It was seven o’clock in the evening, and Paige had waited as long as she could. She’d waited all day, and it was time—that she headed up to Pierce’s suite, that is. So she took a final look at her flawless makeup and loosely curled hair and then stepped out of the bathroom and stood in front of the full-length mirror. The bright fuchsia negligee fit perfectly and showed more cleavage than most women would want it to, and Paige knew she was ready.
She slipped on her all-weather coat, tied the belt, slipped into her black stilettos, picked up her wallet, and left her room. She couldn’t wait to see Pierce again, now that he’d had ample time to reflect on the last twenty-four hours. She couldn’t wait to hear how he now agreed that last night hadn’t been a mistake at all, and instead had been a blessing for both of them.
Paige was so tickled, she could hardly make it to the elevator fast enough—but her spirit was broken when she saw Camille calling. “What do you want?” she yelled out loud, and the man and woman passing by looked as though they were afraid of her and like she was a nutcase.
“Hey?” Paige answered with no enthusiasm.
“Hey, how’s it goin’? I hadn’t heard from you yet today, so I figured I’d give you a call.”
You haven’t heard from me because I don’t wanna talk to you. “I’ve been very busy with my client.”
“That’s what I kinda thought.”
Then why are you calling me, Camille?
“Is everything okay?” Camille asked. “You seem quiet.”
“I told you, I’m busy,” Paige said loudly.
“Are you sure nothing’s wrong? Because you don’t sound right.”
“I’m fine. My client had a lot of media interviews, more than I’d planned on, and I’m pretty exhausted.”
“Well, it’s not like I really wanted anything…well, actually there is one thing I wanted to share with you.”
“What?”
“I’ve decided that I’m not going down without a fight.”
“Meaning?”
“I’m not gonna sit back the way I have over the last few days, feeling defeated and hoping the truth comes out. What I’m gonna do is hire a better computer expert and do everything else I can to prove my innocence.”
Paige didn’t like what she was hearing but said, “Good for you.”
“I won’t lose Pierce over some crazy misunderstanding. I just won’t.”
“I don’t blame you,” Paige said, trying to sound supportive.
“Okay, then,” Camille said. “I’d better let you get some rest.”
“I’ll try to call you tomorrow.”
“I love you.”
“Talk to you later,” Paige said, ending the call and tossing her phone inside her coat pocket.
When she turned the corner, she walked halfway down the corridor and knocked on Pierce’s door.
“Who is it?” he asked.
“Me.”
“Paige?”
“Yes.”
There was silence, but then Pierce let her in. “What is it that you want?”
“To talk to you.”
“There’s really nothing to say.”
Paige closed the door behind her and took a seat on the brown velvet sectional in the living room area. Pierce leaned against the wall in front of her and next to the large television. “So, have you thought more about what I told you this morning?” she asked.
“As far as you and me?”
“Yes.”
“If you want to know the truth, I’ve thought about nothing else.”
Paige beamed with relief. “I knew you’d finally realize that our being together wasn’t a mistake. You and I having business in the same city at the same time is no coincidence, Pierce. It was God’s plan for us.”
“Okay, let me stop you right there. God has absolutely nothing to do with the terrible thing you and I did. We both chose to have sex, and I selfishly chose to commit adultery on my wife. Period.”
Paige couldn’t believe he was still talking this way, and she was deeply tired of hearing about Camille. Poor, pitiful, pathetic Camille. That witch.
“Okay,” she said. “I understand your remorse, but what matters now is that things are over between you and Camille, and I’m the one who genuinely loves you. I’m the one who will always be faithful to you and will take care of you no matter what. Your happiness is my only priority, and I’ll do anything you want. I would even give my life for you, Pierce, if it became necessary.”
Pierce seemed dumbfounded, but she knew it was because no woman, not even Camille, had ever vowed to love him so intensely and devotedly. He was shocked to learn that after wasting fifteen long, miserable years with her, he’d finally found the woman of his dreams—the woman he’d fantasized about and secretly loved, even if he wouldn’t admit it.
“Why are you looking at me so strangely?” she asked, smiling, when he still didn’t speak.
“Because I’m trying my best to figure out where all this is coming from. I mean, Paige, it’s as if I don’t even know you anymore.”
“This is who I’ve been all along, but until now I was never able to express how I feel about you.”
“Then I really hate to hear that.”
“Why?”
“Because the feeling isn’t mutual. I’m in love with Camille, and that’s never going to change.”
Paige didn’t understand him. “Not even after how stupid she made you look? You still love her even after she slept around on you behind your back and then lied about it?”
“She’s my wife, and yes, I love her.”
Paige heard him loudly and clearly and knew she had to do something. So she stood up, opened her coat, and let it drop to the ground.
“Paige, please,” he said, but before he could barely get his words out, she was toe to toe with him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and kissing him.
Pierce pushed her with much force, and she stumbled backward and onto the couch. “Baby, what’s wrong with you?” she asked, trying to steady herself.
“Paige, I want you out of here.”
“But baby, I don’t understand. Sweetheart, Camille doesn’t even want you. She was just saying today how glad she was that you’d moved out and how she couldn’t wait to file for a divorce.”
Sorrow filled Pierce’s eyes, and Paige knew she’d finally gotten to him. He would never go begging and pleading back to Camille now.
“Did you hear me, baby?” she asked.
“Stop calling me that! Don’t you ever call me that again. And for the record, I don’t care what Camille told you. I love my wife, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to work things out with her. Now get out of here,” he said, snatching her coat and forcing it into her chest.
Paige broke into tears. “So, you don’t want me?”
“My God, woman, how many other ways do I need to say it?”
“Pierce, I’m begging you…please don’t do this.”
“I’m asking you nicely to please leave.”
Paige rushed toward him, trying to clasp her arms around his neck, but this time Pierce snapped.
“Didn’t I tell you to get out of here?” he shouted, grabbing her by the arm and dragging her toward the door.
“I just wanna be with you,” she said, groveling. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted. Can’t you understand that?” Pierce opened the door and led her across the threshold, but she stepped back inside. “Can I at least get my wallet and put my coat on?”
Pierce stormed over to the sofa, grabbed the wallet, and gave it to her. Paige looked at him with pleading eyes but saw only fury in his. He seemed so perturbed and disgusted by her presence, and none of what was happening made sense. Had he used her and was now simply dismissing her? Had he slept with her and then dumped her like she was no one special? Like she wasn’t good enough? Like she couldn’t hold a candle to his precious Camille? Was he rejecting her and treating her just as coldly as her parents? Had Pierce been fooling her all these years—making her think they were soul mates and that they would one day be together? Could he really be that cruel, now knowing just how much she loved him? Would he really make hot, passionate love to her and then pretend it never happened?
Paige looked at Pierce, he glared back, and then he slammed the door in her face. Just like that, things were over between them, and he was planning to go back to Camille. He couldn’t wait to let bygones be bygones and get back to his fairytale lifestyle. She could see it in his eyes and demeanor.
But Paige had news for him. Nothing in life was ever that easy, not for any of us—and she would prove it.