Paid To Love

Episode 21

Paid To Love EPISODE 21

“I contacted your father, but he said this is your responsibility. You need to talk them back into it!”

“How did this happen?” I demanded. Hadn’t things been going fine? Construction was supposed to start next week!

“I’m not sure. I received the call today and I’ve been trying to solve the issues, but they aren’t agreeing to anything. You need to speak to them. You’re going to have to come to the office tomorrow.”

Go to the office? “I can’t,” I told him, thinking about Victoria. I couldn’t let her return to her apartment alone tomorrow. I didn’t even want her going back there period. It was too dangerous.

“Mr. Davies, I don’t mean to be rude, but you’ve been away almost all week. I’ve been doing what I can in your absence, but I need you to sign some paperwork. And remember we have contracts we need to review.”

“Have my father handle it,” I told him.

“Your father has made it clear that you are in charge.” He paused. “He told me to tell you that It’s either you handle it or your cousin would have to-“

“Do not start,” I snapped, my whole body tensing. “Haven’t I told you not to mention him? How can he use that against me?”

Henry sucked in a deep breath of air and tried to recollect himself. “I’m just repeating what your father said to tell you.”

“You shouldn’t associate with him before you start talking like him. I’m the one who pays you so don’t worry about losing your job if you don’t listen to him” I told him, trying to lighten my tone, even though my skin was crawling. It wasn’t Gerald’s fault. My father was an intimidating person; he could make almost anyone bow down to him. “What kind of father would use that against his own son?” he constantly blackmails me.

“I didn’t want to repeat it,” Gerald said apologetically. “Your father is just very serious about this and has noticed your absence this week. This is a crucial moment in your career, Mr. Davies.”

I clenched my jaw. Unfortunately, he had a point. The Bahamas project was my project. I couldn’t try to pass it onto anyone else. What kind of example of my leadership would that be? My employees were supposed to respect me, but who could respect a lazy employer?

“I really wish I could do more to help you,” he added quietly.

His words pacified me and I let out a quiet sigh. He was a hard working worker and a better person and I probably didn’t deserve him. It wasn’t right to take my frustrations about my father out on him. “I’ll come in tomorrow. How long do you think I’ll have to be at the office for?”

“I would request you stay for a couple hours to satisfy Mr. Davies, but I hope that everything will be settled quickly.”

“I’ll be in,” I promised reluctantly. “Thank you for all your help.”

“It’s no problem. I have a feeling you’re going to make this group even greater than it already is.”

“Mm, that’s some pressure there,” I returned light-heartedly. “Have a good night. Come in late tomorrow.”

He gave a slight chuckle. “Even if I come in late, I’ll still be in the office before you.”

I smirked a bit. “You should treat me with more respect than that.”

“Oh, sorry. I’ll be in before you tomorrow Sir,” he corrected himself and then there was a click as he hung up on me. He was funny, even though I laughed i still wanted to make it clear I was his boss

I shook my head. He was something else. It took guts to tease your boss like that. But I appreciated it. No one would be brave enough to speak like that to my father. He would fire them. I never would. I was different from him in many ways. For example, I would never use something deep to coerce him to do something. That was cruel even for him. How could he bring him up? He took him as his own son. If he wanted to lose both his sons then he can be my guest.

I smiled wryly, putting my head in my hands. He probably didn’t care. He cared much more about the hotel than his own son and his late brother's only child. His sons who were too stressed out too handle so much at once. Which was why Lee...

“Henry?”

I got back from my trans that seemed to last forever, I straightened back up quickly in surprise, turning to see Victoria coming down the stairs. There was a frown on her face as she buttoned up my pyjama bottoms I’d given her, they were huge on her. The shirt I’d lent her was too large, so the sleeves flapping as she walked. My current thoughts dispersed, being replaced by just one “Cute.”

“Thanks for letting me borrow your clothing,” she said as she grew closer, shoving the sleeves of the shirt up to her elbow. After a couple seconds, they rolled back down.

I was never one to be at a loss for words. Yet around Victoria, I found it happening quite often. Especially when she was wearing my clothes. “No Problemo Señorita,” I said after a moment, with the words rolling off my tongue.

“Okay, Señor” she responded with a little laugh.

I held my arms folded together tightly and grimaced inwardly. Smooth. She dawdled by the side of the couch as if unsure if she should sit or not. Her hair dripped at the ends, sending droplets of water onto the expensive leather. I immediately stood up and reached for her, thinking of tucking her hair into the towel around her neck, but then yanked my hand back when an overwhelming feeling of shyness came over me as I took in the exposed part of her neck and her shoulder.

Her eyes widened slightly and she shifted. “What?”

