THE SWEETEST VOICE

"I'm sorry to trouble you, sir," Paige said. "Please, I want to ask for a favor."

"What is it?" Zach asked.

"I will like to see you, please." She replied.

Zach stared at all the men who were sitting in front of him and said, "Okay, I'll be right there."

Getting up, he continued, "I think we've pretty much said everything that needed to be said at this meeting. I approve of your findings and now, I need implementation and results. Excuse me."

After leaving the meeting room, Zach said to Luke, "Let's go back to the hospital."

His assistant was surprised; Zach wasn't acting like himself. No one knew why he was being so kind and accommodating towards this girl. When they arrived at the hospital, he went in to see her.

The moment Zach entered the room, Paige jumped off the bed in surprise and stared at him as her hands began to tremble.

She instantly recognized him and who wouldn't? He was one of the wealthiest men in London and everyone said he was very ruthless. How could it be that this was the same man who saved her life?

It was the first time she was seeing him in person and she could not deny that he was strikingly handsome, with chiseled features and deep, captivating eyes. His impeccably styled hair and well-groomed appearance only added to his charm and allure.

"I...I, sir..." She gulped.

"Calm down and sit down. Are you feeling better? You still look weak," Zach said.

Paige was even more surprised that he spoke kindly. She had heard about him a few times, even from her dad. Could it be that what people knew about him wasn't the truth?

He sat beside her on the bed and said, "Yes, you wanted to see me."

"Umm..I....I....wanted to thank you very much for saving my life." She found herself stuttering in the presence of such a powerful man.

"You're welcome," Zach replied. "Now tell me, why would you lie on the ground under the rain?"

"At the time, I guess I just gave up on life." She replied guiltily.

"I see, so do you still want to die?"

"Oh no, no sir, far from it. I want to live." She said.

He nodded, "Did you call me here just to say thank you?"

She smiled and Zachary found her smile very beautiful but kept it to himself.

"Yes, sir. And also, I'm sorry. I didn't know that you were Mr. Zachary Fletcher." She added.

He nodded again, "I see you know who I am.

Okay, so go on. I'm listening."

"Well, I wanted to ask if I can work for you, sir."

"Work for me? As what?" Zach asked.

"As one of your domestic staff, sir. I can do chores, and I can wash even your car. I can do any decent job just to survive."

Zachary regarded her for a while and asked, "Aren't you underage? You look fifteen or thereabout."

"No, sir, I'm eighteen years old. I turned eighteen more than three months ago."

Zach said, "Oh!" Lately, he had been thinking he had too many domestic staff and wanted to send a few away. He didn't need any more workers but he couldn't bear to turn Paige away.

After a while, he said, "I need to know who you are first and why the hell you want a job in my house when you should be thinking about going to school or doing something more productive with your life."

"My name is Paige," she began. "Paige Summers. I was falsely accused by my dad, my stepmom, and my half-sister. They called me a thief and threw me out of the house. I had nowhere else to go, and that's how I ended up on the ground. I really want to make something out of my life. I just need a job and a roof over my head."

"And I am the only option you have?." Zach asked.

"No, the thing is, after looking at the hospital, I realized that whoever brought me here must be someone who has a lot of money. I just wanted to ask you to employ me so I can kill two birds with one stone: gain some money and have a roof over my head."

"Alright then, I'll be back later, and then I'll tell you my decision," Zach said before walking out of the room.

After he left, Paige heaved a sigh of relief. She had basically forced herself to say all the words she said to him. The last thing she had expected was to see that Zachary Fletcher was the one who saved her life.

As he exited the hospital, Zach turned to his assistant.

"I have no idea who that girl is, but if what she's telling me is true, get the information for me as soon as possible," Zach instructed.

"I'll get right on it," his assistant replied.

Zach drove back home to change his clothes while waiting for his assistant to get back to him. He already had a butler, a housekeeper, and her assistant, a chef who had two assistants, a gardener, and security guards. He thought about where to place Paige and finally came up with a good idea.

As he reached the door, the butler welcomed him, taking his jacket and saying,

"Sir, you're quite early. Are you still planning on going out?"

"Yes, I am," he replied.

