Arriving in Paris refreshed, thanks to the on-board shower, they arrived at the Ministry for the meeting 10 minutes early. Entering the conference room, they were greeted by Mrs. Clouseau. A couple of minutes later, Ali Al Mana and Saad Al Jassim arrived, but without Saddam Al Kaabi.
"We are meeting at your request," Mrs. Clouseau said once they were seated. "How can we help you? And where is Mr. Al Kaabi?"
"Mr. Al Kaabi is no longer associated with these negotiations," Mr. Al Mana replied, clearing his throat. "Speaking on behalf of the Qatari government, all properties and business interests in France associated with Sheikh Ali will be ceded to Mrs. Hamadi. We request that she sign a binding NDA with respect to everything related to her marriage and divorce."
"Would this have anything to do with the accident Sheikh Ali had two days ago?" Mrs. Clouseau asked, smiling tightly at the surprised looks on their faces.
"What accident?" Salomé asked.
"I'm sorry that you have to learn it this way, but Sheikh Ali was found in his bed two days ago," Mrs. Clouseau replied. "He had apparently broken his neck while rolling over. It is our understanding that his younger brother Selim is going to be designated as the new crown prince and that Mr. Al Kaabi has been imprisoned. Your children have been confined to a hospital for treatment of their various problems."
"Ali is...dead?" Salomé asked in a tight voice, her eyes wide.
"So I have been informed," Mrs. Clouseau replied. "Gentlemen?" she asked, looking at the two Qataris.
"Your information is essentially correct," Mr. Al Mana replied. "Sheikh Ali met with an unfortunate accident. The Qatari government has no desire to see the valuable relationship between our two countries damaged by an unnecessary scandal. It is hoped that reconciling this marital asset issue amicably will help to demonstrate our concerns in this regard."
"Ali is dead," Salomé said, slowly shaking her head. "I used to pray for this day, but I also used to fear it, not knowing what final instructions he might have left for dealing with me."
"I have been specifically instructed to inform you that you have nothing to fear, that there is no ill will towards you," Mr. Al Mana said. "There is regret for what you had to endure, though you understand that an official apology can never happen."
"What happens now?" Salomé asked, turning to look at Grant.
"I imagine that there will be some documents from the Qatari government backing up what we have just been told," Grant replied.
"We have them with us," Mr. Al Mana said, extracting a folder from his briefcase and sliding it across the table.
"When the French government learned of Sheikh Ali's death, since he died intestate in France, his entire estate automatically ceded to his widow," Mrs. Clouseau said as Grant perused the documents in the folder. "Since there is no overt Qatari government interest in any of the former Sheikh's French possessions, there is nothing for the Qatari government to concede, though the gesture is noted and appreciated."
"Then our business is concluded," Mr. Al Mana said, getting to his feet. "Condolences, Mrs. Hamadi," he said awkwardly before he and Mr. Al Jassim left.
"What happens now?" Salomé asked.
"Does our agreement still stand?" Grant asked.
"Yes," Mrs. Clouseau replied. "I, too, came prepared," she said, smiling as she extracted two multi-page documents from her briefcase and offered them to Grant.
"What is it?" Salomé asked.
"An agreement whereby you sell your entire inheritance to the French government," Grant explained as he read. "That way you don't have to worry about anything but dealing with having more money than you could possibly ever spend."
"You mean, it's over, all of it?" Salomé asked, stunned.
"Once you sign these documents," Grant replied, smiling as he pointed to the places where she should sign on each of them, then signing himself as a witness, followed by Penny and Mrs. Clouseau.
"The funds will be transferred within 24 hours," Mrs. Clouseau said, putting her copy of the signed agreement back in her briefcase. "Once again, I'm sorry for everything that you had to endure, Mrs. Hamadi, and hope that the rest of your life is full of joy and happiness."
"Thank you for everything," Salomé said.
Salomé was very quiet as they made their way back to Biarritz where they found that Victor had returned.
"Well, the first thing you need to do is to establish a bank account," Victor said. "Considering the amount of money that you will have, I suggest a bank that specializes in large estate management, like Julius Baer in Switzerland. If you'd like, I can help you arrange things."
"I'd appreciate it," Salomé said. "I am totally clueless."
"The next thing that you need to decide is where you want to live," Victor said.
"Somewhere warm that's not France," Salomé replied. "This country has nothing but bad memories for me now. But I really have no idea. I don't know anybody anywhere. I'm almost afraid to be on my own now. I've had the three of you taking care of me, looking after me. Suddenly it's a bit frightening that I'm going to have to do it for myself."
"I have faith in you," Penny said. "Besides, it's not like we're going to stop being friends or anything."
"I agree," Victor said. "You can be my date to the parties that I go to. You'll soon learn that there is a hard-core group of people that go to all of the parties and they'll become your friends, just like they have become mine. There will always be a place for you in any of my homes."
"I know that Helen and I would always be happy having you stay with us," Grant added. "But you do need to learn to take care of yourself, one step at a time. I agree with Victor, first a bank account, then finding a place to live that you can call your own."
"What about Koh Samui?" Penny asked. "The weather couldn't be more perfect, the food was great, the people friendly, and Gwynie said that she was going to be living there. You'd have a friend close by."
"I liked her," Salomé said. "We have a lot in common."
"Why don't you give her a call and see what she thinks of the idea?" Penny suggested. "She obviously knows the place fairly well. I'm sure that she can tell you the advantages and disadvantages of living there."
"And in the meantime, we have a party to go to in Zermatt in a couple of days," Victor said, smiling. "If you're still interested."
"Oh, yes, I am," Salomé said, smiling.
"Now that your situation is cleared up, I can start formally introducing you to the people that you'll want to know," Victor said. "The party in Zermatt is for the crème de la crème of our group of people. Only a couple of dozen people at the most. You'll recognize some of them from the party in Saint-Tropez and they'll certainly remember you."
"I'm afraid that I'm going to have to miss that party," Grant said. "I need to go to London to deal with Gwynie's situation."
"Does that mean that you won't be coming to the party either?" Salomé asked, looking at Penny.
"There's no need for you to miss it," Grant said. "I'm primarily going so that I can have a talk with Mr. Brewer about the situation, brief him personally on what's coming so that the Crown doesn't get taken by surprise. They might have their own way of helping to expedite things so that their own interests are served, or at least not severely damaged."
Penny was happy to see Salomé forget her troubles when the four of them went to bed after dinner, lying side by side on the bed while Grant and Victor fucked them. She couldn't help laughing when Salomé and Victor fought over sucking Grant's cock when he was ready to cum, everyone laughing as they licked the cum from each other's face that they hadn't managed to capture directly.
While Victor helped Salomé the next day to arrange banking services, Penny worked with Grant to draw up the necessary papers to initiate civil suit proceedings against Earl Smythe and his friends, as well as the petition for a criminal complaint. Penny was on her knees in front of Grant, his cock going off in her mouth, when Salomé burst into the room, filled with excitement.
"Is this how you always work?" she asked, laughing as she watched Penny finish sucking Grant dry.
"Only when we're not in the office," Penny replied, licking her lips as she continued swallowing.
"We have to maintain some level of professional decorum," Grant said as he zipped his trousers. "What would the employees think?"
"I have a bank account now," Salomé informed them, a big smile on her face. "They're sending me all of the documents by special courier, including a credit card. It will be here in the morning. Victor said that you'd need this," she said, offering a piece of paper with all of her banking information.