Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
O ctober 3 rd
It wasn’t my heart that was breaking. It was my trust.
I can’t believe Fraser is married. I can’t believe his niece is really his mistress who he treats as a second wife. I can’t believe I was the other woman to both his wife and his mistress. That’s not all though. After going to a second hospital, getting my X-ray, and being put in a boot for several weeks, Felix called. I wasn’t the only other woman. Fraser has been dating several patients he met through the emergency department and even his neighbor at the Manhattan apartment he lives in when he isn’t at his wife’s mansion in Connecticut.
Unknowingly being the other woman sent me into a tailspin. I don’t know how to stop the freefall. I’m afraid to look at another man. Especially when I know I have feelings for Max, but he’s taken, too. I’m a horrible person and that’s it. I’m throwing in the towel. I’m done. Maybe I can convert and become a nun. Then my virginity would be a blessing instead of a curse.
Paige watched Sense and Sensibility and threw her pillow at the television when Willoughby appeared with his fiancée after courting Marianne Dashwood. “Cheater!” Paige yelled at the screen.
Leah, Amelia, and Eli had raced over after learning about what had happened. That was four hours ago, but Paige was too upset for comfort right then. They’d been amazing friends and brought chocolate, ice cream, and a Voodoo doll wearing a doctor’s white coat. They stayed with her for a couple of hours, but she wanted some alone time. Her friends left after they placed several curses on Fraser’s dick.
That’s when Paige made the mistake of putting on Sense and Sensibility. Good thing it wasn’t closer to Christmas or Love Actually might have pushed her off the deep end. The knock on the door was unexpected. Paige didn’t answer it. There was another knock and then, “Paige? It’s Max.”
Paige flopped onto the couch and groaned. Of course it was Max. She’d already been the other woman with Fraser and now she was with Max, even if they were just friends. There wasn’t anything just-friends about the sex dreams she had about him. Well, until Mr. Paris entered the picture.
“I hear Colonel Brandon,” Max called through the door. “I brought pasta.”
“Pasta?” Carbs and sugar were the only things motivating her right now.
Paige unlocked the door and opened it before flopping back down the couch. “I thought you might want some fettuccine alfredo. I know when I’m upset, pasta always makes me feel better.”
“Thank you.” Paige didn’t deserve Max’s friendship. He was too good to her.
“How are you doing?” Max rolled his eyes at himself. “That was a stupid question. I’m sorry. What Fraser did was inexcusable.”
“I bet you’re the kind of guy that when you’re with a woman, she’s it for you. You never even look at anyone else.” Paige took a huge bite of pasta right from the to-go container.
“That’s correct. When I fall in love, that’s it for me. My sister fell for her husband and knew the moment she met him he was the one. I guess I’m a romantic like her. I wanted to tell you I’m sorry. I know you liked Fraser. His betrayal doesn’t negate your heartbreak. For that, I’m sorry.”
Tears threatened to spill from Paige’s eyes so she shoved some more pasta in her mouth. She took her time eating before taking a deep breath and telling Max the truth. “I’m upset, yes. But Fraser wasn’t my end game. You know that. I’m not looking for love right now. I’m fulfilling this resolution that has left me embarrassed but also filled me with confidence, friendship, and the job of my dreams. I was feeling so sure of myself and then this. He made me feel stupid, Max, and that’s why I’m upset. I feel like a stupid, blindly obtuse, na?ve girl who didn’t see all the red flags waving right in front of her.”
Max reached over and took her hand in his. “Paige, there’s nothing stupid about you. Fraser is the stupid one. Here, I got you something.” Max turned and picked up the second bag he’d been carrying. He handed it over to her with a soft smile. “Happy birthday, jailbird.”
Paige’s eyes moved from the bag to Max. “You know it’s my birthday?”
Max chuckled. “I have seen your ID and I’ve checked you into the hospital often enough. Of course, I know it’s your birthday.”
Paige pulled out the tissue paper in the pink gift bag and first found a clear plastic container with the most decedent cupcake in it. Her friends had wanted to take her out tonight to celebrate her birthday, but Paige had refused. She promised to go out tomorrow instead. However, this cupcake was the best gift she could get tonight.
“There’s more,” Max said with a nod to the bag.
Paige reached in and pulled out a small square box. She opened it up and inside was a friendship bracelet clearly made by a child. It had pink and purple beads and the word ‘bookworm’ spelled out. “Lexi and I made it for you.”
Paige slipped it onto her wrist and held it to her heart. “It’s perfect. Thank you so much.”
Max stood up and leaned down. He placed a kiss on her cheek. “Happy birthday, Paige.”
Paige walked him to the door and locked it after him. Max had somehow made one of her worst days memorable. Not for the bad but for the good. Damn. He just kept showing up and supporting her. How could she not fall for him? Then she’d be no better than Fraser’s niece . No, she just had to stop thinking of Max like that and think of him as only a friend. A friend who made her a friendship bracelet and brought her a cupcake. Damn. This was going to be hard.
Book club was always Paige’s safe space and tonight was no different. Her friends continued to trash Fraser, curse Sierra, and ply Paige with hot chocolate.
“Thanks,” Paige said to Felix as he handed her a second cup.
“I come bearing news,” Felix said, joining them.
“What kind of news?” Amelia asked, casting a worried look at Paige.
“The kind that karma delivers.” Felix smiled and Paige was suddenly curious at what this news was. “My sister called me. Apparently, Fraser isn’t the only common denominator between Paige and Cornelia,” he said of Fraser’s wife.
