Gia's Rescue
“Ezra, babe, you've arrived. You’re kind of early.” Natalie sashayed through the front door.
Gia couldn’t escape fast enough. Natalie gave Gia a pressed smile as she slithered beside Ezra.
“What time is your Family getting here? I hope they’re not behind you.” Natalie rubbed the front of Ezra’s suit and smiled.
“Actually, I’m here for your Father. My family won’t be here today. Aside from Keegan, I suppose.”
Natalie brushed her hair aside and smiled at Keegan. “Keegan, it’s been a long time. What are you doing here?”
Keegan turned to Gia, putting her on the spot. “I brought Gia home. Damn, you two really could pass for sisters.”
Gia didn’t have the chance to deny Keegan’s statement before Natalie fumed.
“Please, she looks nothing like me. She’s irrelevant. What are you doing standing there anyway? You’ve got work to do!”
Gia straightened up. She scurried into the house without another glance at the man who brought her home.
Ezra watched as she left without as much as a glance at them. She was visibly shaken. He shouldn’t care but he had the overwhelming sense to protect her. He shouldn’t, he reminded himself, she was a maid.
“You’re a difficult boss, huh, Natalie?” Keegan asked.
“Keegan, you have no idea, Gianna Graham is nothing but trouble, always trying to cling to anyone with money. If it weren't for my parents' kindness, she would have been kicked to the curb long ago. Her Father died and her Mother’s in hospital but despite my family’s generosity she makes a prostitute of herself.”
Ezra’s jaw clenched. Why didn’t he believe any of that was true?
“Is that the reason you make her wear that ridiculous mask?” Ezra snapped.
Natalie blinked a few times but managed to maintain her smile. “It’s a rule of the house, darling. We can make up different rules in our house.”
“I hope they aren’t as stupid as that. I have to go, see around, Ezra,” Keegan said, sliding into his sports car.
Ezra nodded then turned to Natalie. “I have to see your Father right now.”
“Why?”
“About our engagement.”
Ezra walked passed her. Natalie grabbed his arm and stared at him quizzically.
“What’s wrong with our engagement? You broke up with Esme, right?”
“Of course I did.”
“Then what the hell—”
Ezra chuckled and brushed her hand off his muscle. “I’m not a man who likes being questioned. If I marry you, you’ll have to get that through your head quickly.”
Ezra walked off.
“What does he mean if?” Natalie’s blood boiled.
Her plan was going so well until now.
Gia checked on her Mother at home, changed into her uniform and met her co-workers in the kitchen, pulling trays of food out of the oven and placing deserts into the fridge.
“Where have you been? We’ve been slaving all day,” Alexa, the blonde asked.
“Sorry, I had school,” Gia replied.
Leslie the oldest rolled her eyes. “Natalie’s going to through a fit if the Warren’s aren’t satisfied.”
“Oh, weren’t you told? The Warrens aren’t coming today.”
Leslie and Alexa gasped. “You’re kidding.”
“Is something wrong with the engagement?” Alexa asked.
Leslie swatted Alexa with a towel. “It’s none of our business. Are you sure Gia? The least any of us want is to get in trouble because you heard bad gossip.”
“I’m not gossiping I heard it from Ezra himself.”
Leslie frowned. “Now, I know you’re lying. Roll the dough we need more dumplings.”
Gia sighed heavily. “Fine, but when we’re told the Warrens aren’t coming I’m going to say I told you so.”
“What nonsense is this?” Frank barked, paralyzing the women. “Where did you hear that?” Frank demanded.
“From Mr Ezra. I heard when he told Natalie himself.”
Frank crossed the room and eyed Gia up and down. His face twisted in disdain.
“Now why would they announce it in your presence of all people?” Frank spat.
Gia’s face heated up with embarrassment. “I-I…”
“You’re incompetent, Gianna! Ezra Warren is here in a meeting with Mr Bentley. No one has communicated to me so your words can’t be true.”
Gia flinched. “I swear I’m not lying. Natalie just hasn’t—”
Gia’s eyes grew wide as Frank raised his hand to strike her. Everything happened in slow motion, Leslie and Alexa gasped. Frank’s rough hand connected with Gia’s face. Gia held in the tears as the pain went from her face to her toes.
“Enough!” A deep powerful command blasted in the kitchen.
Gia backed into the counter and banged her wrist.
Everything moved in slow motion as Ezra strolled into the kitchen with his hands shoved deep into his pockets.
“Is this how the Bentleys treat their help?” Ezra asked threateningly.
“Gianna is an incompetent—” Frank was cut off.
“I said enough! How dare you?”
Gia trembled. Not from Frank’s blow but from Ezra’s rage. He looked like he’d return Frank’s favour by punching him in the jaw.
“Out. Everyone,” Ezra ordered as if he owned the house.
Gia pealed herself from the counter but Ezra stepped in front of her.
“Not you,” he whispered.
Everyone piled out. Frank fumed more than he did before while her co-workers didn’t dare glance back.
“Ezra— Sir…”
“I don’t care what it was about, touching you is a line no man should cross.”
Gia’s heart warmed.
“He’s… my boss.”
“So?” Ezra reached out and stroked her cheek. The one stinging from Frank’s slap. He got that sense of familiarity again.
“It was a misunderstanding, but… thank you.”
He pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to her. “Don’t thank me.”
Ezra stared at her as if he had more to say the way Keegan had looked at her earlier but Ezra spoke with his eyes. Gia wasn’t sure she understood but to her it was desire and curiosity.
“I have to get back to work,” Gia said softly.
“No, go home.”
“I can’t. I don’t want to get into trouble.”
“Believe me no one’s disturbing you after this. I’m not leaving this spot until I see you leave this kitchen.”
Gia clenched her aching wrist and offered Ezra a smile. She left through the back door. She didn’t want to live in fantasies but it was hard not to imagine things with the man she spent the most wonderful night of her life with.