CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN – THE CHARMING FRENCHMAN

The first course of their meal passed in a haze of charming banter, Jean-Pierre beguiling Madison with salacious tales of the eccentric European auteurs he'd worked under. He had a flair for storytelling, his sonorous voice and dramatic cadences practically transporting one into the heart of his rebellious, booze-soaked adventures abroad. By the time the waiter returned to clear their plates, Madison found her cheeks aching from smiling and laughing so frequently. She couldn't even remember the last time she'd felt this effervescent...this delightfully unencumbered. As the waiter poured another healthy draught of the crisp white wine, Jean-Pierre sat back in his chair, fixing Madison with an admiring look. "Enough about my tawdry cinematic exploits. I must know more about the brilliant, gorgeous woman who has seemingly run away with this scoundrel's heart so completely this evening." Madison felt an unexpected flutter in her chest at his words, spoken with such unabashed sincerity a