"I'll have you back before they get up," he ran his hand over her cheek, "don't worry," he kissed her lips lightly.
***
Maddox was supposed to be having dinner with the Chancellor family, so when Paige pulled up to his house only to see him driving off, she assumed he had just forgotten. She decided to follow him, then when he reached his destination, she would greet him and remind him about dinner.
She was following close behind him, trying to gain his attention at every stop, but he was oblivious to her. When he finally turned off the road and pulled into the trailer park, Paige felt her temper begin to rise.
She knew exactly who lived at that Shady-Sun Trailer Park.
Paige stayed far behind, watching him as he drove down the tiny, dirt road that led to a clearing in the woods. He was dressed in all black, and had obviously gone out of his way for this. She felt her pulse begin to race as she watched him sprint from his car only to disappear amongst the trailers that congested the small lot.
"What the hell are you up to Maddox Payne?" Paige whispered.
It was not long before she found out...
Paige’s jaw dropped, her eyes bulged out and the venomous bite of jealousy seeped through her body as her brain comprehended what she was seeing. She watched Maddox run to his car with the trailer-trash-teen herself, Miss Gia Love, over his shoulder. Paige started to shake as bright red flashes of rage polluted her sight, she gripped the steering wheel so tight her nails tore into its pink, custom-made cover. She ground her jaw preventing the deep, guttural scream of wrath from escaping her mouth.
***
“This is not smart.” Gia shook her head as she looked out the window.
“It is smart, it’s one of the smartest decisions we’ve ever made.” Maddox only wished he had thought of it sooner, instead going through hell for the last seven days.
“The bravest, but definitely not the smartest.”
“It’s done now, there is nothing we can do to change it, so stop worrying and just enjoy it.”
“The last joy I’ll have before banishment.”
“You’re not going to be banished.” he slid his hand up her thigh.
“You don’t know my father, he would banish me for less.” she frowned.
“He can’t banish you if you were taken against your will.”
“But I wasn’t.”
“I picked you up and threw you over my shoulder as you were begging me to stop.” he looked at her and she scowled.
“I went willingly.”
“Your father doesn’t know that.”
“But he will.”
“How?”
“I’m going to tell him,” She admitted, “I would
never
let you take the blame for this.”
“You better let me take the blame.”
“No, I won‘t and if you’re planning on taking the blame, then you can just take me back home now!” she adamantly objected, “I will not be a part of that!”
***
Paige followed behind them and within fifteen minutes, she knew exactly where they were going, they were headed to 'The Paradise'. She was angry, but even angrier with herself for not doing what she should have done in the first place. She should have put an end to their little fling on prom night and annihilated that love before it had a chance to develop.
For the past seven days, she had had all of Maddox's attention and had just assumed it was over between him and Gia. Paige had been sticking close to him and he had not attempted to send her away or told her to get lost. He had not even argued with her and she had assumed he was finally coming around to see things her way, that maybe he was realizing what a prize package he had with her. She had even let her guard down, and was beginning to envision a future with him.
Paige was torn between breaking down in hysterics and crying, she was foolish enough to believe things were getting better between them. That was the reason she had set up the dinner with her parents, she was ready to take the next step with him.
Well surprise, surprise, surprise!
“I hate you, you fucking gutter-slug whore.” Paige hissed as she watched Maddox grab Gia’s hand before entering the motel. She wanted to run out there and confront them, then slug Gia in her smug face. She hated Gia for every imaginable reason, she always had, but
now
she hated Maddox for his betrayal. She went for the car door then stopped, a sadistic smile turning up the corners of her lips as she instead reached for her cell phone. “Maybe I’m not the best candidate to confront you, but I damn sure know who is.”
***
"I have been expecting you." Pascal greeted them, "I have just the perfect room prepared for you tonight." he smiled with the glee of a child and the familiar twinkle in his eyes.
Gia thought the last room was amazing, but her heart fluttered just looking at this one. It looked like Pascal had brought a room straight down from heaven.
A thick mahogany sleigh bed dominated the room, it was covered in a white, silk bedspread that was edged in frothy lace. The round, white, silk pillows with the crystal beaded trim, the white, fluffy faux-fur pillows and the white, silver-tinsel streaked, satin pillows topped the bed like clouds. A large crystal chandelier hung from the elaborate ceiling where tiny embedded lights were scattered amongst the painted cherubs. There was a gigantic crackled mirror in the shape of the sun, and various sized star shaped mirrors sprinkled across the white walls that reflected the light from the chandelier. There were sterling silver vases and bowls filled with the whitest magnolias she had ever seen.
"This is unbelievable, Pascal," Gia smiled, “thank you so much.”
"Not nearly as beautiful as the glow of love, it is but a cheap imitation of it." he finished his dramatic words with a smile and a bow before letting himself out of the room.
That was when she noticed the glowing, bright white gown hanging from a silver hook on the bathroom door.
"Oh my-" she gasped going over to the most beautiful gown she had ever seen. There had to have been at least fifty yards of fabric between the full skirt and the long train. There were layers upon layers of crinoline, silk and satin that would trail at least a mile behind her. The top was a whale boned and beaded corset with delicate looking silk strings lacing up the back. "It's gorgeous!" she smiled.
"It’s yours." she heard Maddox’s deep voice behind her.
"What?" she turned to Maddox.
"We're getting married."
"Married?” she stepped away from the dress before crossing her arms over her chest, “You’re crazy."
"Yes I am, and you’re still marrying me."
"No, I am not."
"Yes, you are." he walked over and slid his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him. "It will be our little secret." He gently kissed her lips.
"They will disown us if they found out." tears were already beginning to puddle in her eyes.
Maddox was at the point where he did not give a fuck if they knew, he wanted them to know, he was sick of hiding how he felt about her! He understood that she was fearful of her father but he could never understand her desperate need for his love and his approval. Maddox was selfish and he knew it, but he could not stand to see her afraid, so he would not push the issue for now. He pulled his upper body back a little to look at her, but still held her hips close to him.
"If you won’t tell your father to fuck off and give me Gia Love for the rest of my life, then at least give me this." he went down on one knee.
"Maddox don't-" she cried, tears rolling down her face.
"Shush." he pulled a tiny silver box out of his pocket and took out a large Diamond ring before looking at her, "My mother gave me, my two brothers and my cousin each a ring on our eighteenth birthdays. She said these rings were special, they came from our great, great, great grandmother's enchanted jewel collection."
“It‘s beautiful.” Gia said in awe, looking at the diamond, her eyes fixated on an invisible energy she felt coming from the Payne.
"My mother said we could only give it to the woman we truly loved or we would be cursed with tainted love for eternity." he grinned ear-to-ear thinking of his mother and her dramatic animation when retelling the story. He took her hand, "Gia Love, will you marry me?" he asked, afraid she would deny him.
“Don’t do this.” she shook her head trying to turn away from him, but her held her face still.
"Please Gia, I swear they'll never find out, you don't even have to see me again after tonight, just give me this." his eyes were so filled with raw emotion infused with fear, she had never seen him so afraid before.
"Yes." She finally answered.
***
“I am leaving now François.” Pascal grabbed his dancing shoes then headed towards his brother, “are you sure you are alright tonight?”
“I am perfectly fine brother, stop fretting.” François answered.
“But you call me if you need anything.”