The butler nodded and took the jacket inside while Zach entered the house, called all his staff, and said, "I suppose I need someone to clean the storeroom and assist in the kitchen."

"Sir, we can do it. we're more than willing," the maids who worked with the chef chorused.

"No, I have someone else in mind. She'll be joining you today. Treat her well," he instructed.

"We will, sir," they replied.

After speaking with them, he got up and received the information he had asked his assistant to gather. Just as Paige had said, her age, name, and the fact that she recently graduated from high school were all there. Looking at her family background, he discovered that her family was well-off, with her millionaire father. He guessed that she must have had a difficult life, having lived with her stepmom.

He came out of the house and drove back to the hospital. When he arrived, Paige was still sitting on the bed, waiting. She believed that Zach would come back just as he had said.

When he finally arrived, he said, "Your story checked out."

"Thank you, thank you, sir," she said flashing him a smile.

For the second time, Zach found himself enchanted by her smile.

He refused to dwell on it and said, "Alright, come with me. You'll be given the job, just as you requested."

"Thank you very much, sir," she said.

After the doctor discharged her, she got into the car with Zachary, and they went to his home.

When Paige arrived at Zach's Villa, she was in awe of the place. The villa was lined with meticulously manicured gardens and a majestic driveway adorned with fountains. It was a fusion of classical and modern architecture, creating a stunning visual spectacle.

The facade was adorned with intricate stonework, ornate carvings, and large arched windows framed by rich draperies, allowing a glimpse of the grandeur inside. It seemed to have been constructed using the finest materials, combining marble, granite, and other precious stones to create an aura of timeless elegance.

While she walked behind him and made it inside, she got carried away, looking around. The interior was an awe-inspiring display of opulence and refinement. The expansive foyer had a sparkling chandelier hanging from a soaring ceiling. Elaborate frescoes and murals adorned the walls, depicting scenes from art, history, or nature, further enhancing the luxurious atmosphere.

As she moved through the villa, she noticed a series of lavishly decorated living spaces. The formal living room featured plush, custom-designed furniture arranged around a fireplace, creating an inviting and cozy ambiance.

The dining room boasted a grand table that could seat a dozen guests comfortably, accompanied by intricately designed chairs and an eye-catching chandelier overhead.

The villa also boasted of an impressive entertainment wing, complete with a home theater, a private library, and a billiards room. There was an indoor swimming pool and a spa area which Paige believed provided a relaxing retreat for residents and guests, with luxurious lounging spaces and elegant mosaic tiles surrounding the pool.

She suddenly realized that everyone was staring at her as she had subconsciously walked away from everyone else while looking around the house. Zach was regarding her intently and she soon became afraid, thinking she had done something wrong on her first day.

However, Zach's expression softened and she heaved a sigh of relief. Everything happened so fast that Paige began to wonder if she was dreaming.

Realizing she was not, she counted herself lucky that she wouldn't have to sleep under the bridge.

Zach once again addressed all his staff, asking his butler to ensure that Paige understood her job description.

As he turned to leave, Zach received a call from his best friend who asked, "What's going on? You've been keeping me waiting for far too long. I called you earlier and you said there's a girl you're trying to help. How long is it supposed to take?"

"I'll be right there," Zach replied. "Don't pressure me."

"Sorry, boss," his friend, Williams replied.

Zach had his driver, take him to the bar where his friend, Williams was waiting with another mutual friend.

As he sat down, Williams said, "In all honesty, I've been waiting all day for you to tell me about the girl you saved."

"Why? There's nothing to tell," Zach said.

"Oh come on, everyone knows that Zach is the ruthless CEO. You don't help people; you make them miserable," Williams teased.

Zach laughed, "I can't believe this. Is that what you think of me?"

"That's not what I think of you. Everyone in Garden City knows that you're ruthless, so I'm wondering what it is about this girl and why you had to go through the trouble of helping her," Williams explained.

Zach smiled, "I guess I just felt sorry for her."

"That's unlike you, Zach," Williams remarked.

Zach smiled again. It was only around his best friend that he could usually smile and be himself. Their mutual friend, Fred who sat with them chimed in, saying, "I'm still finding it difficult to believe. Zach, you have to tell me why. You can't just say you felt sorry for her."

