"Mother, you sure look so lovely these days and your blood pressure and sugar level have been steady. I am impressed. With the look of things, I don't think you need me here anymore." Paige praised Emily during their morning routine vital signs assessment which they carry out everyday in Emily's room.
"Of course I need you." Emily started. Your reassurance and encouragement alone is the most beautiful thing anyone could ever ask for." Emily said as she squeezed Paige's hand gently.
"Awww, you'll get me all teary right now mother." Said Paige in a calm tone. She held Emily's fingers firmly giving her a reassuring smile.
"Thank you so much Paige, I am so grateful. And, I am so sorry about the other day with my son. I'm certain that I've not been a very good hostess to you.....
"Mother stop!" Paige cut her short. You've been nothing short of amazing to me ma. You treat me more like your daughter than an employee. I should be the grateful one."
Just then, Anna walked in. She hugged Paige from behind smiling. "Mmmmm, my favorite person at the moment." She called Paige.
"Alright, I'm jealous already." Emily said in a pitiful tone causing everybody to burst into laughter.
"Thank you so much Paige," Anna started. "Emily is so happy to have you, so is June, myself and Simon. At the mention of Simon, Paige rolled her eyes and another series of laugher rolled out from everybody.
A soft knock came on the door, a maid came in after she was permitted to. She informed them that breakfast would be ready in five minutes.
"We'll be there soon." Anna replied and the maid excused herself. "But, honestly Simon is a pain in the ass. I'm only glad that I've learnt how to follow him. You should too if you don't want to be affected by his multiple personality disorder according to you Nurse Paige." Anna said laughing.
"Anna, that's not fair." Emily chipped in. "Paige, Simon is a very lovely person. He can be misunderstood at times but I assure you, he's the most caring human you'd meet. Please ignore this razor mouth." Sge said pointing at Anna who chuckled in response.
"Let's have breastfast please. Shall we?" Anna asked looking at everyone with expectation. Emily and Paige nodded in agreement.
The trio walked into the dinning room with breakfast already set. Simon was sitted comfortably at the head of the table. Emily took a side beside him at his right hand while Anna sat at the left with Paige beside her.
"Good morning mum." He greeted.
"Good morning Son." Emily replied. Anna and paige greeted him as well.
"How was your night miss Paige?" Simon asked while Paige replied with a nod.
"I apologize for yesterday." He started. "I seriously can't tell what came over me. I am very sorry and I promise you that such would not happen again." Simon apologized. Anna looked at her brother in shock. She had told him to apologize to Paige yesterday but she only said it as a joke. The Simon she knew would never apologize to his employee even if he was wrong. She still couldn't fathom what was happened to him. She looked at Emily who smiled at her patting her son's arm gently.
"It's fine." Paige murmured in acceptance.
The silence that followed was unbearable. It felt like everybody was attacking their plates alternatively. The loud noise of spoons clicking on ceramic plates was unbearable for Anna so she started up a topic to ease the tension in the air. "Do we have a new cook?" She asked nobody in particular. "I mean I've been eating porridges prepared by this present cook but this particular one taste way different and better. It's tastier."
"Same thing I wanted to ask." Emily replied.
"I noticed that as well." Paige chipped in.
Not getting any answer, she turned to the maids. "I asked a question." She said to them.
"Today's meal was prepared by master." One of the maids replied as she bowed her head. Everybody turned to Simon.
"What!" He exclaimed at the numerous eyes staring at him.
"You finally entered the kitchen after so many years." Anna said aloud.
"What happened?" Emily asked looking at her son.
"Nothing mum, I just felt like cooking." He replied.
"It taste so nice. You should teach me." Paige praised him.
"I'd love to. But then, we'll have to go grocery shopping. I might have exhausted some of the key ingredients needed to make the food. Are you up for grocery shopping later in the day?" He asked her looking straight at her. Paige looked at Emily for consent and received a nod and reassuring smile.
"Go ahead." Emily mouthed.
Paige turned to Simon with a smile. "I would love to." She told him.
Anna looked at her brother and smiled mischievously. "Si, I thought you went to Lakeview yesterday. When did you get back." She asked.
"Why didn't you go to work today?" Simon replied her with another question.
"Well," she started by readjusting in her seat. "I am a rich ass woman brother. I can actually work from wherever I want to. Though you may not understand it. You are not an independent woman. What about you, why ain't you at work?" She threw back at him.
"Hmmm," Simon sighed. "Well, my reply is pretty much everything you just said and more. Just replace the phrase woman with a Man." He replied lazily.
"Idiot!" Anna called her brother laughing.
"I'll give you a double of that." He replied laughing as well. Emily stifled a laughter and cautioned them immediately.
"Kids," she called. "No name calling please." She said smiling. Paige smiled too, today was her first time seeing Simon laugh. For no obvious reason, it warmed her heart. He looked so handsome with his cute and almost perfect dentition. "Such a handsome man." She thought to herself. Looking sideways at Anna, she felt the genuine love she had for her brother and how she cares so much about him. She suddenly felt lonely. There was nobody in the world that cared about her in such a way. She had nobody in the world to turn to if she was ever needed help. Nobody had her back. She was all alone. Veronica and Fernanda don't give a damn about her, so does Stefan.
"Are you okay." Anna asked tapping Paige by the shoulder."
"Yes please. I'm fine." She replied and continued eating her food. The hilarious conversations continued on the table as they ate. Everybody was laughing at one joke or the other except Paige who wasn't even listening to their discussion as her mind wandered off to the reality she was going to face once her contract with the Kentleys come to an end.
*******************
LATER THAT DAY
Paige checked her phone screen and saw an incoming call from Veronica for the hundredth time today. She ignored the caller just like she's been doing for a couple of days now. Money is definitely the only reason for her call. The only reason she would have wished for Paige's existence was because of the money she gets from her.
Paige continued checking through her wardrobe for a simple dress to wear for Grocery shopping. After breakfast that morning, She had thought of how to pay off the loan she owe Simon and the thought of selling off her side business 'Pai boxes' crossed her mind. That will be easiest way to get herself out of the mess her blind trust for Stefan stuffed her into.
"Stop overthinking Paige and take life one step at a time." She mumured to herself. A soft knock came on the door. She opened the door and saw Simon standing with a side smile. "Hi." She called softly. Simon had on a matching black shirt and short and a pair of lazy black Crocs graced his perfect and well toned feet.
"Hi Sunflower," Simon replied. "Are you ready?" He asked noting that still had the dress she wore at breakfast on.
"Sunflower." Paige thought to herself. Few days ago, he referred to her as Miss Paige. Now she's Sunflower again. "No, I'll join you soon. Just give me few minutes." She answered.
"Alright then, I'll be waiting downstairs." He replied and left. The wooden and cinnamon fragrance from his perfume wafted into her eager nostrils as he stepped away. She took in his beautiful and sensual fragrance with eyes shut.
Then, she went back inside to put on a more presentable outfit. She took a short trip to the bathroom sink and took her time to clean her face. She wasn't feeling so high-spirited so she finally settled for a simple washed out blue baggy with a brown long sleeved bodice. Applied a damp of powder on her face and a lipgloss. She looked at herself in the mirror but wasn't satisfied with her hair so she packed it up in a messy bun allowing some fly-aways. After taking a last view of herself in the mirror, she headed downstairs to meet Simon.