"Oh, my baby." Naomi spread her arms, and Paige rushed into it, sobbing.
“Naomi, what am I going to do?"
Her friend was gentle with her. "What do you mean? You tell the man, of course."
Paige drew away from her friend’s shoulder, wiping her eyes. "I can't do that."
"Why not? Aren't you in love with him?"
Paige refused to speak.
"Paige?"
“I’m, but if he finds out am with child, he is going to insist on marrying me."
"Why do I get the feeling you don't want that?" Naomi's eyes narrowed.
Paige gave a humorless laugh. Trust her friend to read her emotions correctly. "Yes, I don't want that," Paige said, wiping her eyes fiercely. Like a woman whose determination had suddenly been born.
"Don't you see it? He feels obligated to marry me. We had one reckless night of passion and I got pregnant. Like the gentleman he is, he feels obligated to take responsibility by offering marriage. I don't begrudge him for want
Neatly dressed in a champagne-colored three-piece suit, his brown hair sleeked back and away from his face revealing the harsh lines of his face and that out-thrust jaw. Four to five balloons with the inscription ‘get well soon’ held together with the flowers. Paige's mouth dropped open as she recalled she had told him she couldn’t make it to the office because she was sick. Was that why he was here? Because he thought she was sick?" He must have bought those balloons off the street on impulse. It didn’t seem his style. “Are you going to let me in?” His mouth curved to the side with a gentle smile. His voice, low and thick with his accent. “Ah… yes,” Paige blushed and stepped away from the door. Forgetting Finn was inside her apartment. It wasn’t until Leo paused a little farther from the living room with a haunted expression on his face that Paige realized what she had done. She hurried over to Leo immediately, and he turned his head to h
Few hours later, in the high rise office building. Leonardo stared unseeingly at his laptop screen for the umpteenth time that day. He couldn’t get past the look on Paige's face when he had left. He was convinced he had said something to ruin her mood. If not, how then does someone suddenly go from a good mood to close to crying? He can’t seem to figure it out, no matter how hard he had tried to look at it from every angle. Glancing at the adjacent office, where Paige should have been occupying now had she not been sick, Leo allowed his gaze to linger there, conjuring her image. He wanted to call Paige and find out how she was fairing but he couldn’t. That was his problem, and the reason he couldn't say or do so many things he wanted to do. He always felt like he was smoldering her. Drumming his fingers on his desk, Leo sighed as he remembered the man he had seen at her apartment today. He Couldn’t believe he had been tricked by Finn, or that he d
Finn, who was talking with his friends, tried to call her, but she ignored him and dashed out of the door. "Paige!" Finn called and hurried after her. Immediately she stepped out of the reception which was held in the halls of a fancy hotel. Paige hurried to the nearest hallway. On getting there, she rested her back on the wall, and closed her eyes, clenching her purse tight. Paige was trying to gather herself before Finn reached her. However, she was not successful. Because in the next second Finn's hands were on her shoulders and he was turning her around. "Hey, what's wrong? Look at me," Finn said when Paige wouldn't look at him. Tipping her chin, he looked into her eyes. "Are you crying? Don't cry." Finn cooed. There was something about trying to hold back tears and then someone offering sympathy that suddenly made the tears come faster. That was the case with Paige because immediately Finn cooed that word 'Don't cry.' Not minding sh
Finn stood up from theground,looking so lost. “Does he know? Your boss?" He gestured with his hand. "Does he know you are pregnant?"His green eyes rested on her stomach, and then back to her face. Paige shook her head. “He doesn’t know.” "He doesn’t know?" Finn repeated, his face serious. Paige could feel the wheels turning in his head. He seemed to be thinking hard. Then he ran a hand over his face and planted it on his waist as if coming to a sudden conclusion. "Don't tell him." “What?” “I said don’t tell him.” "You can't be serious!" Paige cried. “Hear me out before you say anything," Finn said, stepping closer to her. Paige knew she hadn’t told Leonardo anything about her pregnancy, she knew she was delaying, but she was going to tell him, eventually. However, what Finn was suggesting was the opposite. He was insinuating she shouldn’t tell Leo at all. He grabbed her hand, and Paige trie
Downstairs, in the half-deserted hotel hallway, Leonardo ran an agitated hand over his hair, puffing out air from his mouth. He felt like smashing his fist into something. Worst, he didn’t feel like that would relieve the pain in his chest. It felt like a large hand was closing in around his heart. And squeezing it tight. How could Paige do this to him? And to think that he asked her before if she was pregnant and she lied through her teeth. She looked him straight in the eyes and lied. Made Leo want to curse out in frustration. What has he done to deserve this? Was he thatdespicable? Shewould rather tell Finn she was pregnant than tellinghim?The father of the child.
