Hayes #2
“Oh, Paige, no, it can’t be. You never told me,” William says, his face a contorted mess of anger and hurt. His expression wars between fury and heartbreak and I know the exact feeling.
“What Paige says is true. Garrison Daniels is a sexual predator who tried to ruin your daughter when she was just fourteen. Your wife was aware of the situation and chose not to act when Paige wanted to report the incident.”
I turn to take in Caroline, the shrewd, heartless bitch. She meets my disgusted look with her own.
“By not reporting it,” I say, pointing at her, “you allowed him to continue. I have the names of his victims and the amounts the Daniels paid to each of them if you would like proof. His most recent victim was less than a year ago, so he certainly hasn’t changed much, despite studying law and knowing just how in the wrong he is. ”
William’s face is ashen as he looks between his wife and daughter. Paige tucks herself in closer to me but meets his eyes and nods and I see the truth settle on him.
It sickens me to have to share this information knowing they were prepared to give their daughter to this monster in exchange for what, a manufacturing deal with the cretins who preferred to cover up their son’s proclivities?
What the fuck kind of business do they run if they refused to check into the background of the people they were getting into bed with, which, for Paige, would have been literal. It’s abhorrent.
Paige places a gentle hand on my chest to steal my attention that is riveted on her parents, imagining the kinds of torture that befit their negligence and greed.
“Thank you for making your point. I think they’re beginning to understand just how bad that particular match was.”
She steps away from my side and I reluctantly release her. I don’t want her far from me, or any closer to the people who were ready to put her in the path of the same deviant that wanted to steal her innocence. She holds her hands out to her parents anyway.
“I know this is hard to hear, and we are giving you a lot to think about. Please come in so we can get you something to drink and sit down. I’ve missed you.”
Her parents both soften at her admission and in that moment I know they truly love her, despite their flaws.
William holds out his arms and Paige returns his embrace.
They whisper to one another, and I'm sure he's apologizing for not having known. It’s encouraging to see that they are not all expectations and ruthless negotiations that balance on their daughter’s unwilling submission.
Caroline releases her pearls and takes Paige’s hand, pulling her away from her father.
“You didn’t have to go and marry a complete stranger to convince us you didn’t want to marry Garrison. We’re more reasonable than that and you know it.”
Paige looks down at her feet and I’m ready to rip into Caroline on her behalf when she looks up and I catch the glint of strength in her eyes.
“Actually, I did. You wouldn’t listen to me.
You even sent Garrison to Atlanta to bring me home.
Do you know how awful and small it made me feel to know my parents wouldn’t hear me when I was speaking my truth?
It was time for me to do something I wanted, finally, and I want Hayes. I love him. He makes me so happy.”
Hearing her say it out loud to her parents makes it final.
I’m utterly, inescapably, and deeply in love with this woman.
Screw my original motivations for getting close to her.
I think it’s impossible not to be touched by the goodness of her heart, the kindness of her soul, and the depth of her love and not be changed by her very presence.
She makes me want to be a better man simply by being herself. I want to be deserving of her.
“I could use that drink,” William says, running a hand through his dark hair, so similar in color to Paige’s, though she has none of the silver that streaks his temples.
I nod and lead them into the private room set up for dinner.
“Double barrel bourbon?”
“Please.” William settles in next to the bar with appreciation beginning to thaw the ice of his displeasure.
I pour us both glasses and look at Caroline, still gripping Paige’s hand. “Ladies?”
“Mama likes gin and tonic. I’ll have the bourbon.”
Caroline turns and sharply tugs her daughter’s hand.
“Paige, that’s simply not ladylike. You’re too young for bourbon.”
I bristle at her patronizing tone and would very much like to remove her hand from Paige’s, maybe even separate it from her body completely.
“Mama, there is plenty I’m too young for, but a well-aged bourbon suits me just fine.”
Her eyes sparkle when I catch them, knowing she meant the comment for me. The tension jacking up my shoulders eases from her smile alone. She’s like a balm that soothes every irritation life could throw at me.
I return to playing bartender, passing out drinks and settling onto the black velvet wingback chair that faces a Victorian sofa upholstered in the same fabric that Caroline and William sit on.
Paige perches on the arm of my chair but I can’t resist the urge to pull her right into my lap, where she settles primly on my thigh instead of directly between my legs.
Oh well, a guy can try, even if I just want to scandalize her parents.
“Can someone please explain to me how this odd pairing occurred so… quickly?” Caroline asks, her eyes, so reminiscent to Paige’s, flicking up to take my measure.
My jaw tightens and I’m glad Paige speaks for us, because I would say something to purposefully shock her. I deflowered your daughter only two nights ago. She begs for my cock now. I could ask her to crawl to me on her knees and suck me off and she would do it, willingly.
“We met at my debutante ball. Hayes owns The Abyss and I ran into him when I needed a break from the party. I think it was fate.”
Caroline’s eyes narrow as she listens to Paige. “It’s infatuation, not fate, you silly thing. I can’t believe you ran off and got married a week after meeting him.”
“Any man would be lucky to find themselves married to your daughter,” I cut in, done with her barbs.
“There’s not a thing to dislike about Paige.
She’s an incredible woman. She left a mark on me from the moment we met, and when I found her fleeing your interesting arrangement, I offered her a harbor in the storm. ”
“Storm? Hardly, you despicable monster. She was a child overreacting and throwing a fit. You enabled her.”
“I hate to disagree with you, Caroline, but Paige is an intelligent, determined adult capable of seeing through the calculated manipulation of those closest to her. What she did was act purely in self-preservation.”
“I think we can agree that each story has many sides, and you both have strong feelings,” Paige says, placing her arm around my shoulder and gently rubbing my neck. “Why don’t we eat?”
I chuckle at Paige’s mastery of maintaining the peace under tension.
She will absolutely rule over the business world without anyone being the wiser to her crafts.
It strikes me just how well-suited she is to take over her family’s legacy and lead the Xenios Group.
I feel a pang of remorse at my determination to take it from her.
She’ll see it’s for the best, even if it’s hard to part with.
Eventually.