Chapter 4

Paige’s POV

After what Callan told me about how he valiantly helped his ex fiancee, I felt like I knew him as a real person a bit more. He was looking at me with those mesmerizing blue eyes again and it was so hard to resist his charms. The door suddenly opened and a beautiful woman in a lab coat stopped in her tracks, shocked to see us there.

“How did the two of you get in here? Her angry voice made Callan jump. He turned around and cleared his throat before speaking in a calm, but bossy way.

“She picked the lock. You should’ve seen her. It was impressive.” 

“Oh, Mr. Holden. I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t realize it was you. Welcome back.” The woman said, her annoyance suddenly turned into a beautiful flirtatious smile.

“You had sex with her too?” I meant to whisper at him yet my voice was so loud some passerby heard me through the open door.

“Wha-” The woman looked perplexed. 

“No. Of course not. She’s married for crying out loud. She just meant welcome back to the building because I came here weeks ago for some contract signing and I got a paper cut and she helped me. "Right? Mrs.?”

“Wallowitz, sir.”  She glared at me but then there was that smile again the moment her eyes fell on him. I felt my cheeks burn and I cleared my throat before apologizing. 

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to insult you. I just had a…a really crazy morning with Mr Holden.” 

“No harm done, sweety. I don't judge at all. " She smirked at me.

“Oh, no. We didn't… I.. I didn't mean I had crazy sex with him. By crazy I meant–"

"Really miss, you don't have anything to explain.I mean, if I wasn’t married I’d probably let him do anything to me in here too.”

"Whoa. Okay, that escalated fast. Ha. Ha.” Callan scratched his head awkwardly and then pulled me toward the door. “Okay. bye bye now.” 

“Goodbye Mr. Holden.” 

“Please tell me you’re not going to ask any other woman if I fucked them or not?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to blurt that out. It was just the way she was smiling and flirting with you…”

“I know. Sometimes it really feels like a curse how amazing I am.” Callan sighed before walking toward the lobby’s exit. I chased after him and shook my head at how much of a prick he is. 

“Callan!” A man shouted his name. Callan paused and looked at who was calling him and then he signaled me to stand beside him. I looked at the man and realized it must’ve been his father because they looked so alike. The same grayish blue eyes, the perfect jaw, and a really tall and hot physique. 

I'd bang the dad too. Damn they have strong good genes. Shut up brain. Not now.

"Dad."

"Are you sure about that contract? You could end up losing your company. " 

"Yeah. Got you out of trouble didn't I? 

"Yes. I don't understand why you didn't just marry her though?"

"Coz I don't want to be married, dad. Not now, not ever. This is Paige Miller by the way, my new assistant.” Callan said and his father looked at me from head to toe.  

"Hmm. Good luck at keeping your legs close with this one, Miss Miller. I'll see you at the party, son." 

I was too shocked to talk back so I looked at Callan and felt sorry for him when I saw how sad his eyes became. I remembered how my dad was always so proud of me even after I became pregnant with Gwen. Rich or poor clearly had nothing to do with being born with great loving parents.

Callan became quiet as we walked out of the building and once his driver saw him he opened the limo door for us. He let me in first and proceeded to tell the driver we'd have lunch at McFin’s, an expensive restaurant I noticed was a block away from the office. 

“Are you taking me to that expensive restaurant near the office?” I blurted without thinking.

“Yes, why?”

“Do you want me to take you out to a great place near my apartment? You know, for a change of environment. Might be good for you. They serve Mexican, American, Korean, Chinese, or even Italian there.” I asked and realized too late I hadn’t warned the people I know not to mention Gwen to any of my work mates especially the CEO.

“Really? Never heard of such a place. That sounds good.” Callan smiled and I couldn’t take my stupid idea back.

Mr. Garcia, the owner of the quaint place, greeted me when he saw us come in.  Callan seemed impressed I knew the owner, but a little annoyed that he called me beautiful. 

“Why are you two close?”

“Because my…my Aunt is a friend of his and his wife.” I said, biting my tongue when I almost said my daughter loves eating here.

We ordered some tacos, nachos, and quesadillas and when Mr. Garcia left for the kitchen, Callan smiled and thanked me for bringing him there. I told him I liked this place because the couple who owned it reminded me of my parents. He asked me what it was like for me growing up in a loving family and I could see how interesting it all was to him, making me wonder how sad his life must be. To change the topic I asked him to talk about the company. It blew my mind when he said it started as a bet with his big brother and cousins and how it became worth 150 million 2 years later and was still growing. Callan looked so happy when he was talking about his online clothing and merchandise company, and I couldn’t help but admire his independence from the billion dollar financing businesses his family apparently runs. 

“You know your eyes are so beautiful when they widen like that.” He suddenly said, catching me off guard. I felt my cheeks burn again.

“Well, I’m just impressed with your work. It inspires me to chase after my own goals.”

“And what are your goals, Paige?”

“It depends…” I said, shrugging. 

“On what?”

“If I have to be practical or brave.”

“Practical.”

“I want to land a steady good paying government job where I can live comfortably for the rest of my life without having to worry about retirement and stuff.”

“And if you’re brave?”

“I want to start my own jewelry business. Be my own boss and be rich enough to have time to write the novels in my head.”

“Wow.”

“I’ve never been brave enough to say that out loud. Only to my brain. I’m one of those rare people who talk to themselves and my brain actually talks back to me like it has its own opinions and stuff. I know I sound cra—”

“I’m exactly like you.” He said as he suddenly held my hands on the table. “I mean I talk and fight with my brain too. Oh my God, I haven’t told anyone that coz when I told my mom she said never to tell anyone about it until I was better. She sent me to Shrinks.”

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at how outrageous his parents were and Callan laughed along until we stopped laughing and stared at each other intently again. The pull was clearly there. We could both smell the pheromones lingering in the air. He leaned in for a kiss and just as his lips were about to touch mine, I stood up and cleared my throat. I needed to get away from him before my hard beating heart would’ve exploded. 

“I have to go to the restroom.” I said and walked away fast without letting him say anything.

As I stared at myself in the mirror, Callan suddenly came in and locked the door. He came toward me, held my cheeks and kissed me. 

“What the hell are you doing?”  I said as I pushed him, while the warmth of his lips was still on mine.

“I thought that was code for ‘you wanted sex in here’.”

“Really? I need to go to the freakin’ restroom, to you is code for I want you to fuck me in a disgusting public bathroom the same day we meet and had lunch? Really? After how I specifically told you to respect me? You know what? This was a mistake. We clearly can’t be friends, Mr. Holden. Goodbye.”

“No. I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry. Don’t go. It’s still quarter to three. I swear—.”

“Three? Oh my God. I have to go.” 

He held my hand as I passed him near the bathroom door. 

“Wait. Where are you going? I said I was sorry. I’ll give you a ride!” Callan said, blocking the way and smiling like the whole misunderstanding was funny. My blood boiled and I could feel my nostrils flaring. Fucking hot men and their egos always wanting to get laid with whomever they want whenever they want.

“Let go of me, Callan! I quit!”  I pulled my hand away and walked out.