The Billionaire’s Housekeeper

“Something’s wrong,” Aurelie said.

“Why you say that?”

“It’s your voice. I can always tell when you sound upset. What happened?”

“I’m not even sure,” Rita said. She knew her mother would immediately pick up on the fact that something had been bothering her. “It’s been a strange day. I’ve been thinking a lot.”

“Don’t think too deeply my dear. It will only have you drowning in your own thoughts.”

Aurelie always gave the best advice. She was right, of course. Rita had been thinking an awful lot without even really knowing what the real situation was. It had helped to tell Jose the truth. It had been a release for Rita, and she still let the feeling of the beautiful day be shadowed by her fears and her thoughts.

She was going to have to tell her mother, she knew. Rita would have to explain her feelings and what caused them. The last thing she wanted to do was to have her mother worry about her.

“I’ll try, Maman. Thanks for always being here.”

“If only I could be there for you in person. But I know we’ll see each other soon.”

“Maman…” Rita bit her lip. She was already emotional, and a lump developed in a deep part of her throat. She wouldn’t cry on her own, but she felt that saying what she was about to say would break the proverbial levies. “Do you think I’ll be able to come back from this?”

“I believe so more than you know,” Aurelie said without skipping a beat. She knew what Rita was talking about. A mother always knew.

Even though she wasn’t sure she believed it, Rita gave a sigh of relief anyway. Those were the words she needed to hear. Her mother would always have her back and be on her side. And everything that happened before Rita left could have put her mother at risk. Rita didn’t want to admit it, but she also constantly called her mother to ensure that she was still safe where she was. Aurelie didn’t like that Rita was worried about her. Nothing had gone wrong in over 3 years. She wanted Rita to let go, and to move forward with her life without worry.

“It’s very difficult keeping this. There were paparazzi outside of the mansion today.” Rita told her mother.

“That’s nothing to be worried about. Isn’t there always paparazzi there?” Aurelie replied. Rita couldn’t see, but her mother shrugged her shoulders.

“It was different this time. This time they wanted to speak to me,” Rita sounded exasperated. “What if they know the reason why I’m here? How would I explain that to Mr. Ainsworth or anyone else?”

 “It’s not like you’re wanted for murder, Marguerite. You did what you needed to do.”

“And what if Mr. Ainsworth finds out that I’m here illegally? I’m a black woman and I already have a different accent from everyone here. Times are so strange now. Any little thing can get someone sent back home.”

Rita couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. They fell gently down her face, but she clenched her teeth down to keep from sobbing. She was frustrated, and all she wanted was to hug her mother and know that everything was going to be alright.

She kept thinking of Mr. Ainsworth. She would hate to leave him, especially now that he was in such a vulnerable state. She wanted to be there for him the way he had been there for her over the last three years, and the way he so gallantly tried to diffuse the situation that morning.

“Firstly, my darling, are you even sure that they know about you? Do you know for sure that that was the reason why they are there?” Aurelie was the voice of reason. Rita had always been a strong pragmatic soul, but something had changed in her over the last few years. Rita became more concerned about what others thought of her than what she thought of herself.

“No,” Rita sighed finally. She wasn’t at all sure, but her anxiety flared up nevertheless.

“Then it’s time to think with a clear mind. Keep working and doing all that you can. In time you’ll know the reason they are there, and by that time, you would have figured out a plan of action,” Aurelie said.

“You’re right. I can’t jump to conclusions and respond in the first negative way I can think of. I’ll just try to sort out my mind. I don’t want anyone finding out that I’m in the country illegally. If anyone finds out…” Rita’s voice trailed off. She wiped her tears and closed her eyes. She didn’t want to think about it anymore.

“What…the hell?”

Rita was so frightened by the voice that she leapt out of her skin and dropped the phone. She whipped her head around, her eyes wide, and her heart racing wildly inside her.

By the open door of her cottage stood a very shocked and a very angry George Ainsworth.