Chapter 23 Chapter Twenty-Three

Ennis and Franseva were handing out coffee and prizes to the wrinkled, red-eyed residents of the Great Hall.The group of guests in summer clothes looked curiously at Pike's bodyguards and criminal police, wondering why there were suddenly so many uniformed people in the hotel. While everyone was drinking their coffee with their heads down, no one noticed that a figure walked past the window and stopped at the gate. Hello Ernie, do you have a beer? Hearing Boni's voice, Ennis jumped up, hurried across the hall, hugged the stinking young man with a smile on his face, and patted him, as if wanting to confirm that he was indeed in front of his eyes.Franseva couldn't help shedding tears, the bodyguards and criminal police quickly put down their glasses, and Nicole ran out to call Simon and Pike.Mrs. Gibbon rushed out of the office, checked Bonny's dirty bare feet, and twirled her tail to show her welcome.

Ennis said: Great, Bernie boy, nice to see you.I think you should take a shower and eat something The senior detective made official gestures, but he held a half-eaten croissant in his hand, which made people look unprofessional.We have a lot of questions for that young man. Ennis frowned at him.Yes honey, I'm sure there must be something wrong with you, but please give this poor kid a moment.Let him take a shower first, and then slowly peel off the cocoons! The senior detective snapped his fingers at his partner and called Yavii to tell them we've got someone.They can get started.

Hampton.Pike ran upstairs, followed by Nicole and Simon. He put his hand on Bernie's shoulder and stood there with a smile on his face.Nice to meet you, boy!He swallowed so hard it really worried us for a while, are you okay? Boni grinned and nodded, it couldn't be better. Ennis said: Now, Mr. Parker, why don't we let Bernie clean himself up and feed him something! certainly.Pike patted his son on the back and turned to Simon, you know what?I didn't even tell the mother of the child.I've done it twice.If you don't mind, I think I'll have to give her a call now.Oh, I'd better call Bob, too.Ji Gele, he was very worried yesterday!

Simon looked at his watch. It was four in the morning New York time.He smiled and said: No, let me do it! For the next few hours, Simon went back and forth to translate the conversation between Boni and the criminal police, and he was exhausted.Interpol believes that if they repeatedly ask the same question, Boni will eventually reveal the name and address of the kidnapper. The reporters of Le Provence appeared again, believing that they had a big exclusive and could be caught by their cameras if they were willing to be photographed.Two unidentified American guests and the postman from the village also graciously posed in the hall for their photos.Ji Gele, who was too excited and sober, wanted to issue a press release explaining the key role he played in Rou Piao's safe release.Ennis insisted on having a celebratory party.Uncle William, who never missed an opportunity to cater to a billionaire, also volunteered to help decorate the dinner.Simon needed sleep, and when Nicole came to rescue him from the cops and take him home, he reluctantly climbed upstairs, threw himself on the bed fully clothed, and fell asleep.

Six hours later, after showering and shaving, Simon felt rejuvenated, even excited, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.He towel-dried his hair and watched Nicole put on a short black dress he had never seen before.He kissed her bronzed skin from behind as he zipped her up. Does this mean I have to wear a tie? Nicole dabs the powder on her neck and the inside of her wrists, and Ennis wants us to look decent.He is such a nice guy.He wanted to bring Bernie a special night. I would wear a coat but no tie and definitely no socks. Lazy bug! He murmured uncertainly as Nicole picked out a shirt and a light cotton suit for him, and dusted off the leather shoes he wore for the last time in London.

Nicole watched him sideways from behind as he put on his coat, her blond hair brushed against her face, her smooth bronzed legs and arms matching her dark silk dress.Simon had never seen a more beautiful woman.I may be a slob, he thought, but at least I'm a lucky slob. He smiled at her and said: You will be the most beautiful woman in the party.Hand in hand, they hiked to the hotel, chatting about tomorrow's affairs calmly. Madame Bonnett saw them from the window of the café, calling out to her husband, the Englishman, in a suit!Grunting, looking down contentedly at his faded blue shorts, Pornitol said: I like to see a man who has been transformed.

