The Billionaire's Widow

43

Hailey’s POV

“Okay, we need to talk.” Paige walked back into the office about an hour later.

I stopped working and looked at her. She took a deep breath and finally sat down across from me.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Yeah,” she nodded.

“Alright, so… what is it we need to talk about?”

“I was going through Abigail’s file and realized she also studied business management.”

I gave her a confused look. “Paige… who is Abigail?”

“Oh! Um, she’s one of the girls I was competing with for the PA position. Tall blonde?”

Oh, right. I think I remembered her.

“The one with the messy hair bun?” I asked, cringing slightly.

Paige laughed. “Yes! Her. You don’t like messy buns?”

“Paige, this is a multi-million dollar company. Anyone who works here has to look the part,” I said matter-of-factly. “A messy bun to work? Are you kidding me? It wasn’t even the stylish kind—it looked like she rolled out of bed and ran here with last night’s ‘club bun’ still intact.”

Paige burst out laughing. “Babe, stop! You're too much.”

I laughed too. “Now you understand why she looked so miserable walking out of her interview.”

“You didn’t… say anything to her, did you?”

I grinned. “I might have told her I didn’t like her hairstyle. I can’t be seen with a PA who can’t even fix her hair.”

“You’re so picky,” she said, smiling.

“I wouldn’t be where I am if I wasn’t. My mother-in-law always said, ‘If someone puts effort into how they look, they’ll put effort into what they do.’ I like neat people, and her bun wasn’t neat. So, no—Abigail’s not going to be my PA.”

“I didn’t say I wanted her to be,” Paige smirked.

“No?” I raised an eyebrow. “Then why are we talking about her? Why go through her file?”

“At first, I considered suggesting her for the assistant manager position—since we’re still looking—but after remembering your thoughts on her hair…” she trailed off with a smile. “And honestly, I’ve decided not to take the assistant manager job anymore.”

I frowned. “Why not?”

She looked at me with a serious expression. “Because no one’s getting close to my woman except me.”

I blushed and giggled. “Jealous much?”

She leaned closer. “You don’t want to see that side of me.”

Damn. That line and that smile? Instant weakness.

“But that’s not the only reason,” she added, sitting back again. “With that crazy bitch Kiara out there trying to expose us, me suddenly getting a promotion would raise eyebrows. Once she finds out I’m the person you’re in love with, it’ll look like favoritism—like you only gave me the job because we’re… involved.”

I sighed. “That makes sense. I hate this.”

“Me too.”

She didn’t say it, but I could tell—she was disappointed. Staying as my PA wasn’t her dream. She had goals, and this position would’ve helped her get there. But she was sacrificing it—for me.

“That’s it,” I said firmly. “I’m ending this.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m going to tell them. I’m tired of hiding. If they want to know who I’m with, then fine.”

“Hailey… are you sure?” she asked cautiously. “I haven’t even decided if I want my life to be out there.”

I turned toward the floor-to-ceiling windows behind me. The city spread out below, glowing under the late afternoon sun. I always looked at it when I needed to feel grounded.

“I know,” I said softly. “But I’d rather come out myself than let Kiara do it for us. She’ll make it ugly.”

Paige didn’t respond, and my thoughts drifted to a memory.

Flashback

“Hailey, can I ask you for a favor?” Xavier looked into my eyes. “And promise you’ll say yes.”

“What if I fail after agreeing?” I asked, teasing.

“You won’t. I trust you.”

“Okay.”

“Come with me to the masked gala in two days.”

I shot upright. “Gala?”

“Yeah. I know you don’t want us public yet, but it’s a masked event. No one will recognize you. I promise.”

I hesitated.

“Please?” he added gently.

I giggled. “Okay, I’ll go.”

Just like he said, no one paid me any attention that night. Everyone was masked. Only his family recognized me because he’d introduced us once.

“I’ll be right back,” Xavier whispered in my ear, then disappeared, probably to the restroom.

While he was gone, I admired the mansion, letting my eyes land on a stunning piece that was set to be auctioned later.

“It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?” a voice said beside me.

I turned and saw a blonde woman in a red dress.

“It is,” I replied.

She removed her mask. “Melanie White,” she said, offering her hand.

“Hailey Finley.” I shook her hand with a smile.

I didn’t know then that she was a journalist. That handshake… that name drop… was the beginning of hell. The paparazzi. The gossip. The stares.

Back to Present

“Hailey.” I turned and saw Paige standing behind me.

“I want to tell my family first,” she said gently. “Then you can make it public.”

“Okay.” I wrapped my arms around her. “Promise me I won’t lose you.”

She pulled back, smiled, and kissed me.

“I promise.” She kissed me again, holding me tight.

________________________