บท 25: Chapter 25

It was Monday. Paige woke up, went for a run, ate breakfast and got ready for work. She was in a good mood today and running early. She decided to stop at her favorite coffee shop by her office and bought her usual latte and a newspaper. She sipped her latte and went to her car. She drive into her office, unlocked the door with her badge, greeted the security guard in the front lobby and went into her office.

Paige put her purse in her bottom drawer, taking her mobile phone out and placing it on her desk. She relaxed in her chair and grabbed the newspaper she had purchased. She took a sip of her latte as she unfolded the paper and read the front page headline, 'DONOVAN BUYS MULTIMILLION DOLLAR LAND PARCEL DOWNTOWN'. Paige took another sip of coffee as she read the article and promptly spit it out all over the paper.

Nathaniel was in his car on the way to his office when he saw a call from Paige coming in from his mobile phone. He put his earbud into his ear and was about to answer with something witty about her missing him when he heard Paige's shrill voice yelling at him.

"NATHANIEL WHATEVER YOUR MIDDLE NAME IS DONOVAN, JUST WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!"

Nathaniel was frightened. He had somehow enraged Paige again. He quickly figured out why he upset her when he thought back to his purchase of the land that her shelter is on.

"Paige, baby, please let me explain—" he started but Paige quickly interrupted him

"Mr. Donovan, since you are now the landlord for Second Chances, as the humble person who rents from you, I wouldn't dare ask for an explanation," Paige said icily.

"He wouldn't build the housing! I tried everything," Nathaniel summarized quickly.

"Everything? So, the only solution was effectively owning me? Because I am not someone who can be owned," Paige said angrily.

"That's not what this means—" Nathaniel stated quickly but was interrupted again.

"Then, what is it? Another insurance policy if things don't work out, forcing me to see you and putting me in a cage?" Paige spat out.

"I'll give it to you! All of it!" Nathaniel offered.

A huge, angry sigh came from the phone. There was silence for a few minutes.

"Why on earth do you think that I can effectively manage $50 million worth of property? Also, I cannot be bought. I cannot be owned or bought," Paige emphatically stated.

"Paige, I will fix this," Nathaniel stayed firmly.

"Mr. Donovan, I will go on the date, as promised, but I do not want to see you after that. My Assistant Director, Haley, will be the person who you deal with for our rent," Paige coldly stated and hung up the phone.

Nathaniel swore loudly and threw his phone on the seat next to him. He grabbed it immediately and frantically texted Paige. 'I will fix this, Paige. I am sorry. I am an idiot and did this without thinking of anything other than your dream. I am so so sorry.'

Paige looked at her phone and read Nathaniel's message. She started crying. "Why did you have to be so rich and so stupid!" she sobbed. Carrie burst through the door.

"Honey, you're hollering is going to wake up the whole building—- Oh, Paige, honey, what's the matter?" Carrie said, instantly softening when she saw Paige's tear-stained face.

"Look what he did, Carrie!" Paige said, gesturing to the newspaper that was covered in coffee speckles. Carrie looked at it and her eyes widened.

"Is this good, honey? We won't have to worry about rent," Carrie asked.

"Carrie, I can't be put in a cage where he owns me or buys me. I can't do it. Not again. Please don't make me do it," Paige sobbed, fully breaking down. Carrie rushed to her and put her arms around her, rubbing her back as she cried.

"Paige, Nathaniel isn't like your family. He is different. You need to separate what they did and what he's doing, because it is not the same," Carrie said softly, holding Paige. "You know I'm right, honey."

Paige stopped crying and looked at Carrie. "I know he's not them. I just can't be put in that situation again," Paige whispered.

"Y'all are smart. I'm sure between the two of you that you can come up with a solution for this," Carrie said gently.

Paige stopped drying as she thought about it. Suddenly, a solution came into her mind. She pulled her phone out of her desk, ignoring Nathaniel's texts and called him. He immediately answered.

"Paige, I know what to do to fix this. I'll donate the shelter to the city. I'll put clauses in there protecting it and its staff," Nathaniel said without greeting her.

"I was about to suggest that. How soon can you get that done?" Paige said simply. She was still upset, but much less so knowing that he had thought of this solution.

"By the end of business, today. My legal team is drafting the contract as we speak. I'll have the mayor at my office in a few hours to sign it over and once it goes through the proper title transfer procedures, it will be done," Nathaniel said hopefully. 'Please come back to me,' he thought desperately. He couldn't lose her.

"Okay, please let me know when it's finished," she said softly.

"Paige, what about us?" Nathaniel was scared to know the answer to his question but he desperately needed to know simultaneously.

"Nathaniel, I don't know right now. I need… I need some time. This is overwhelming. You did this behind my back. You didn't even think to consult me on this," she softly replied. Tears were threatening to start pouring again.

"Paige, baby, please give me another chance. Please," he begged.

Paige wanted to forgive him, but there was a part of her that couldn't. She knew that she needed to deal with that part of her.

"I need time. Please, don't rush me. I'll let you know what I decide," she whispered. "Goodbye, Nathaniel."

Nathaniel felt his heart breaking. The only hope that he had of mending it was diligently working on ensuring that the shelter's transfer of ownership occurred today and that he started his plans to make the land next to it the housing Paige had longed for. He was cold to everyone that spoke to him and had Rhonda cancel any meeting that he had today that wasn't associated with these two goals.

He sent Paige flowers. He had searched online for ways to apologize and it said to take responsibility, say sorry, answer her questions, send her flowers, make her something and give her time. He did most of the things but he was trying to figure out what on Earth to make her. He'd think of something. He also was trying to plan the most romantic evening that he could, because that might very well be the only chance he has to see her again. 'One chance is all I need. I'll make sure of it,' he thought.

Paige was looking at the flowers that were delivered to her office. She felt almost dizzy with how she was feeling about Nathaniel. She was at the height of euphoria one day then in the deepest dysphoria the next. The flowers were beautiful. The arrangement was composed of blue hyacinth, violets, white roses and white orchids. Paige looked up the meaning of each of the flowers and they all meant they same thing: I'm sorry. Paige was trying to forgive him, but she needed to let go of her past to do so, and that was difficult. The fact that she was trying wasn't lost on her, so she grabbed her phone and texted him.

'You can call me tonight, Nathan.'