Chapter 17

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The next morning Georgia was back in the kitchen downing a cup of coffee in an attempt to up her energy level. She had slept poorly just as she had ever since Ewan had left her earlier that week.  It was amazing how accustomed one could become to having a warm body sleeping beside them every night.

Shortly after her arrival, Ruth entered and wordlessly started to help her prepare bacon, eggs, and other breakfast sides. It was a full house and the food would have to be kept warm on the sideboard until everyone had had their share.  Half an hour later Candy and Cameron showed up and started to prepare tea for the ladies, Carrie included.

Georgia started the preparations for lunch and was just about done when Ms. Levitt joined them with tears of gratitude. Georgia hugged her assured her all was well then excused herself to prepare for the early morning meeting with Ewan.

She took in her appearance, watching her hand tremble as they placed her glasses on her nose. "Here we go again. Try not to jump him Georgia." She grinned to herself. She had done this before she should be able to do it again.

But that was before you knew he loved you. Her heart lifted at the thought. No matter what she had that.

She knocked on the door and was greeted by a frowning Craig. "You're late." He said as he stood aside.

"Please come in Ms. Dawson," Ewan greeted, motioning towards a chair off to one side. The two chairs directly in front of his desk were reserved for Craig and Carrie, and Carrie was sitting serenely in hers, not a hair out of place.

Georgia took the chair crossing her legs at the ankle and settling into the deep plushness. It was divine to take her weight off her feet and she closed her eyes in relief. It had been a long time since she had spent so long on them and she was paying for it today.

"Comfortable Ms. Dawson?" Ewan asked,leaning back into his chair tapping his pen on the desk.

"Sorry, was I that obvious?" She smiled.  "My feet are a little sore."

"Why don't you fill us in Ms. O'Dell," Ewan said, never taking his eyes off Georgia. Georgia met his gaze unflinchingly.

Carrie started to fill Ewan in on the facts; Ms. Levitt's wound, how she had solved the problem by finding Georgia, how she had made sure that Miss. Diana was kept happy, there were lots of details involving just how helpful and resourceful she had been.

"And how is Ms. Levitt?" He took his gaze off of Georgia and looked directly at Carrie who stuttered that she wasn't sure, then he turned to Craig his gaze hard, expecting him to answer and when he had to admit that he wasn't sure he turned to Georgia.

"She's good. Breakfast was served and lunch preparations made, Ruth will be by her side today and if she feels that it's too much Mrs. Charles has agreed to help."

"Who handled breakfast and lunch?" Ewan's face was its usual mask.

"I did Mr. Mailler, as well as lunch and dinner yesterday."

"It's a good thing you're a trained Chef then, isn't it?"

"Yes sir, it came in handy." Georgia kept her face calm; at least he hadn't called her a cook.

"Now about this party Carrie, where are we so that Ms. Dawson can take over the planning?"

Carrie spent what felt like forever going over the details and after fifteen minutes Georgia could take it no longer. "Perhaps Ms. O'Dell and I can meet on this first and then bring it back to you when it is better planned," she suggested.

Ewan just nodded he had let his gaze wander to his computer during Carrie's detailed monologue and was typing something. "Thank you Ms. O'Dell, Ms. Dawson please stay." Carrie stood with a perplexed look on her face as if she had missed something.

"I'll meet you in the library in half an hour Ms. O'Dell?" Georgia suggested in order to spur her forward.

"Yes, fine." She nodded her head and turned to leave looking back over her shoulder one last time, as if she was checking to make sure that she had been dismissed and Georgia was to remain.

Once the door closed behind her Ewan looked up from his computer.

"Georgia, please." He motioned to the chair next to Craig who had been strangely silent the entire meeting. What he was thinking was a mystery to her.

After Georgia had changed seats Craig cleared his throat as if he wanted to say something.

"Yes, Mr. Parks." Ewan leaned back in his chair.

"I would like to offer an apology to Ms. Dawson." He looked over at her with an apologetic smile on his face.