"I think I know why," Williams replied. "Everything makes sense now."

"You know why?" Fred asked. "Go ahead and tell me."

"Don't try it," Zach warned.

Williams laughed and continued, "When Zach was younger, his father brought in another woman after his mom died, and she had a son. They made Zach's life miserable and starved him for two days. He left the house and became too weak, falling to the ground. He lay there as it rained, drenching his clothes. He was so close to dying."

"I'm going to deal with you, Williams," Zach said to Williams, but he laughed and carried on.

"So my dad and I were driving by, and we saw him. At the time, I was just ten.

We were ten years old, right?" Williams asked Zach.

Zach sighed, giving in, "Yeah, we were ten years old."

"So we took him to the hospital, and my dad took him in, and we became best friends," Williams explained.

"Wow, that's some story," Fred said.

"Yeah," Zach replied. "For some reason, when I saw that girl, I remembered myself back then. Williams, if your dad hadn't passed by and helped me, perhaps I wouldn't be where I am today. I guess that's why I lent a helping hand to her."

"I'm smart, that's why I figured it out." Williams bragged. "You know, for a minute when you said you saw her in the rain and chose to help her, I was thinking that maybe, just maybe, your heart fluttered when you saw her."

"Don't say such rubbish," Zach replied. "Don't forget I'm thirty-two years old already. The girl in question is just eighteen. She's a child, for crying out loud. I was just helping her out, okay? And that's all there is."

"Okay, no one is arguing," Williams replied.

After drinking with his friends, Zach decided to go back. He had the urge to see how Paige was settling in. When he came into the house, however, he heard his housekeeper, Susan, shouting at her.

"Is this what you are? You know how to do nothing, and yet they brought you here to assist me. You're more of a burden, get away from my sight."

Paige, who was shocked by the way the housekeeper, who seemed to be in her thirties, spoke to her, turned, and wanted to walk away from her. She had merely asked Susan, where the store was located and the latter began yelling at her.

"No one, except me, has the right to speak that way to my staff." Zach thundered as he stumbled on the scene.

Both Susan and Paige were surprised because they did not see him come in.

"Listen, Susan," Zach warned. "The only reason why I'm tolerating this is because it's your first time. The next time you raise your voice in my house or try to boss around my staff without my consent, consider yourself fired."

"I'm sorry, sir. I'm very sorry, sir," Susan replied and scurried away.

Paige stood where she was, her eyes becoming misty, while she fought so hard to control her emotions.

"You, today is your first day. You can go into your room and rest," Zach said, pointing at Paige.

She shook her head. "No, Sir, I will work."

"You just came from the hospital. I'm giving you a day off. Go and rest. You can take the next few days to recover and start your work by next week."

She looked at him, and nodded, "Thank you, sir," before walking away.

As she went into the room that had been given to her, Paige sat on the bed, looking at the room once more. It had been prepared for her, but she had nothing—no clothes and no shoes.

She was afraid that if she asked Zach about it, he might become upset. Perhaps she could go back home and ask for her clothes. She decided that was what she was going to do.

After staying in the room for a while, she felt bored and came out. As she entered the formal living room, she saw Zach sitting with a newspaper in his hand, while the TV was on. There was a show going on, and someone was singing. It was none other than her stepsister Candy, performing on stage.

Paige balled her hands into fists, and tears began to fall from her eyes. At this point, Zach realized someone was standing behind him and turned. He saw the tears in Paige's eyes and was surprised. Before he could say a word to her, she ran back into her room.

Zach shrugged and said, "Weird."

Later in the evening, as he was going into his room, he heard someone singing. He stopped and listened. It was coming from Paige's bedroom. It was the sweetest voice he had ever heard.

He stood by her door, listening as she sang, and could detect sadness in her voice.

"What? How could someone have such an amazing voice?" He wondered.

He pushed open the door to her bedroom and walked in.

Paige, who was taken by surprise, instantly stopped singing, got up from the bed, and stared at him.

"I'm sorry, sir." She said fearing his reaction.

"No, go on. I want to listen," Zach replied.