Chapter 72: Paige!!!

But first things first, he need to change the way he's going about it. He need to find another method or style and that is exactly what he's going to do. 

He walked down through the quiet passage passing Paige's door before making it to the stairs. He climbed down the stairs hurriedly wishing not to keep her waiting. When he got to the last set of stairs, he saw her in a perfect red gown taking a selfie at the foot of the stairs. She had the guts to wear the jewelry he got for her to the house of another man! Simon groaned inwardly with anger and jealousy. "I'm all ready." He announced as he walked up to her.

Paige put down her phone and turned towards him. "You look great." She complimented.

Simon couldn't see the glow and happy demeanor she always possessed. It felt like his presence wiped away the smiles that were once on her face just moments ago when she was facing her phone camera and this broke Simon's heart even more. "Thank you." He replied with a smile. You look stunning as well."

"Thank you." Paige murmured in reply.

"Shall we?" He asked pointing towards the door just as Sherman appeared to announce that their ride was ready.

"Your ride is ready Sir." Sherman announced bending forward from his waist region as he bowed.

"Thank you Sherman." Simon replied and turned to Paige with a questioning look.

"I'll be right back, let me get my bag." She said and headed to the living room.

Simon turned to the door and saw Sherman still bent in a bow. "For the hundredth time, is something wrong with your spinal cord Sherman? Why are you still bent like that. Are you on a sort of punishment?" He asked.

"No sir." Sherman replied standing upright. "I'm sorry sir, I just tho......."

"Sherman please!" He cut him short. "Not today. I'm seriously not in the mood for your long and unending talks."

"Definitely sir." Sherman replied standing at attention. 

Paige walked in on them with her bag which was rather too small to carry her basic needs if she really meant to spend the night at Tedsons. "Let's go." She said leading the way outside. The Limousin was already parked outside with Bruce standing beside it in his black suit coupled with a black tie. Paige looked at the car in awe. She's always seen limousines in movies but never physically. The black limousine shined excellently as the glossy paint gave it a magnificent look. Bruce opened the door for them as they came close to the car which had only one entrance door. "Thank you." She told Bruce as she stepped into the car followed closely behind by Simon. "This is beautiful." She said truthfully as they settled into their various seats. 

"Thank you." Simon replied still smiling. He looked at her bag again and the question of what she was going to wear or change into at the Tedson's keep tugging on his mind. He tried to envision her in one of Frankie's shirt and suddenly felt dizzy like he was going to puke. The gods forbid that his baby ever wear another man's cloth except his. He thought to himself. But then, why isn't she going with a bigger bag? They started their journey as Bruce announced it over the intercom. The silence between them continued with them stealing glances at each other occasionally. When Simon could no longer bear it, he blurted it out the question that have been on his mind since that evening.

"Are you coming back to the Mansion with me tonight?" He asked in the softest voice ever.

"I thought we've talked about this." Paige said all defensive.

"I'm just asking." Simon replied. "I'm not asking you to come home with me. It's just a harmless question. Beside, you're not with your things. I felt you changed your mind or something." He said finally airing his mind without being too straight forward.

"Frankie got some clothes for me already." She replied. "And seriously Simon, you shouldn't concern yourself with all these. I'll be back first thing Monday morning." She said and pick up her phone to go through the selfie's she took back at the mansion. Caring less how angry, bruised and talked down Simon felt.

In order not to explode with anger, he took a sip of water from the bottle water always made available for him beside his seat. He glanced at Paige from the corner of his eyes wondering what came over or where he went wrong. With the current situation, he need to keep reminding himself that Paige now want an employer-emoployee type of relationship. So, he needed to act accordingly. The ride to Crescent Fall continued with absolute silence except for the tiny giggle from Paige every now and then. "You know there are better ways to tell me what you want than ignoring me and acting like I don't exist." He said not having it.

"I've told you what I want. I've expressed myself as much as I can Simon." Paige shot back at him dropping her phone. "You don't listen. You keep coming. You put in all the tricks in the world just to have your way." She said. "If ignoring you will do the trick, then I'd stick with it." She told him.

"You are the one who do not know what you want Paige Patterson!" He shouted. "When someone say they love you, what do you think? Do you think the love goes away immediately you reject them? It doesn't work like that. I've never felt this way for anyone before. Love has never been a thing for me. You don't know how scared I am every single day of my life knowing that someone out there have the power to shatter my heart into tiny pi...ece....s" he stammered in annoyance.

"Simon, I'll say it again, it can't work. Let's face it, it c.a.n.n.o.t work." She said emphatically.

"Why?" He asked looking at her straight up.

"Do I need to keep explaining myself?"

"You need to Sunflower. You seriously need to because your previous explanation made no sense whatsoever. How can you tell someone that is head over heels in love with you that you won't be enough for them. You don't jump into these conclusions, especially for me. I am the one who wears the shoe and I am also the one that knows where it pinches most. And I'm telling you, you are more than enough for me." Simon said trying his best to make her understand how he's feeling.

"Here we go again." Paige murmured.

"Did I wrong you? Or maybe I did something to hurt your feelings and I didn't realize it." He said.

"Simon," she called. "Face reality please."

"Okay, fine. How then are we going to stay or live under the same roof for the next nine months if we suddenly can't stand each other?" He asked another question that have been bothering him for a while now.

"Maybe, I'll pay you back what I owe before then." She replied.

Simon smiled bitterly. Was she trying to use Frankie to pay him back what she owe? And then what? He wondered. She obviously didn't know Franklin Tedson if this is her plan. "We're here." Bruce announced before he could say something else.

"Great." Paige replied and  started struggling with the car door to open it.

"Stop it." Simon scolded her softly. "You can just ask and I'll open it for you. You are not a hostage." He said gently opening the car door just before Bruce could.

"Thank you." Paige muttered and came down from the car. Simon came down as well and stood beside her. Once ready, they headed to the second gate that led directly to the Tedson's Mansion. Just like the Kentleys, The Tedsons were multi billionaires.

"Your invite please." The security asked them. Simon gave them his own but Paige happened to have forgotten hers. "Good evening Mr. Kentley." They greeted and Simon nodded. "Sorry ma'am, but we can't let you in." They told Paige respectfully.

"Kindly tell Franklin Tedson that Paige is here, he'll tell you to let me in at once." Paige explained.

"I'm sorry ma, we can't leave our duty post. Maybe you should try calling his cellphone." They suggested. 

Paige immediately dialed Frankie's phone. It rang continuously but he didn't pick. All the while Simon stood there comfortably with hands in his trouser pocket. When he was sure Paige have exhausted her chances of getting in, he finally spoke up. Turning to the security at the gate, he smiled at thrm. "It's actually fine, the lady is with me." He told them and they nodded apologizing for denying her entrance earlier on. They opened the gate for them.

"Have a nice evening Mr. Kentley." They called after him.

"Thank you." He replied.

Paige didn't say a word to him. She was just boiling with anger. She was angry that Simon waited for the guards to humiliate her before he interfered in the matter knowing so well that a word from him was enough to let her in.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Okay, I know the update of this book haven't been like it use to be guys and I'm so sorry. These couple of weeks have been crazy for me. But, I'm back now. Let's hit it✌️