The call of love
By Mallory Quinn
Chapter 2
"Georgie Junior"
Georgie and Candy put their coats on and went to office by car. The driver was waiting for them in front of the house.
They arrived in front of a building not too far from the Victoria train station, in the centre of London. The Bateman Enterprises were becoming one of England's most flourishing of England. The fact that a woman was the head of it, fascinated all the business men. They all tried either to get her to marry them, or to put her in their beds.
A group of investors were waiting for Georgie in the sitting room in front of her office.
- Mrs. Bateman, hello. Who is this beautiful young girl, your daughter? She's your spitting image...said one of the business
- She's with me. Her name is Candy said Georgie, come into my office, please, sirs.
They entered Georgie's office and Candy served them some beverage, hot and cold, and some cocktail snacks. Then she took a notepad and she started to take notes. And that's how it was for the whole day. When the appointments were over, Georgie suggested they go into town to eat something in a restaurant. Candy left her notes to Georgie's assistant and this last one will type a report.
The two blonds were in one of London's finest restaurant, eating.
- Your days are pretty full, Georgie, said Candy, is it always like that?
- No, fortunately, said Georgie
- You reassure me, said Candy smiling
- Candy, I like you. I just met you, but I feel I can trust you. You're a brave and nice young girl
- Even if I got expelled from the royal college of St. Paul?
- Why were you expelled? You told me that your cousin set a trap for you?
- Yes, she was also in love with Terry...
Candy told her what happened.
- My God! Said Georgie, the nuns found in what position?
- I was standing next to Terry, that's all...we'd just arrived...not kissing or anything
Saying that, Candy became bright as red and Georgie felt for her, looking at her; she was so prude!
- Have you ever kissed Terry? Asked Georgie point blank
- Yes, said Candy still blushing...I slapped him, and he slapped me, and I slapped him again...
- Whooa! Said Georgie, talk about a cold shower!
- He surprised me...
Georgie thought about her first kiss stolen by Laurent; the prize for winning the boomerang contest.
- How was the kiss? She asked Candy
- It was the most beautiful thing in the world...
- So why did you slap him?
- Well... because...he surprised me... he...
- If he had asked you, would you have said yes?
- No...
- So, he didn't want to run the risk that you would say "no"... I know...
- So it was normal?
- Most of the time, men don't ask if they could kiss you, they act...you said he surprised you. What were you doing before the kiss?
- He said that we had to celebrate the end of summer with a dance... so we were dancing , then all of a sudden, he stopped, looked at me and he leaned...
- You were dancing, so it was a romantic atmosphere...
- Yes...
- And how did you feel before the kiss, while you were dancing?
- Very close to Terry, very intimate with him...
- And after you slapped each other, what happened?
- He told me he kissed me because he had real feelings for me...
- So if you hadn't slapped him, he would have told you he loved you...
- Oh... so I spoiled Terry's big declaration of love? Great!
- That's ok, Candy. You were surprised, confused... but according to what you're saying now; it was good, wasn't it? You don't have to be ashamed, Candy. It's a normal reaction to like a kiss, especially from the one we love...
- So, he didn't misbehave?
- Candy, if he had asked, you would've said "no" and a kiss is better when it's spontaneous... And if you think about it, it would've sounded weird...
- You're right... but if Terry came in this restaurant now, I won't be ashamed and I would kiss him in front of every body...
- You really love him a lot... Your first love?
- But he's not...
- What?
- My first love... it was Anthony... he died falling from a horse...
- I'm sorry. My first love, married another woman, and my husband is dead...
- I'm sorry
They talked like two old friends during the meal.
- Let's go see Charlotte... my old boss; she took me under her wing when I lost my husband. She adopted me, and helped me start my company. I want to introduce you to her, said Georgie
- Ok, said Candy with a nice smile
They went to see Charlotte at her house. She lived in a very big castle like most of England's high society. Georgie was living with her before, but she ended up buying her own mansion and was living alone. Charlotte was happy to see her daughter, as usual.
- Georgie! Said Charlotte smiling
- Good evening, Charlotte, said Georgie hugging her
- Good evening, little one, what have you got there? A mini you?
