Chapter 7

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Georgia reached for her phone and texted Craig that her room had been gone through.

'Anything to be concerned about?'

'No.'

Sighing she rose. It was time to join Diana and continue on as she always did.

When she entered Diana's room it was to see Molly talking to her again. "Thank you Molly," Diana dismissed her.

"Did Ewan apologize?" she asked, looking up from the emery-board that she was using on her nails.

"Yes, he did." Georgia sat in her appointed chair, breaking open her calendar. "I was able to firm up a few appointments for this week."

"Do you like my brother Georgia?" Diana asked.

Molly had been at it again. Georgia closed the calendar and leaned back in the chair. "Mr. Mailler is also my employer and I like him well enough, but I imagine not as well as Molly does."

"Molly?" Diana asked, doing a poor job of acting surprised. "What does she have to do with Ewan?"

"She has a crush on him and she thinks that I'm a threat to her imagined romance with him."

"That's ridiculous Georgia." Diana stood, finished with the conversation.

"Watch your back Diana. Molly is not a trustworthy individual."

"Funny, she said the same thing about you." Diana came back quickly, too quickly.  She realized her mistake as soon as she said it.

"Miss Diana, I'm happy to be working for you.  I hope that in the last five years I have proven myself to be not only being trustworthy but capable. I am able to act as a mediator between you and your brother, and hopefully make both of your lives a little more peaceful. Molly has worked here for two weeks and has caused more trouble than any other employee. Please, do not take what she says seriously."

"Of course I won't Georgia and you're silly to think that I would. Now, let's go over that schedule."

The rest of the week flew by. She was right about Ewan, he had left that afternoon for foreign shores and, as usual, she missed seeing him, even if it was just across his desk for half an hour every morning.

The following Friday she had her bag packed and sitting next to Diana's in the foyer as she organized the loading of the car. They would be driving to one of Ewan's office buildings where they would be meeting up with him. From there, they would catch a helicopter to the estate where the party was being held.

Georgia had not seen Ewan since he had apologized, and she was looking forward to laying eyes on him and making sure he was alright since she hadn't heard from him or Craig in a week.

A few moments later Diana showed up wearing her darkest sunglasses and slid into the back of the car without acknowledging anyone around her. Georgia slid in behind her and the car pulled away from the house as seamlessly as it always did.

The drive to their destination was a short one and Diana remained silent the entire journey.  The fact that she was silent was not odd, but the fact that she kept her body turned away from Georgia was.  When the car stopped there was someone waiting to open the door for them and a beautiful redhead greeted them in the lobby.

"Hello Miss. Mailler, it's nice to finally meet you. I'm Gwen, Ewan's Executive Secretary."

Georgia tried not to groan as Diana stopped and turned to look at her. She could see the wheels in her mind turning and Georgia couldn't disagree with the track they were taking.  Ewan was always very formal and the fact that this woman was calling him Ewan spoke of a more personal relationship. Diana would file it away and use it against Ewan when it suited her, and the fact that she was mad about something probably meant it would be sooner rather than later.

Gwen really was a beautiful woman.  Her lovely red hair was a soft cloud around her shoulders. She was taller and leggier than Georgia and she had the model thin figure that generally went with the height. She was wearing a grey skirt suit that was tightly tailored and stopped well above her knees and four inch peep toe heels finished off the outfit. If she was wearing a blouse under the jacket Georgia couldn't tell.

"Where's Craig?" Diana asked, sounding petulant.

"He is with Ewan, upstairs. If you'll follow me I'll take you to them now." With a sweet smile she turned and led the way to the elevators. Georgia had not been introduced or even acknowledged, and generally at this point Diana would have introduced Georgia to prove to Gwen that she too was important and warranted her own assistant. Something was up and Georgia was betting it had something to do with Molly. The girl had continued with her conniving ways despite Ewan's absence.

The ride in the elevator was tense and Georgia watched as Diana worked up her anger. As they exited and followed Gwen across the carpeted reception area which held another woman who was a pretty blond the tense silence remained. Gwen knocked on the door and waited for the command to enter.

They followed her into a massive office with a wall of windows that looked down over the city. There were a few men standing off to one corner looking at something that was on a table.

Georgia didn't let her eyes wander to Ewan as she wanted to; instead she looked to Craig to take her cue and he was looking at her to take his. Georgia gave a subtle shake of her head to say all was not well and he gave a small nod as if to say it was expected.

She then watched as Gwen walked over to Ewan and placed her hand on his right shoulder and said something in his ear. Georgia felt her hands, which were folded in front of her, clench at the intimacy of the act.

Diana let a slow hiss leave her lips as she watched the interaction. They were both thinking the same thing. Ewan was having an affair with this woman. Georgia knew in her heart that it was most likely not true. He wasn't the type; but the jealous woman in her believed it. Gwen was more beautiful than she was, she had more contact with him then she did, and who was she to say she hadn't been played by him.  She wasn't exactly experienced in the world of men and their games.

