Paige
seventeen
“It’s Christmas Eve. There is no way someone as sweet as you can keep a vendetta against your parents today, even if I surely can.”
I meet Hayes’s gaze through the mirror at the vanity in the ensuite bathroom Hayes and I share in the gorgeous Savannah home that is sitting nearly empty thanks to the fact that we only started inhabiting it the day before.
Thankfully, we have a bed, which was all it took to get me to stay our first night here.
I survey him as he straightens his cuffs, the movement flexing his big, muscly arms and chest that looks barely contained in the starched white shirt.
I sigh a little as his masculine beauty hits me, even more powerful as he slips on a black jacket with satin lapels for the formal dinner.
It’s bittersweet knowing this will be the last time my family hosts the legendary—among Savannah circles, at least—Fairchild Christmas Eve dinner.
Hayes has assured me that the tradition will live on even after the Olympus Hotel Group takes over, but it is bound to change, and that makes it important to attend tonight.
“I don’t have a vendetta against them. It’s just a little bitterness I’ve held onto maybe long enough.”
I take a deep breath as I pass a brush through my hair one last time to soften the curls.
My makeup is done in glittering golds on my eyes with the signature red on my lips Hayes likes so much, both meant to compliment the emerald velvet, off-the-shoulder dress I picked out from Haute Belle in Atlanta before we left for Savannah.
I stand and take my clutch from the bathroom counter as Cerberus stretches from his spot on the rug nearby.
“Shall we do this?” I ask.
Hayes drags his teeth over his lip and appraises me. “I think one of my shirts would look great right over all that lusciousness.” He thumbs toward the closet like he’s actually ready to cover me up.
“You said I could wear whatever I want, and I like how this color matches your eyes.”
His chest expands and he smiles, small lines framing his eyes and drawing my gaze. “I guess I can share your beauty with the world, then.” He leads me down the stairs and out to the car.
“I’ve found a few gardeners who are interested in helping us run the community gardens,” I say, breaking the comfortable silence on our drive to The Mansion.
“If we can secure the land for the plots and get through the necessary space planning requirements, we can start planting as soon as the weather allows.”
Hayes was so receptive to my ideas when I brought up wanting to start the Elysium Garden Project, he had to act on it immediately, so the next morning we filed the documents for the foundation and created the business plan.
We got the ball rolling to make this little dream into a reality, and hopefully, the new year will bring lots of good things where that is concerned.
“That’s great! The more help, the better. I have a few people who helped plan the rooftop garden at The Abyss we can work with, also.”
He pulls the sleek Maybach, which reminds me so much of the Batmobile, to a stop in the parking area near the valet stand at The Mansion, pocketing the keys instead of turning them over to the young valet who rushes up to the car, only to turn away with a look of disappointment on his face.
Hayes refuses to let anyone else drive his death mobile and it makes me grin.
Something about it being a one-off vehicle that Jay-Z used in the Lost One music video, most likely.
I’ve learned Hayes is a lover of 90‘s hip hop, and Jay-Z is one of his favorite artists, whereas I mostly just know him as the guy Beyoncé is married to.
My smile fades a bit as I take in the grand exterior of The Mansion, my family’s ancestral home since the 1700s. It is a bit sad knowing this beautiful property will no longer be passed to me one day.
“I love this place.” The wistful note is strong in my voice as Hayes helps me from the car.
I pull on his hand and make him stand in the courtyard near the marble fountain.
As a child, I threw in countless pennies wishing for friends.
As a teen, I wished for patience with Mama.
As an adult, I wished for someone to love me.
What would I wish for now, having that very last wish finally granted?
Hayes looks down at me as I stare at the beautiful Antebellum mansion fully decorated for the holidays in white twinkle lights, wreathed windows blazing with warm light spilling out onto the front porch. “It truly is a remarkable sight.”
“Just take it in, all lit up like this. Every good memory from my childhood has its roots right here.” Skinned knees from chasing frogs and fireflies in the garden, family dinners in the Fairchild dining room, licking frosting from a spoon in the kitchen with Mathilde, the French pastry chef who taught me everything I know about baking. It’s all right here.
