Bags were already by the door. She expected that Alessandro would have had a driver at the ready to come and fetch the party of three. She had no idea how they had arrived at the chalet but she didn’t notice any cars outside.
She was startled when she heard the whirring of something overhead and she followed in awed silence as they all turned in the direction of the sound, with Alessandro being the first to lead the way out of the kitchen, grabbing a jacket from the console by the front door while the others slipped on coats.
He pulled open the door to the sight of a helicopter hovering in the clear, cold turquoise sky over a cleared patch, a helipad, which Georgie had never really noticed because, even in summer, her duties did not involve her doing anything outside the chalet.
As it came closer, the noise of the blades became louder and louder until, at last, when they whirred to a stop, the sound of silence was almost as deafening.
Georgie had never seen anything like it. Surely she would have heard if they’d arrived in a helicopter? Perhaps they had been driven to the chalet and now this was just the most expedient way of dispatching them.
She watched, her mouth agape, as someone hopped out and then there was a flurry of activity as Sophia’s Louis Vuitton holdall was gathered up, along with the two duffel bags belonging to the guys.
‘So, Alessandro…’
‘Please, Sophia. Not now. Everything is settled and I will be in touch with you tomorrow about a schedule of ongoing arrangements. I hope I’ve made it perfectly clear that change of plans at the last minute will carry consequences?’
Georgie began sidling into the background. Soon, she too would be dispatched in the most expedient way possible. Not a helicopter…more a few curt words, a warning or two and then a door slammed in her face once she’d called a taxi to collect her.
‘Wait here for me.’ Alessandro briefly looked at Georgie.
‘Should I do anything?’
‘Anything like what?’
‘Say a few goodbyes,’ Georgie suggested vaguely. ‘I don’t want to appear rude.’
‘Why not? You won’t be seeing any of them again, least of all my ex, and the less interaction from you, the better. Sophia will look for any excuse to cause trouble so the less ammunition she has, the better off we’ll all be.’
‘Okay. I’ll head inside and start cleaning up.’
‘There’s no need.’
‘Who else is going to do it?’ she asked wryly. ‘It’s what I’m paid to do, after all.’
He looked as though he was about to say something but then, instead, spun round on his heels, headed out towards the helicopter where the men were already climbing up the stunted steps. He had his hand on the small of Sophia’s back, urging her along to follow suit. She was having none of it. She was glaring at Alessandro and engaging him in urgent conversation about who knew what.
Now what?Georgie thought.
For a start, she was back to having nowhere to stay for the next few days, which was something she hadn’t even thought about earlier when she’d dressed for work.
She’d still been too caught up in whatever drama she’d found herself in.
But now…?
She saw Sophia look daggers in her direction, smile and then she disappeared into the helicopter, but not before slapping away Alessandro’s offer to help her up.
At that point, Georgie turned back into the chalet and headed to the kitchen. She swept up the coffee cups and was busily washing them when the kitchen door was pushed open and there he was, face like thunder.
‘Okay…’ She smiled what she hoped was a soothing smile as he strode in her direction to help himself to some more coffee, only to growl under his breath when he realised that it had gone cold. ‘Why don’t you sit at the table and I’ll bring you another cup of coffee? There are also the croissants still waiting to be baked.’ She looked at him warily. ‘Not to mention those eggs. I could rustle something up. I guess it’s been a stressful…er…time…’
‘We need to talk.’
Georgie took a deep breath and went for it. Now that the act had dropped, she could see just how angry he was that she was under his roof. ‘I know you want me out of your house as soon as possible but I can’t return to my place yet because Alison’s still contagious.’ Deep breath. ‘Would it be okay if I…have a couple of hours to find some alternative accommodation at the resort? It’s very busy at the moment but I know lots of people who work at some of the hotels and lodges and I might just be able to—’
‘I thought you couldn’t afford that option?’
‘I’ll have to dive into my savings.’ Georgie licked her lips and mentally braced herself for imminent sacking. ‘It would be a shame,’ she pleaded to a better nature, ‘because I’ve been doing myutmostto save for a deposit for somewhere small when I return to England but… Look, please. If you’re going to fire me, then could you get it over and done with quickly? At least then I can start thinking about my future.’
‘I’m not sacking you.’
