Page 79 of Control

My brows drew together, much like Alana’s had. Had I gone through all of this today just to have this woman tell us that Annie set up some kind of fund to help offset the costs of whatever care Georgia’s mom needed? Talk about an overreaction.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Alana said. “May I ask what the nature of her disability is?”

“She was in an accident that left her permanently disabled,” Georgia revealed. “She needs help with the most basic of tasks, including bathing, getting dressed, and preparing meals. I do what I can to help her, but I can’t do it all and work.”

“As sympathetic as I am to what you and your mother are facing, I’m curious how Annie fits into this,” Alana said, the question in her tone evident.

“It’s costly,” Georgia revealed. “I have limited resources to care for my mother, and the large amount that doesn’t get covered by insurance has to come out of pocket. My boss covers that.”

Alana and I exchanged confused stares. Georgia still hadn’t said anything that indicated Annie was in any way involved in this story. When we turned expectant looks on her, Georgia only seemed to clam up.

“I think it’s great that Jackson Taylor is willing to cover those costs for you. It must come as such a relief.”

“I’m relieved that my mother’s care is covered, but it comes at a price,” Georgia revealed.

“I’m not sure I understand,” Alana said the moment at least a half dozen sordid thoughts ran through my mind.

“Mr. Taylor covers the cost of my mother’s care, but he requires payment from me in return,” Georgia murmured, her cheeks turning pink with embarrassment.

The uneasiness she’d felt about me being in the room was making sense now.

“Are you… are you telling me that he?—”

“He takes what he wants when he wants it,” she confessed.

An uncomfortable silence fell over the room. If I had to guess, Georgia was sitting with humiliation, and judging by the look on her face, Alana was horrified. As for me, I couldn’t stop my lip from curling with disgust.

Even not knowing how Annie fit into this, I could confidently say Jackson Taylor was a pig. What he was doing to this woman was wrong on so many levels, but that he was in a position of power, that he was her boss, made it worse. And because Georgia loved her mother and wanted to ensure her care, she was forced into this.

Alana was the one to break the silence. “I’m so sorry, Georgia.”

“Annie was going to fix it for me,” Georgia rasped. “It’s my fault she’s dead.”

My eyes widened in shock, my stomach dropping. For the first time in all of Alana’s interviews, I didn’t hold myself back. “I’m sorry, but can you please explain what you mean by that?”

Georgia inhaled deeply and let out a deep sigh. “It happened at the gala The Taylor Group hosted months before her death,” she began. “Obviously, I was there, along with Mr. Taylor and Annie. Mr. Taylor had pulled me away from the crowd at one point, and I knew what he planned to do. Somehow, I found the strength to search for help, and my eyes locked on Annie’s. She was across the room, but I guess she knew I was pleading withher. Annie, being who she was, likely got stopped by guests as she made her way to where Mr. Taylor took me. By the time she showed up, he had already groped my breasts, kissed me, hiked up the skirt of my dress, and freed himself from his pants.”

Unable to resist, I asked, “How old are you?”

“Twenty.”

Jesus. Jackson Taylor was thirty-seven. “How long has this been going on?”

“Since about six months after I turned eighteen.”

“What happened when Annie came in?”

She shook her head. “I don’t quite remember the exact words that he said, but Mr. Taylor made it seem as though what was happening was something we both wanted. Annie was quick on her feet, recognizing he wasn’t being honest, and she apologized for interrupting, noting that she needed me to help her with some of the favors for a few guests. I quickly righted myself and went with her. I felt his eyes on me the rest of the night.”

“Did you tell Annie the truth?”

“Not that night, no. But before the night was over, she slipped me a note with her personal phone number, and I called her the next day. We met up with one another, and I told her everything. She was going to fix it for me. She was going to get me out of it while securing the funds for my mother’s continued care. Annie wanted me to go to the police, to tell them what was happening, but I was too scared. I knew she was a good person, and I should have trusted her, but I didn’t want to risk my mom’s care. And now I’m just… I don’t even know why I called you. I just didn’t know who to turn to.”

Silence fell over the room again. Georgia was clearly hoping we were going to give her answers as to how to proceed. Alana seemed to be feeling a mix of emotions, unsure which way to turn.

So, I stepped in. “You said you believe it’s your fault Annie’s dead. I can’t imagine that means you were the one to harm her. Would I be wrong to assume you believe it’s Jackson Taylor who killed her?”

Georgia pressed her lips together, her eyes filling with tears. “I never meant for any of this to happen. I knew he was an evil man, but I didn’t think he’d kill her.”

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