Page 93 of Under Her Protection

Vivienne sat down.

She sat in the oxblood chair on the right of the fire. She kicked off the black heels and put her feet, stockinged, up on the small stool in front of the chair, and she looked at Leo, who had stayed standing in the doorway, and she did not smooth a jacket. She was past smoothing jackets tonight.

"Sit down."

"I am on duty."

"You are off duty for the next forty minutes."

"Vivienne."

"Sit. Down."

Leo came into the room and sat in the oxblood chair opposite.

Vivienne poured two small glasses of the Armagnac. She handed one across the low table, and Leo took it, and neither of them drank it.

"I was wrong," Vivienne said.

"Mm."

"About tonight. I was wrong to insist on going. If you had not had the safe room prepared."

“That is precisely why there was a safe room prepared.”

"If you had not had the unmarked door walked on Wednesday."

"I did."

"If you had not put Avery on the camera at the west entrance."

"I did."

"You would have lost the evening."

"I know."

"And I would have lost it on the plate."

"Yes."

"Leo."

"Yes."

"I am going to say a thing I do not often say." Vivienne paused, “Thank you."

Leo looked at the carpet.

She looked at the carpet, five long seconds.

"You are welcome, Vivienne."

"I would like you," Vivienne said, "to tell me everything you and Avery have on Lara Kossek. I am done pretending she is a corporate problem or the love of my life. She is trying to humiliate me in public. I would like her in a cell by Christmas."

"Copy."

"I am going to do what you say."