Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
17
Leon
The same old Rolls Royce that drove us out to the building site the first time is waiting for us this time, and I can’t help but smile a little bit at that.
Paige stands next to me, a little agitated. I don’t blame her. This probably isn’t going to be a pretty sight.
And god, sweet revenge never is easy, but it’s always worth it.
We slide into the back. The driver looks over his shoulder and gives us an easy smile before pulling out into traffic. I almost wish Claude were with us right now, but I suspect the poor man is somewhere looking for a new job.
I reach out on instinct and take Paige’s hand. She smiles at me, a tight little smile. “Are you sure about this?” she asks me.
“I’m sure,” I say.
“We can always back out, you know. Charlie made that clear.”
The driver glances back in the rearview mirror. For a second, I know he knows who we’re talking about that.
“Charlie also made it clear that she was going out on a limb for us a little bit here,” I point out. “Do you really want to disappoint royalty?”
The driver’s eyes go wide then snap back to the road. If he didn’t know, he does now.
“I guess not,” Paige says and sighs. She holds my hand and leans her head on my shoulder. “I just almost feel bad.”
“Why?” I say, laughing a little. “You remember what happened, right?”
“Of course I do. I hated it, but…” She trails off. “I don’t know. It feels a little harsh.”
“It’s not that harsh,” I say, making a face. “Frankly, I wanted much worse.”
She sighs. “I know you did. I was there when Charlie talked you down.”
I let out a scoff and watch as the buildings flash by. “She’s too nice,” I say.
“Maybe, or maybe you’re just a hard, bitter man.”
“That’s more likely.”
She laughs and we go the rest of the ride in silence. I smile to myself, just enjoying her head on my shoulder and her hand in mine. It’s the little things with her that I’m growing to appreciate, the little human gestures that I’ve missed for so long.
With her, I feel like I can finally have some of that again. Maybe not all at once, but sooner or later. Maybe I actually deserve it for once in my life.
This time, as we pull up outside of the fenced-off dirt lot, I can’t help but think about the possibilities. And it’s not just the building I’m imagining.
I’m seeing myself years from now. And for once, I’m actually happy. Instead of sitting on a pile of amassed wealth, obsessing over my image, my ego, my empire, I’m happy. I’m smiling and maybe there are kids, lots of kids. And of course, there’s Paige, sitting in my lap or leaning over a table or standing up on her toes to kiss me with a stupid grin on her face.
That’s Paige, my Paige.
This was supposed to be fake. Just another screen, another image. Something to keep this deal going.
Now it’s much, much more.
We park and I climb out before helping Paige out behind me. We stand there and she takes a breath.
“Okay,” she says. “I’m ready. Are you?”
I clear my throat. “I think so.” I look up and down the block. “Do you see them? Charlie promised they’d be here.”
“Come on,” she says. “Let’s go find out.”
We head down the block and toward the doorway that enters into the lot. The lock is undone and the door is partially open. Paige gives me a look and grins before pushing it open and stepping through.
I follow her and find Maxime leaning against an abandoned yellow digger, smoking a cigarette. He’s wearing a baggy black suit and looks exhausted, his hair slicked back, his eyes red-rimmed and bloodshot.
I smile at him. “Hello, friend,” I call out.
He glares and flicks his cigarette on the ground. “Friend,” he answers like the word is poison. “So glad you could make it.”
He ambles over, hands shoved in his pockets, looking glum.
“Where’s Cerise?” I ask him.
“She’s over there,” he says, gesturing across the lot. “You know her. Being a miserable bitch.”
I grin at him. “Sounds like you deserve each other.”
He shoots me a look. “I don’t know why you want us here. This has nothing to do with us anymore.”
“Oh, but it does. Can you please go get your wife?”
“Get her yourself,” he snaps.
I give him a long look.
“Oh, fine, you cock,” he says. He walks a few feet away, cups his hands around his mouth, and shouts, “CERISE!”
His voice echoes across the empty lot.
I glance at Paige and she stifles a laugh.
“CERISE, DAMN YOU!” Maxime screams again. “GET OVER HERE!”
A figure disengages from the far wall and steps forward. It’s Cerise, all right, wearing white trousers and a white blouse. She walks toward us slowly, almost lazily. Maxime grumbles something as she approaches.