Chapter 23 Zach
Zach
She’s holding hands with that guy Tom and smiling up at him.
My eyes burn from staring for so long at the image and my knuckles whiten from clutching the tablet too tightly.
This is one of several pictures Paige sent while I was away.
I asked for them, wanting to know what she was up to, and when I first saw it, I wasn’t wild about it but thought nothing of it. Now I’m not so sure.
I feel like a child, angry to find another kid playing with what is mine.
I don’t share.
I’m a dick to think about Paige like that. She isn’t some possession. She’s a woman and she gets to choose. The thought of her not choosing me boils my blood and with a tap on the home button of my device, the picture of Tom and Paige vanishes.
It isn’t enough to calm me or erase the image of her laughing, close with another man. That’s hard to dismiss. And I can’t ignore the absurd jealousy tearing me up and feeding this madness. If I was a better man, I’d end our charade and wish her happiness with Tom or anyone else.
And then there’s Donovan.
He was interested in Paige since before I came on the scene but never did anything about it.
His interest in her now is only so he can get to me.
It isn’t my conceit driving this conclusion but my history with Donovan.
And the other night, when he had Paige in his arms, I wanted to rip his hands off her and demand he leave.
I didn’t. Knowing him, he’d have relished my inability to do a damn thing given I was a world away. He would have stayed to spite me.
My conversation with Paige was brief and awkward as fuck. She hardly looked at me or spoke and she ended the call without reason. But she made Donovan leave while I waited on the phone and she wasn’t pleased with him either. She even went so far as to get in her car before ending our call.
Grabbing my phone, I press a number and on the first ring, her voice comes through the line.
“Hello.” The flat tone of her voice is like a cold draft to my burning thoughts.
“Paige? Is something wrong?”
There’s a beat or two of silence. “Nothing you can fix.”
“Try me.”
“What time is your flight? Are you still coming home...er, I mean, back today?”
She’s flustered and I tighten my grip on the phone, wishing we were face to face. “I’m already here.”
“What? You’re in Toronto right now? I thought you wouldn’t be home until later tonight at the earliest.”
“My last meeting was cancelled so I got the jet ready earlier. Where are you?”
“In my car in the parking garage of your building. I’m leaving for work.”
“Wait for me. I’m thirty minutes away at the most.”
“I’m drowning in work. My day job is suffering with all the problems with the gala. I can’t.” Excuses, even though there is truth to how much the benefit has eaten up her time.
“Problems with the gala?”
“A lot has happened since we last talked.” She’s not her usual self, open and honest.
“Paige, tell me.” My tone has more growl than I intend, and she counters with an almost bored tone of her own.
“Later.”
“Wait,” I’m quick to say. Too quick. “Meet me for lunch at the office.”
My invitation isn’t meant to be inconsiderate. She is swamped, juggling her job and the gala, and here I am taking more of the very little time that she has. I want to see her.
“I’ve got to swing by one of the sites during lunch.”
“You said your work is flexible. Can’t you do it another time?”
“Of course you’d think I can just blow off work because you’re back.” Her tone is anything but light and teasing. “I’ve got plans over lunch.”
“What?”
She lets out an aggravated sigh. “I have to get some specs to the contractor, among other things.”
“Okay. And then what?”
“I’ve got something else to do and if I meet you, I’ll have to do it tonight.”
“So you did have lunch plans.” Tom comes to mind. ”A date?”
“A thing.”
Why is she being difficult? And with that thought, I’m being an asshole.
“What thing?”
“I have to go. I’ll text you if I can make lunch.”
“Paige, you didn’t answer me. We agreed to keep this platonic but no outside interests while we carried out this arrangement. It better not be a date.”
“And if it is?” Not bothering to wait for my response, she continues, “Welcome home, Zach.”
She ends the call and leaves me hanging literally and figuratively. To make matters worse, she doesn’t pick up the several times I call her thereafter.
With Paige not at the penthouse, I head to the office where the morning is busy with meetings. I try not to check my phone more times than is necessary and every time I do, my disappointment grows when there isn’t any word from Paige.
I love talking to her, anywhere and anytime. In person is best, but the phone or video is almost as good. I love her.
Huh, when did that happen?
I love her. Yes, it feels like love. I’m not sure when it happened and funnily enough, the thought doesn’t scare me. Nor do I have a strangling sensation around my neck. I’m breathing easy with the thought of love.
My revelation makes me want to see her even more. I’m not ready to spring the L word on her yet, but I want to be near her. My phone vibrates in my breast pocket and I fumble to get it before it goes to voicemail, hoping it’s Paige. It isn’t. And it isn’t good news.
It’s a notification from the security firm watching Joel Hummel. He may be out of jail and free—for now—but I’ve been keeping tabs on him. I promised to ensure he doesn’t come anywhere near Paige. At all costs.
We even have a peace bond, the equivalent to a restraining order, on him and while useless, in my opinion, I want it on record she has taken every measure to keep him away from her. The text indicates Joel just got off the subway and is walking toward her office building. Fuck.
I get in the elevator, on my way to the car, while trying to reach Paige, but she doesn’t answer my first two calls. I’ve no clue what I did to piss her off and right now, I’m losing patience.
In between trying to get a hold of Paige, I send a terse reply to the security firm indicating Hummel isn’t to get anywhere near her, no matter what. By the time my driver gets us minutes from her office, I’m ready to lose my shit and in what feels like my hundredth attempt, I dial Paige.
