chapter 7

Paige's POV

"Paige, my office now." Grayson said over the phone, making me sigh, what's the problem now,

"You called?" I said as I got to Grayson's office,

"Take a seat," he said with a gloomy look that confirmed my suspicions, something was definitely wrong.

I stared at the ground waiting for Grayson to say something, anything but instead the tension in the air just increased and so did my curiosity.

"Uhm... Is something wrong?" I asked when I realized Grayson wasn't going to say anything,

"You're fired." he finally whispered, not looking at me, but I didn't need him to speak any louder I heard him very loud and clear, I couldn't say anything, so I just stared, this can't be happening to me......not now just when I thought things were starting to get better,

"I am sorry Paige, I really am, but my hands are tied." he said, making me scoff angrily,

"Last I checked, the company was yours, your hands can't be tied you just want me out so badly " I said with so much bitterness in my tone, but you could still sense the hurt and sadness I was feeling.

"No, no, you're getting it all wrong..... I can't say anything, but please this is not my decision. I really like having you around, I know I have never said it, but you have made this company a lot more comfortable for me" he said, finally looking at me, but I couldn't meet his gaze, my eyes were already glistening with tears.

"I understand, goodbye Grayson, thanks for giving me a chance at least."I said, getting up not looking at him, I feel like crap right now,

"Wait..."he called out, and I stopped but didn't turn, the tears were already falling.... I need to leave here before I totally break down.

"I know where you can get another job" he said, but I just didn't believe him.

"It's fine, Grayson" I said, walking out before he could say any other thing,

Still fighting my tears, I walked into my office, shutting the door behind me,

"This isn't happening, I have to pay the rent by the end of the month, I have to pay Mrs. Rivers I can't owe her when she just started, I promised Alex I would take him out this weekend, this is not part of my plans" I whispered as the tears finally found their way down my face,

"Why am I always the victim, just why.....it was a mistake, a fucking stupid mistake, haven't I suffered enough for just one mistake" I said, letting my tears flow,

I managed to get all my things together, making sure I left everywhere neatly kept just as I met it 5 years ago..... I can't believe I really spent 5 years here, I can't blame Grayson 5 years with me must have been so bad.....

I knocked on Grayson's door twice before walking in, sadly Vanessa was in there now, she better keep her thoughts to herself,

"I am done packing up, I will drop the key with Jane at the last floor, thank you for this past 5 years." I said staring down the whole time,

"Finally, some fresh air" Vanessa said loudly making sure I heard her,

"Vanessa, can you please excuse us?" Grayson suddenly said, shocking us,

"Wait what, why?"she said getting offended.

"I am the boss here Vanessa and I said get out, he said louder this time,

"My father will hear of this" she said before stomping out, in case your wondering Vanessa's father practically bought half of Grayson's company's shares when the company was in a terrible situation, it was at the verge of going bankrupt and Grayson had to do something no matter the consequences, so Vanessa's father being Vanessa's father gave Grayson conditions he had to keep to our he would lose everything including his share if the company and that's where Vanessa came in claiming she would rather not work for her father.

So Grayson was compelled to give her a job here, though she practically does nothing besides throwing herself on business associates and even Grayson, she feels like she owns the place and only gives Grayson a little respect when she wants to manipulate him and that's one of the reasons I was employed to prevent Grayson from doing any of Vanessa's bidding ,how will he cope now....

"I am so sorry, Paige. I honestly wish things could go another way, but I need the money,"he said whispering the last part.

"Which money?"I asked, finally looking at him,

"Money ....who said anything about money "he quickly said trying to cover up, but I heard him loud and clear,

"Did you sell me off or something?"I asked getting angry,

"No, no, it's not what you think, I honestly wish I could tell you, but I can't." he said giving me that bullshit talk again,

"You know what I am out"I said turning to leave,

"Wait please"he said making sure I noticed how desperate he was that I hear him out, I stood waiting for him to talk, but I still didn't look at him, I just couldn't, I feel so betrayed right now,

"I sent the salary meant for the rest of the year to your account so you can't even reject it"he said shocking me, I finally looked at him trying to confirm if he was lying in any way..... I quickly got my phone out if my purse to check...... I let out a gasp as I saw it, freaking 3 million dollars this is more than my salary for the year.

