Chapter 10
Celine’s POV
Ignoring my tired limbs, I walk slowly towards Paxton’s door. I haven’t seen him since the night he left my room angrily, without answering my question about who he is.
His statement caught me off-guard, making me have a feeling that he isn’t who I presume he is.
Paxton doesn’t have any friend who comes over to visit. He lives an isolated life just like me but mine is understandable because of my child. I can’t go on dates with other men when I have a toddler. I don’t have any friends apart from Brianna. But Paxton’s lifestyle is questionable.
His apartment is well-furnished yet he lives simply like someone who has no source of living. He barely goes out but still manages to bring Jason and I groceries and gifts.
What he said to me is raising numerous questions in my mind that I want to ignore.
Why is he so confident that he can win Bryan over? What sort of power does he have? Is he a nonhuman? Is he a vampire?
I shake my head at the thought of a vampire. They aren’t real. I have been watching a lot of horror movies these days just to make sure I don’t brood and to ensure that I cry to bed. These movies make me scream and cry till I fall asleep.
As much as I want to question Paxton again about his real identity, I feel I should let it go for now and apologize to him for my behavior. He still doesn’t understand me and I doubt if he would eventually.
I feel like giving him a chance to prove me wrong by going to Bryan’s house to deal with him and bring back Jason but I am frightened by the thought of it all. Bryan goes around with hefty bodyguards and Paxton can’t go inside the mansion without beating those men up first.
I puff out the air I didn’t know I was holding in, the moment I knock on the door.
I have been trying so hard to stop myself from crying since I came back from work.
Bryan is such bad luck. I was hurt by his nonchalant attitude towards my cries and pleas for him to let me see my child.
When his men threw me out of the company, I cried right in front of the gateman, not giving a care in the world if I looked miserable or delightful.
I cried so hard till I began to have hiccups. I was having regrets and assumptions. Regrets for running away.
Regrets for coming back here early. Regrets for growing up in a poor home. And assumptions that I would never set my eyes on Jason again.
This is what Bryan can do and with the look of things, this is his intention, for me never to see him again. This is his way of punishing me for what I did.
I didn’t realize it was past my working time by the time I stood up to take a cab to Saint Mayland’s street where I work in a pub. I usually take Jason with me but sometimes he stays with Paxton. I work on shift, because of Jason.
I was already having issues with my boss because of the absent days I had with him two weeks back when Jason fell sick and I didn’t call to inform him. I stayed at home for a week without going to work and when I resumed, he threatened to fire me. I begged him.
But when I got to work this morning, he wasn’t in. He had his sassy daughter give me a sack letter. I know he left the shop on purpose so I wouldn’t be able to beg him like I once did.
Losing my son and my job in the space of a week is too much to take in. I was happy I got home safely before breaking down again in tears. I feel like giving up.
“Yes?” The door opens and Paxton appears in a short and armless shirt. I can see he is working. I don’t know what he does for a living but most times he works on his laptop with a lot of files on a small stand dividing the sofa in his room from each other.
When I didn’t say anything, he moves away from the door, granting me access to enter. I venture into the room and before I can sit, he rushes over to clear the open files on the stool as I predicted. Our eyes meet and he looks away.
He sits across from me after packing the scattered papers away and closing the laptop.
The silence between us is awkward. I can’t remember the last time we were this silent while being together except on the day we watched a movie together, even though Jason’s blabbering was disturbing the silence.
I watch him relax on the sofa and stare pointedly at me with an angry expression. He is still mad at me.
“Paxton, I am sorry for what I did the other day….” I begin, fidgeting with my hands and thinking of what else to say to him. I want him to at least talk to me but his silence is killing me. I have lost my son to that asshole and now my job. I can’t lose Paxton too.
I sniff and inform him. “I lost my job.”
He jerks up in agitation and opens his mouth in surprise. “What happened?”
I am happy that he has said something at least and that he still cares but I don’t think telling him the reason for losing my job is a good idea. We might end up fighting each other.
“Celine, what happened?” He ask me again with a raised tone.
“I went to work late…”
“Why?” He cut me short. The last time I pleaded with my boss, Paxton also helped to plead with him, promising him that I would never do such a thing again. I believe he deserves to know why I did what I did. He deserves to know that I didn’t do it on purpose.
“Because of Jason?” He demands, leaning forward.Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.
“I went to Bryan’s company”, I confess. “I
I wanted to see if I would be able to convince him one more time so I could see Jason again but he threw me out, making me cry for several hours in front of his company. I lost track of time and got to work late.”
I sound pathetic but I can’t help it. Paxton who has been listening to my narration with rapt attention curses beneath his breath and digs his hands into his blonde hair.
I am thinking he will scold me for going there when he is presenting an easy way and a good opportunity to achieve my aim but he isn’t saying anything. His head is bent and I have a feeling he is trying to control his rage.
“I’m sorry”, I say calmly.
When he didn’t say anything, I stand up to go.
“Celine”, he stops me from moving forward. “Are you still willing to let us help you?”
I am silent. I don’t know what to say. I want my son but at the same time, I want Paxton to be safe. Suddenly, I see him in front of me, raising my jaws and making our eyes meet.
“Jason means so much to me, just the way he means a lot to you. Stop torturing yourself. You are not to be blamed for what happened. The ingrate here is that asshole who doesn’t know your worth. All you need to do is give me the go-ahead and the residence address and I promise to bring him back”, he splurts out in anger.
A tear rolls down my eyes and he catches it with his thumb. As soon as another tear follows, he pulls me into a tight embrace and I cry.
It Is a mixed feeling. For getting his forgiveness and his concern as well as his desire to still help. He is also making me feel better, unlike Bryan who has done nothing but reduce my self-esteem.
“I’m sorry”, I cry, spilling tears on his shoulder.
“I know and I am sorry for ignoring you. I promise to bring Jason back. You both mean a lot to me”, he utters calmly.
Paxton always has a way around his choice of words that usually makes me happy, overwhelmed, or emotional.
The thought of having him as the only person next to Jason that cares, despite the humiliation, makes me cry harder as his arms tighten around me, giving me a sense of courage and comfort.