Racing For Love

Chapter Three: Paige

What the hell just happened? I'm shaking, I can't believe I just got hired, I actually feel bad for the other applicants. An opportunity like this doesn't come along often and now they don't even get to be interviewed. 

I struggled to the train station in these heels, Chelsea insisted that I wore them. I spend the entire train ride home thinking about Everett. He's oddly cold yet enticing, which makes me more curious as to why he was so quick to hire me. He came across quite rude, like he couldn't even stand me being in his presence, but then he hires me on the spot.

I know he is going to be testing me, pushing me to see how much I can take, but I don't mind, I can deal with pressure. I've dealt with a lot in my life, an arrogant, egotistical boss isn't much in comparison. If he wasn't so cocky he'd be even more attractive. I can see why the girls in the business swoon over him, say he is the sexiest man in the world. His eyes are a magnificent shade of green, standing out against his dark brown hair. He is tall and muscular with a voice that is deep and seductive.

What am I thinking? He's my boss now, and even if he wasn't, getting involved with any man is the last thing on my mind, especially some billionaire who thinks he's God's gift to women. I can't let him affect me. This is my dream job and I'm not going to f**k it up by drooling over my boss and making a fool of myself. 

When I get home I sneak into Chelsea's bedroom. She's still sleeping after working a late shift last night. Chelsea is a nurse which I admire so much. Her shifts are gruelling and the work in full on but she loves it. As tough as she is, she is also one of the most caring people I have ever known. 

I jump on top of her and she groans, still half asleep. 

"I got the job." I whisper. 

She looks at me blinking, her brain still turning on and registering what I just said. 

"WHAT?" She finally shouts. "How long have I been sleeping?"

I laugh at her confusion, she's always so delirious when she wakes up. One weekend after working a 70 hour week, she slept from Friday night til Sunday morning. She spent the whole day in confusion, walking around like a zombie and kept accusing me of lying about what day it was. Only when she turned on the news did she see I was telling the truth. 

"Not long, Everett hired me on the spot, it was the weirdest thing." I tell her.

"Oh my God, that's amazing. It's obviously thanks to the outfit I picked out, you look smoking. His d**k hired you babe, now you just have to show him your other skills.....with the horses I mean."

I throw a pillow at her and she acts like I've knocker her out, her arm over her forehead and her tongue hanging out of her mouth. 

"Get up lazy. We're going shopping and then we can celebrate."

"Ugh, not the horsey kind of shopping, pleaaase, it's sooo boring." She groans. 

"I need some things for my new job. If you stop complaining dinner and drinks are on me."

At the mention of free food she's on her feet, twerking on her bed. I stare at her with amusement then join her to do my own happy dance. 

While Chelsea gets ready, I rummage through all of my equestrian gear and make a mental list of what I need. It' not too much which Chelsea will be happy about, some new jodhpurs, boots and a few polo shirts will do. I'm pretty sure I'll get some new shirts with the company logo on them when I start working. I want to look my best though and all of my gear is old and worn.  

I change into some skinny jeans, a woollen jumper and my favourite pair of converse. Chelsea is finally ready after putting in too much effort for shopping. Her long brown hair is curled and sits just at her waist, she has on a full face of make up, making her blue eyes shimmer and despite the cold weather she is wearing a knitted dress with some Doc Martins. She really is stunning, I can't help but feel a sting of jealousy. 

The men flock around her like bees to honey. She has fun with the ones she likes but she's not one for relationships. "Men are only good for one thing." she says. After my experience with Damon I can't say that I fully disagree but I don't want to paint them all with the same brush either. 

The train ride to the city only takes fifteen minutes and Chelsea uses that time to question me about Everett. I fill her in on how the interview went and how strange he was. 

"He totally wants you." She says as we step off the train.

"No he doesn't! He said he was impressed with my resume and that's it!"

"Don't be so naïve Paige. Of course your resume was impressive but he wants to f**k you, any man with eyes wants to f**k you! I can't blame them, but be careful babe, you've only been single for six months and that scumbag is still hanging around."

Ugh, I hadn't really thought about Damon today, I've been too happy. 

"Yeah, anyway, let's not talk about him, it'll ruin the mood."

"That's the wisest thing you've ever said babe." Laughs Chelsea. 

To Chelsea's relief it doesn't take long for me to get everything I need for work. I bought four pairs of jodhpurs, a new pair of boots and six white polo shirts. I can always get more when I get my first pay from Everett. This will be the best paid job I've ever had, it's going to be such a help. Chelsea has always been the bigger earner, well paying jobs in the horse industry are hard to come by and that has made me feel a bit inadequate at times. We might even be able to move into a bigger place now, not that I don't love our apartment, but more space would be good. 

Chelsea picks one of our favourite restaurants for lunch, The Richmond Hotel. The décor is fancy, fairy lights and sheer curtains giving it a magical feel. Despite the weather, we sit in our favourite spot out on the balcony. It overlooks the main street of the city and we chat and watch the people walking by. We've spent many days and nights here, eating, drinking, laughing and watching the world pass us by.

We both order chicken schnitzels for lunch, our usual, and a glass of white wine for Chelsea and a beer for me. People are always surprised when I tell them my choice of poison, I guess they think I'm too girly for beer. 

I sip on my drink, Chelsea sits across from me scanning the crowd, probably looking for her next play thing. I'm lost in my own thoughts when I hear her shout. 

"That f*****g creep! I swear to God, he better f*****g run!"

Before I can even react, she is on her feet and running out of the restaurant. I scan the crowd to see what she was talking about. My eyes lock onto a pair of grey ones, eyes that still haunt my dreams. He stares at me from under his hood, time seems to stop but my heart continues beating, fast and hard. In a split second he's gone, disappearing down a side street, and I'm left on that balcony, watching Chelsea chase after him. 

Fuck!