The Billionaire's Widow

55

Paige's POV

"You look so beautiful," I whispered, leaning in to kiss her. But she didn’t kiss me back. Instead, she gave me a skeptical look.

"Is everything okay?" I asked gently.

"What’s going on between you and Kimberly?"

I frowned. "What do you mean? I told you—Kim is just my ex."

She let out a short, cold laugh. "Oh, so that’s why you took this job. You already knew she worked here. She still has some effect on you, doesn’t she?"

"Wait, what? Who told you that?" I asked, stunned as she pulled away from my touch.

"Paige, be honest with me. Do you still love her?"

My eyes widened. "God, no! How could you even think that?"

She let out a shaky breath. "Are you sure?"

I rolled my eyes. "Are you going to tell me where all of this is coming from?"

She sighed. "She played me."

"You bumped into her?" I asked. She nodded. "What did she say to you?"

She recounted what happened in the lobby, every word like poison. I sighed deeply and facepalmed.

Have you ever felt like someone is cursed? Like they follow you wherever you go, just to destroy anything good in your life? That’s what Kim is to me. Would I be a bad person if I wished she was gone—really gone—so she could stop haunting me?

"I’m so sorry, baby. None of what she said is true. I swear. I didn’t know she worked here until yesterday. Trust me, I wish I could fire her, but Logan won’t allow it."

"Why not?" she asked.

I shrugged. "He didn’t give me a reason. And it’s his hotel. Who am I to question who he chooses to keep?"

I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her close. "Please, don’t let Kim get into your head. I’m done with her. I’m with you."

She nodded slowly. "I’m sorry I believed her. I forgot you told me she’s a really good liar."

She kissed me softly. "I promise I won’t doubt you again."

"And I won’t give you a reason to," I whispered.

She giggled. "Have I told you how amazing you are?"

I chuckled. "Countless times, my love."

She wrapped her arms around my neck, and for once, without her heels, I was taller than her.

"I love it when you call me that," she whispered, then kissed me more hungrily. Her hand slid to my breast, caressing gently.

"Babe, stop," I whispered, holding her hand.

"But you know how I get when I’m ovulating." She pouted, making me giggle.

"Oh, I know. Believe me."

"I know this isn’t a bedroom, but it’s not like we haven’t done it on a desk before," she teased.

"If I owned this hotel, I’d take you right in the lobby," I said with a smirk. "But I don’t. I have a boss."

She rolled her eyes playfully. "Then let’s go to my office. I am the boss there."

I chuckled. "Tempting. But you’ll have to wait until tonight."

She pouted again, and I kissed her lips softly. "I’ll make it worth your while, I promise."

Her cheeks flushed red. "And you always keep your promises."

"You know me too well."

Hailey's POV

After lunch with Paige, I walked out of the hotel only to run into Kimberly again. Something about her made me feel like she’d been waiting for me.

"Oh, Mrs. Anders… oops, I mean Miss Finley. I’m sorry—I’ll get used to it." She flashed a fake smile that made me want to punch her.

"Not everyone learns fast, so I understand," I replied sweetly. Her smile instantly dropped.

"I hope you enjoyed your lunch with Paige," she said with a bitter undertone.

"Actually, I did. I always enjoy myself when I’m with her. Every single time."

Her eyes almost glared at me before she forced that fake smile back on.

"That’s good, then. Enjoy the rest of your day, Miss Finley."

"There you go," I said as I turned toward my car. "See? That wasn’t so hard, now was it?"

I giggled, leaving her frozen in place.

Paige's POV

The door to my office burst open, making me look up instantly.

"Kim?" I said, surprised. "No, no, no. I don’t have time for this. Get out of my office."

But she walked straight to my desk.

"Was that to spite me?" she asked.

I frowned. "Are you really that full of yourself?"

She sighed. "Kim, what the hell is wrong with you? Why can’t you move on? You cheated on me, you left me—and even now, when I’m finally happy, you show up to ruin everything."

She stayed silent.

"When we were together, you hurt me. And now that I’ve moved on with someone who truly makes me happy, you want to interfere again. What do you want from me?"

"I didn’t leave because I didn’t love you. I still love you," she whispered.

I laughed bitterly. "Oh, really? That’s your version of love? Cheating and disappearing?"

"That’s not how it happened. I... Paige, I wanted to—You wouldn’t understand."

She turned away from me.

"I don’t want to understand. I don’t care what changed after graduation. I don’t care what happened to you. You’re not my responsibility anymore."

I stood from my chair. "You made it clear you’re Logan’s problem, not mine. Do your job or don’t—I don’t care. But stay out of my life."

I heard her sniffle softly, but I didn’t soften.

"Leave, Kim!" I snapped, slamming my palm against the desk.

Startled, she rushed out.

Hailey's POV

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hailey, where are you?" Brooke asked quickly, her voice trembling.

"In the office. Why? What’s wrong?"

"You need to get to the hospital. Right now. The Anders are here—it’s bad."

My heart stopped. "What? Brooke, what happened?"

"I can’t explain it all over the phone. Just hurry. They need you."

I grabbed my bag and second phone and bolted out of the office.

"Mabel!" I called.

"Yes, ma’am?"

"Tell Bobby to bring the car around immediately. You’ll have to hold things down the rest of the day."

"Yes, ma’am," she responded as I rushed into the elevator and slammed the button for the ground floor, my heart thundering in my chest.

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