- Fascinating, isn't it? The associates thought she was my daughter... It's Candy White Andrew, my new junior assistant...
- "Junior assistant"? Said Charlotte, pleased to meet you
- Pleased to meet you Madam, said Candy with a smile
- Call me Charlotte
- Charlotte, said Candy smiling, can I go see your garden?
- Of course, my child...
Candy went outside in the garden. Georgie stayed with Charlotte
- Where did you find her?
- On a bench, at Hyde park... this morning
- And you hired her, just like that?
- She needed a job and a place to stay...
- Where does she come from? Doesn't she have a family?
- She ran away from St. Paul college
- St. Paul? Oh... I can understand her... the nuns were monsters...
- You know the college...
- Yes, I went there. And I can tell you, that I spent a lot of time in the attic, in the jail, in the donjon...
- You too? Asked Candy who had just came back
- Yes, I understand, that you don't want to stay there anymore, said Charlotte
- Oh no. I would've stayed if Terry was still there... said Candy
- Terry? Asked Charlotte
- Terrence Grandchester, my boyfriend
- Grandchester, like the duke of Grandchester?
- Yes, Madam, Terry is his son...
- Madam? I told you to call me Charlotte
- Ok, Charlotte...
Candy told her what had happened with Eliza, the barn etc.
- Oh that Eliza is a viper! Said Charlotte
- All I want is to earn enough money so I can buy a boat ticket to go back to America...
- To look for Terry? Asked Georgie
- I don't know where to look for him...
- You know what he wanted to do?
- To follow his dreams... his dream was to become an actor
- An actor in America... said Charlotte, maybe he's at Broadway
Candy thought about Eleonor Baker who was leaving in New York, maybe Terry wanted to be near his mother?
- Well, there you go, you already have a plan, said Charlotte
- Thank you very much Georgie, to have taken me in, and thanks Charlotte for your advice, you're both so good!
- You're good too, Candy, said Georgie with a smile
- She's like you, a few years ago, said Charlotte
Georgie looked at Candy. If her baby had lived, it would've been Candy's age... her poor baby, Laurent's baby...Laurent. They were in the same city, but their road never crossed. Georgie had avoided finding herself at the same parties and receptions with him. She always arrived late, and will send the driver to inspect the premises, to see if Laurent was there or not... It was kind of ridiculous, but she didn't want to run the risk of opening old wounds by seeing Laurent married to Elise, his royal blood fiancée.
Georgie and Candy went back home for the evening.
- You days are full said Candy
- Yes... said Georgie
- But it's like you're keeping your mind from thinking about something else...
- My husband is dead...
- Oh yes, I'm sorry said Candy looking down
- No, that's ok. I'm used to it. Working keeps my mind busy
They dined lightly and they went to bed. In Candy's bedroom, they spent half of the night talking. They needed each other. Their chance meeting at Hyde Park was a gift from heaven. The universe knew what it was doing by putting them together, those two women, needed each other, to mutually comfort each other and that's what they were doing, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Candy adapted well to her new life. Georgie was wonderful. People thought they were mother and daughter and the two ladies even stopped correcting them, and let them believe it...
The rumour started to circulate that Georgie Bateman had a daughter who was her spitting image. It arrived to Laurent family's ears.
- Our source is formal, said the father's voice, Georgie Bateman has a daughter, she's around 15...
- How is that possible? I thought we took care of that problem, said the grandfather
- Me too...according to you...but...they say she was going to St. Paul College
- Ask around, we didn't go to all that trouble so that it would explode in our faces
- But father, Elise still can't have any children... this young girl could be the only heir we'll have
- Elise is still young; she could still try to have a baby. Do you realise what it is to have a royal blood heir...
- But it's not happening... if you had let Georgie's baby live...She's not after our money. She's one of the richest women in England and she stayed away from Laurent during all those years. We managed to keep them apart so their road wouldn't cross. Our informants were keeping us posted of all her moves... If she had had Laurent's baby, she would never had gone to him. She's a good woman.
- She did have Laurent's baby, and we got rid of it...
- That was very cruel what you did...
- We had to... that baby couldn't live. We had to kill it
- You killed a poor little angel...
