Six months ago...

–Honey! You won't believe who I found for you!

With the phone to her ear, Alexa was trying to capture the brightness of a rose petal on the canvas.

–Alexa? Are you there? Did you hear what I said? You won't believe who...

"Who?" Alexa asked, playing along with her friend. She knew Imogen was dying for her to ask and tell her.

"He's exceptional!" Imogen assured enthusiastically. "He's thousands, millions of light years away from the men you're used to."

Alexa wondered what Imogen was up to and continued trying to get the desired shine on the petal she was painting. She let her friend talk, but she paid no attention.

Finally, Imogen fell silent.

"So?" Imogen asked a moment later. "Are you over the moon or something?" "What?" Alexa replied, frowning absently.

"Darling, pay attention!" Imogen ordered, sighing. "Put down your brush and listen to me for two minutes. Even you're going to be impressed, I promise. Guy de Rochemont called. Well, not him in person. His secretary. Tell me you're impressed... Tell me you're trembling with excitement."

Alexa moved the brush away from the canvas and frowned a little more. "Shaking? Why?"

Imogen sighed in despair.

–Really, Alexa, don't act like an icy woman with me! Not even you can remain impassive before Guy de Rochemont. You'll melt before him like all the women in the world.

"Do I know that guy?" Alexa asked.

–You don't know Guy de Rochemont!

"Imogen, who is it? Why are you going around in circles? What does that have to do with me?" Alexa asked. She had no idea what her mother was talking about.
friend and didn't want to waste any more time.

"Are you serious? I can't believe you don't know him!" Imogen exclaimed, incredulous. "He's in all the celebrity magazines!"

–I don't read those magazines. They're trash.

"Oh, excuse me, miss," Imogen replied mockingly. "Well, put your artistic side aside for a moment and listen to me. I suppose you've heard of the Rochemont-Lorenz empire?"

"A family of bankers, I think," Alexa ventured.

"That's it!" Imogen exclaimed enthusiastically. "One of the oldest and richest dynasties in Europe. They've been accumulating millions for over two hundred years. They financed the Industrial Revolution and merchant ships to the colonies. Their fortune survived both World Wars and the Cold War, and now they're doing better than ever, despite the crisis. It's largely thanks to Guy de Rochemont. He's a financial genius, responsible for propelling his bank into the 21st century. Everyone in his family is crazy about him," she explained, pausing, her tone becoming more syrupy. "I have to tell you, it's mostly the women who are crazy about him. All the women in the world! When his secretary called me, my mouth watered just thinking about Guy."

It was obvious that Imogen was excited about this Guy, whoever he was, Alexa thought, she had never heard of him.

–And what did he say to you, Immie?