“Felix,” Paige groaned. “That poor woman. I feel so bad.”
“Don’t feel bad. First, I learned there was a prenup. Not to protect Fraser, but to protect Cornelia. If Fraser is caught in an infidelity, he gets nothing. Cornelia has already filed for divorce and Max is the star witness. He filed the affidavit in support of the infidelity. As for the second thing you have in common, it’s friends in high places. Cornelia’s family is loaded and helped Fraser get the job at the hospital. Well, then Jack called the hospital and so did someone from the Groupe d’C?ur. They got Fraser fired. They both threatened to pull their donations if he wasn’t let go.”
“Jack did what?” Paige asked, feeling both shocked and well, loved.
“Who and what is the Groupe d’C?ur? Is that Cornelia’s family?” Leah asked.
“I figured Paige knew them,” Felix told them as he looked at the group. “They specifically referenced both Cornelia and a patient matching Paige’s description.”
Paige shook her head. “I don’t think so. Who are they?”
Leah was already on her phone. “Oh my gosh, they’re only the wealthiest family in France. They own like every luxury brand imaginable, wines, technologies, several professional sporting teams, and a ton of properties. The company goes back four generations and is operated out of Paris by Pierre and Catherine d’C?ur and the U.S. branch is operated by their daughter, Mireille d’C?ur and her husband, Jon Latner. Do you know any of them?”
Paige shook her head. “I don’t know anyone French . . . holy bookworm!” Paige gasped. “No, it couldn’t be.” Her brain couldn’t even fathom it.
“What? Who?” Eli practically shouted.
“Mr. Paris?” Paige whispered as if it were too good to be true. “But how could he have known and why would he have cared?”
“Jack must have told him,” Leah said.
“Is the entire family listed on the website?” Amelia asked. “Because that still doesn’t answer who Mr. Paris is. Is he Jon or Pierre? Either way, that makes him married.”
Paige initially began to panic but then stopped. “No, Mr. Paris is single. At least that’s what I was told.”
“Maybe he’s one of these executives,” Leah said, handing her the phone. “There’s lots of sexy men here. Mr. Paris could be one of them. Oh my gosh, Paige. You have a sexy executive after you!”
“He’s not after me. I mean, we don’t even know if it’s him.” Paige scrolled through the pictures of the men on the website. Could she really find Mr. Paris? Did he really care about her for more than just sex? But, then again, they hadn’t really had sex. Had they? He’d given her plenty of orgasms, but he’d stayed clothed. “Dracklen knows who he is. So does Lenora.”
“I bet Jack does too. You know rich people always know each other,” Eli added.
“So, either Jack told him or Jack told Lenora and Lenora told him. Did anyone tell Dracklen?” Paige asked.
“I did,” Leah admitted. “Kind of. I told Noah who told Dracklen. Either way, someone told him and he acted on it. That means he’s interested in you.”
Paige shook her head. “Or it means he’s just a decent person.”
“Why don’t you ask Dracklen who he is?” Eli asked.
“No, he’ll get fired.” Paige grimaced. “And I might have already tried to get him to tell me and he wouldn’t.”
“What do you do now?” Amelia asked.
“I know.” Eli wiggled his eyebrows and pulled out this week’s book club book. “Your best friend’s brother.”
“Eli!” Amelia admonished. “She is chasing down Mr. Paris, not this resolution.”
“Actually,” Leah put in, “I agree with Eli. Mr. Paris had the opportunity and didn’t rise to the occasion. She can do both. Look for Mr. Paris and finish the year strong with her trope adventures.”
“Well, my brother isn’t going to date her after what she did to his best friend’s balls,” Amelia admitted.
“But my brother will,” Eli said proudly. “Rex is totally up for a blind date with Paige. He’s nothing like me. He loves the kitty. He works in construction. Hello blue collar trope. And he’s pretty good-looking but not the best dresser. So many pairs of jeans.”
Paige looked around at everyone’s eager faces. “Is he single? Like, really, really, really single?”
“He is. Broke up with his girlfriend about four months ago. Are you in?” Eli asked, his finger hovering over his phone.
“I’m in. I’m free this coming weekend.” Paige took a deep breath. Okay, she was going to do this and do it right. This was about her, not about Fraser.
“My brother is in!” Eli said, passing along the details for the date.
“There’s more we need to discuss,” Amelia said. “Halloween is at the end of the month and we have so many tropes we need to try.”
“We?” Paige asked with a chuckle.
“Okay, you,” Amelia admitted. “Witches, vampires, ghosts, werewolves . . .”
“Can I claim I did werewolves with the furries?” Paige asked. “They’re basically wolf shifters, right?”
“Good point,” Leah admitted. “And don’t forget about monster romance.”
“Where am I going to find these paranormal men?” Paige asked.
“WET, duh,” Leah said, turning her phone and showing Halloween night at the club.
“There’s a huge SOLD OUT banner on the page,” Paige pointed out.
Leah sent a text and then frowned. “Sorry. Maybe we can’t do it. Noah couldn’t get on the list.”
“Maybe Jack could get you in?” Amelia suggested.
“I don’t want to go without you all.”
“Don’t worry about us. Worry about your kitty.” Eli paused as if he’d gotten an idea. “You should totally dress as a kitty,” Eli told her.
“For a gay guy, you’re becoming oddly obsessed with my kitty,” Paige said dryly.
Eli just shrugged. “Let’s just hope my brother is obsessed with your kitty.”