"What for Craig? This morning's snide comment or that night?" Georgia couldn't curb her angry retort.

"Both, I was unaware about the situation in the kitchen and I'm not sure what the situation was that night but...I know... that you aren't out to force Mr. Mailler's hand."

"How old fashioned of you Craig." Georgia stared at him, letting the tears she felt surface. "I trusted you Craig, and anything you did that might have seem odd I wouldn't have doubted that you had your reasons."

Craig leaned forward and put his hand on hers. "So there was a reason?"

Georgia just looked at him the hurt in her eyes, he still had to ask. It was beyond disappointing.

"I'm sorry Georgia, but I have worked to long for Mr. Mailler to trust anyone. I have seen it all and the fact is that you're not the first female on his staff to try to corner him and force his hand and you won't be the last. Just a few months ago Gwen-,"

"That's enough Craig-" Ewan cut him off rising from his chair.

Craig turned bright red as if realizing that he was about to reveal too much.

"What about Gwen, Ewan?" Georgia turned to face him her stare as hard as any he could give.

Craig's mouth fell open at the change of roles.

Ewan grinned. "Jealous my love?"

Georgia blushed to the roots of her hair. That was the first time he had ever called her that in front of anyone. This time Craig made a little strangled sound as he looked from one to the other.

"We'll talk about that later, right now I want to set this matter straight and work out your and Craig's issues. It will make all of our lives much easier." He moved behind her chair, putting his hands on her shoulders and massaging them.

"I don't see how it matters I'm only here for a few weeks," Georgia insisted as she swallowed hard against the sensation of being on a rollercoaster.

"That's still to be determined."

Georgia surged up and out of her chair. "No, it is determined, and it irritates me to no end that you're not taking no for an answer!" she all but yelled.

"But Mr. Mailler never takes no for an answer Georgia," Craig said, looking confused.

"So you think it's a good idea that I stay here as his mistress?" Georgia turned on Craig.

"No."

"How about his wife?"

Craig's eyes grew wide as he looked from one to the other as they faced off with the chair between them.

"I told you Georgia, I haven't asked you yet so you can't say no."

Georgia growled something low under her breath and all but stomped her foot in frustration.

"Lovely," Ewan said giving her a light peck before moving back to his chair behind the desk. "Now about that night Mr. Parks, it's simple, I suffer from PTSD and fireworks tend to set it off, Georgia knows this and she knows the signs. If she had not kissed me...well let's just say it would have been more awkward and as Georgia said all she stood to lose was her job."

"Which she did." Craig said softly, looking truly distressed.

"Diana was about to fire me anyway and it was becoming to difficult to remain." She looked at Ewan.

"Was it?" he asked softly.

"Yes," Georgia choked out and they were unaware of anything but each other until Craig cleared his throat.

"Should I go?" He looked uncomfortable.

"No, I should. Ms. O'Dell is waiting." Georgia rose, moving towards the door.

She was just about to open it when Ewan called out. "No fireworks Georgia."

Turning to look at him, she saw that he was already engrossed with his computer screen. "I still want to hear about Gwen Ewan, either from you or Craig."

"Yes love," he said absentmindedly as he started typing.

She took a minute to look at Craig who was rubbing his face as he tried to make sense of it all. "We'll talk later Craig."

"I look forward to it Georgia," he said smiling. "You'll forgive me?"

"Yes, but please don't doubt me again." Georgia didn't want to hold it against him and if defending Ewan's honor, she had to laugh silently at her turn of phrase, had been as constant as he said it had been, then maybe she would have thought the same thing.

"I promise, I won't."

Georgia just nodded her response as she quietly closed the door behind her. When she meet Carrie the woman seemed overly interested in what had transpired after she had left the room.

"Mr. Mailler wanted to make sure that Craig and I would be able to work together without any problems."

"That was all? I wasn't mentioned was I?"

Georgia eyed her closely, was she headed down the same road as all of the others. "No, was there a reason why you should you have been mentioned?"

Carrie flushed. "No, no reason?"

"Shall we get to work?"

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