“It will always be here. We won’t change anything about this property. Your family legacy lives on, no matter who holds the title in their hands. Besides, your controlling interest in the Hotel Group means you can always ensure the history and beauty of The Mansion is preserved.”
“Thank you.” I rest my head on his shoulder and take a few more moments to revel in The Mansion, a building I have been in love with all my life. I pull away and look at the man I love just as much. I nod to let him know I’m ready.
“Mr. and Mrs. Olsen, welcome to The Mansion,” my favorite bellman says with a wink at me. “Merry Christmas, Paige.”
“Merry Christmas, Stefan. Send my love to Marguerite and the grandkids. I’m sure Luke is huge now, and Isabella has to be the prettiest pageant princess ever to grace the stage.”
“That they are. Izzy is so thankful for the ventriloquist dummy you sent her way. She’s getting quite good at it and can’t wait to show you. If I’m being honest, it kind of scares me.”
I laugh. “It scared me, too. I’m sure she’s far better than I ever was with it, and I would love to see one of her pageants. Just send me the information.”
He nods at me with a smile and turns to open the door for us.
“Ventriloquist dummy? This I have to see.”
I turn to Hayes, my cheeks heating with a blush of embarrassment. “I’m sure if you asked Mama nicely enough, she would dig out the photos and home videos for you. It was terrible. Speak of the devil,” I finish softly, catching sight of Mama.
“That’s my role, honey, don’t give it to anyone else. She can be the harpy.”
I cover my mouth with my hand as I nearly choke on my laughter. “You are so bad. I really hate that I have the visual of Mama as a harpy now and I can’t unsee it.”
“Paige,” Mama calls as she winds her way to me and Hayes, sounding just as sharp as I would imagine a harpy does. “It’s about time you got here. The Declans have been asking about you and I am tired of making your excuses.”
“Good to see you too, Mama. Merry Christmas.” I kiss her cheek and force her to hug me even though she’s flustered.
“Caroline, you look beautiful. Thank you for having us tonight. There is nowhere we’d rather spend Christmas Eve than with family.”
Mama snaps her beautifully coiffed blonde head toward Hayes and narrows her eyes as if speculating on the validity of his statement.
“As Paige is our only child, I’m sure you can imagine how important spending time with her is. I’m actually quite surprised you didn’t whisk her off somewhere in an attempt to keep her away from us out of spite.”
“Mama, there is really no need to be rude. Hayes and I are happy to be here tonight, and we won’t settle for you borrowing trouble where there isn’t any. Where’s Daddy?” I divert her attention from sniping at Hayes and she looks over her shoulder with agitation at the crowd gathering in the lobby.
“Oh, Mayor Declan got his claws in early and is buttering your daddy up for reelection campaign funds. Come on then, we’ll go together.” Mama turns and leads us into the Christmas Eve fray.
Hayes and I greet Daddy and rescue him from Mayor Declan, who attempts to solicit Hayes for his support without any subtlety, before we can extricate ourselves from any social obligations and introductions for a moment.
I am more than relieved to not see hide nor hair of the Daniels family.
I don’t think I could have taken another run in with Garrison, walking free and untouched from his past deeds.
They’re probably afraid of the dirt Hayes has on them, and rightly so.
That may have been part of the reason the Daniels didn’t fight to keep their company when Hayes bought it and gifted it to Daddy and Mama.
The loss of a business isn’t as bad as the possible scandal of their coverups for their rapist son coming into the light of day.
It would be especially bad since the same son just passed the bar and is supposed to be a law-abiding citizen and lawyer, not a rapist whose parents paid off his victims to keep them quiet.
I shudder even thinking about it now.
The only saving grace is that Hayes knows the truth of him, with plenty of proof to keep them on the right side of the law. Hopefully that will be enough to keep Garrison from doing it again.
I do, however, see Liliana Bailey and her family, and that is nearly as bad as seeing Garrison.
When she spots me, her lip curls and she gives me a quick head-to-toe once over as she starts our way in a fluttering peach dress. Peach? In December? I turn back to Hayes to avoid the continued appraisal. I’m fine, there is nothing to worry about, I repeat in my head.
“Paige, you must introduce me to your new husband and tell me all about your whirlwind romance.”