"I can't accept this Grayson this is more than my salary for the year, besides I am not working for you again so you can't pay me"I argued looking at him that's when I noticed his hardened face,

"If you even think about repeating what you just said I will increase it to 5 million dollars"he said giving me a stern look to prove that he was serious,

"But why ...?"I whispered, not understanding why he would give me such an amount of money, for someone he should hate or something.

"Paige you have done more than this, and I promise to appreciate you more in the nearest future, you may not understand, but you have done so much for me and letting you go right now is more than difficult, but I hope you understand someday, please take care of yourself and keep in touch, so I will be sure your safe"he said and that's when I realized he had already walked to where I was standing, I stared up at him since he is a bit taller than I am.

"Thank you...?"I said, not sure of what to say again, he smiled before doing something that shocked me to my core .....he hugged me,

"Don't thank me I should be thanking you"he whispered still holding me tight,

"Uhmmm...... I should get going now ..... I need to get my documents ready to search for another job, the earlier, the better, right?"I said leaving his office before he could stop me again, but the look on his face told me I shouldn't have said what I said, but I'm right I can't use 3 million dollars for life.

As I walked through the hallways I could hear my ex-coworkers muttering stuffs to one another which I am sure aren't nice things..... I passed Linda, Vanessa's lovely partner-in-crime as I like to call her, I heard when she whispered to a lady whom I am so sure she also hates my guts for obviously no reason,

"Finally Grayson took the trash out"she said glaring at me, I just let my hair down letting it cover my already tear stained face,

'Paige they are simply trying to get under your skin, ignore them 'I said to myself as I continued my journey to the elevator but then my plan of escaping without anyone noticing my face failed cause there was Vanessa standing in all her glory right in front of the elevator like she was just waiting for me,

I could use the stairs' I whispered to myself turning left to use the stairs that was until I was pulled by my hair then I landed on the ground with a loud thud,

"Ouch... fuck." I cursed, groaning from the impact of my fall......

"Come on get up, hit me"Vanessa challenged when I didn't say anything but just stared at the ground I was on,

"Poor Paige, cats got your tongue now huh ..."she said bending so she could look at me, but my hair was still blocking my face, she snickered before pulling my hair up and turning my face, so I could look at her, a wild smile broke out on her face as she saw the tears that were falling from my eyes uncontrollably, I wanted them to stop, but I just had no control over them,

"Look guys she is crying, pathetic whore." She said before shoving me away with my hair causing me to fall back hitting my head with a loud thud, that's going to bruise I am sure,

"Vanessa, that's enough "I heard someone say and I sure it's not Grayson who on earth had the guts to speak to Vanessa like that,

"What did you just say?" Vanessa asked, turning her attention from me, giving me the opportunity to run.

"She has been fired already, let her be" The person said again that's when I finally had the courage to look at my brave yet stupid savior,

It was Leon, we once worked together in the marketing department before Grayson made me Personal assistant alongside Vanessa for obvious reasons, I always knew he liked me, but he never directly asked me out but as usual, he knows nothing about my son,

"Are you supposed to be her prince charming, you know I could get you fired with just a flick of my fingers right "she said threatening him but the look he gave her showed her he wasn't moved by her threat instead he was daring her to touch me again, she turned back to where she supposedly left me, but I was already in the elevator I gave a small smile to Leon before the doors closed, but I could feel Vanessa's anger as she couldn't finish her little torment in my life, she has no clue the physical pain she is trying to inflict is nothing compared to my emotional pain.

I got to the driveway pretty quick to avoid any other person,

"Where to ma'am" the driver I stopped asked,

"Somewhere you know I could get good alcohol "I blurted out, he gave me a quizzical look which wasn't hard to miss making me wonder if it was because of what I said or my look or even both, but I just need to stop thinking, so the tears could stop besides I can't go home looking like this,

"Ok then" he said before I opened the door and got in.

