Chapter 7 

Callan’s POV

MercyGrace Hosptial, NYC

“Here!” I put the folder in Paige’s lap and grinned, excited to see her reaction.

“What is this?” Her brows furrowed as she opened it and the moment she finished reading, her eyes widened while her mouth dropped open. 

“Congratulations. You’re a free woman now, Paige.”

“What…How…I…How…”

“Don’t worry about the how. Just thank me and tell me I’m the best friend and potential boyfriend you ever had.”

“Callan.” she said, almost whispering.

“Paige.” 

We stared at each other and no matter how hard I tried to read her expression, I couldn’t. I started getting nervous that I might have crossed the line by not telling her that I planned to force Hank to divorce her.

“How did you get him to agree to sign this?”

“It was easy. He may be rich, but I’m a billionaire with way more connections than him. At least he’s smart enough to know he had no other choice. And I guess he took comfort in the fact that I told him I intended to marry you and take care of you and Gwen.”

“Callan.”

“Yes, Paige. Callan. That’s my name.”

“I don’t know what else to say.”

“Thank you?”

“Thank you. Oh my God. Thank you so much.” Paige suddenly stood up from the bed and wrapped her arms around me. I suddenly felt so warm inside and so incredibly happy that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. 

“So…I have another surprise. Since you’re getting out of here in a few hours, and the doctor said you could move normally again as long as you don’t overdo yourself, I was thinking of inviting you and Gwen to watch a Taylor Swift concert tomorrow.”

The past four days I’ve spent taking care of Paige in the hospital have been one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever experienced in my life. Although I was bummed she wouldn’t agree to going to Disneyland, I was happy she trusted me enough to take and fetch Gwen to and from school.

Spending time with Gwen was also a life changer. I never imagined it would be fun to hang out with a kid. Although Gwen did seem to be more like 40 when she talked about stuff no kids should even find interesting, like politics, science and economics. 

Paige let go of her hug and looked me in the eyes. I gazed right back at her before moving my eyes down at her lips. 

God, I want to kiss her so bad.

Don’t do it, pal. You know she’ll be mad. 

“Are you talking to your brain right now?” Paige asked, chuckling.

“Ha! Yes. I am. He’s giving me good advice actually.” We were still inches from each other and I could hear my own heart beating. I held her chin with my hand and was ecstatic she didn’t pull her face away. 

“Hmm good for you. Mine is being crazy right now.”

“Is it telling you to kiss me?” I pushed my luck and cupped her face.

“Callan. I can’t. I told you. I have to focus on Gwen for now.”

“I know and I respect that. It’s just…I can’t help but want to kiss you. I’m using all my strength to resist lifting you up, laying you on the bed, and rip your clothes off.  Then I’ll fuck you until you beg me you can’t take it anymore.”

“I hate you. Stop tempting me.” She hit my chest before grabbing my necktie, our eyes never breaking contact.

“I’m not. I respect you.” I said while our lips were almost already touching. 

“Okay.” she whispered and my cock instantly hardened.

“Okay?” I said, shocked and so excited to kiss her, but still held back to give her another second to think again.

“Okay. Let’s go to the Taylor Swift concert.”

“Right. Yey!” My voice was so fake that she pushed me away from her and laughed out loud.

“You’re so mean, you know that, right?” I said, adjusting my pants so my cock would relax and go soft again. 

Paige nodded and told me to get out so she can change. We were going to fetch Gwen from school together and I couldn’t believe I was excited about it too. 

My bodyguards were right outside the door and stood erect the moment they saw me. 

“Hey guys, chill.” A pretty nurse passed by and gave me the most seductive smile and I didn’t even find it fun anymore.

“Yes, sir.” 

“You know, I’ve realized I’ve been so formal with you all. I know Brad is married, but what about you guys?” They were all shocked to see me talking to them so informally and looked at each other. Gary finally cleared his throat and answered, “I’m newly married, sir and we have a little girl coming. My wife is 7 months along.”

“Wow. Congratulations. You received a bonus from me, right?”

“Yes, sir. Miss Darla sent the presents and it’s more than enough. Thank you, sir.”

The two other younger bodyguards, Vance and Scott, whose names I didn’t even remembered before, said they were still single and thanked me for their bonuses too. 

“No problem, gentlemen. I’m the one who's thankful for your service. Now that I have two more people I want protected, I’ll tell Brad to add maybe three more of your colleagues. 

