บท 33: Chapter 33: Broke Peasants.
"What happened to your biological mother?" Paige asked Simon out of curiosity. She still couldn't believe that Emily wasn't his mother.
"She's late. I lost her at a tender age." He replied. "A whole lot has happened to me Sunflower. And I really do not want to go back to that part of my life right now. Do you think you could consider my proposal about the loan repayment?" He added staring at her. As usual she looked perfect. Her gorgeous oval face was ever sparkling. The few freckles on her face were there reminding him how thoughtful her creator was.
"Do you think you could think of another way I can repay you?" She asked him with a thoughtful face.
"No." Simon replied.
"Fine then." She continued. "I'll figure something out before the end of the week." She told him. Dinner went on in silence with both stealing glances at each other occasionally.
"You're beautiful." Simon blurted out truthfully after gazing at her nonstop making her turn pink blushing so hard. Never have he been so smitten by a woman this way. So, it was indeed a new one for him.
"Thank you." She told him with a smile.
Just then, Sherman walked into the dinning hall with a worried expression. "A call came in for you Miss Paige. It's on hold at the drawing room." He announced bowing slightly before standing up in a slightly bent position. Simon cast a strong glare at Paige while she looked at him apologetically.
"I'm so sorry. I do not know who it is. But I promise you, this will never happen again." She apologized. Simon didn't utter a word. Though he was angry, he did well in hiding it. Paige excused herself and left for the drawing room. Simon placed his fist on the table turning to Sherman.
"Who's the caller?" He asked Sherman.
"Doctor Nathan sir." He replied.
"Did he say what he wanted?" He asked again.
"I didn't ask sir." Sherman replied.
"Idiot! Always ask Sherman, always ask." He mummured. "And why are you standing like that? Is something wrong with your spinal cord?" He asked Sherman who was standing slightly bent.
"No sir." Sherman replied finally standing up straight. Simon's tensed muscles relaxed when he heard Nathan was the caller. Nathan was a married man and a close friend of the family so he saw no need to get himself worked up.
Back at the drawing room, Paige picked up the phone. "Hello," she said to the caller.
"Pee, this is Nathan. Your cellphone have not been going through. I needed to reach you. Good evening." Nathan greeted.
"Oh Nat, how are you? Is everything okay?" She asked him worried.
"Your stepmother, the house..." He started. At the mention of the house, Paige held on to a nearby seat for balance. Her mind was already telling her what Nathan might want to say. "The house was put up on sale since last week. I just found out yesterday. I figured I should let you know." He said.
Paige struggled with her sight as tears filled up her eyes blurring her vision. Her lovely home might be taken away from her soon by Veronica and there was nothing she could do. She was exhausted, afraid and sad. "A friend of mine spotted them at the embassy this morning." Nathan continued. "I thought you had the house papers?" He asked her.
"No, my father gave them to her. Worst thing ever." She cursed under her breath.
"I am so sorry about this dear." Nat consoled her. "What are you going to do now?"
"Honestly, I have no idea Nat, but I'll definitely think of something." She replied. "Thank you so much, thank you for calling." She told him before hanging up. Paige felt a painful tightening in her chest. It felt like her chest was about to burst. Tears flowed freely down her eyes. Veronica have always threatened to sell the house but she'd never thought she would have the balls to do it. The most painful part was that she was spotted at the embassy which simply meant that she had it all planned out. She obviously want to leave the country after selling off her home.
Back at the dinning hall, Simon waited for Paige for a while. He promised himself to be calm so he was seriously trying. But when there was no sign of her after several minutes of waiting, he decided to go check up on her at the drawing room. He walked in on Paige crying. This got him alarmed and he rushed over to her.
"Sunflower!" He exclaimed sitting close to her and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Wipe your tears. What is wrong?" He asked cleaning her tears with his thumb. "Who is making you cry?" He asked her worried.
"Nobody." Paige replied raising her head from his shoulder after cleaning her eyes which have turned red from crying.
"Don't lie to me." He told her. "Not when the truth is so glaring. Who's making you cry. Please talk to me." He urged her. Paige looked at him and uncontrollable tears streamed down her eyes.
"My life is messed up." She whispered. "My stepmum just put up our home on sale. That house is the only property of my father left. She already sold his textile factory and now this." She said trying to control her emotion. Simon on the other hand didn't stop her. He wanted to hear her speak. He wanted to get the whole detail so as to know how to deal with Paige's Devil-sent stepmother.
"Before now, I literally give her and her daughter almost 70% of my salary for their upkeep because they always threaten to sell the house if I don't. I've given her daughter money to start up a business of her own but she squandered the whole of it." She sobbed. "That house hold lots of memory for me Simon, I grew up there. All the beautiful moments I shared with my parents were there. I jus......."
"Shhhhhh," Simon cut her short having heard what he needed to know. "Come here." He said wrapping her up in a warm embrace with concern written all over his face. He was beyond worried. "I'll have Anna check the house out then see if she can cut a deal with them." He reassured her. "You shouldn't cry for broke peasants." He told her. Paige looked up at him with tear soaked eyes
"You want to cut a deal with them? Then what?." She asked.
"Then buy it from them." Simon replied patting her back. "You need your home Sunflower. I told you I take care of the people I love. You are not an exemption." He replied. Paige stared at him wide-eyed. Her surprised face evident.
"Why would you do that for me? I can't even pay back. I'm yet to repay you for the initial loan you gave me. Simon, I have no money right now. I can't afford another loan right now." She explained.
"Not to worry," he said. "We'll figure something out. Now, stop the tears already." He told her cleaning her tears with his thumb once again. He carefully placed her head on his shoulder and rubbed her neck. Sherman who was standing by the door waiting for his boss couldn't help but steal a glance at Simon. Indeed, something was different about him.
Paige leaned on his shoulder comfortably. "Thank you." She murmured finally finding her voice. She hoped that whatever he figures out would be plausible. Moreso, as odd as it may seem, she felt better knowing that the house is with him than whomever Veronica want to sell it to.
"Do you still have an appetite for food." He asked her still rubbing her neck.
"Yes." She replied with a chuckle.
"Foodie." Simon called her smiling. "Do you still want the omelette or you'd prefer we eat out?"
"The omelette." She replied smiling.
"Let's go back to dinner then." He suggested and helped Paige up. Together they headed to the dinning hall to finish their dinner. Sherman followed them behind.
**************
LATER THAT EVENING (ANNA'S ROOM).
"Why?" Anna asked her brother who was sitted on the chair with legs crossed.
"Why what?" He asked in reply.
"Why would you go an extra mile for her and how in God's name is she going to repay you?" She asked once again.
"That's really none of your business sister." He replied taping the handle of his seat.
"It is very much my business Si, I am your legal advisor. So, I need to know."
"Young lady, I'm beginning to feel a lot of discomfort with your presence in this house. It's starting to choke me already. Just do as I say. That's why I pay you." He complained.
"It might as well choke you death." She cursed under her breath. Simon laughed mischievously.
"Easy sister. I'm not your cheating ex boyfriend that broke your heart. Stop trying to heap your frustration on me." He said. Anna looked at him. She opened her mouth to reply him but later changed her mind.
"What do you want from her in return for your favor Si. I know you brother. You want something. What is it?" Anna asked Simon to have him seat up.
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