The Billionaire's Widow

23

Paige’s POV

I stepped out of the elevator just as Hailey’s office door closed. I checked my watch—08:00 a.m. sharp. I was right on time, so why did I feel nervous?

My phone rang. It was her.

“Hello?”

“I need you in my office.”

Without another word, I dropped my bag and rushed over. I let myself in.

“You called,” I said.

Hailey looked up briefly from her phone.

“Yes. I want you to make a lunch reservation for three at the family hotel—Karen, Tony, and me. Also, I’ve decided to renovate this office. Find the best interior designer in town, and I want them here within the hour if possible. Oh, and send flowers to Fiona. She gave birth this morn—”

Her phone rang, cutting her off. She answered and waved me off. “Okay, do that for now. I’ll call you later. Hello?”

I walked out quietly, leaving her to her call.

Something felt different about her today. She looked... lighter. Was it the way she moved? Her tone? Then it hit me—she said she wanted to change her office. His office. She’d kept it exactly as Xavier left it. If she was redecorating... was she finally letting go?

Before I could think more, my phone rang again.

“Mrs. Anders?”

“Get the lead management team in the boardroom. Five minutes.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I hung up.

Definitely something was happening with her.

Later That Day

“Did you send the flowers to Fiona?” Hailey asked from the car as we headed to her lunch with Karen and Tony.

“Yes,” I replied.

She glanced at me, narrowing her eyes. “You sure you’re okay? Family issues again?”

Family issues? No, she was the issue. Jason’s plan wasn’t working at all. I still couldn’t figure her out. Did she feel anything for me? Or was I just fooling myself?

“I’m fine,” I mumbled, turning to look out the window.

I took out my iPad, pretending to go through her emails. At least I could focus on work. That, at least, was predictable.

Amy’s POV

“Paige?” I called as I walked into the apartment. Everything was clean and neat, just like I left it.

“Paige?”

“She’s not back yet,” Jason said, appearing from the hallway.

I checked the time—after 5 p.m. She’d be home soon.

“Okay, I’ll wait.” I sat on the loveseat, watching him linger awkwardly.

“Jason… can we talk?”

“I don’t think there’s anything left to say,” he muttered. “We both know how those conversations go.”

“I promise this time it’s different,” I said gently.

He shot me a skeptical look. “You think?”

“Please, just sit.”

After a pause, he sighed and sat down—facing away from me. But that was good enough.

“I know you're still mad,” I began. “And you have every right to be. Mom and I—we treated Paige terribly. I thought we were helping her. But we weren’t.”

He scoffed. “You tried to turn her into someone she’s not.”

“I know.” My voice cracked. “And I hate that I let it get that far.”

Jason shook his head. “She deserves peace. That’s the only reason I’m even listening. Don’t think for a second I trust you. I’m doing this for her.”

Tears stung my eyes, but I wiped them quickly.

“I understand.”

He finally looked at me. “Paige said you’re pregnant.”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Well... congrats.”

I blinked. “You mean that?”

He shrugged. “Yeah.”

I smiled softly. “Thank you.”

“Don’t tell Dad yet,” he added. “You’re coming home with us this weekend, right?”

“She told you?”

“I hadn’t decided if I was going.”

“Have you decided now?”

He hesitated. Then nodded. “Yeah. I’ll go.”

I squealed. “Really?”

He smirked. “Don’t make me regret it.”

“Thank you, Jason. I really want us to be a family again.”

Just then, the front door opened.

“Hey, sis,” I said as Paige walked in.

“Amy!” she giggled, slipping off her heels. “You’re here early.”

“I’ve only been here a few minutes. Jason kept me company.”

Her brows lifted. “Jason? Our Jason?”

I laughed. “Yep. We talked.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Well, that explains why he looked like he saw a ghost.”

“I apologized. I think he’s softening.”

She smiled. “He believes in actions. You’ll have to show him you’ve changed.”

“I intend to.”

She sank into the couch with a sigh.

“Rough day?”

“You have no idea.”

I giggled. “Well, I came to discuss bridesmaid dresses.”

“Perfect timing,” she said, perking up as I handed her the iPad.

“You’re the maid of honor—you pick the color.”I laughed lightly. “From my options of course. It’s my wedding, after all.”

She scrolled through the screen. "Yes ma'am"

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