The Billionaire’s Housekeeper

Chapter 6

Rita almost whipped her head around to take a look around, but George calmly shook his head.

“She’s spotted us and is heading our way,” George said. Rita couldn’t help but notice that his voice was unusually calm even though his jaw was clenched. He didn’t seem to look very happy. Rita did as she was told and stayed put. She decided to keep her focus on the expression on George’s face.

“Well well well,” Rita could hear Julie’s rigid voice behind her. She finally looked up to see George’s ex-wife looming over them. She was in an elegant black dress that looked like it cost more than half a year of Rita’s salary. She looked like an expensive bean pole, with a fierce gaze like that of a hawk, and her hair was gelled back in a bun like a member of the wait staff. She had new blonde highlights in her hair and her icy blue eyes seemed all the more icy in the dim light, and against her dark dress and make up.

“What are you doing here, Julie?” George said. Rita was still so stunned with how calm and almost bored George’s voice sounded. Julie on the other hand looked positively giddy. She now had a large smile on her face.

“I just popped in to have a quick drink before attending a party. Aren’t you going to Arty Lohman’s 50^th? I hear it’s gonna be a gas,” Julie said. Her eyes flickered from Rita to George, but she never removed that smile. To Rita, now Julie looked like a snake, like an eyelash viper. Her pupils almost looked more like slits than rounded. Rita tried not to think those thoughts. Julie had always had her back before. This war was clearly between Julie and George.

“I thought it would be too many people,” George said.

“Judging and asking questions, no doubt,” Julie said with a laugh. She touched the back of her head, like she was ensuring that her bun was still in place. She scoped the room before going back to focusing on the couple in front of her. She placed the hand she used to check her bun on the back of Rita’s chair.

“No thanks to you,” George said. His voice didn’t waver in the slightest. He didn’t even look angry. He picked up his wine glass and took a sip. He took a look at Rita for a moment, and nodded slowly. It was his way of telling her to keep calm.

“People wanted answers, so I gave them some,” Julie shrugged. “Maybe instead of worrying about your old wife, you should make sure that you’re faithful to your new one.”

Julie gave Rita a long hard look.

“Wealth certainly does suit you, Rita. Keep an eye on him,” Julie said. She started to move away from the table and closer to the bar at the rear of the restaurant. She paused and then turned to face the couple again.

“I haven’t forgotten my things. You haven’t seen the last of me yet,” Julie winked at them and then headed towards the bar again. She didn’t turn to look at them or pay them any mind again. At least that’s what Rita assumed. She was in Rita’s vision, but Rita was too nervous to look at her. She either looked down, or stole quick looks at George.

“You seem very calm,” Rita said.

“You have to be if you’ve known Julie as long as I have. Nothing frustrates her more than when you don’t blow your top like she normally would. I think the divorce either brought her some peace, or she realizes that screaming at me won’t get her way,” George said. He let out an angry grunt, but stifled it with more food and wine. “Pretend she’s not here.”

“It’s very hard to. She’s almost directly behind you in my field of vision,” Rita said.

“She was all around you for three years. But so was I. She just wants to cause trouble. Remember that I’m here for you.”

“You’re here for me because you’re my boss.”

“I’m not your boss anymore. I’m here for you because I’m your husband, besides, I promised to take care of you, and that includes saving you from Julie’s bullsh*t,” George said.

That made Rita very still. She was sure that she was even holding her breath.

She was about to speak when she saw Julie heading toward them again.

“Got my drinks. Now, I’m off to party. I hope George isn’t too much of a social pariah for long, Rita. You look like you could use a bit of fun,” Julie waved at Rita, shot George a dirty look, and then left the restaurant.

“Or maybe it’s you that I need…” George started once Julie was long gone.

“You need me?” Rita breathed.

“Yeah, I think I need you to save me from Julie. Maybe you’ve started already,” George smiled.

Rita couldn’t help her thoughts. The way George was looking at her, and the way they had been able to talk about themselves so freely, and being able to just laugh with each other; Rita felt a new surge of hope within her. Maybe George was the man who would be there for her without her having to compromise who she was or what she stood for.

They looked at each other for a while. George’s smile turned curious; it almost looked hopeful like hers did. He looked down then, and Rita shook her thoughts away. There was no way that he could be thinking what she was thinking.

She considered talking to George about how nice she found all of this. She wanted to tell him about what was in her heart, and to see if there could be any chance that this could be an arrangement that could turn into something real. But she didn’t do that. Instead, she looked down too, and ordered herself some dessert.

*****

Rita couldn’t wait for the following Thursday. She didn’t want to call Jose to come earlier than he needed to. She wanted to see how the week would turn out after her evening with George.

After dinner at the restaurant over the weekend, the two had managed to have breakfast and some dinners with each other at home. It was awkward to call the mansion her home now, and Rita was genuinely shy. But now, she could see it was getting easier to be open with George. He was very welcoming and kind to her. She always knew he had a kind nature about him, but he was particularly warm to Rita now that they were in the same house.

Rita came out of the guest room more often, and would sometimes watch television with George or help him with a crossword puzzle. He, of course, would curse if he got a word wrong, or if someone on TV did something particularly stupid. Now Rita didn’t feel like covering her mouth or stifling her laughter when he would swear or say a ridiculous phrase. It was freeing for her to laugh out loud.

The best thing about it was that he was extremely humble about how much money he made. Or it could have been he was keeping track of all his finances because of the courts and potential alimony for Julie…

“Rita?”

Jose was at the side of the house and making his way to the back where Rita had been daydreaming about George.

“Rita, are you here?”

“Out on the lanai!” Rita called back. The lanai was a wonderful place to sit and think. The cleaning company had come early that day, and she decided to sit outside with a glass of lemonade.

“There you are. Good morning, princess. How are you?” Jose said. He plopped on the armchair adjacent Rita, and crossed his ankle over his knee.