The Billionaire's Will (25 page)

Georgia rolled her eyes. “Very well, I’ll do it myself.” She abruptly hung up. “You
are such a stubborn man,” she muttered as she headed to her laptop to look for Denver photographers.

*

The photographer she hired did a good job, Georgia thought. She chose to sit behind her grandfather’s desk and asked for several prints, which were delivered the next day. She sent one to each of the newspapers with a brief statement. By Sunday, her picture was on the front page, on television, and on several of the national talk shows. If the world didn’t know who she was before, they did now.

*

Over his morning coffee, Austin studied her picture and her statement:

“
I am Nicholas Gladstone’s granddaughter and will soon be taking over his affairs. I wish to assure all who are employed in his companies, that I have no intention of selling off or letting any of the companies fail.

Georgia
Marie James.

He
was about to close the paper when he spotted a second article.

Mathew Connelly arrested for murder.

Longtime resident and prominent member of Denver society was arrested and charged with the murder of Amanda Black in T
ampa, Florida. His arraignment…

Austin picked up his cellphone, found Georgia’s number and was about to call when he thought better of it. “I’m sure she can read.” Instead, he closed the newspaper and went to the kitchen to refill his coffee cup. It was Sunday and he had plenty to do, so he went to his desk and got right to work. He was in the middle of writing a brief when he stopped, went back to the table, and opened the paper again.

She didn’t look happy or particularly pleased, the way most
people would if they had just inherited a billion dollars. Instead, she looked indifferent and even a little miserable – just not as miserable as he felt.

Austin shrugged and went back to work.

*

Georgia
located a Denver hobby shop and ordered paint supplies. She bought an easel, canvases of every size, frames, paints, and brushes. She even had the men clear out a room with plenty of windows for light, and lay down a drop cloth. When the supplies arrived, she arranged everything the way she wanted it, sat down in the only chair left in the room and stared at the first blank canvas.

Nothing
happened. She considered a landscape, a portrait, animals, and even buildings, but nothing inspired her. After a time, she got up, left the room and closed the door.

*

It was all over the news and by Tuesday morning, the press had linked Mathew Connelly’s arrest to the heiress of the Gladstone fortune. Georgia couldn’t have cared less.

Shouting
and annoying reporters waited outside the gate when Georgia’s limo drove through, but the security guards managed to clear the path and as soon as he could, Bill sped away.

“Bill, how would you like to buy us a new car?”

“I would like that. What kind do you want?”

“A shorter one with tinted windows would be nice.”

“I’ll see what I can find.”

“Just charge it to Austin.” When Bill grinned, Georgia winked. “We have to keep him busy, or he’ll run off.”

“He won’t run off, he just doesn’t know how to come back.”

“It’s easy. You get in
a car, turn the key, and drive. Is that not how it is done?”

“That’s how I always did it. Want me to go pick him up?”

“No, we best let it be his idea.”

*

Very seldom did a limo pull up in front of the retirement home, but on this day, Georgia had come to see an old friend. The receptionist recognized Georgia’s picture, happily called up, told Adelaide she had a visitor and then waited for her to come down.

“
Miss Bertrand, I am Georgia.”

“Adelaide put her hand over her heart and caught her breath. “I cannot believe it. Look how beautiful you are.”
A little embarrassed about her appearance, Adelaide straightened her dress.

“I remember you so very well. You used to make angel wings for me.”

“You do remember. I wasn’t certain you would. Can you stay for a bit?”

“I can stay as long as you like.”

“Good. Come upstairs with me. I have pictures.”

“Baby pictures? You kept them?”

“I could never part with them. You were my baby too.”

For two hours, Georgia and Adelaide
talked, and looked through the photo albums together. Georgia remembered some and not others, but neither of them cared. At length, she closed the album. “Are you alright here?”

“I
saw it on the news this morning. I am quite safe now that your father is locked up.”

“Would you like to come stay with me?
I have plenty of room.”

“Oh no, dear, I would rather live on my own.”

“I understand. I like my independence too. Is there anything you need? Anything at all?” Georgia asked.

“Just a visit from you once in a while.”

“You can count on that.”

Adelaide reached for her hand.
“I am so sorry I had to leave you there, Georgia. I have cried many a tear over it.”

“I do not blame you
for what happened.”

“I could have run away with you…but I didn’t. I was too selfish.”

Georgia put her other hand on top of Adelaide’s. “He would have found you.”

“
I suppose he would have.”

Georgia took a tissue out of the box and wiped Adelaide’s tear
s off her cheek. “I’ll hear no more regrets. No one in the world loved me the way you did, and I shall always be grateful for the years we had together. May I have a copy of some of these pictures?”

“You may have the album, I made it for you.”

She stood up and hugged her Nanny. “I must go now, but I’ll be back.”

“Don’t let your father
get out of jail.”

“I
assure you, we will do everything in our power to keep him there.”

