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Philip for many years. My family came from
a small town in the south of France. I was five when we came to this country to
work for Philip's father, Johann. My father was the caretaker of the Haas
family grounds, my mother the housekeeper. Philip was my only friend, the only
one who didn’t make fun of me for not knowing the language, the only one who
tried to learn mine. When Philip's mother left, Mr. Haas sent Philip away to
boarding school in Paris. I was sent as well to keep an eye on him. We’ve kept
in touch since then.”
     
    Jennifer tried not to let Eloisa see how eager she was for this
information. Every word was new insight into why Philip was the way he was, and
it was difficult to keep from asking for more details.
     
    “When I returned from France five years ago, I became Mr. Haas's
executive assistant.” Eloisa's tone indicated that they were getting close to
the reason for the conversation. She was choosing her words with more care. “Over
the course of the past year, Mr. Haas has become... obsessed with Philip's
business.”
     
    Jennifer frowned. She automatically balked at the idea of someone who
considered herself to be Philip's friend working for the man who'd abused him,
but Eloisa's statement was just plain confusing. Why would Johann be obsessed
with his son's business and why did it matter? “I don't understand.”
     
    Eloisa opened her mouth, paused, as if trying to find the most delicate
way to say what she meant. “Mr. Haas believes that Philip's success is a
challenge. A way for Philip to say that he is better than his father.”
     
    Jennifer bit back the urge to tell Ms. Rousseau that Philip was ten
times the man his father was and all she needed to see were the scars on
Philip's back to prove it. It wasn't her place to share if Eloisa didn't
already know. Instead, she stuck with the simple. “That's slightly
unbelievable.”
     
    “Perhaps,” Eloisa admitted. “But Mr. Haas has decided that the best way
to handle the situation is to eliminate the competition.”
     
    Jennifer pieced together the situation. “He's trying to take down
Philip's company?”
     
    “Yes,” Eloisa nodded. “He is trying to teach Philip a lesson.”
     
    “Okay,” Jennifer folded her arms. “But why are you telling me this? You
work for Johann Haas. Tell him there’s no good reason to try to take down
Philip.”
     
    Eloisa gave Jennifer a sad smile. “If it were that easy, do you not
think I would have already done it? Mr. Haas sent me to Philip to try to
negotiate a deal that would allow him access to his son's business.”
     
    “And you went along with it?” Jennifer felt a flare of anger towards
the woman that had nothing to do with jealousy but restrained herself. She had
no right to judge. She didn't know if she would've had the guts to stand up to
someone like Johann Haas if he'd been her boss.
     
    “No,” Eloisa shook her head. “I have been trying to convince Philip to
come to a compromise that will satisfy his father enough that Mr. Haas will
leave him alone.” She made as if she were going to touch Jennifer's arm, and
then thought better of it. “I wanted to speak to you because I believe that you
can succeed where I have failed. Philip will no longer take my calls. He does
not want to compromise, nor believe that he should have to.”
     
    “How am I supposed to help?” Jennifer wasn't sure she thought Philip
should compromise. It sounded to her like Johann was in the wrong. “You're his
childhood friend. If you can't convince him, what makes you think I can?”
     
    Eloisa looked surprised. “You do not realize how important you are to
him?”
     
    Heat rushed to Jennifer's face as she shook her head. “No, that's not
true. I'm just his assistant.” She didn't add that she was also fucking him, in
part because it wasn't Eloisa's business, but also in part because she wasn't
sure if that made her mean more or less to Philip.
     
    “Do you know how many assistants Philip