Chapter 124 Collision Course
With a tone of helpless resignation, Raymond responded, "Count the money? My dear Ms. Paige, your naivety astounds me. What if you were to be swindled? Naturally, I must assist you in ensuring the accuracy of your finances."Paige found humor in Raymond's jest. The fact that she could find amusement in their current predicament was a testament to her relaxed demeanor."Mr. Carnegie," she began, "the fact that you can still elicit laughter from me in such circumstances truly speaks to your charm." Raymond responded with modesty, "Your praise is too generous, Paige."Their conversation continued as they made their way to the container cabins.The number of cabins was limited, a mere twenty in total. Not every visitor who came to ski would opt to rent one of these accommodations.Their scarcity made them a luxury. The cost of food, equipment, and other amenities was significantly higher than in other locations.Charles and Sullivan, each carrying two large bags, approached with a key in hand.Paige queried, "Have you gathered all these supplies?"Charles replied, "We've just arrived and intend to stay the night. Naturally, we need all the essentials for preparing dinner, including pots, pans, and utensils."A gleam of excitement shone in Charles's eyes as he spoke.Raymond immediately discerned his intentions.Turning to Paige, he said, "Didn't you notice? He's anticipating your culinary skills."It wasn't that Paige was oblivious; her mind was simply preoccupied.Among the four of them, Raymond and Charles rarely cooked, and Sullivan had subsisted on ready-made meals for years.The task of cooking fell squarely on Paige's shoulders.Charles had previously enjoyed meals prepared by Paige and Raymond in their modest apartment. He knew firsthand that Paige was a skilled cook.He had been eagerly awaiting this moment.However, Paige was not in the mood to cook that day. She was also uncertain when she would receive an important message she had been expecting.With her mind elsewhere, she had neglected to prepare any ready-to-eat food.Nevertheless, she had brought everyone out here and couldn't let them go hungry.Upon entering the container cabin and activating the rented heater, Charles busied himself with various tasks.Paige checked her phone intermittently, concerned that the ringtone might be disruptive. She had set it to silent.Raymond noticed Paige's preoccupation with her phone and grew concerned. Fearing she might injure herself while chopping vegetables, he made a point to engage her in conversation periodically, hoping to bring her back to the present.Once Charles had finished his tasks, he joined the group."I spoke with some skiers earlier," he began unexpectedly, "and they all mentioned the high rental prices here. Not many people rent these container homes. However, when Sullivan and I went to rent one, there were only two left. It worked out perfectly for us, accommodating all four of us. It's strange, considering the low demand, we might have missed out if we had arrived any later."Paige offered a faint smile, "It seems luck is on our side."What they perceived as luck was actually Paige's team arriving first. The bitter cold outside didn't deter her crew, who, disguised as skiers, had also rented a container home. They took turns keeping watch outside, using the cabin as a refuge during shift changes.Raymond turned to Paige again, asking, “Are you familiar with these ingredients?”Paige was adept at preparing Chinese cuisine, but their current situation required Western dishes. Whether she could make these ingredients palatable was uncertain.Paige glanced at the time – the sun was setting, marking the end of the skiers' day on the mountain.Her enthusiasm for cooking waned with each passing moment, but she replied confidently, "I'm a pro in the kitchen."Despite the cold and her preoccupation with her phone, she couldn't bear the thought of Raymond going hungry.Paige quickly prepared the food, marinating the steak, and when the time was right, she began cooking.Dinner was simple: steaks accompanied by a side salad and a creamy mushroom soup. Despite its simplicity, everyone savored the meal.With dinner concluded, Charles eagerly took over the task of cleaning up. Sullivan assisted, while Paige remained engrossed in her phone.No one knew what held Paige's attention so intently.
Paige was a bundle of nerves. The previous night, she had received a cryptic call, instructing her to be at this location before sundown. Not only had she complied, but she had also prepared a meal, and yet, there was no word from the other party. Just as her anxiety was reaching its peak, a message appeared on her phone. "Icy roads, running late, do not leave."That was the entirety of the message. Paige's eyebrows knitted together as she read it. She understood the words, but the concept of tardiness in a deal was foreign to her. Her unease grew with each passing moment, and she even contemplated leaving. This wasn't their territory, and the situation was further complicated by the other party's delay. She cast a glance at Raymond, who immediately met her gaze. "What's up? Do you need any help?" Raymond asked, his eyes locked on Paige, awaiting her response. She managed a small smile, shaking her head slightly. "No worries, Raymond. Living in a place like this, aren't you used to it?" She deftly steered the conversation in a different direction. Raymond peered out of the window of the shipping container they were in. "It's dark outside, and it looks like we're in for a heavy snow tonight. The only downside to staying here is the chill at night. These heaters aren't as effective as the ones back home. I can handle it, but can you?" His concern was whether she could endure the cold, but Paige knew that they might not even have the luxury of staying indoors and keeping warm that night. If they could stay in and keep warm throughout the night, that would be a fortunate turn of events. "I think the heater's not too bad, considering steep the rent is. If we crank up the temperature at night, it should be fine. Besides, we're only staying here for the night and heading back after having our fun tomorrow." Raymond chuckled, offering no objection, content to view this as a brief getaway with Paige. Since their wedding, they hadn't embarked on a journey together. Paige was uncertain when those people would arrive. The sky had turned pitch black, and next door in another shipping container, Sullivan and Charles were huddled together. She had already instructed Sullivan to keep a close watch on Charles, to ensure they didn't hear any noise that night, or else he should rush to join the commotion. After all, trouble seemed to follow Charles wherever he went. Paige waited nearly three hours without receiving any further messages or calls. Leaning against Raymond, she unintentionally drifted off to sleep while waiting. She was jolted awake by a violent shake, and the bed where she and Raymond slept slid from one side of the container to the other. Just as the bed was about to collide with the wall, Paige quickly pulled the blanket over them to cushion the impact. "What's happening?" Paige asked, trying to comprehend the situation despite her quick reaction. Raymond, who had also just woken up, knew that such a violent shake could only mean one thing…
