3 years."

The waiter arrived with the Bourgogne and 2 glasses. Claude sampled it and gave his approval. With the glasses filled he made a toast "To our future Chère."

He paused for her to take in all that he had said. He had another serious point to make, but first wanted her to be comfortable with the situation that now existed. She responded with, "What happens to you? Were are you going? To be candid, I accepted the consulting position with the understanding that I would be reporting to YOU. It is that knowledge of YOU that made it possible for me to accept the consulting position." "Sarah, I understand and appreciate that very much. Hence, I have an alternative for you." He paused for a moment and then continued. "You recall that the consulting contract you signed permits it to be concelled within 1 month by either party. Or, it can be cancelled immediately by returning the advancement of €10,000. So, permit me to answer your questions about my future first because I have an alternative for you to consider now. She was now sitting upright in her chair somewhat confused as to what she was being presented.

Claude sensed her tenseness with this new information. She was new to the possible dynamics of the corporate world. "Sarah, another door has opened for me regarding a relatively new venture in producing AI-based hardware for a variety of industries, both in Europe and North America especially. The purchase of my company will provide significant capital to take control of that venture." He paused. "This is where you come into the picture. I will require a VP of Product and Market Development to lead the charge both in France and most importantly in North America. You can be that person given your BS in Advanced Mechanical Engineering along with your MBA. In my opinion, you are a natural." He paused again. She responded with a "WOW!" as she sat back in her chair and reached for her wine. She sat quitely for several minutes as she thought of the points that she would need to consider. Like a good salesperson, he had made his offer and knew not to say any more until engaged by Sarah.

The waiter arrived to take their dinner order. However, tied up in her thoughts, she said, "Monsieur, please return in several minutes." Claude remained silent. Finally, she looked directly at Claude and simply said, "Once again, Claude you have amazed me. You are correct that I did not know of your past business ventures." Talking slowly she continued, "I think I have a number of questions, but then again maybe not. The position sounds amazing, even without knowing the details. I am comfortable with trusting your judgement." She paused again and then waved to the waiter to come take their orders.

"Claude, would you kindly order for me. I only recognize a few of the plats." "Absolutely," as he turned to face the waiter. Monsieur, Madame and I will both have the La P’tite BouillaBreizh. That will be sufficent for now." With the waiter gone, he turned to face Sarah and explained that this is a signature dish of the Chef. "It is an unique version of bouillabaisse from Marseille that uses a particular mixture of seafood for the stew. Along with the baguette pieces, it will be complete and quite filling."

Sarah continued to remain silent for several minutes as she sipped her wine. Claude remained patient waiting for Sarah's questions and thoughts. Finally after several minutes, she reached across the table and took his right hand in hers. "Chère, what is your timeline for selling the company and moving forward with the new venture." She surprised herself that she had finally naturally used that term of endearment with him. "I have one month remaining with the company to assist the new management with the transition. That will give you one month as a consultant to meet the minimal terms of your contract, if you wish to leave. My guaranteed investment in this new venture will take place within one week after that. If you accept my offer for being part of my management team, reporting directly to me, then you would start at that point with a salary 20% greater than your consulting fee along with full benefits. Your primary residence will be in Paris along with an additional office in the States for you and appropriate staff.

Suddenly, Sarah let go of his hand and stood up and then turn around once before sitting down again. Claude first laughed and said, "What was that Chère" "That BOSS was my Dorothhy impression from the Wizard of Oz as to what you have offered is unbelievable. YES!, BOSS, I accept your offer."  Out of character for Claude, he stood up turned around and sat down. They both laughed at this silliness. At that point, the bouillabaisse was served. Nothing more needed to be said now. However, he reached across the table and took both of her hands in his, "This is great. Welcome to our new firm Chère.

Known by each, but not spoken, was that the combination of his offer and her acceptance was a true beginning of the two developing a rich and lasting romance. Contrary to her Midwestern upbringing, she never responded to Bob's text.