*

Another week went by, and each day another pile of papers came by courier for her to sign. Austin still didn’t come or call. She signed them and sent them back. The rest of the time, she wandered aimlessly around the mansion, swam in the outdoor pool, and tried to keep busy watching movies alone in the theater.

Reporters from all over
the world tried to get in and one even managed to make it over the high wall. Helicopters occasionally hovered above, making an unthinkable racket and didn’t leave until they decided she wasn’t going to show herself. It was outrageously annoying.

When
the head of her security team suggested they hire more people, she quickly agreed. The first man they hired took pictures of her by the pool with his cellphone, which ended up in a tabloid the next day. He was promptly fired.

And still, Austin didn’t come
– or call.

By the end of the
next week, she’d had enough.

*

As soon as Bill opened the Rolls door for her, Georgia got out and marched into the Gladstone Building. She went to an elevator, got in, punched the correct button and rode it to Austin’s office.

She walked into the reception area and only hesitated for a moment. “Is he in?”

“Yes, Miss James.”

“
Thank you.” She didn’t wait to be announced, opened the door and walked straight to a startled Austin’s desk.

“Georgia,” he said, quickly standing up. “I…

“I want to sell GSTS.”

“Very well, I’ll put it on the market. Would you like to sit down?
”

“No
, thank you. I wish to sell it to Jim for ten dollars.”

“I see. How is Jim?”

“Ask him yourself.”

Her all business tone was unmistakable
and he decided to match it. “Will you be a silent partner?”

“No
.”

“Does he know you’re doing this?”

“Of course. Ten dollars was all he had in his pocket when I sold it to him.”

“Maybe you should have given him a bigger raise.”

She was not amused. “Are you willing to take care of this for me, or must I do this myself as well?”

“Georgia, I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“Of course you did.”

“Please sit down
. We need to talk this out.”

“I don’
t have time just now. I have an engagement.”

“
An…engagement?” he asked.

“Yes. You do not
expect me to live like a hermit, do you?”

“Of course not.”

“Good, then we finally agree on something.” She turned around, and was about to leave when she thought of something else. “I wish to use the corporate jet.”

“What for?”

“May I use it or not?”

“It is
yours; you can use it any time you like. Where Are you going?”

“Don’t worry, I’m not leaving the country and I will be back.”

“Fine. Just let the pilot know what you want.”

“How do I find this pilot?”

“I’ll email you his phone number.”

“Thank you.” She
marched out of his office with the same fortitude she had marching in. It was not until she got back in the elevator that she slumped against the wall.

Behind her, Austin slowly sat back down and
stared at the door. “What sort of engagement?”

*

Just inside the rehab center’s front door, Laura took a deep breath. With her suitcase in hand, she gathered her courage, opened the door, and then shielded her eyes from the bright sunlight outside. In front of the building was a long white limo and the girl standing beside it was Georgia.

“Darling,” Laura said
walking to her. “You have come to see me at last.”

“I have come to take you home.”

“Oh dear, I dread going back there.”

“Then don’t. I would very much like it, if you would come live with me. Grandfather’s house it too big
. We’ll have plenty of time to talk if you do, and I have a lot to tell you.”

“Could I? Truly?”

“Please do? I have grown so very lonely there all alone.” She got in, slid over and then waited until her mother sat beside her. “I have a lot to tell you, but first, how are you really?”

“
It was a bit of a torment getting off, but I no longer have the reasons to drink I once did. Have you heard?”

“What?”

“Austin called to tell me about Mathew’s arrest.”

“
I read it in the papers. Does it upset you?”

“
Not at all. If they convict him, he can’t contest the divorce, or at least that is what Austin says.”

“Well, I say we forget about
Mathew.”

“If we can,” Laura muttered.

“Mother, we must forget him, he means nothing to us now.”

Laura smiled.
“You called me Mother.”

“That’s who you are
.”

“
True, but I never thought you would say it and certainly not this soon.”

Georgia reached over and took her mother’s
arm. “I have waited a long time to have a mother, and I refuse to wait a minute more.”

“I cannot tell you how happy
that makes me. Now, what do you have to tell me?”

“
Well, it all began on my sixth birthday. My nanny took me…”

*

Austin’s main priority was getting everything transferred over to Georgia, and for the most part, it kept him too busy to miss her. Yet, he did miss her and forgetting how he felt about her was impossible. Nick’s portrait, the hotel across the plaza, and even the classical music piped into his apartment constantly reminded him of her. He often thought about how he planned to take her to see his horse, but of course, that hadn’t happened.

There had to be a way to
end his misery and the logical choice was to confront her. Determined finally, he left his suite, went to the parking garage, got in his Camaro, and drove to the Gladstone mansion.

*

“She is not home,” Clint said when Austin came to the door.

“Where is she?
”

“
Florida.”

“Florida, what for?”

“To attend some sort of hearing in Mr. Connelly’s case. Mrs. Connelly went with her. Miss Laura lives here now, you know.”

“No, I didn’t know. Did Georgia say when she would be back?”

“They plan to stay for as long as it takes.”

“Through the trial and everything?”