Leo studied her intently. She was serious. He frowned. "Very well. Do what you want. Stay in the car if you want. That won’t guarantee i will give you a listening ear."After saying that, Leo signaled his driver to head straight to his house.She relaxed then and Leo realized she had been holding her breath. Which Leo did not understand.Another thing he didn't understand was why was she here? Why was she hellbent on explaining herself? What reason did she think she would give that will change his mind? He wanted to believe there was a good reason for this, but he couldn't think of anything."I'm sorry." Leo hadn't realized he had been staring at her until she said that.He turned his face towards the window. Not wanting her to see how that wo
Few minutes later, Paige was inside the ostentatious house. After navigating for a while, and pulling open several empty rooms, she finally found Leonardo upstairs in one of the rooms.Contrary to what Wesley believed, Leo was standing by the window. Which gave a natural view of the outside. One hand in his pocket. He had discarded his jacket and was left only in a white shirt and his pants. He was backing her so Paige couldn't see his face, but he must have sensed her presence because he said without turning, “I thought i told you to gohome, Paige.”Paige stepped inside quietly, closing the door. Waiting for him to face her, but he never did. "I don't want to. I don’t want to go home.”He turned then, his eyes resting on her arms, the tear in the hem of her gown. Her knee, and then finally her belly, and his
“Do you know how difficult it was for me to remain there acting likeIwasn’t affected by the things you said to me? LikeIwasn’t falling more and more in love with you. The gentle way you talked to me, your understanding.” He swallowed nervously. “Don’t you understand it, Leo? You confused me like no one has ever done before. You did kiss me at times whenIwas sure none of your family members waswatchingand then say nothing later. No explanation. And of course,Icouldn’t tell you that it was bothering me, thatIwas in love with you lest it turns out you reciprocated no such feelings for me too and was only pretending to, as the charade required.When that happens,Ifeared you might feel uncomfortable with me, and eventuallymightwant to lay me off after the charade was done andI&
The cool air was gentle and caressed Leo's skin as he stood on the porch watching the beach from their house. He could still hear the merry and laughter coming from inside the house where Paige had taken it upon herself to turn into the family jester. Most of the jokes were told at his expense, Leo hadn't minded as long as it made Paige happy. He had sat through it quietly and would have continued to do so had his mother not recounted one embarrassing moment in his early childhood, Leo wished to God no one will hear about. Embarrassed, he had to come outside to save face. That was where he was, casually sipping his champagne, his cheeks slightly flushed when he felt a presence. Quickly, Leo turned his head only to come face to face with hissiste
There was a strange glint in his eyes. "I'm expected in Italy soon." It took Paige a moment to realize what that meant. "You are leaving?" Paige murmured, unaware of the sadness that had crept into her voice. It must have called to him because his face scrunched up. And his adam's apple bobbed up and down. "Don't say it like am casting you away after one night of sex." "Then how is it?" "You know that's not what it is." Paige squeezed their linked hands, covering it with one of her own and stealing Leo's attention with the trembling of her lips. "We just entered into a relationship and you are already leaving?" What will happen to our relationship when you are gone. You will be in Italy, busy with work while I will be here, what will happen to us. And don't tell me we could go into a long-distance relationship. We've hardly
He pulled away from her then, breathing heavily. His hair was a mess, and his eyes were filled with love, unspent. “Not fair,” he growled. “You are still clothed while I'm naked. It gives you more advantage—"“Then take it off," Paige commanded.His eyes darkened, and he reached out with the intention to pry her off one of two clothes, and with a twist of her body, Paige escaped his arms and ran towards the king-sized bed, laughing when she saw the surprise in his eyes.She felt powerful, naughty, and so in love. Well aware she was teasing him, and that even though it might seem like he was annoyed, he wasn't bothered by it.It felt so good being this way with him. Being able to play with him like this. It made Paige smile. Then she saw the bulge in his pants and her
