What they keep

Before Ezra left the private room at his hotel he dialled his personal assistant’s number. It was early especially for a weekday, but Claire was always at his disposal.

“Good morning Mr Warren,” she answered on the first ring. “How was the professor’s ball?”

“Fine, fine,” Ezra sighed. “I know it’s Saturday I won’t keep you long. Any news on my pendant yet? It’s been weeks.”

“Sir, the hotel said they haven’t seen it and the staff have been interrogated twice. No one has it. Perhaps you lost it somewhere else. Do you remember where you went before the hotel?”

Ezra rubbed his forehead and cursed. He was at dinner with colleagues at the same hotel. He still didn’t remember how he met Natalie and ended up taking her virginity in his room.

“It has to be at the hotel somewhere. It’s priceless you know that.”

His close employees knew about the sentimental value the pendant held. He felt reckless for losing it.

Claire cleared her throat. “Sir, I know you said the night’s a blur but perhaps you met a stranger and they took the pendant off you.”

“Impossible.”

His colleagues were rich gentlemen what would they want with a pendant. Natalie came to mind. She didn’t stay long after he woke up. He shook his head. His fiancée couldn’t have stolen it. It didn’t make sense.

“We’ll talk about this later. I need you to dig up information on a woman.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll need a name and you’ll get everything about her.”

“Perfect,” Ezra purred.

***

It took Gia a whole morning of rest at home to regain her composure and strength. Ezra hadn’t let her sleep. He was determined to taste and kiss every inch of her. She had bite marks on her to prove Ezra left not stone untouched. She giggled uncontrollably as she remembered being in his meaty arms and breathing in his rich clean scent.

She could stay in bed all day day-dreaming but duty called.

As soon as she stepped into the mansion, Frank cornered her, rushing forward with a heated inquiry. "Gia, where on earth were you last night?"

She frowned. Why would he need to know? She had no Natalie duties last night. Nor did he try to reach her. She wondered if Frank was following her. She wouldn’t put it passed him. He did everything the Bentley family asked him.

In the midst of her sudden interrogation, Frank paused and spotted a mark on Gia's fair neck and pounced on it like a cat on a mouse. "Oh, what's this? Did you go out and mess around with some riffraff?” He pushed her shirt collar down to see the hickey better. “I always knew you weren't the innocent type... tsk, tsk, tsk... Don't forget, you're parading around as the young lady of this house. If Mrs Bentley finds out about your shenanigans, the madam will skin you alive!"

Gianna swatted his hand away as her face heated up with embarrassment.

"What I do in my spare time is none of your business or your madam.”

Frank raised his head. “She owns you as long as you’re acting as her daughter.”

Gianna would rather be cursed than be Hanah’s daughter.

“Natalie’s a woman of class and elegance. She doesn’t portray herself like a loose woman like you do.”

Gianna gritted her teeth. “Then you don’t know Natalie at all. Why’s she really missing? Did she get pregnant for some creep? She’s not as classy as you think. She’s as vile as her Mother!”

Frank was taken aback at the defiance, momentarily lost for words.

Gia continued with a laugh. "You don’t have anything to say. So it’s true. She is pregnant. I can’t play Natalie forever sooner or later her reputation will be ruined and it’ll be all by her hand not mine."

"You..." The words choked but he knew Gianna couldn’t play with fire forever. “You’ve grown balls. Trust me you don’t need them.”

Maybe it was her talk with Ezra by the railing that made her realize she was stronger than what she gave herself credit for. She had been beaten, burned even thrown down these stairs by Natalie. She had been humiliated in front of Natalie’s friends and mocked by fellow employees within these walls.

Frank straightened his spin and raised his chin. “Get ready. Ezra is on his way. He couldn’t get a hold of you again. I hope you haven’t sold Natalie’s phone for change!”

“Of course not,” Gianna mumbled and scurried upstairs to put on her mask.

She was too busy in the morning thinking about Ezra to answer the phone. Nearly half an hour later she was finished. She was getting better at putting on make up to look like Natalie. She added more layers because she spent a lot of time with Ezra yesterday. She wore baggy pants and a long sleeve turtle neck to hide her love bites and figure.

She went downstairs to wait but discovered Ezra and Keegan had arrived. They were talking to Eliot and Hanah in the living room.

“There she is!” Keegan exclaimed.

Ezra stood to kiss her cheeks. “Something wrong with your phone, Darling?”

“Uh… I think so. I need a new one it’s been two weeks since I got it anyway.”

She noticed Keegan roll his eyes which meant she was doing a good job acting spoiled she kept her smile to herself.

“Uh… Natalie, Ezra has great news,” Eliot said nervously.

“You do?” Gianna asked.

Ezra nodded his expression darkening. The change in mood made her nervous.

“We have to push up our wedding. We’re getting married in a week’s time. Pick where ever you want and I’ll make it happen.”

Gianna’s heart banged against her ribcage. She hoped Natalie wasn’t hiding because she was pregnant because then she would have to marry Ezra for real!

“That’s… so soon don’t you think?”

“No!” Hanah exclaimed. “I mean of course not, dear.” Hanah said composing herself quickly.

“I’m sure Natalie’s worried about getting her perfect dress and magical venue with the short notice but it’s nothing we can’t handle,” Hanah said sweetly.

“I’ll get you the best designers money can buy, Darling. We’ll announce the date at my family’s home at dinner tomorrow.”

“We’re looking forward to it then we can talk contracts!” Eliot laughed.

Ezra smiled and his eyes lingered on Gianna. She inched away and averted her eyes. She was feeling the pressure again.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Darling. Keegan and I have business to attend to.”

She nodded unable to speak. He kissed her cheek quickly and left. Hanah walked them out to make sure they were gone before she dropped her mask.

“This is getting out of control,” Gianna said to Eliot.

“I know but we need you to keep playing Natalie.”

“Will I have to marry him? I can’t do it.”

“Of course not!” Hanah blasted as she stormed into the room. “You’re never marry a billionaire like him. You’re just a maid. A maid who wants to ruin this engagement for us.”

“Enough, Hanah. All of this is your daughter’s fault! This is a mess. If they find out, we made Gianna assume Natalie’s identity we could be in trouble. Ezra might even sue us.”

“He’ll never find out. Gianna knows what’s at stake if she fails her job.”

Gianna knew the price was high to pay but could she keep her cool for an entire night during dinner at the Warren’s?