Callan’s POV“Callan. Hmm. That feels so good, babe.” Paige said as she stared from underneath me. I closed my eyes and thrusted harder and faster, almost feeling my release. When I opened my eyes again to look at her beautiful face, she was gone and I wasn’t on top of her. I was back in the ICU hallway holding the gun against Miguel’s forehead. He begged me to let him go, but I felt my finger pull back the trigger. The sound of the gun firing woke me up. My eyes bolted open and my chest rose up and down. Paige was fast asleep beside me. I’m so sorry, Miguel. If having nightmares forever is my punishment I’ll accept it and more. I’m sorry for killing you.Technically your mom killed him. You really have to forgive yourself. None of what happened is your fault. Who knew your mom was off her meds for months?Shut up, brain. It was my fault for choosing Brazil. It was my fault for not stopping my mother. I was his big brother and I failed him. I failed dad. But you can’t do anything ab
Callan’s POV“It’s called survivor’s guilt, Callan. You have to listen to my advice if you want to move forward with your life. Most of all, you have to stop taking alcohol with the medications I gave you.”I could hear my therapist talking, but half of my mind was thinking about Maya. She was all alone in a room stuffed all over with white foam. Even her bed rails had foam covers.“Hi, Maya. Can you hear me? God. I fucked up, Maya. I’m so sorry. Please…Maya, come back.”I held her hand, but she just stared at me. She just sat there on her bed and kept staring at me. Her face is devoid of any emotion as if her mind was empty. I looked at the nurse who smiled sympathetically while shaking her head. “Callan? Did you hear what I said?”“What?” I said, looking at my therapist who had come back into my view. “Yeah. Sorry doc. I was just thinking about my visit with Maya earlier. “Dr. Leonard is working almost 24/7 with her, Callan. He’s hopeful he’ll get her through her trauma. You have
Paige’s POVHolden Estate, Manhattan 6 months after the Hospital Shooting“Where are you? I'm all dressed up.”“Paige. I'm so sorry. There was an emergency board meeting and now I'm on my way to Chicago to solve the problem. I'm really sorry, my love.”“Oh.” I said, trying hard to sound like he didn’t just break my heart again. “It's okay. But you're coming back tomorrow, right? Gwen’s play starts at 6.”“I know. I’ll fly back tonight right after I sort things out there. Okay? I love you so much. I'm really sorry about this, Paige.”“I love you too, Callan. Goodnight.” I hang the phone up before I let myself cry. It's been months of the same conversation. He's cheating. Stop it, brain. I told you this was all too good to be true. It's not. He loves me. Only me. Then why are you so scared to check all the social media? I told my brain to stop convincing me Callan’s having an affair. A gust of wind blasted the balcony door open and immediately pulled me back to the shooting. Mig
Paige’s POVManhattan1:45am“Wait! Let me buy one thing before you close up.” A strikingly handsome man wearing a tuxedo with a boutonniere, pushed the door I was just about to close and lock. “Sorry. We’re close. It’s almost 2am, sir.”“Please? I’ll make it worth your while. I’ll buy the most expensive thing there and give you a thousand dollar tip.” “Yeah, right.” “Here. You can swipe the most expensive alcohol you have plus your tip.” He said, handing me a golden master card. His smile was intoxicating and his piercing stare made me blush. I cleared my throat and told myself to get a grip. Gorgeous guys like him are always nothing but trouble and heartaches.“Fine. Okay, come in.” “I’ll take a bottle of your most expensive whiskey.” He said as he sat on one of the bar stools.“Sure thing.” I said, swiping his card, before turning my back from the bar and standing on a stool to reach the Dalmore 50 which I was specifically told to keep on the top shelf at all times unless aske
Paige’s POV The rest of the morning was ordinary. Callan left an hour after sitting on his desk, and reading and signing papers. When he left, Darla and the rest of the staff seemed to relax a bit more and three of the other women came over to Darla and mine’s desks. “Hi. I’m Andrea. This is Macy and Bridget. We’re Darla’s bffs around here.” “Hey. I’m Paige Miller. It’s great to meet all of you.” I smiled back at them. “So…what were the two of you fighting about in there? Did you have a bar-night stand with him only to realize he was going to be your boss?” Andrea asked, smirking and the three of them giggled.“Bar-night stand?” I asked and then freaked out when I realized the meaning of her word play. “What?! NO!” I shouted too loudly that everyone else raised their heads from their desks. “Whoa. I was just kidding, Paige.” “Right. Sorry. I just don’t like people joking about me and might start a crazy rumor.” “But you two were tense in there though. I could tell. I know body
Callan’s POVI turned my phone on and it rang right away. It was my father calling me again. I turned it back off and decided to go walking some more. I took a swag of my bottle but realized it was empty. Where am I anyway? I’ve been walking and bar hopping since I left the wedding hours ago, and now I’m probably lost. I never knew New York looks so different when you’re not being driven by your driver everywhere. I sat on the pavement and sighed. Looking around, I realized it was a quiet street with only one store still open. A BAR!Getting up, I almost lost my balance and realized I was a bit tipsier than I accepted. I crossed the road without even looking and stood outside the bar’s glass door, looking at the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen wiping one of the tables. Really? The most beautiful? We’re drunk, man. We might be adding more points than she deserves. My brain butted in. You always do that, brain. You always butt in and have your own opinion. For as long as I could
Paige’s POV After what Callan told me about how he valiantly helped his ex fiancee, I felt like I knew him as a real person a bit more. He was looking at me with those mesmerizing blue eyes again and it was so hard to resist his charms. The door suddenly opened and a beautiful woman in a lab coat stopped in her tracks, shocked to see us there. “How did the two of you get in here? Her angry voice made Callan jump. He turned around and cleared his throat before speaking in a calm, but bossy way. “She picked the lock. You should’ve seen her. It was impressive.” “Oh, Mr. Holden. I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t realize it was you. Welcome back.” The woman said, her annoyance suddenly turned into a beautiful flirtatious smile. “You had sex with her too?” I meant to whisper at him yet my voice was so loud some passerby heard me through the open door. “Wha-” The woman looked perplexed. “No. Of course not. She’s married for crying out loud. She just meant welcome back to the building because
Callan’s POV “Paige! Come back here!” I shouted but it didn’t stop her from running out of the restaurant. “Fuck!” My cock was still hard and my blood was boiling. No woman had ever rejected me before. I’ll show her. I took my phone out of my pocket to dial whoever was first on the waiting list, but looking at all the names, I changed my mind and ran out after her. Just as I got out of the restaurant, Paige got in a taxi. Jimmy was quick to get the car and I told him to follow them without her noticing. What are you doing, man? We should just fuck Jessica. You know that new receptionist in the hotel? One call from you and she’d come running naked. No. There’s something about Paige Miller. I know for a fact I can’t move on unless I taste her at least once, you know? Your choice, Jefe. I’m just your subconscious after all. I shut my brain off right before he could end his evil laughter. “Where is she going?” I said out loud without realizing it. “Are you talking to me, sir?”