The Billionaire’s Housekeeper

Chapter 4

“It was a beautiful ceremony,” Anne said. The other guests had left including Jose. She, Rita, and George were sitting out on the lanai drinking some champagne.

The reception was a short and simple one. There was a live band playing soft jazz outside, and the couple shared a few dances. Rita had to keep reminding herself that this was just an act. They needed everything to be as real as possible, and to take photographs to satisfy the paparazzi. They had to make their romance seem real for their plan to work.

“Thank you,” Rita said.

“It felt almost completely real to me,” Anne cackled. She took a sip of champagne. Rita hadn’t had the chance to ask George who all of the guests were, or what his mother was doing there. Now that everyone was gone, they could talk freely.

“Don’t look so surprised, dear,” Anne Ainsworth said while patting on Rita’s knee. “Who do you think got that dress of yours?”

Rita always liked George’s mother. She was very matter of fact, and she was also extremely funny. She had never treated Rita like the help, but more like one of her own friends. She didn’t visit very often. Rita enjoyed whenever she did.

Rita’s questions for the day were starting to be answered.

“Forgive me, I’m a little bit tipsy, so I may say some stupid things,” Anne said.

George was quiet after the guests had left. He was sitting on the other side of the lanai and brooding.

“Oh George don’t be a sourpuss. Come over here and talk to your mother and your wife,” Anne cackled again. Rita couldn’t help but smile when Anne turned to wink at her. “You’re gorgeous honey. That haircut suits you. I may need to pay Luke extra.”

“You talk too much,” George said when he finally came over to them and sat across from Rita and his mother.

“And you talk too little,” Anne said. She waved a finger like she had just had an epiphany. “I’m going into town. I’ll ask Frank to take me. I think I’ll give you guys a couple of hours to talk things through.”

Anne got up and glided to the open French doors and out of sight.

“Did you like it?” George asked when he was sure his mother was gone.

“It was all very beautiful, and very real. Thank you,” Rita said.

“Thank you too. Anyone who can put up with my mom’s silly antics for more than an hour has to be a saint,” he laughed.

Rita remembered that Julie and Anne had never gotten along. Anne always had a snarky remark to say about her, or she’d roll her eyes while Julie talked. She never tried to hide how she felt, and Rita thought that that was very admirable.

“I’m no saint. I really like your mother,” Rita said. George smiled at that. It was nice to hear someone in his life say that.

“I called a few men to move some of your things to the mansion. We can’t have you living in a separate home from me now, can we?”

Rita nodded in agreement. She still felt so strange now after the dream she had had, but she was warming up and trying to be more comfortable. George stood and moved to sit beside her.

“That haircut really does suit you.” He brushed a hand against the tips of her hair, gently grazing her cheek as well. It wasn’t meant to be sensual, but Rita blushed nonetheless.

She was about to speak when she heard the front door open. George’s mother may have forgotten something and had come back to the house to get it.

Rita and George turned to face the French doors leading back into the house expectantly. They had both been assuming the same thing.

“Yoohoo?! Is anybody here?!”

George’s eyes widened and he shot Rita a panicked look.

That wasn’t Anne, that wasn’t Anne at all. He knew the voice right away, and now so did Rita.

“Where can a lady get a nice stiff drink around here?” the voice was looming closer and closer to the door. “Oh there you are. I figured the love birds would be out here.”

The tall and slim figure came to the open doorway and leaned against the wall with her arms crossed. She was all legs, but today she had wrapped herself in a fur coat. There was a devious smile on her face, and her icy blue eyes flexed in the light of the setting sun.

Rita couldn’t speak. She didn’t know the right words to say. But the figure’s eyes were now fixated on her, and Rita couldn’t take her eyes off of Julie Ainsworth.

*****

“Julie?! What the hell are you doing here?” George hissed. He was standing now. Julie looked cool and calm.

“What? Your new ex-wife can’t get an invite to your secret wedding? Looks like I missed it anyway,” Julie’s voice sounded bored.

“How did you find out?”

“You don’t think that Paul Wesman wouldn’t get in touch with me?!” Julie sounded almost outraged.

Paul Wesman was one of the people who had helped George finalize the paperwork for Rita’s and his wedding. Paul was a wealthy man and his brother was in public office. Paul was happy to help George because they had been friends for many years, but George had forgotten that the reason they were was because of Julie and her parents. Paul had told Julie about the wedding.

“What did Paul tell you?” George eyed his ex-wife suspiciously.

“Paul told me that my louse of an ex-husband was already getting remarried. I didn’t believe it until he showed me the prenup. I got in a tizzy when I read who you were marrying and had to come and see for myself.”

Julie took off the fur coat and tossed it on the nearest chair. She was in all white as well. She had on pants that flared at the bottom, and a sleeveless white blouse with pearls as buttons on it. She folded her arms over her chest again and her eyes danced back and forth between the two of them.

“Hey Rita, you look nice,” an obviously fake smile formed over her face. “I gotta say that I expected something like this from a son of a bi*ch like George, but never from you.”

“Julie…I…” Rita started.

Julie held up her hand to stop Rita from finishing.

“Oh, you can have him honey,” Julie said. “I just know my husband is using you for…something. Once he gets what he wants then it’s onto the next young pretty girl. I can’t say I’m surprised. I knew there was something going on with you two before I moved out,” Julie continued.

Rita was about to open her mouth to tell Julie that she was wrong. But George took her by the hand before she could speak. Rita got to her feet and the two of them stood side by side and hand in hand.