21 Steps To Happiness. F. Gerson G.

You know? We met on the plane.”

      “Mmm?”

      “Jodie Blanchett’s daughter.”

      “Yes, I know. Listen, I’m in the middle of something, darling.”

      “It’s an emergency, like you said.”

      “Did they fire you already?”

      “No, it’s much worse than that.”

      I am about to cry. I don’t want to cry. That would only annoy her more and she would hang up.

      “Are you crying?” she asks.

      No wonder her books are such hits. She reads people’s minds.

      “Listen to me, darling. Remember what I told you? Step #6.”

      I remember how good and easy it felt in the plane, listening to Roxanne going through the different steps. And how miserable I feel now. I start to cry. I can’t help it. Please don’t hang up. Please!

      “Can you read step #6 for me?”

      “Yes,” I sob. I turn the pages to the sixth chapter. “Step #6. Sometimes it’s hard to be successful.”

      Step #6:

       Sometimes it’s hard to be successful.

      I’m eating my fourth croissant, drinking my fifth coffee and I’m pretending to read the same French newspaper for the gazillionth time and there is still no sign of Massoud.

      “Can I have another pot of coffee?”

      “Sorry, breakfast service is actually closed.”

      How rude!

      I look at my watch. I’m the last guest in the restaurant and I’m getting on the waiter’s nerves. I decide to take another look in the lobby.

      “Have a good day, mademoiselle,” the waiter says. Trust me, he really means good riddance.

      I check myself once more before I enter the lobby. Look at this gorgeous young woman. It’s Blanchett’s springtime, I’m blooming. After talking to Roxanne, I went on a shopping spree. The funny thing is, I did find a shop called Basic selling Basic T-shirts.

      I am dressed in the same fashion as yesterday, but with a brand-new pair of Diesel jeans (175 euros), a simple white Basic T-shirt (39,90 euros) and I have a pink H&M scarf (9,90 euros) on my shoulders. I even splashed myself with some Kazo cologne (80ml/39,95 euros). “We American women can get away with everything!”

      Where is everybody? Where is Massoud? How unprofessional of him. I try reception again.

      “No, Mademoiselle Blanchett, there are no new messages.”

      “Phone calls?”

      “No phone calls.”

      Aren’t they supposed to be worried about me? I feel like the ugly little duckling, you know, the smelly little girl that nobody wants to play with.

      “Can I make a phone call from here?”

      The desk clerk points at the phone booth across the lobby. He doesn’t even bother talking to me. What happened last night? Did I get disgraced while I was asleep, and all of a sudden everybody knows that it’s okay to be rude to me?

      I walk to the phone booth and place my call.

      “Muriel B, bonjour!” says a voice at the other end of the line.

      “This is Lynn Blanchett,” I snap.

      “Who?”

      Is she joking?

      “Lynn Blanchett. From New York. Can I speak with Nicolas, please.”

      “Mr. Bouchez is not in the office.”

      “Let me speak to Muriel, then.”

      “Mademoiselle Boutonnière is not in the office either…I’m sorry.”

      “Is anybody else but you in the office?”

      Silence.

      “Goodbye, then.”

      I hang up. I’m so frustrated. I imagine Muriel and Nicolas locked in their offices, shaking their heads. No, no, no! We don’t want to speak to any Lynn Blanchett. She’s an ugly little duckling. Shoo, shoo!

      “Can you get me a taxi?” I ask the concierge.

      “Certainly. Where will you be going?”

      “Muriel B. Office. It’s somewhere…” I point toward what I believe is the direction to the office. “This way.”

      “I am sure we can manage to find the address for you.”

      He smiles. Or is that a smirk?

      

      I’m furious. They took me away from home. They flew me across the Atlantic. For what? To forget about me like yesterday’s favorite flavor?

      And Nicolas? Mr. Backstabbing-Bouchez! Does he think that it’s all right to flash his pretty looks, his charm and his suave accent right in my face, just like that?

      Mademoizelle Blanchett, yu are zooo delicioze, I wanta iit yu!

      And now that I’m really dazzled and want a taste of it, too, it turns out he thinks I’m a waste of time and he’s gay! I am going to strangle him with his tie.

      The taxi drops me off in front of the office.

      “Just move, all right!” I say to the prostitute. It’s the same girl. She must be leasing this spot. She doesn’t dare to spit today. She feels I’m about to blow and she’s not willing to pay for it.

      I press the intercom and cross the courtyard. I’m not impressed anymore. I’m not this ridiculous American girl that can’t handle the glitz and glamour of it all. I’m Lynn Blanchett, heir of the Blanchett empire! Lynn Blanchett, daughter of a genius! I am a complete bitch with a new wardrobe who is about to OD on caffeine!

      I walk straight to the receptionist. I don’t say hello, I don’t say please, I don’t say sorry, I don’t say anything but “Nicolas Bouchez! Now!”

      “Oh, he is out of the office.”

      “Like hell he is!”

      I don’t wait for more lies. I head upstairs and make my way to his office.

      “Mademoiselle Blanchett! Please!”

      I open the door to his office. It’s empty. “Nicolas,” I call. He’s hiding. Coward! I walk to Muriel’s office. It’s empty too.

      I make my way to the workshop. I push the door. Where is everybody? Where are all the punks?

      Back in Japan?

      Françoise Neuton looks up at me. She’s working on a new version of the dress that I trashed yesterday.

      “Can I help you?”

      She’s alone in the workshop and something’s up, because she seems too happy to see me.

      “Where is everybody?”

      “Is it any of your business?”

      “Oh, believe me. I’ll make it my business.”

      She takes off her glasses. She wants to take a better look at me.

      “I talked to Muriel this morning. You’re over, Mademoiselle Blanchett.”

      What?

      “Didn’t they tell you yet? Mmm?” She brushes the dress with her hand. “Do you like it better now?”

      “Where is Nicolas?”

      “Oh…He will be out all day, at the Carrousel du Louvres.”

      “Where?”