The terrace features a table for ten, decorated with shallow bowls of Ennis' favorite pink and white roses.Candlelight sparkled the silverware and glasses, while champagne bottles with long necks were placed in ice cubes between the flowers.The frogs living near the fountain played a concerto one after another, and the warm sky of Luberon was also hung with sparse stars. Nicole and Simon stepped up the stairs and walked towards the laughing language by the pool.Simon heard a loud, familiar voice in the crowd, and put his cigar in a secret pocket inside his coat.It turned out that it was Uncle William who was meeting before the royal opening.

He was speaking to Hampton, who was smiling politely: I now finally see how the expanse of Texas, the majesty of the Grand Canyon in New York, and the simple simplicity of Provence fit together in a proper balance.He paused, drained his glass, and handed the empty glass to the bartender.I was fascinated when your dear son brought it up and now I see your head again Pike said: My head? Did no one tell you?You look exactly like a descendant of Julius Caesar, Augustus if I remember correctly. Ennis, who passed by them, heard this, raised his eyebrows, and looked up.He now wears a white shirt, black trousers, and a waist-length coat in his own traditional Provençal costume, with a pink and green striped belt.With a glass in each hand, he walked up the stairs, looking at Nicole with satisfaction.

He said: Seeing such a pair of Bi people is really gratifying.Ma'am, you look as elegant as the ladies in the paintings. Simon bent forward to get a better look at the wide belt.Well, I didn't know you were a member of the Gorsok Club. Honey, I'm not, but I like the color a lot.Come on, everyone. The bodyguards in suits and boots who followed Parker were fascinated by Uncle William's talk about Impressionism.The joyful Boni watched with great interest the dress that Franseva wore.After drinking the champagne, Francie had a blush on her cheeks.Pike, who speaks fluent French with a strong accent, is chatting enthusiastically with Mrs. Pan.Mrs. Pan handed over the final work to the sous chef.She was wearing a dark blue twill dress and dizzying high heels.Mrs. Gibbon was searching for the fallen peanuts and the sleeping gecko, and the red, white and blue ribbon Ennis tied around its neck undoubtedly made it the most competent mascot.

Nicole put her hands in Simon's arms, feeling better? He nodded.It's what he's dreamed of for months: great weather, happy people, dinner under the stars, which is what a dreamer dreams of running a restaurant.He never expected that it would cost more than money. The physical strength, patience, endless attention to detail, and hospitality that Ennis had possessed from the moment the hotel opened. He said to Nicole: The funny thing is that when I woke up this evening, I confessed to myself that I was just a passerby in my life.I'm a great guest, but I don't think I'd be a good host.