He nodded at what she said but didn't turn around as he continued his conversation with one of the other men in the room. Gwen approached them and motioned to a couch that was on the other side of the office, out of the way. With a glare at her brother Diana turned and moved towards it.

Georgia followed her but chose not to sit down. They waited for about twenty minutes, allowing her to watch Ewan's broad back from across the room with short glances. When the men concluded their business they shook hands and Ewan turned to look at his sister.

He didn't bother to address her as he moved towards his desk, and he didn't even glance at Georgia.

Georgia watched as Gwen moved towards him and joined him with some papers behind his desk. She placed her hand on his shoulder again as she sat the papers in front of him. When Ewan looked up from signing the papers his eyes meet Georgia's and she quickly looked away before he could see the jealously in hers.

She had no claim to him.

"Thank you Gwen, that will be all for today."

He called her Gwen; he never called her Georgia.

"All right Ewan. Enjoy your weekend."

And Georgia never called him Ewan.

Gwen left closing the door behind her and as soon as it clicked shut Diana was up and headed right for Ewan. "You're sleeping with, her aren't you?" Diana hissed.

"Even if I am, it's not as if I'm about to propose marriage to her." His voice was completely unfeeling as he said it. His face was its usual stern mask.

"Really, your secretary Ewan...even that's below you."

"I take it James called off the engagement?"

Georgia was shocked. She turned to look at Craig who had his usual stoic look in place. This was something that was completely unknown to Georgia, she had been left out of the loop on both sides.

"You knew he would."

"Did you ask yourself why Diana?"

"Because you threatened him." Diana leaned over the desk and got right in Ewan's face.

"No, I didn't threaten him, I simply told him that I controlled your money and that there was no way you were getting it until I decided it was the right time, which could be tomorrow or in twenty years. I also assured him that when you finally did get your money it would be wrapped up so tight that your chosen husband would never be able to touch it.

Ewan leaned towards her across his desk. "I didn't think he would stick around when he realized there was no money to be had."

Diana blanched then paled.

Georgia watched Ewan as his left eye narrowed. He was not pleased at having to once again break Diana's heart but he couldn't be the tender hearted brother. He didn't know how. The sad thing was that if he could be that brother, Diana might not try so hard to find true love.

Georgia knew Ewan had tenderness in him because he had shared it with her.

"And you don't think these women want the same thing?" Diana stood up and motioned towards the door of the office, the door that Gwen had left through.

"No, I know they only want the money, which is why I don't get emotionally involved."

Georgia kept her face carefully neutral as her heart shattered into a billion pieces. Not only did he admit to affairs but he said that he kept all emotions out of it; that meant her as well.

She had been played. He probably pulled out the sympathy card for all of the women. He was as heartless as everyone thought him to be but he could hide it when he wanted to.

"It's time to go," Craig said from the side of the room as he looked at his watch.

Diana stood up and straightened her dress, turning away from her brother and moving back towards the couch to get her purse. Georgia leaned down and picked it up handing it to her. The look of disgust that Diana gave her floored her. Diana thought that she had been involved.

Georgia was no fool, she could read the signs. It was time to move on to another job.

Diana had herself back under control when she turned towards her brother.

Craig led the way to the door with Diana at his heels. Georgia followed behind Diana and Ewan behind Georgia. They were a serious group as they entered the reception area and saw Gwen and the blond woman in an earnest discussion.

"Have a good trip Mr. Mailler," the blond woman called out as they passed; Ewan completely ignored her.

They filed into the elevator and Ewan reached around Georgia to punch in a number on the keypad. It took all Georgia had not to jerk away from him as his arm brushed her shoulder and his smell filled her space. She kept her back straight and her shoulders up as the elevator ascended to the roof. As they exited Craig held her back.

"What's going on?" he asked in hushed undertones.

"I have no clue, all of this is news to me." Georgia adjusted her purse strap as they moved towards the helicopter. She didn't miss the shocked look on Craig's eyes. "I guess my time here is up."

"What do you mean?"

"Neither you nor Mr. Mailler bothered to clue me in on what was going on and neither did Diana." Georgia shrugged. "I'm guessing that I'm no longer useful to either side." She did her best to sound matter of fact and not sorry for herself.

"Why didn't Diana share?"

"My guess would be that she chose to share with Molly."

Craig closed his eyes.

"Yes, she's still there and she's still going strong, only last week she fell and sprained her ankle, making it impossible to fire her for the time being."

Their conversation ended as they reached the helicopter. Ewan had climbed in front leaving Craig and Diana the second row.  Georgia was seated in the back which was a fitting spot of her sour mood.


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