“The water,” I started, but stopped myself. Was I really going to complain over a few drops of water? It would only make her more uncomfortable than she probably already was. “You should maybe dry your hair properly,” I said instead.

She pulled at the wet strands. “I prefer not to towel dry my hair if I don’t have to. It makes it more frizzy.”

An awkward silence settled in when I didn’t respond. I wasn’t sure what to say. You might ruin the leather? What if you get a cold? It seemed a little cliché. So I cleared my throat and slid over on the couch, gesturing for her to sit next to me. She did so cautiously and I noticed how much space she put between us.

The quiet continued as neither of us spoke. I thought about changing the channel on the T.V to try to get out of this awkward situation, but wondered if it would offend her. Would she think I was ignoring her? Was this a common thing hosts felt when they had people over? I could hear the clock ticking in the kitchen. I bet I could hear a needle drop.

“Sorry about today,” Victoria spoke, scaring me.

I tried to cover it by stretching out. “You don’t have to apologize.”

“I’ll be out of your hair tomorrow,” she continued, staring at her lap.

“Victoria, I don’t think you should go back to that apartment,” I told her, frowning. “You should find a new place.”

She lifted her head back up, her expression shocked. “What? Why?”

“It’s almost uninhabitable. If it can be broken into once, who says it won’t be broken into again?”

“But it’s the most affordable place,” she argued. “I don’t want to give it up because of a minor problem.”

“Did you just say minor? Look I’ll find you a better place. I’m sure I know someone who could offer you a good deal. I don’t mind giving you some money to pay for it either-“

“No,” she cut me off in a hard tone. “I’m not a charity case, Henry. If you want to give out money, give it to the orphanage.”

“I actually do give money to the orphanage,” I said, insulted. “I donate and fundraise multiple times a year. I’m not considering you as a charity case. I’m offering because I...” Why was I offering? Normally I wouldn’t bother with someone else’s personal affairs, but I couldn’t leave Victoria alone. She appraised me for a moment, biting her lower lip. I hesitated, unsure how I should finish. Friends helped each other right? I’d help out James in a heartbeat. Victoria was the same way. “We’re friends, right?” I said cautiously.

She considered this for a moment and finally nodded. “You’re right. If I could help you out the same way, I would. But I’m not going to accept any more money from you. I have enough to find myself a new place.”

“So you will find yourself a new place?”

“I didn’t say that,” she responded, but I could see that she was thinking about something. “Maybe I’ll look around. But in the meantime, I still have to stay there, so maybe the landlord will fix it up.”

“You can stay here,” I found myself saying before I realized what exactly I’d just offered.

Her eyes grew wide again. “What?”

“Stay here,” I repeated, more confidently.

“I don’t know-“

“Think of it as part of our contract,” I suggested. “If my father finds out we’re living together, maybe he’ll get off my back.”

Victoria started playing with the ends of her hair, avoiding my gaze. “I don’t want to intrude.”

“Just until you find another place. I won’t mind at all.”

“Your couch might get my imprint.”

So she was aware of the worth of the couch. That aside, I figured that was her giving up and agreeing to stay. “It’s fine, I can easily replace it.”

She gave me a dry smile and I felt instantly relieved. “Okay, I’ll stay here for a little. One week tops. If I don’t find a cheap place, I’m going back to my apartment though. I still have the rest of the month paid for.”

A week? That didn’t seem like enough time. “Isn’t it better to be looking for a place with a bedroom and somewhere on a safer street?” I asked. “You’re going to be making a whole lot of money soon”

Realization came across her face and she grinned. “Oh, that’s right! That’s a good point actually.”

I found myself smirking a bit. Convincing people to do things was always one of my strong points. “I’ll ask around.”

“I appreciate it, Henry,” she said, offering me a shy smile. “It’s been a while since anyone has helped me out like this. I don’t exactly know how to feel and I’m not sure what to say.”

“It’s nothing,” I responded, holding up my hand. I didn’t want the awkwardness of trying to explain my actions again.

“If you need anything done around the place, leave it to me. Cooking or cleaning or anything really,” she continued, more enthusiastic now. “To be honest, I was a little scared of going back to my apartment. You’re a surprisingly good guy.”

I nodded and then narrowed my eyes at her. “What? Surprisingly? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Hmm, nothing.”

“Was that an indirect insult?”

“Hmm, maybe.”

My mouth fell open a little. “After I’ve so gratefully-“

She burst out laughing, effectively silencing me. “I’m just kidding, Henry. You’re pretty easy to tease, huh?”

I folded my arms over my chest. “You think you’re funny.”

“I’ll be here all week,” she retorted with a wink.

That’s right. She would be here all week. A week with Victoria. In my house. Living with me. Having wet hair...

I gave her a half-smile half-grimace, suddenly unconfident with the situation.