She pinched his arm, I know, but you at least tried. Then came the sound of a fork hitting a glass, and all conversation stopped.Ennis looked at the crowd, raised his glass, and I proposed a toast to our distinguished guest before we rejoiced at the dinner Mrs. Pan had prepared for us. Uncle William squeezed out a humble smile, and looked down to see if the buttons on his clothes were buttoned properly. Let us respect the young Boni and welcome him back safely.We miss you. Bonny poked his head out, walked forward while drinking, and raised his beer can to show his thanks.Hampton extended his arms to Mrs. Pan, and they led the way, with the bodyguards following three steps behind, and went upstairs for dinner. Everyone told Mrs. Poon, whether in French, English, or Texas accent, that dinner was a masterpiece.The eclectic menu includes: fresh vegetable casseroles, assorted platters of beans, carrots, and artichokes; vegetable ragout with ham and egg; caviar wrapped in pink smoked salmon and shallots; Fragrant sherbet, to clear the taste that is paralyzed by red wine and meat; there are also blood red roasted garlic with spices roasted lamb chops, and Bernie's favorite potato with juice; made with goat's milk, cow's milk and sheep's milk Dozens of kinds of cheese topped with raspberry jam and basil iced peaches; hot coffee and grape pomace from Newcastle make people warm but not hot; the gray-blue smoke of cigars curls above the candlelight Haunted. Even Uncle William was moved by the joy of the moment, contentedly smoking Simon's last Havana cigar, puffing away, temporarily forgetting his artist status.Under the influence of food and wine, people became lazy, and even the conversations were sporadic and peaceful.The waiter brought more coffee, and Boni and Franseva took the opportunity to slip away together and disappeared into the darkness, while Ennis and Mrs. Pan, who was clutching the wine glass, went to the kitchen together.Hampton.Pike looked across the table at Uncle William, who had begun to snore, and smiled at Simon and Nicole. I think with these people protecting him, he should be safe!Let's go for a walk. They left the bodyguard and Uncle William and walked across the park to the pool house.Hampton.Pike spoke thoughtfully, with a calm expression, and it was obvious that he was usually the one people listened to.The shock of Boni being kidnapped made him think about his own life. Most of his life was spent on planes, offices, doing business, and making more money, but he didn't necessarily know how to spend it.He said that he had changed, that it was no big deal that a small Caribbean island, a long-established and famous restaurant in Paris, and miles of salmon in Scotland were entertainments he could afford, as long as he had time.He stopped and looked at the valley and the mountains in the distance. He said: Boni fell in love with this place, we talked a lot this afternoon.do you know?He didn't want to go back to America.He wants to work with Mrs. Poon and learn to be a real celebrity chef.Simon said: "She likes him a lot and that shouldn't be a problem.Pike whispered softly: I think that little girl has something to do with his wishes.Where is she from? She is the next-door neighbor, the daughter of the owner of the cafe. Looks like he should be a good kid.Pike sighed, his bronze face looked a little serious, you must forgive me, I am old and impatient.I have a little suggestion for you. They went to the poolside cabana and sat on wicker chairs, looking at the water illuminated by lights.Pike was silent for a while, then smiled at Simon: You always want me to skip the middle step, but this is what you have in mind now.He lit the cigarette with a silver Zippo lighter, which popped as it shut.I have to spend more time with my family and enjoy nights like this.He took the cigarette from his mouth and leaned forward. I always want to do many things at once, and I guess that is the same with many people who make careers by mistake.We all think that we are indispensable, so we always try to intervene in everything.It's really stupid, but it's human nature.You must have seen this happen to yourself several times. Simon thought of one or two of his old, smart, self-made clients, who were always hands-on, and nodded in agreement, saying: Dictators find it difficult to delegate. Yes, that's where they failed, he says with a smile: Now, here's a dictator who learned to be smart at an older age.His tone is starting to sound like a businessman, well my big problem is advertising, like those guys say, half the money I spend on advertising is wasted, what's more, I don't know what Which half is it. Simon said: This is a famous quote from Lad Levedm. Pike nodded.He hit the nail on the head.Now we want to set the budget for next year at half a billion dollars, which is a lot of money, but I don't have time to plan it. What do your marketers say? They are all very nice and capable.But none of them have a background like yours.Pike began to use his fingers to assist the main points he wanted to make. First, you understand the advertising industry thoroughly; Opinion, and the fourth point I think we should be able to get along very well.Pike waited and said: Now you can tell me to jump. Simon looked at Nicole, and she kept watching him with a smile on her face.He was flattered and a little surprised, but he had to admit that he was attracted.Honestly, I don't know what to