The Italian's Fake Fiancée

61

Few hours later, in the high rise office building. Leonardo stared unseeingly at his laptop screen for the umpteenth time that day. He couldn't get past the look on Paige's face when he had left. He was convinced he had said something to ruin her mood. If not, how then does someone suddenly go from a good mood to close to crying? He can't seem to figure it out, no matter how hard he had tried to look at it from every angle.

Glancing at the adjacent office, where Paige should have been occupying now had she not been sick, Leo allowed his gaze to linger there, conjuring her image. He wanted to call Paige and find out how she was fairing but he couldn't.

That was his problem, and the reason he couldn't say or do so many things he wanted to do. He always felt like he was smoldering her.

Drumming his fingers on his desk, Leo sighed as he remembered the man he had seen at her apartment today. He Couldn't believe he had been tricked by Finn, or that he did let his words get into his head and spoil his composure.

Now he had lost a great opportunity to confess his love for Paige. Although he was already making new plans.

For now, she was sick so he couldn't do anything, and he wasn't the type to blurt out, "Paige I'm in love with you." Without any preparation, without any action to prove he did. He was the type of man to make grand gestures. A little old-fashioned perhaps, but that was him.

If he was going in, then he was going all the way in.

Just then his cellphone buzzed on his desk, and Leo picked it up and put it to his ear.
"Mum."

"Tsk tsk tsk." The woman clicked her tongue in disapproval from the other end of the call. "I see staying over there had made you forget all about your own language."

Leo laughed. "I speak to you in English only because I know you do not mind. Why have you called *mamma*?"

"Now that's more like it." Leo could hear her grin, and he smiled.

"Eh, it's about your *matrimonio—Your* wedding. That girl you brought back, your fiancee Paige Compton, is she back?"

Leo froze. Over the weeks since they came back from his family home, his parents had called many times to enquire about Paige. Not wanting to trouble Paige with them, he had always told them she is fine, and when asked if they could speak to her, his response had always been she traveled to some remote place to get inspiration for her next book, that service wasn't particularly good.

He knew his invented lie wasn't essentially convincing, but he had hoped it would be a while before anyone start asking questions.

"Why mum, is anything the matter?"

"Oh no, do not mind me," Flavia gave a humorless laugh and Leo imagined her waving her hand in the air. "I was only wondering when you will be getting married so we can make preparations on our end. When are you giving me grandkids? I'm not getting any younger. I want to see my grandkids."

She was whining now. "If you are already engaged to Paige, then what else are you waiting for? Or are you having issues?"

Leo thought about their misunderstanding with Finn. And her, almost crying today and said, "Just like every couple does. Nothing peculiar."

"And the wedding?" Flavia whispered almost conspiratory.

"Paige and i haven't decided on when the wedding will be," Leo muttered, feeling guilty. His mother was the last person he wanted to lie to.

Flavia sighed. "What was I expecting? Paige seemed like a nice girl. *Bella ragazza*, *quello uno,* not the type to be left hanging lest another man snatch her from you."

Leo's mouth tightened, as if he didn't already know that.

There was a pause that followed her statement, as if she expected him to say something in response. When no words came forth from his lips, she sighed. "Well, I will leave you to your work then." And the call disconnected.

With one large hand, Leonardo wiped his face down in frustration. Breathing heavily. His mother had just brought to the surface the things he was trying to forget. Paige wasn't a woman that can be left single for long.

\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

The alarm continued insistently until Paige groaned and knocked it off with one hand, wanting to get back to sleep but when she remembered she was supposed to accompany Finn to a colleague's wedding as his date.

Paige groaned and buried her head under the pillow.

On one hand, she wanted to ignore the wedding and go back to sleep, but on the other hand, if she succeeds in attending the wedding she will finally have Finn off her back, which was the only reason she got herself out of bed and made herself presentable.

A few minutes later, they were at the venue. Finn took one look at her long red dress and smiled. Showing her off to his colleagues, which Paige tried to ignore.

"Today is the last day. Just bear with it, bear with it, bear with it." She repeated the mantra to herself. In that manner, she kept her sanity in check.

Everything was going well. The bride and groom said their vows. And then the groom kissed the bride. It was all one happy moment until the bride took the groom aside and whispered to her husband something, after which he placed his hand on her stomach in surprise and said something to her, of which she nodded her head vigorously.

It didn't take Paige long to realize the bride was telling her husband she was pregnant. This was further confirmed when he hugged her tightly, affectionately, and then hurried to tell the good news to anyone who was willing to listen.

Paige's eyes teared up instantly, and she placed her hand on her stomach. This could have been her and Leo. But he didn't want her. Only the baby.

For the past few days, she had been trying to pretend she was okay with it, however, seeing this couple the way they were. Happy because they were expecting a baby. Simply because it was a symbol of their love. Paige suddenly felt like it was too much for her to handle.

Because she was seeing the exact picture of what she wanted dangling before her, but not being able to have it.

She has been chasing Leo for over nine months now without any result, and suddenly when it seemed she could break through his defenses. A baby was all he wanted from her. So much he was willing to marry her for it. Had that night they laid together and made mad passionate love meant nothing to him because to her it meant the whole world.

Paige took one look at that scene before her, at how the newly married couples couldn't get enough of each other and felt an unsettling feeling crawl into her stomach. Because it reminded her of so much. Of so many things she wanted, but couldn't have.

It was getting heavy on her.

Her love.

Carrying it. Working by Leo's side, being by his side, and knowing he would never love her. That he was willing to marry her because he was an honorable man. And wanted to take responsibility for their actions. But would he ever love her?

Suddenly, Paige felt like couldn't stay in that environment, not with the way she was feeling like she was going to tear up.

Grabbing her purse, she hurried to the entrance as discretely as she could without making it seem like she was running away.