Annalise has just concluded her business with Mia when she sees Fleur. They are in the grounds of the château as she approaches. Annalise looks at her wayward daughter, assessing signs of deterioration. She’s been told of her activities and is concerned that she is breaking down in a more catastrophic manner than Neva did, some months back, when she broke away from the Network. But Fleur’s prompt return is a good sign. It shows that Annalise still has enough control to command her.
‘This is my daughter, Fleur,’ she says, introducing her to Mia for the first time. ‘You’ve arrived at a fortunate time. We’ve agreed terms.’
‘What terms, Mother?’ asks Fleur.
Mother gives her ‘the look’, and Fleur falls quiet. Another sign that she is not irredeemable. Annalise smiles at her, and gives her a pat on the arm as silent praise.
‘Goodbye, my dear,’ says Annalise to Mia. She and Mia hug as though they are old friends. Then the security detail – Annalise’s personal bodyguards – come and escort Mia away.
‘She’s returning to England to take her place as Mr Beech,’ Annalise says.
‘And what about you, Mother?’ Fleur asks. ‘I thought you wanted the keys to the kingdom.’
They follow Mia and the guards around to the front of the château. The limousine is waiting, and Mia gets inside. She waves and Annalise can see the excitement in the woman’s face as she leaves the château with a full understanding of who and what she is. A few weeks ago, Annalise had thought it a shame she never got to Michael before Subra interfered with him. What a powerful force the brother-and-sister team would have made. But now, she is pleased she has restored Mia to her real self, even though it hadn’t been her intention to do so. But Kritta had tricked her, not explaining that once triggered in this way, Mia would eventually regain all of the information Beech had given her. She’d hoped to be able to control what Mia knew, but soon learned that wasn’t possible. In the end it had all worked out for the best though. Mia had confirmed she didn’t need Michael and she and Annalise had formed a formidable alliance.
Annalise glances at Fleur. Though she’s a good agent, the girl is always lacking. Now Annalise wonders what Valentin would have made of his two daughters. As twins went, they were chalk and cheese. Had he lived, Annalise might never have built her empire, distracted as she was with her feelings for the man. In the end, his death had been for the best.
‘I’m glad you are home,’ Annalise says. ‘Don’t go missing again.’
‘You said I could keep the money,’ Fleur says. Annalise sees the petulant child Fleur has always been. She sighs.
‘The money means nothing Fleur; your prolonged absence was the betrayal. What have you been doing while you were gone?’ Annalise asks.
Fleur’s face drops as she plummets from adulthood to childhood in an instant. Annalise studies her. This daughter does not always please her, even though she is of her own blood.
‘I was resting. Sometimes I need time alone Mother. I had to put up with that man pawing me. I needed downtime after that,’ Fleur says. ‘And I prefer to be called Jewel.’
Annalise has tried so hard to shape Fleur. Pushing her also into having relationships when she was so reluctant to share physical contact with anyone. Like the job with Tehrin. It was more about making Fleur rounded than getting access to his pitiful inheritance. She wanted Fleur to learn to enjoy the art of seduction like Annalise did, because such control over another was a great power to possess.
‘Don’t be pathetic,’ she says now. ‘You did a good job on him. Even if men aren’t to your taste, you convinced him he was. And as for “Jewel”, you need to prove yourself deserving of such a name. But no matter, what of the other task I set you? Did you manage that?’
Fleur’s face is guarded, but Annalise sees the stubborn twist of her jaw, always Fleur’s tell that she’s on the verge of rebellion. So far, she has never acted on this urge, but Annalise will knock her to the floor if she ever does.
‘I did what you asked me to do. I always do what you say,’ Fleur says.
Annalise looks back at the limo as it wends its way down the long driveway and approaches the gates. She signals the guard to open up and let them through. The limo drives away.
‘A big change is approaching,’ Annalise says. ‘Mia is going to be so useful to me.’
‘How Mother? I thought you wanted the Network for yourself?’
‘My plans have changed, but ultimately the result will be the same. Through Mia I will control the Network. I may send you out on another task soon,’ Annalise says.
‘What task?’ Fleur says.
‘We need to get our hands on the child. Then we can ensure that Mia is controlled.’
Fleur turns away without a word.
‘Where are you going now?’ Annalise asks.
She already has her suspicions as to what the girl was doing while she was away, but the question is why was she doing it?
‘I’m walking the perimeter,’ Fleur says. ‘Like I always do Mother. I’m making sure everyone is on task.’
‘Good. When you’ve finished, we will dine together, and you will tell me then, everything you’ve done in your absence.’
‘Yes, Mother,’ says Fleur.
Annalise watches as Fleur walks away. Not for the first time she wonders if she made a mistake parting with Fae instead of Fleur. After all, as Neva, Fae continues to work towards her mother’s goals, even when she doesn’t know she’s doing it. Would Fleur have even survived out there, alone, this long, even as Jewel? Annalise doubts it.