Paige suddenly came out of the room and after saying hello to the guys, told me she was ready to go. I told Gary and Scott to come with us and for Vance to get the rest of Paige’s things to my hotel suite. 

“What? No way. I’m not moving in with you. I told you that.”

“Paige, I didn’t want to tell you this, but the crazy man who shot you escaped the psych ward and the authorities are still looking for him. I want you and Gwen to be safe, that’s all.”

“But I have to open the bar at night. I promised aunt Helen I’d do that until she came back.” 

“And you will. With my help of course. Now, come on. We can talk about this on the way to Gwen’s school.”

My first ever memory of realizing I was born rich was when I was 7 and it was my first time in New York City. I asked my dad which room of the hotel was ours and he told me all of it was mine because we owned the hotel. “Someday all of these will all be yours, son.”

I’ve never felt lucky for any of it nor did it ever sink in how privileged I was, until Gwen ran around my hotel suite, screaming. 

“OH MY GOSH. MOM! LOOK AT THIS VIEW!”

“Gwen. Stop it. It’s just a room.”

“Just a room? Have you seen the bathroom? It’s bigger than our apartment.” 

I laughed out loud and immediately stopped when Paige glared at me. 

“Come on, Gwen. I’ll show you where you and your mom will sleep.”

I left them in their room and headed straight to mine, realizing I badly needed a shower before our dinner. My cock suddenly twitched when I thought of how Paige and I almost kissed and how good she smelled. Thoughts of devouring her quickly raced their way into my head as I took my clothes off—my cock already rock hard. I had just pulled my pants and boxers down when Paige suddenly opened the door to my room. 

She stood frozen and her eyes stayed glued for a few seconds on my cock until she looked at me and bit her lips. I wasn’t able to say anything before she closed my door and left me alone. 

I helped myself in the shower, imagining how Paige would feel in my arms and how hot she’d look riding me. After my cold shower, I got dressed and thought of how I could convince her to trust me. The moment I left my room, I smiled at how good the smell of food was. 

Is that… garlic and butter?

I think so. Whatever it is, it smells so good, pal. You really should keep her around from now on.

Gwen and Paige were busy setting the table and Gwen shouted ‘surprise!’ when she saw me. 

“What’s all this?”

“Oh it’s our way of saying thank you for all your help these past four, worst days of our lives.”

“It was nothing, Gwen. I loved taking you to school and taking you back straight away to your mom.” I said, winking at her and she giggled.

“What was that wink for? What did you guys do? Great. So now you’re teaching my little angel to keep secrets from me, huh?” 

“It’s harmless, Paige. Right, Gweny?”

“Right, Daddy Warbucks.” 

“I told you to stop calling him that.”

“But uncle Callan doesn’t mind.”

“That’s right. Look, the two of you are the closest feeling to a family I have ever experienced. I’m the lucky one for meeting the two of you. Now, enough drama and mystery, and let’s eat? I’m starving.” I said, looking at Paige when I said starving. I smiled seeing her gulp before sitting down.

“Oh I almost forgot, Gwen. Here’s the surprise I promised you.” I said, giving her four tickets for the concert.

“No way,” Gwen’s chair fell back as she jumped and started crying. “No freaking way! Oh my gosh! This is for tomorrow! And with backstage passes!” 

My heart felt that warm feeling again and I felt so happy looking at how I made a tiny human jump for joy. After dinner, the three of us watched all three Lord of the Rings movies until Gwen fell asleep and I carried her to their room. 

I told Paige goodnight and was shocked when she asked if I wanted to drink some wine with her. 3 bottles later, and we were laughing so hard at how she saw me naked earlier. 

“Seriously, if I met you in college, I’d have been all over you. God, I was such a stupid girl. I fell easily and trusted right away.”

“And now, you’re impossible to seduce, impossible to impress.”

“Wait. You think I’m not impressed by you?” I shrugged and Paige chuckled, shaking her head. It occurred to me she was a bit tipsy.

“Well, you saw my junk and still had enough willpower to resist, so…”

“Yeah, but…It’s because of Gwen. I can’t risk getting her hurt again. I mean this is already risking it, letting her be close to you. Letting you be my friend when you’re clearly trying to make me fall in love with you.” 

She took the bottle from the table and took a long chug, smiling after she finished it.

“What if we get married? Would you trust me then?” I got off the couch and kneeled on the floor. Taking out my class ring from Brown, I handed it to her.

“Paige Miller, will you marry me?”