The Billionaire’s Mistress by Georgia Somers Page A

Reyna,” she said quickly, stepping in front of Grayson and rushing Reyna in .  Reyna smiled in an exasperated manner as she was dragged down the hallway, and she and Grayson exchanged furtive glances. 
     
     
     

II
     
    Reyna spent the rest of the afternoon becoming acquainted with the Manor and Ivana, the other maid.    Thorne Manor was four stories high and doubly as wide; it was really more of castle than anything else.  Reyna couldn’t believe only three people lived in the house, they most likely never saw one another.  From what she had learned from Ivana, part of the Manor was never used unless guests were invited over, so most of the cleaning and caretaking was cordoned off within the middle of the gigantic house.    Reyna would be in charge of cleaning the main bedrooms, and laundry for now, while she settled in and Ivana showed her the ropes.  She was courteously introduced to James the butler, who arrived in the early evening and Carmen, the cook.  Her living quarters blew her away.  She had never had an entire bed to herself before, let alone a whole room with a bathroom.  The setting was more luxurious than she could even imagine, more than she was used to, but judging by what she had seen of the house so far, it was a plain and simple room.
     
    Dinnertime was signaled by the wafting aromas of hours of cooking coming from the large granite kitchen.  Reyna sat on a bar stool at the counter and watched as Ivana, Carmen and James moved around in perfect harmony coordinating the dinner service.  At exactly 7’ 0 clock, James left the kitchen carrying a silver tray laid out with a sumptuous meal followed by Ivana who also had her own tray.  As they left, Reyna peeked through and saw two beautiful women sitting at the twelve-seat oak table, laden with wine and flowers.  The older woman, Camilla Thorne, Grayson’s wife, was striking, with long auburn hair, bright green eyes and lightly freckled skin.  Her manicured hands had never seen a day of hard work in their life.  To her left was a younger version of her mother, Ella Thorne.  From what Reyna had learned, Ella had just turned 21 and she was very spoilt.  Ella had her mother’s hair, and skin tone, but those tender blue eyes were definitely from her father.   
     
    After a few moments, Ivana rushed back into the kitchen, the silver tray still in her hands, with an exasperated look on her face. 
    “What’s wrong?” asked Reyna, standing up . 
    Ivana shook her head, “Miss Ella wants all the carbohydrates removed.”
    Reyna raised her eyebrows, as Ivana and Carmen chuckled. 
    “Can I help with anything?” ask ed Reyna, wanting to be useful, even though it was only her first day.
    Ivana looked up at her, a grateful smile edging her lips, “If you wouldn’t mind,” she said, pointing to the last silver tray on the counter, “Mr.  Thorne is having dinner in his den.”
    Reyna gulped, and then smiled.  This was her job, she thought, as she picked up the tray and walked out another kitchen door and down a long hallway toward the den.
     
    Grayson flipped through papers on his desk, searching for something in particular.  His face was taut with stress, the lines on his brow, furrowing deep.  Suddenly he threw all the papers on the floor in a fit of anger.  Just then, the door to the den opened and Reyna walked in.  Grayson sighed, running his hands through his thick, dark hair and noticing the fearful expression on her face.    She slowly walked in and placed the tray on a side table and rushed to pick up the papers on the floor.  Grayson sighed deeply, shaking his head as he got up and walked toward her.  “Please, leave it,” he said angrily, as she piled up some papers in her hand.  Refusing to look him in the eye, Reyna replied, “Mr.  Thorne, it’s my job.”   Grayson sighed, as he moved to the ground to help her.  For the first time Reyna looked up at him, the strain in his face causing her heart to reach