- That's why we have to make sure that this young girl, is really Georgie's daughter, to get rid of her...
- No, father, no way! If that young girl is Laurent's daughter, she's my only grandchild... You won't touch a hair on her head. If I had known earlier when Georgie was pregnant, I would've stopped you from continuing your diabolic and Machiavellian plan! But I learned about it too late... that's enough! You are not going to play God with my son's life anymore!
On that note, Laurent's father left the room leaving the grandfather fuming.
There was a reception organised, a few weeks later by the chain of all big stores in London, for charity. Most of the stores had left over stock in their possession and gave them to the homeless shelters for the needy. Those who didn't have any left over gave part of their current stock. Georgie always had clothes for the less fortunate. She new what it was like to be poor. She of course took her inseparable Candy with her. The two ladies got dressed for the occasion with really nice dresses. They got ready to go to the reception, when there was an emergency at one of Georgie's factory. Georgie had to go there.
- Go to the reception, Candy, I'll be right there...
- But you don't want me to come with you?
- No, you don't have to. Go to the reception. I'll come later, don't be afraid. Everything is going to be fine. Be yourself, you'll be wonderful
- Ok, Georgie, said Candy, see you later
After she was adopted by the Andrews, she had learned how to behave like a lady. She wouldn't have any problem. So she went to the reception. She knew most of the people; she had met them while working with Georgie. She was talking to some associates of all and nothing. She even had two young men interested in her. She was talking happily with them when her eyes crossed the ones of a middle aged man. She had seen that look before in the hallway of St. Paul College. The duke of Grandchester, Terry's father! She walked to him after excusing herself to her suitors.
- Mr. Grandchester? Good evening, she said smiling
- Good evening, said the duke, do I know you?
- I work for Georgie Bateman
- Oh yes, a good business woman. That's where I saw you? Your face seems familiar...
- No, we saw each other at the Royal College of St. Paul. I'm a friend of Terry's. My name is Candy
- Candy? You're the cause of Terry's departure? He even came to me for help...
- And you refused? Believe me Mr. Grandchester, no one wanted Terry in college more than me! He left because you refused to help him and he did the only thing he thought was possible so that I could stay; he sacrificed himself and he took advantage of his freedom to pursue his dream.
- You're not in college either?
- I couldn't stay without Terry there. Leave him alone, let him pursue his dream. Whatever feelings you have for me...he sacrificed himself to save me. He's a good and compassionate boy. You have to let him pursue his dream... follow into his mother's footsteps. And please don't penalise the college because of that, please...
- Are you in love with my son? He's in love with you, to have dared come to me to ask me for a favour...
- I love him with all my heart, sir... I can't hide that from you...
- You don't need to hide it... it's crystal clear...
Candy blushed and smiled. The duke looked at her and thought she was charming. He understood why his son fell in love with her, she was absolutely adorable, compassionate and so full of life and goodness. She was pleading for the cause of the college that had punished her and separated her from Terry, and was also pleading the cause of his son that wanted to become an actor like his mother. She knew Eleonor was Terry's mother. Terry had confided in her, he loved that young girl. It was obvious to him when Terry came to him for help to keep her in college; asking his help was not an easy task... All the plans he had for his eldest son, his heir... he even had a fiancée ready for him... But Terry was already in love with Candy... He remembered how happy he was with Eleonor... He was going to let his son be happy with his dream and the girl he wanted. He smiled to Candy.
- Ok. I won't bother Terrence's projects. I'm going to let him pursue his dreams. If he loves you as much as you love him, his dream is to be with you, not become an actor...his dream is to marry you one day...
- Oh... said Candy blushing some more
- You're the young girl we see with Georgie Bateman... they say you're her daughter...
- We look alike, don't you think so? Said Candy laughing, thank you for everything Mr. Grandchester
- No, thank you. I hope you find Terrence. If he wants to follow into his mother's footsteps, he must be in New York, at Broadway...
- Thank you very much. Be generous with our charities...
- Of course, I'm going to cut them a cheque
- Thank you Mr. Grandchester, good bye.
Candy left him to go powder her nose. She was powdering her nose when she heard two ladies talking.