say.But without interest, where would I stand? Go where you want, you take the job, fly anywhere you want.And you are directly responsible to me. But what about hiring and firing?I mean advertising agency. You say so. Simon looked at the pool and scratched his head.Just seeing Ji Gele's expression when he saw this new client was enough to accept the job.With 500 million U.S. dollars, you really have to do well.This is indeed quite tempting, especially considering that such a large budget can be used, it is even more tempting.Ennis might have been ready for the next day if he hadn't been able to do it well from his previous ad agency experience, and a vague sense of guilt made Simon turn back to look at the bright lights of the hotel.I have no idea.I got Ennis here, he loves it so much. Good sir, Ennis.I have seen him work.Pike studied the end of his lit cigarette.I thought about him too.Suppose I put the whole protocol together, plus another small investment? you mean? Suppose I bought the hotel and included Ennis?I will take good care of him.I'd be a fool if I didn't know how to take care of him.Pike raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: What do you think? This way of hiring people is too expensive. I'm a rich man, Simon.Pike got up and looked at Nicole, think about it, I hope we can reach a consensus. They watched him walk away, and the bodyguards immediately got up to follow him, leaving only Uncle William lying slumped on a chair, with a swarm of moths hovering over his head. Nicole got out of her seat and came to sit on Simon's lap.You are interested, right?Very fresh and promising, isn't it? Simon squeezed her smooth arm, what do you think? She shook her head, do you think I'll let you go away with a suitcase full of dirty shirts?She stood up, took his hand, let's go, let's go to Ennis. Half an hour later, the three of them were sitting in the kitchen. The kitchen floor was still slippery because it had just been mopped, and the surfaces of the stainless steel and marble were clean and shiny.Mrs. Pan's menu for the next day was nailed to the board by the door. Simon told Ennis about Pike's proposal and found himself trying to think about it too. He admitted that he was attracted, but considered Ennis and Nicole, and the hotel, and his own motives, and finally fell silent for a while. Ennis said: "I think we should drink every last drop of champagne.He got up and walked over to the refrigerator. It was a night for champagne.He poured three glasses. Interestingly, every time we make any important decisions, we almost always make them in the kitchen.He looked at Nicole, you know what, it all started in the kitchen when I was thinking about him and asking him to go on vacation. A toast to Simon, Ennis, I wish you good health, you have always been a good friend of mine. Let's hope we have years of good times ahead.Now, you'll have to forgive my honesty. I know many friendships have been lost because of this, but we still have to deal with it.Ennis sipped his champagne, frowning at his glass. The reality was that hotels were mostly maintenance work.And you simply can't bring yourself to fit in.I know you are a short-tempered person, once one thing is done, you want to keep going, and if it doesn't work, you will become grumpy.He looked at Simon and said, don't think I didn't notice. really that bad? Simply terrible.Poor Nicole, to bear with you when you sigh and lose your temper.I don't know, speaking of Nicole He turned to look at her and said with a smile: Please forgive me for saying this, but I have seen girls come and go from him, and he will never find a woman like you.Ennis paused, took a sip of his water, and if he told you to leave because of ignorance, he would be the most stupid person.He said disapprovingly: My dear, if you ask me, I will ask you to take Mr. Parker's advice. how about you? Ennis studied the bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass.I thought, this is what I dreamed of.At heart, I'm just an old Master Chief.I like to mobilize people and get everything in order.I will stay here.He pours the champagne again, winks at Nicole, and I tell you what a relief he won't be around all day! Simon's hand reached across the table and took Nicole's hand, and I thought he was going to kick me away. She blinks.Nodded, said nothing. Ennis said: "And I'd very much like, you get a few days off, you look like something a cat brought in. Simon rubbed his eyes. The vacation we talked about was a beautiful and quiet place like New York, which Nicole had never been to, without kidnapping or criminal police. Ennis nodded, smiled and toasted, I dare say, you will definitely come back. Well, yes, we will be back. Before taking off, the plane flew over the Mediterranean Sea, carrying them to Paris.Simon had made reservations for dinner at Louis's and a room with a plunge pool-like bathtub at the Raphael Hotel.They have an early morning flight to New York. He reached into his pocket, found the envelope Ennis had given him when they said goodbye, and handed it to Nicole. He said you should open it. She took out a key with a bronze medal attached to it from the envelope.Anise Hotel is engraved on one side of the key plate, and 1 is engraved on the other side. This is the top room with the best view in the hotel.There is also a card with Ennis' handwriting on it: It's yours for as long as you want it. love your hotelier (End of the book)