The Italian's Fake Fiancée

57

"What was that about?"

"What was what about?"

"I don't know." Paige threw her hands up in the air. "How about, how all of a sudden you said I should hug you back that it's the least I can do since I promised you four dates? I hadn't realized you would be requesting for things like that. If I had known..."

"You would have declined," Finn said with certainty and calmness that paused Paige.

"Yes... maybe that."

"That was why I didn't tell you," Finn muttered. "Look Paige, I know I shouldn't have made you hug me. It just sorts of happened." By now he was looking so hopeless, Paige didn't want to look at him.

"Haven't you ever loved someone that you so wished, even if for one second they could reciprocate your feelings? Even if it's just to hug you back. You told me you love your boss. Surely you know what am talking about."

"I know, but if I let you hug me now, next thing you will be requesting to kiss me. It sort of makes me feel like you are taking advantage of me."

"I'm sorry if I had made you feel that way." His brows had gone down, and he was brooding again.

Paige huffed out a breath. She knew it might seem like she was overreacting, but part of her frustration stemmed from the fact that the things she yearned for and hoped for she was getting it from the wrong person—the wrong man 

If she wanted anyone to hug her tightly, or to kiss her, it would be Leo but lately; the last four days since he offered to drive her home in the parking lot, Paige had been unable to get across to him.

It was evident his family was putting pressure on him. And she shouldn't be a little bitch. And wanting him on her case all the time but for the last four days he did start this habit of keeping the blinds down all the time as if he was trying to protect himself from her. He had limited any physical activity between them.

Paige had wanted to cry out because she didn't understand that behavior and because it was biting at her. It was almost as if they were back to square one. That she hadn't made any progress at all. As if he hadn't whispered so vehemently how much he missed her and then proceeded to kiss her in his car. It was as if all those things didn't happen.

Leo stayed late in the office till she leaves and comes in early before she did. Communications were made through the landlines and even though he was avoiding her—which was apparent he was, and work was tough and tedious. Paige still had time to think of him. So why couldn't he do the same?

"Look Paige, if you don't want me here. Perhaps I can go."

Glancing up, Paige stared at Finn. He had affected that wounded look that always managed to stir her pity, and right then she felt sorry for him. Because he was only trying to be around the person he loved, nothing else. She knew that feeling well, wasn't that why she was so sad Leo was avoiding her.  

There was no one in a better position to understand Finn than her. She lowered her head.

"It doesn't matter. You're already here. We might as well watch a movie or so. Let me put these flowers in a vase I will be right back."

Paige went to the kitchen and there she met Naomi, who was giving her the accusing eye.

"If you have anything to say, say it Naomi, don't look at me like that."

"I can't believe you have Finn over." Was her outburst.

Paige lowered her head, frowning.

"I hope you know what you are doing? That man is in love with you. You shouldn't be encouraging him by inviting him over."

"I didn't invite him, okay. He promised to forget about me if i give him four dates. At least he wouldn't bother me. That's what he said." Though Paige was beginning to believe she had been wrong.

"Oh my goodness, and you believed that. That he wouldn't bother you again. Feelings don't go away that easily."

Paige bit her lips. She did already be sensing she had been tricked, and she was regretting she said yes. But she had given her word.

"And what about Leo?"

Paige's heart sank at the mention of his name. "What about him?"

"You can't be entangled with Finn the way you are and expect someone to ask you out. Or even want to ask you out."

"I don't see how that got to do with anything." Paige found a vase, poured water into it, and angrily stuck the rose flowers into it, leaving it on the counter. There was truth in what Naomi was saying, but she didn't want to admit her failure in assessing the situation well.

"Have you seen the way Finn looks at you? All predatory. When he is standing next to you, he has this look that says. Yeah, don't come close to her. She is all mine. You can say he acts like an overprotective boyfriend!" Naomi climbed down from the counter where she was sitting, her hands on her waist.

"Please don't tell me you haven't noticed."

Paige shook her head

"Jesus Christ, what are you Fifteen? You can't tell me you expect that man..."

"Naomi, he's name is Finn." Paige sighed. Honestly, she didn't know why she was defending Finn. At times, she felt he had a way of keeping his face that made her instantly want to champion him. 

"Okay Finn," Naomi drawled, "...to back off just because your boss suddenly started showing interest."

"But he isn't showing interest." Paige dropped down in a chair, burying her head in her hand. Naomi's voice softened, and she came to stand near her, one hand on her shoulder. Rubbing Paige's skin.

"We don't know that yet. You told me he kissed you on Tuesday morning when he took you to work and told you he missed you." 

"Yes, but he did barely said another thing to me apart from those words. It's as if we are back to square one. He has been hiding from me in the office."

"Girl, you told me things have been pretty serious at the office. The workload suddenly doubled. He is getting a lot of pressure from his family. You can't expect him to hang around like your personal handbag. That's not how it works." 

"And speaking of the devil. Where is your boss?"

Paige's head lifted with a frown. "What do you mean, where is my boss? Why will you ask me that?" 

"I thought I saw him outside our apartment."

"My boss?" This time, Paige was staring at Naomi with bewildered eyes.

"Yeah, he was right outside the house."

As she said this, the two women hurried to Naomi's bedroom, which gave a perfect view of outside the house and pulled the window open. Wind gushed into the room, but they saw no one. 

"Are you sure of what you saw?" Paige turned her head to her friend, who was looking out the window with a huge frown on her face.

"Yes am very sure," Naomi said with a certain conviction of one who had seen something and at the same time had been questioned one too many times that she didn't know if what she saw was real or not.

Paige felt a quiver of excitement, her heart hammering in her chest as she hurried downstairs to the front door. Could it be that Leo had come to her apartment to see her? How she will love it to be true.

With a quick jerk of her hand, she pulled the door open. Her pink plump lips stretched into a wonderful smile.