10. Alain

Marly and Alain arrange to meet in a brasserie beneath the Louvre’s pyramid. Marly arrives carefully dressed, conflicted by residual affection and fear. Alain appears casual and familiar, spreading his belongings across the table and opening with evasions and self-serving lies about past events with Gnass and the failed gallery.

As Alain reframes his betrayal as sacrifice “for them,” Marly’s lingering attachment dissolves into clarity and revulsion. He argues that patrons like Gnass exist to support art and hints at his own sophistication, trying to recast himself as essential to Marly’s new quest for the unknown artist.

Alain produces a reflection hologram showing the enigmatic box held by male hands wearing a dark signet ring, implying he controls crucial information. When he steps away, Marly checks his empty attaché. A waiter, whom Marly recognizes as the former Brussels bellman, quietly warns her that Alain is armed and wearing a broadcast unit, and advises her to give Alain what he wants, noting the money is meaningless and may destroy him.

Alain returns eager to “do business.” Armed with the warning and determined to protect herself and the lead, Marly contains her disgust, smiles, and feigns agreement, choosing strategy over confrontation.