THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 449: Glued To Her All Evening

"N-no. You’re not. Is there something you want me to do?" Ariel asked and quickly mumbled a tiny apology in George’s direction before dragging Cheryl away, leaving George with a knowing smile hanging on his lips.

As they moved out of earshot, Cheryl shot her a look. "Alright, spill it. You and George looked pretty cozy back there."

"Nothing’s up." At least with me, but a whole lot is up with Georgia, Ariel added in her mind as her mind went to the conversation she was having with George just now.

Was he indirectly proposing to her? But why would he? He can have any woman he wants with his status. Why her? yes, they might have a daughter together but she’s not asking him to take responsibility, at least not anymore. She had wanted it that way in the past but she doesn’t want him to think he’s obligated to marry her because of that. Besides, he might already have someone.

Cheryl raised an eyebrow. "Ariel... Anything the matter?"

Ariel blinked, snapping out of her thoughts as she caught Cheryl’s concerned gaze."I’m fine, I was just thinking about my daughter," she said as she tried to manage a smile. "Where are we headed?"

"I’m sorry, we’ve been so busy that I forgot to ask how George’s meeting with your daughter went."

"It went... fine," Ariel said not too happily.

"Really? It doesn’t sound like it did from your tone," Cheryl pointed out.

"Is that how I sound?"

"Mm-hmm. Is it that it didn’t turn out like you hoped?"

Ariel let out a sigh. "It’s not that. It was more than I imagined, honestly. The thing is, now that she’s met him, it’s like... I don’t know, like I’m not needed anymore."

"How do you mean? Has George suddenly..."

"It’s not him... it’s my daughter." Ariel glanced around, searching for the words. "As soon as she was able to establish the tiniest bond with her father, Georgia’s been talking about him non-stop, wanting to be with him all the time. I used to be her whole world, and now..."

"Really? That’s good then."

"You think so?"

Cheryl chuckled softly. "Oh, I know the feeling. My daughter’s just three, and she’s already making me feel like the ’other woman’ when her dad’s around. But that’s just how it is with daughters and their fathers. They always have this enviable bond with their father that would make you, the mother, feel so jealous and helpless," Cheryl said in an aggrieved tone but her expression suggested otherwise.

"At least your daughter grew up with her father around her, but Georgia’s case is different... they only just met," Ariel whined.

"I don’t know what to say about that, but let’s just say, it’s always been there...lying dormant and was awakened the moment they met," Cheryl theorized.

"Ariel let out a little laugh. "Maybe you’re right. I guess it’s natural because I’m closer to my dad than my mom and my mom always feels left out."

"Talking about being left out, do you think George is also leaving you out? From what I saw just now, you look like the only woman in his eyes."

Ariel’s cheeks coloured she denied. "You must be mistaken, there must be someone in his life. He couldn’t have been single all these years. I bet there are uncountable girls flocking around him."

"Funny, he didn’t even come with a date tonight."

"That’s because you invited only him," Ariel pointed out. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Or maybe he wanted you to be here with you."

Ariel’s denial died on her lips as she caught sight of Lauren approaching them from across the room.

"I just saw Kathleen and her husband, let’s go and have a word with her before her husband comes back. He’s been glued to her all evening since they arrived," Lauren said.

"But I saw them together not long ago,"

Ariel said.

"President Jason just cornered him somewhere and I don’t know how long he’ll be able to keep him away."

"Let’s head over immediately," Cheryl said but her eyes sparkled with mischief. "I’ll call Jason to keep him off for as long as possible. I have something important to ask Janice."

At the other side of the room as soon as her brother took Shawn away, Kathleen’s eyes scanned the room for any friendly face that was not all smiles and no feelings. She’d had enough of that since they stepped into the hall.

Luckily, Cheryl, Ariel and Lauren chose that moment to show up.

"Welcome, boss," Ariel greeted as soon as she was within earshot.

"Kathleen."

"Janice."

Both Lauren and Cheryl greeted at the same time as they both enveloped Kathleen in a hug.

Kathleen’s eyes lit up. "Hey, girls. Am I happy to see you?" She said with relief.

"Of course, you are... because I know you’ve missed us as terribly as we have all missed you even though you chose to abandon us for a man," Lauren teased.

"And that man happens to be my darling husband," Kathleen boasted.

"If I didn’t have a husband, I’d feel so bad," Cheryl laughed as she broke the embrace and Kathleen reached out to hold Lauren in a friendly hug, taking her by surprise.

This was her boss, but she had made it a point of duty to erase that line between them.

"And this is the time I would have wiped off a few tears if I wasn’t getting married in a few days’ time. So I’m not moved by you two showing off with your husbands," Lauren said smugly.

But the same could not be said of Ariel who had a polite smile on her face as she stepped away from Kathleen who had released her.

Ariel’s silence seemed to remind the three women joking away of something and they all cast an apologetic gaze on her.

"It’s alright," Ariel said softly, trying to reassure them

"I wish I could believe you," Lauren said.

"Don’t worry, one of these days a wonderful gentleman, made just for you will come along and sweep you off your feet," Kathleen, who had no idea of what had been going on for the past five days said consolingly. "You might even find one in this gathering today. Better still, I’ll introduce you to as many as possible, then you can make your choice, okay?"

"Cheryl and Lauren exchanged a knowing look. "Janice, I don’t think Ariel needs help in that department," Cheryl said with a smirk.

Apparently lost, Kathleen’s slender brow arched in a frown which deepened, when she saw Ariel who had strangely refused to meet her eyes, coloring away.

Kathleen’s gaze alternated between the three women who obviously had a secret they were not letting out.

"Is there something I must know, Ariel," Kathleen addressed Ariel directly as her eyes settled on her. At least she could count on Ariel to spill the beans as her PA and not toss her about like her two mischievous friends.

"There’s nothing... really," Ariel stammered, still refusing to meet her boss’s eyes.

"I doubt she’ll tell you since she’s desperately trying to deny the obvious," Cheryl said.

"Now I’m sure there’s something you guys are not telling me. Spill the beans already. I’m dying of curiosity," Kathleen pressed.

Lauren chuckled, leaning in closer. "Maybe you should have told us you knew Ariel had a daughter with my cousin."