Chapter 33 Sneaking into Raymond’s Room
How could Raymond resist this sort of charm?
Had he not witnessed Paige’s bashful allure in the privacy of the bedroom, he might have had a chance against her flirtatious behavior at that very moment.
But now, with Paige like this, it took but a moment for Raymond to be catapulted back to the day at Windrain Tower, to the memories of the room where their paths had crossed.
In near panic, Raymond pushed his wheelchair feverishly in the direction of the master bedroom.
His wheelchair sped along, leaving behind the words, "That's not what I meant; you don't have to go if you don't want to. I should have a larger bonus next month, so you won't need to work yourself to the bone with two jobs. Spending the morning arranging flowers at the villa and taking the afternoon off to rest at home is totally fine."
Paige sat at the dining table, unable to suppress a chuckle as she watched Raymond's hasty retreat.
Why couldn't he just say it to her face?
Was her coy charm really that overwhelming?
Her laughter persisted until the door of Raymond's room closed, and that evening, Paige didn't see him again.
Their conversation was through the door, Paige showering first and Raymond following.
The next day, Paige was up early, preparing breakfast, noodles and pancakes.
She had honed her cooking skills early on while living in the countryside. Back then, living with her adoptive parents, Paige helped make breakfast for the entire family.
Nowadays, making breakfast was a breeze for Paige.
The care Paige provided gave Raymond an unmistakable rush of contentment.
Before they could finish breakfast, Charles arrived to pick up Raymond, nearly half an hour earlier than usual.
Today, Raymond was genuinely heading to 'work' at Hawke Corporation.
When Charles came in, he was astounded to see Raymond eating the modest breakfast—a wealthy man with very particular tastes appreciating such basic fare.
But what truly caught Charles off guard was the aroma that instinctively made him swallow hard with desire.
Raymond caught Charles' gaze and rolled his eyes as if to say, "Wipe that drool off your chin."
With her sharp social intuition, Paige chuckled and asked, "Haven't had breakfast yet, have you? Come join me, I made plenty this morning."
She went on to fetch plates and forks without hesitation.
Charles sought approval with his eyes from Raymond, knowing that on any other day, he might as well have been exiled for such an askance look.
However, Raymond was in high spirits today. Plus, in front of Paige, their relationship was more familial than mere colleagues. So, Raymond gestured towards a seat nearby.
Charles was taken aback by the rare opportunity but quickly took his seat.
Paige had already served up some noodles and a pancake for him too.
After tasting the pancake, Charles was genuinely astounded.
Charles exclaimed, "This is even better than what you'd get from a high-end hotel chef!"
Paige grinned off the compliment, "Oh, come on now, comparing me to a hotel chef? You're just flattering me."
Raymond shot Charles a dry look, thinking, "Can't you just eat your food without bootlicking?"
Charles thought to himself. What's wrong with a little praise?
Breakfast came to an abrupt end under Raymond’s disapproval of Charles' excessive admiration.
Raymond left the house first, with Paige tidying up before following.
Bradley cared deeply for Paige, sending Sean to arrange a delivery van to take her back to the city after the morning shift.
This morning, they even had the gardener take a 'deliberate detour' around the city to pick her up.
The estate had even switched out the gardener's vehicle for a Mercedes for a more comfortable ride, saying it was a new 'standard work vehicle' policy.
Paige's commute to work had become almost effortlessly convenient now.
Carpooling was a godsend, saving valuable time off their daily commutes.
After being employed at Mid-hill Villa for quite some time, Paige had grown familiar with its layout.
She had, more or less, set foot in all of the rooms.
Except for that one room Sean had specially instructed her to avoid, which remained unexplored.
Having distributed freshly cut flowers to each room, Paige once again found herself outside the forbidden room.
Standing at the doorway, her gaze dropped, and a flicker of daring sparkled in the depth of her eyes.
She had worked here long enough to know the ins and outs of the place. There were no hidden passages in any other room; that much she had ascertained.
If her mentor's information was correct, and a secret space existed within the villa, then it had to be beyond that off-limits door.
Now more than ever, Paige knew she had to find a way in, hoping to uncover the secrets she sought.
With the third floor cleared, her hand naturally came to rest on the doorknob.
A gentle twist confirmed her suspicion; the door was locked.
Without a moment's hesitation, Paige set her vase down and pulled a bobby pin from her hair.
Bending the pin with ease, it transformed into a makeshift lock-pick in her skilled hands.
Inserting the improvised tool into the keyhole, Paige relied purely on tactile feedback, while her eyes continuously swept the surroundings. The upper floor might be empty now, but she was well aware that could change in an instant.
She had never met the elusive owner of Mid-hill Villa, yet the estate was never short on staff bustling about.
The door was moments from yielding when Paige heard voices drawing closer.
Opening the door and slipping in unseen was no longer an option.
The lock was anything but simple, a clear sign it was custom-made. Lacking proper tools, the bobby pin was hardly an ideal key.
As the voices grew louder, Paige knew she had to give up the attempt.
Hurriedly, she picked up the vase, assuming the guise of busy normalcy, and walked a few steps ahead, reaching for the next room's doorknob just as a fellow servant ascended the stairs and exchanged nods with her before getting back to work.
Casually continuing her task, Paige remained calm, while elsewhere in the villa, Charles delivered a tablet to Raymond with trembling hands.
Upon seeing the screen, Raymond's anger flared, and he swept his desk clear in a furious swipe.
He cursed loudly, "Damn it!"