***********

"Anoth....er sh...ot plea...se." I slurred, this should be the 5th or 6th shot since I got here, I have to give it to that driver he really knows where they sell good alcohol cause it seems like I can't just have enough, and it is also working so greatly,

"Ma, you're going to end up really sick if you continue this way" the bartender said trying to stop me,

"No...ne of your busi....ness,I re....ally need it so ju...st get me ano....ther sh....ot"I slurred, what's his business anyway not like when I die he will care of something,

"If you say so"he said getting another shot for me while I grinned at him, that's more like it,

"If you give her anymore alcohol, I will make sure you lose your job" I heard someone say and when I say someone I mean someone I really don't want to see,

"Wh...o the fu..ck do you th..ink you are." I said slowly trying not to slur too much,

"What the hell happened to your face" he asked ignoring my question making me angry,

"None of your business, Fuck off, Jace"I said grabbing my purse to leave, as I stood up a wave of dizziness hit me making me fall back,

"Let me help you, Paige" he said softly like he was trying to win me over, but he has no idea how much I hate him,

"If you to...uch me, I will ca...stra...ate your fre...aking balls" I threatened using my hand to put a distance between us, the look on his face even got me angrier he is seriously smiling like he thinks I just said the craziest thing in the world,

I ignored him as I tried to get up again using the chair as support, when I was sure I was stable I began heading towards the door, still ignoring Jace's pleas to help me.

"Stay away from me, I hate you "I said to Jace when he wanted to enter the taxi with me, the way he looked at me after then told me he didn't like what I said one bit in fact he actually looked hurt, but I won't fall for it, not again.

************

I managed to find my way home and luckily Alex was already asleep, I can't let him see me this way,

"Do you want to talk about it?"Mrs Rivers asked for the third time since I got home with my tear stained face and drunken ass,

"Its nothing, you can go home now, I am sorry for keeping you"I replied slowly to avoid slurring, she wouldn't go if she realizes how drunk I really am,

"I may have just started working here, but I see you as my child and I know when something is wrong, I know when you're hurting, I saw the pain in your eyes from the first day and it is unclear to me why, but I told myself I will help you in any way I can, I am not pitying you cause that's not right, but I just want to be there, I want you to trust me, let me in please, you may think I don't understand, but I am mother too, and I had challenges when I was your age maybe not this bad, but they were bad"she said softly and suddenly, my resolve broke and the tears I was fighting came in full force,

"I saw him."I simply said in between my sobs, I couldn't explain but with the look, she gave me I knew she understood what I meant,

"Oh darling, come here"she said opening her hand for a hug which I didn't hesitate to return, I cried on her shoulder, I totally forgot what it felt like to have someone around besides a child who didn't understand,

"He came to the office, and he had the guts to actually try to talk to me like such balls...."I said trying to calm my cries,

"Then Grayson terminated my employment for unknown reasons, he gave me some money, but I can't help it, I feel worthless I can't even keep my job, Vanessa decided to worsen my situation"I said sniffing,

"That explains the bruises, that bitch "Mrs. Rivers muttered stroking my hair, making me smile a little, it was faint, but it was a smile anyway,

"And then I just had to attempt drinking my pain away to see if it will help, but he had to appear from nowhere once again, I can't stand seeing his face it reminds me of that fateful day when I lost everything "I said as the tears began falling once more, luckily she didn't ask me many questions about that day she just modded like she completely understood which I am grateful for,

"You have to be strong at least for Alex, he really misses his mother, you have not being around him for 3 days now it's actually taking a toll on him, he even threw a tantrum in school when he realized you weren't going to pick him up "she said still stroking my hair, she is right I have not been the best mum to my child and I really must make it up to him,

"Thank you so much"I said, not knowing the right thing to say,

"Don't thank me, I need to do this. "She said confusing me, but I didn't ask I just enjoyed the comfort of her hug and the little hope it gave me, I could still fight at least for my son.