“Hello. Zach, my phone is dying.” Her voice is clipped. “I’ve got less than five percent.”
“Where are you?” Concern wraps my clipped words.
“I’m in an Uber on my way back to the office. Why?”
“Don’t go to the office.” My well-intentioned order is a mistake and I should have taken another approach. She doesn’t like someone telling her what to do on a good day but for some reason, today I’m in her bad book. Anything I say will likely cause her to do the opposite.
“I don’t—” Her voice dies and I pull the phone from my ear.
“Paige? Hello?”
We’re no longer connected and when I call again, the phone goes straight to voicemail. Her battery must be dead.
“Dammit.” Jamming the phone into my pocket, I look out the window at the very moment we’re pulling up in front of the building.
One of the men from the security firm working for me stands on the sidewalk, scanning left and right of the building.
When he sees me, he advances with a handshake. “Mr. Rothwell, Mike Piers. Hummel’s in the lobby. Larry’s on him.” He nods to a tall bald man shadowing the landlord, close enough to grab him but far enough for Hummel to take no note of him.
“And Ms. Hayes?” I now survey the front of the building, awaiting her arrival.
“We haven’t got eyes on her and we called the office. She isn’t there.”
Nodding, I glance toward Hummel again when a flash of long brown hair causes me to do a double take. Paige walks into the building through the side entrance.
“Shit.” I stride toward the front doors at the same time Mike lunges from his position.
“Stay here. I’ve got this,” I bark, striding purposefully into the building, holding my hand up in a stop sign to the other guy, Larry, who is also ready to pounce.
Paige doesn’t notice me. She’s frozen in place, having spotted Hummel.
It’s subtle but I catch it right away. Hummel barrels toward her, no sign of the mousy man we’ve both seen to this point, and I hustle to get between them before he can do any damage.
With me blocking his way to Paige, the asshole is smart enough to stop advancing on her. Confused, he takes a few beats to place my face. Joel Hummel knows who I am.
I’ve deliberately attended most of the meetings between our lawyers and he’s been there too. Recognition dawns when his brow furrows and eyes widen.
Paige releases my name on a quiet exhale and I spare her a single glance, barely a second because I can’t be derailed by the sight of her. The days away from her have unleashed a longing I never knew was possible and the glance is enough to stoke the raging fire within me.
She gifts me a small, shaky smile as her arms fold around her middle in an uncharacteristically nervous way and I reassure her with a confident smile of my own.
“You’re in violation of the peace bond.” I glare at him while the taller of the two security guys starts dialing what I hope is the police.
“That fucking bitch is ruining my life.” His oily face reddens with each word and he inches closer.
“You stay the fuck away from her. All communication is to be done through the lawyers.” I’m loud for the benefit of those listening and I’m too generous in trying to use logic with this guy.
But I am fully aware of the building security starting to take note and the people staring.
We have witnesses and Hummel won’t get to play the victim because someone reads the situation incorrectly.
Although as of now, he’s shed himself of the stammering mealy-mouthed persona he’s clung to from the first day he met Paige.
His beady eyes narrow and his jaw tenses. “I’ve done nothing wrong, but I can’t rent my properties. I’ve had two tenants end their leases.”
I don’t bother to hide my growing smile. I’ve been busy making sure all his current and prospective tenants are fully aware of his charges and history and I’ve been smart to make sure none of it can be linked to Paige or me.
“She has nothing to do with any of that.” I step in closer to him and lower my voice. “Stay the fuck away from her or I promise you, I’ll make prison sound like a vacation.”
Jail time is a real threat with the charges brought against him although the duration will likely be an insult. I don’t even want to think about the possibility of him walking away with community service, a slap on the wrist, or worse, nothing.
As if he’s deaf or has a death wish, he bares his teeth and snarls, peering around me to get a good look at Paige.
“I might as well do something to the cunt for all the shit coming my way.” Spittle flies from his mouth and he jabs his finger in her direction.
She shudders behind me, releasing a strangled whimper, and I’m done with him. Taking another step toward him until we’re less than two feet apart, I scowl and sharpen my tongue.
“Let me make this really simple for you. I’m already your enemy and you have no clue what ruining your life looks like. You don’t want me any more pissed off than I already am. If you so much as think about her, I’ll make it my life’s mission to end you.”
Two police officers approach and I clear back as one takes Joel by the arm.
He flinches and briefly resists. At first, I stay close, offering information and answering their questions.
Then I motion for Mike to speak with the cops so I can go to Paige.
She’s in a corner beside Larry and as if sensing my intentions, the man nods at me and then makes himself scarce.
My beautiful, wide-eyed girl.
I’m usually calm and in control, yet the days without seeing her have set me on edge, and Joel Hummel only added fuel to the fire. I’m no longer satisfied with laying eyes on her. I need to touch her—it’s the only thing to bring me any peace.
In three strides, I capture her face in my palms and kiss her. She pushes onto her toes, clinging to my biceps, and I vaguely make out the chatter of people around us as I plunder her mouth.
My tongue is hot and demanding and she melts into me. I adore her, worship her, and consume her with my mouth, more than relieved to know she’s safe and I got to her before any harm could be done.
“Thank you,” she says breathlessly, leaning into my body, flush and drunk on my kiss.