- Georgie Bateman is a woman? I thought it was a man... pity said the first one
- Why would a woman go to all that trouble to earn money? All she has to do is to marry a rich man said the second one
- Earn money? What's the man's job, then? God told Eve to she will suffer to have children and that her husband will dominate her and he told Adam that he will suffer the sweat on his forehead to feed his family.
- Who are we to contradict God?
Candy came out of the toilet.
- Good evening ladies...
- It's "Georgie Jr" said the second one
- She has a daughter? Asked the first one
- She's her spitting image...
- I can tell you that my "mother" is the most remarkable woman in the world. She's proud and no man disrespects her, because, with or without them, she lives from the sweat of her forehead. You should try to work and earn your own money. I bet you wouldn't be spending it so easily like your husbands' money, because that would be money earned hardly with a different value. But still, be generous with your husbands' money for our charities... Have pity on a poor single woman with no man to take care of her... but wait, she doesn't need a man! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you, and you have the right to think whatever you want... But try to have a job one day, it's really fulfilling morally and physically and financially said Candy
She got out of the ladies room; she wanted to see if Georgie had arrived. She wasn't looking where she was going and she hit a man that had just came out of the men's room. Candy fell on the floor with the high heels she was wearing.
- Ouch! Said Candy, I'm sorry
- I'm sorry, said the man, you should look where you're going
The man looked at Candy and his heart skipped a beat.
"Georgie"? He thought.
No, Georgie couldn't be so young, but still... the hair, the eyes... I loved her so much, but life had cruelly separated them. He had heard that she was married and that her business was doing well.
- Are you all right? Asked Candy seeing him a little lost in his thoughts
- Oh... what? Yes. I'm fine
- Good. I'm sorry again, said Candy leaving
Candy walked towards Georgie who had finally arrives.
- Hi she said getting near her
- Candy, I'm sorry for being late, is every thing ok?
- Yes. People are generous
- That's good
- Terry's father is here...
- Oh...
- I talked to him. I think we understood each other
- I'm happy for you. You asked him for a big cheque I hope she joked
- With all the money he spends on the college, I forced him to make us a big cheque, joked Candy, Thank you Georgie, It's because of you. By the way, I just gave a little speech on the independent woman in the ladies' room...
- Really? Asked Georgie with a smile
- They thought you were a man...
- Oh, I get that a lot. I wished I had a camera to capture the faces of all the men that I was a man and then, they realised that I'm a very beautiful woman...
- You're not modest, are you? Said Candy laughing
- Candy you're beautiful, I'm beautiful, charity begins at home...
They burst out laughing. People were looking at them smiling. They were so beautiful... "Georgie and Georgie Jr." The media started to nickname them like that... and everybody started to call Candy, "Georgie Jr".
The man that Candy had ran into literally left the reception without going back to it. He was a little upset by his meeting with this young and beautiful girl whom reminded him of Georgie. Georgie... oh, he loved her so much! The time he spent with were the happiest of his life. Ever since she had given back to his family, to save his life, he had been miserable. Married to a woman he didn't love; he had fulfilled his duty, but was the most unhappy man on the planet. His wife was unable to have children and she was also unhappy with a man who was thinking about another woman. That other woman, he had heard, had married her "brother" and was widowed shortly after. She had married Abel... that meant that she didn't love him enough? No, she loved him, because, she had proven it to him on the eve of their separation.
- Laurent? You're back? Asked his wife's voice
- Yes Elise, I'm back
- How was the reception?
- Like all the receptions of the world... how are you feeling?
- Not really good, as usual. I think I'm going to give up...
- Give up what?
- Trying to give you an heir...
- Elise, you know I told you not to force it. Think about your fragile health
- You won't resent me for failing?
- God is the one that gives children...
- You mean that God punished me and deprived me of children?
- Elise, don't talk like that. Only God knows why we don't have children
- If you were with your peasant girl, you would've had a dozen of kids by now
- Elise, not tonight, please. I'm tired. I'm going to bed.
It was the always the same thing... They will talk about their incapacity to have kids and it will end with Georgie... Georgie he loved so much; not a day went by without him thinking about her. And his marriage of convenience, an arranged marriage, a failed marriage...his marriage was a total failure.