THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 437: Stop Playing ‘Mother Hen’!

George tilted his head, studying Ariel with a gaze that felt almost too intense. "Funny, I wouldn’t have thought our paths would cross like this," he mused. "But then, life has a way of surprising us, doesn’t it?"

Ariel forced a smile. "Yes, it does."

Lauren couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more going on than either of them was letting on.

Again, she had to remind herself that George was rarely this persistent about any woman, and Ariel... she was usually calm, self-assured, but now she looked like she couldn’t wait for the conversation to end.

She decided to press a bit, hoping to break through whatever barrier had gone up between them.

"You know, George, Ariel has been such a great friend since I returned to Baltimore. I don’t know what I’d do without her and Cheryl after my friend that made me return abandoned me because of a man to tour the world with him."

Cheryl nodded her agreement. "That’s indeed what Kathleen has done to our little sisterhood. It was almost unforgivable and now she is even heartless enough to let me plan a banquet all by myself without lending any help. If not for Lauren here, I might have met my Waterloo," she almost sobbed.

"Don’t be too dramatic. Hasn’t she promised to be back for the banquet?" Lauren coaxed. "See you’re making Ariel so sad that she is hardly comfortable. She’ll feel you don’t value her friendship."

Ariel sent Lauren a small, grateful smile, though she couldn’t place a hand on where Cheryl and Lauren were heading with all their drama.

George on the other hand seemed to be enjoying himself as he leaned forward.

His voice dropped a notch, making the moment feel more intimate despite the fact that he knew the two girls were only acting as he said. "I have no doubt Ariel’s been a great friend to you, Ren. Ariel’s always been... dependable, in her own way."

Ariel stiffened at his words, her jaw tightening. There was definitely a history here, both Lauren and Cheryl confirmed. But it was a rather tangled one, judging by the way Ariel’s knuckles whitened around her cup.

"Well, it seems like there’s a story there that I’ve missed," Cheryl brazenly voiced their inner thoughts as her gaze bounced between Ariel and George with curiosity. "I’d love to hear how you two know each other."

"Oh, it’s not that interesting," Ariel interjected quickly, forcing a laugh that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "We crossed paths a long time ago, nothing more."

But George’s smile turned cryptic, almost challenging. "I think it’s a bit more interesting than that, don’t you, Ariel?" He kept his tone light, but there was a glimmer in his eyes that made Ariel look away, her discomfort palpable.

Cheryl, sensing the rising tension, decided to steer the conversation back to safer territory.

"Well, speaking of old acquaintances, George, if you do end up coming to the banquet, I’m sure you’ll have plenty of chances to catch up with some familiar faces. Under Lauren’s insightful planning, it’s shaping up to be quite the event."

George didn’t take his eyes off Ariel, though he responded to Cheryl. "I can’t help looking forward to it. I also think it might hold more surprises than I personally expect."

Ariel’s hand slipped beneath the table, fidgeting with the hem of her dress, a gesture that didn’t go unnoticed by George.

He allowed a brief pause to hang in the air, then turned to Lauren with a more relaxed expression. "I’ll let you know if I’ll make the banquet, Ren. Don’t wait on me, though, but I’ll try to clear my schedule if possible to make it to the banquet."

"Trust me, I won’t," Lauren replied with a smirk, but her concern for Ariel lingered in her gaze.

George’s phone rang at that moment and he answered it.

"I guess your friend is finally around," Cheryl said almost regretfully.

"Unfortunately, yes," George nodded. As he finally stood to leave, he gave Ariel one last, lingering look. "It was a pleasure, Ms. Stanford. Until next time."

Ariel barely managed a nod, and as George walked away, she felt like she could breathe again. She focused on her drink, trying to steady herself, but Lauren’s voice broke through her thoughts.

"Are you okay, Ariel? You seem... off."

Ariel looked up, forcing a tight smile. "I’m fine, really. It’s just... Mr Wellington has a way of bringing up old memories, that’s all."

Lauren exchanged a look with Cheryl, both of them unconvinced especially with the deliberate use of Mr Wellington by Ariel. But for now, they let it go, turning the conversation back to the banquet planning.

Yet, as they spoke, Lauren couldn’t help but wonder what secrets Ariel was hiding, and why George seemed determined to bring them to light.

Across the room, George cast a final glance back at their table with a satisfied smirk playing on his lips before heading to the private room he’d booked.

**********

That evening, when Lauren was done with her assignment for the day, she immediately put a call through to George.

"And what little game are you playing with my friend’s assistant?" She attacked as soon as the call connected.

"I hope you don’t have it in your agenda to play around with her? She’s very important to me and let me warn you, my friend will break you to pieces if you dare mess with Ariel."

George’s chuckle sounded from the other end of the phone. Quite expected of her overprotective and faithful cousin. Lauren wouldn’t mind confronting a force single-handedly in order to protect her loved ones and that was one of the things that endeared her to him among all his cousins.

"Which of your friends?" He asked instead.

"Really? Is that all you have to say after all I said?" Lauren spat back. She couldn’t believe that after that long episode she took her time to read out, the only response George could give was a four- worded response.

"Please Ren, stop playing ’mother hen’ and tell me which of your friends we are talking about here."

"Kathleen, of course!"

That succeeded in eliciting a note of surprise from George. "You mean..."

"Yes. She is Kathleen’s assistant," Lauren did not allow George to finish, "and is assisting her with her job in Wyatt Corporations."

"Hmm, I see. My little flower has really grown over the years... to the point of bagging herself such an enviable position with the heiress of Director Wyatt," he muttered to himself, earning a glare from Lauren even though he couldn’t see her.

"Little flower? Don’t tell me you... what have you done to her...? Sorry, don’t answer that. Let me rephrase. What’s your past relationship with Ariel? And how come you have never mentioned her to me?

"That’s talk for another day. I believe you don’t want me to go on telling you about all my escapades with every single girl that has tried to get close to me, Ren?"

"But why do I also feel you sounded more jealous than protective of Ariel?" George teased on.

"Jealous my foot! And don’t you dare try to change the subject by bringing up something that even you don’t believe."

"Why can’t I believe that you are indeed jealous? I know you sensed the spark between Ariel and I back in that restaurant, you aren’t going to deny that, are you?"