Epilogue: Spring Fever Rivals Redux

Eli considered himself a pretty observant person. He watched, compiled and assessed. All in seconds. That was his ability. To read others, specifically.

He leaned back against the long seat of his limo as it navigated the streets of Paris. Currently, he and his mother were staying at the Chateau du Paris, a rival hotel to the Grande Paris. One night at the Grande had been enough to tell his mother that Mayor Bourgeois and his bratty daughter were not going to let her rest peacefully.

As soon as the car pulled up in front of the Chateau, Eli was out and stalking up to the door in long strides. The doorman nodded to him shortly and opened the door. A trip in the elevator to the Ambassador's Suite on the twelfth floor and a short call to room service later, Eli was pacing in his room.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. Nino had sent him a picture of them at the bakery, with Colette. His eyes zeroed in on the smiling bluenette standing between Colette and Alya. Marinette Dupain-Cheng. A smile contorted his lips as his gaze lingered on her beaming face.

He was also pretty astute at figuring out his own stance on certain things. Like his budding feeling for Mari. His sweet and spicy little rival had somehow conquered his heart in the month they'd known each other. This was an unexpected result, but not unpleasant. Actually, he felt like he'd enjoy this rivalry even more.

Another message came to his phone, this one from his mother, reminding him to get done with his errands in time for dinner with the director. Eli sighed. Sometimes he wondered if his mother realized he wasn't all that interested in being apart of show business.

As he gathered her things, he noticed, through the window of his mother's room, a billboard with a familiar face on it. He smirked. "Sorry, Adrien. I think I'll be taking my Mari-pie."

XXX

AK: And that is a wrap, people! R&R, please. I'm working on my next story line for MLB.