“Do you know how difficult it was for me to remain there acting likeIwasn’t affected by the things you said to me? LikeIwasn’t falling more and more in love with you. The gentle way you talked to me, your understanding.” He swallowed nervously. “Don’t you understand it, Leo? You confused me like no one has ever done before. You did kiss me at times whenIwas sure none of your family members waswatchingand then say nothing later. No explanation. And of course,Icouldn’t tell you that it was bothering me, thatIwas in love with you lest it turns out you reciprocated no such feelings for me too and was only pretending to, as the charade required.When that happens,Ifeared you might feel uncomfortable with me, and eventuallymightwant to lay me off after the charade was done andI&
Few minutes later, Paige was inside the ostentatious house. After navigating for a while, and pulling open several empty rooms, she finally found Leonardo upstairs in one of the rooms.Contrary to what Wesley believed, Leo was standing by the window. Which gave a natural view of the outside. One hand in his pocket. He had discarded his jacket and was left only in a white shirt and his pants. He was backing her so Paige couldn't see his face, but he must have sensed her presence because he said without turning, “I thought i told you to gohome, Paige.”Paige stepped inside quietly, closing the door. Waiting for him to face her, but he never did. "I don't want to. I don’t want to go home.”He turned then, his eyes resting on her arms, the tear in the hem of her gown. Her knee, and then finally her belly, and his
Leo studied her intently. She was serious. He frowned. "Very well. Do what you want. Stay in the car if you want. That won’t guarantee i will give you a listening ear."After saying that, Leo signaled his driver to head straight to his house.She relaxed then and Leo realized she had been holding her breath. Which Leo did not understand.Another thing he didn't understand was why was she here? Why was she hellbent on explaining herself? What reason did she think she would give that will change his mind? He wanted to believe there was a good reason for this, but he couldn't think of anything."I'm sorry." Leo hadn't realized he had been staring at her until she said that.He turned his face towards the window. Not wanting her to see how that wo
Downstairs, in the half-deserted hotel hallway, Leonardo ran an agitated hand over his hair, puffing out air from his mouth. He felt like smashing his fist into something. Worst, he didn’t feel like that would relieve the pain in his chest. It felt like a large hand was closing in around his heart. And squeezing it tight. How could Paige do this to him? And to think that he asked her before if she was pregnant and she lied through her teeth. She looked him straight in the eyes and lied. Made Leo want to curse out in frustration. What has he done to deserve this? Was he thatdespicable? Shewould rather tell Finn she was pregnant than tellinghim?The father of the child.
Finn stood up from theground,looking so lost. “Does he know? Your boss?" He gestured with his hand. "Does he know you are pregnant?"His green eyes rested on her stomach, and then back to her face. Paige shook her head. “He doesn’t know.” "He doesn’t know?" Finn repeated, his face serious. Paige could feel the wheels turning in his head. He seemed to be thinking hard. Then he ran a hand over his face and planted it on his waist as if coming to a sudden conclusion. "Don't tell him." “What?” “I said don’t tell him.” "You can't be serious!" Paige cried. “Hear me out before you say anything," Finn said, stepping closer to her. Paige knew she hadn’t told Leonardo anything about her pregnancy, she knew she was delaying, but she was going to tell him, eventually. However, what Finn was suggesting was the opposite. He was insinuating she shouldn’t tell Leo at all. He grabbed her hand, and Paige trie
Finn, who was talking with his friends, tried to call her, but she ignored him and dashed out of the door. "Paige!" Finn called and hurried after her. Immediately she stepped out of the reception which was held in the halls of a fancy hotel. Paige hurried to the nearest hallway. On getting there, she rested her back on the wall, and closed her eyes, clenching her purse tight. Paige was trying to gather herself before Finn reached her. However, she was not successful. Because in the next second Finn's hands were on her shoulders and he was turning her around. "Hey, what's wrong? Look at me," Finn said when Paige wouldn't look at him. Tipping her chin, he looked into her eyes. "Are you crying? Don't cry." Finn cooed. There was something about trying to hold back tears and then someone offering sympathy that suddenly made the tears come faster. That was the case with Paige because immediately Finn cooed that word 'Don't cry.' Not minding sh