The Billionaire's Housekeeper: A Marriage of Convenience Romance for Adults Read Online Free

mother calls me that,”
Rita grumbled. Whenever Jose was frustrated with her he called her by
her full name.
    “ You’re stalling. How can
I help you if you won’t open up to me?” Jose feigned hurt
and he pouted his lip dramatically.
    “ What exactly am I getting help
for?” Rita laughed. Jose was right, she was stalling. But she
didn’t know where to start or where to end. She didn’t
know if he would understand. She had known him for three years, and
there was definitely trust there when it came to their friendship.
She just wasn’t sure she liked opening up to people. She didn’t
know how he would react.
    “ I don’t know yet!”
Jose admitted. “But someone out there knows something. I don’t
want them defaming your character. You’re one of my favorite
people on this hellhole we call planet earth. The least you can do is
dish out some juicy gossip.”
    Rita sighed. There would be no letting
up with Jose. She studied his face for a few seconds. She had held
out for this long. But if something were to happen, she needed
someone here who she trusted and who really cared for her to be on
her side. She didn’t know what could happen if someone were to
know all of her story…worse if word got out to the police.
    She decided to tell him. She wasn’t
going to tell the full story. She was going to keep it as vague as
possible. She wanted him to be satisfied enough to leave her alone,
but to be in the know about what it was that she was dealing with.
    “ Fine. I’ll tell you,”
she caved.
    “ Wunderbar! Is it about George?
Are you sure you guys aren’t a thing? I kind of like the way
you look together. Your chocolate with his vanilla, you guys would
be…”
    “ Jose! Focus! I’m about to
let you into a very dark part of my past. It’s not…It’s
not about Mr. Ainsworth. Even he doesn’t know what I’m
about to tell you. I’ll tell you my secret. Just not here.”
    Rita linked arms with Jose, and she
led him back out onto the lanai around the back of the mansion. She
wanted to make sure she was away from any listening ears.
    *****
    Rita had spent most of her day
distracting herself with work. She was so diligent that she was
finished earlier than usual and even went around clearing up some of
the rooms twice.
    She avoided the windows. If she walked
into a room she would shimmy along up against the wall like a novice
spy and close the curtains. She knew there were still paparazzi
outside. The number of them had almost tripled as the day went on.
She would peek through the curtains whenever she was curious enough.
    By 5, the majority of them had given
up and left. The sun had started to set when the last one had finally
gone home. The guards didn’t entertain them, and no one let
them in under any circumstances.
    It was strange for Rita. Before,
whenever there was press outside of the door she would be able to go
about her business without so much as batting an eyelash in their
direction. The minute one mentioned her name, now it felt like there
were eyes everywhere, watching her. She didn’t like that
feeling. She wanted everything to go back to normal. So much had
changed with her work, herself, and Mr. Ainsworth since the divorce
came through.
    Rita went outside and back to her
little cottage that was close to the back of the property. It wasn’t
too far from the main house, but it was down a trail and out of
sight. The cottage had its own unique style. It felt like a house not
on someone’s grounds, but a quaint little home for a couple, or
a young and hopeful person. Julie helped design it when Rita had
first come to work for the Ainsworth's. Julie was a little less
insufferable then. She asked Rita for her opinions and her tastes
with the decor, and the cottage was done to both of their liking.
Over time, and with more wine and self-loathing, Julie didn’t
talk to Rita much anymore. Rita had just become another person to
manipulate in order for Julie to get her way.
    Rita sighed when she