Page 73 of A Billionaire for Christmas
Valerie dismissed her with a wave of her hand as Armand approached. ‘Nonsense. Just do it.’
‘I will not,’ Molly hissed defiantly. ‘Why don’t you ask one of your children to do it? Or would they also not approve?’
Valerie looked incensed. ‘If you dare say one word?—’
Armand stopped in front of Molly. ‘Molly,merci beaucoup.’ He bowed graciously and thanked her for a delicious meal and an entertaining evening. ‘That was the best degustation I have ever had in my life. A real trip down memory lane. I don’t know how you did it, but it was wonderful.’
‘I’m glad you enjoyed it. You have coffee, liqueurs and a cheeseboard after your dessert, but please let me know if there is anything I can get you before I close the kitchen and retire my staff for the evening.’
Valerie scowled at her from behind Armand’s back. Molly scurried to the kitchen to find the others in high spirits.
‘What a great team we make. Who’s for celebrating in my room?’ Lucca whispered. ‘We’ll leave the two lovebirds to it.’
‘Good idea,’ agreed Freda, downing a glass of wine. ‘I’ll bring a few bottles. Levi, you grab the brandy. Molly, bring some of those amazing desserts.’
‘We’ll sneak through the boot room, so they don’t see us,’ suggested Lucca, smiling.
Levi hung back. ‘What did my mother want?’
Molly winced.
‘She still wants you to steal his phone, even after such a lovely night?’ He rubbed a hand down the side of his perfectly shaped face. ‘How could she?’
Molly shrugged in answer. People. Such strange, unpredictable creatures.
Just as they were about to leave, they heard Valerie say clearly, ‘It’s no good. She’ll have to go.’
Freda stopped suddenly in her tracks, causing Lucca, Levi and Molly to bump into each other behind her. They heard Armand protesting.
‘Don’t spoil this wonderful evening, Val.’
‘I’m not spoiling it. You’ve seen the way she looks at him. It’s for her own good.’
Molly froze.
‘I have no idea what you mean. She’s cooked all this delicious food, and you’re dismissing her? Why, may I ask?’
Oh boy. Now it was Valerie’s turn to fire her. She’d have to get in line.
‘Because I can see the way Levi looks at her. Don’t tell me you’ve not noticed. He’ll fall for that innocent look of hers, but let me tell you, I know a gold digger when I see one. She’s got to go.’
They heard Armand let out a hefty breath. ‘She doesn’t strike me as a gold digger, Val. Why do you have to be so negative all the time?’
‘The wine? She lied about the wine, didn’t she? She’s shrewd, much cleverer than we’ve given her credit for.’
Lucca flicked Molly a guilty look.
‘And I caught her drinking vodka this morning. A whole bottle of vodka hidden in her apron. She’s clearly got a drinking problem.’
It was Freda’s turn to glance guiltily at Molly. She mouthed an apology.
‘And she lied about the catering business, about her restaurant, probably to manipulate Levi into buying it at a higher price. Petra told me she’d rung the number on the contract and was told the owner had died. Then all of a sudden, Molly turns up. Very muchalive. And Petra was so desperate for staff, she went along with it thinking she’d made a mistake. Something is off. No. She has to go. That’s final.’
While Lucca and Freda were making confused faces, Levi was frowning with concern at Molly.
‘I think you’re wrong, dear. She’s a clever girl, yes. I mean, who else knew how to fix the generator? But I think you’ve misunderstood her. It’s time you stopped interfering in our children’s lives and started looking at your own.’
Molly stood rooted to the spot as an almighty row unfurled between the two.
