Chapter Two

Jamie awoke early the next morning, the memories of the night before flooded back to him as he climbed out of bed and made his way downstairs. He walked bare foot across to the fridge and opened it. He quickly got to work preparing breakfast. Within minuets the kitchen smelled of an amazing mixture of aromas. As he put the coffee pot on he turned to see Paige walk into the kitchen. She smiled, greeting him. He grinned back responding with a cheery “morning sunshine”. Paige laughed as she sat down, Jamie loved her laugh, it was so light, so free, so intoxicating it could drive a man wild.

Jamie was so caught up in his own thoughts that he didn’t hear Paige until the sound of her calling his own name brought him out of his trance. He turned looking at her, one eyebrow raised in curiosity. Paige smile “I said it smells amazing in here but you really shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble”.

Jamie beamed “that was always you Paige, polite and modest”. He saw with amusement her blush. It was at this moment that Jamie looked Paige up and down taking a moment to take in her physical attributes that he hadn’t noticed last night. Her hair was down giving her that wild and sexy look which she didn’t have when her hair was up. Also he noticed she’d unbuttoned her blouse slightly which made her seem more relaxed than she appeared in her suit.

Paige’s voice suddenly interrupted Jamie’s thoughts “something wrong?” she asked. Jamie looked up at her, he suddenly realised in his idiocy that he had been staring open mouthed at her, like some hormonally crazed teenager who had just seen his crush for the first time.

“No…” Jamie responded, rather more sharply that he would have liked to but oh well. “Why?” he asked “should something be wrong?”. Idiot, he thought to himself wearily, what sort of question was that?

“It’s just…”, Paige’s voice interrupted his thoughts again “you were staring at me. Jamie stood there in uncomfortable silence, he couldn’t think of anything to say and he hated himself for it. “So…” Paige said “what will happen today, I mean will we go to the police?”

Jamie paused for thought before saying “I’d rather not do that just yet, I need to run into town to check up on a few things, I’ll get someone to tow your car back here and I’ll take a look at it when I get back”.

            Paige raised an eyebrow, “are you a skilled mechanic?” she asked.

            Jamie laughed in response, “don’t worry…I doubt I could do any more damage to your car than was done already”.

            Paige blushed, she wished she could be more trusting. I mean it was Jamie, the man had loved her once, he wouldn’t hurt her. Still the word ‘loved’ hung in Paige’s mind, did Jamie still hold a grudge for what had happened all those years ago? She believed he wasn’t responsible for her car accident, and he hadn’t tried anything last night. All the same, she thought darkly, she’d trusted him before and look how that had turned out. She suddenly shook out of her thoughts when she noticed Jamie was staring at her rather oddly.  “I’m sorry” she said “its just I don’t trust many people with my belongings, especially my car.”

            Jamie smiled in a kind way “I don’t blame you” he said sympathetically “from what I saw of it last night it seemed a nice car.

            Paige blushed then nearly cursed. What was she getting so flushed about? Her and Jamie were over, it wasn’t complicated. “Thanks” she said eating away at the food on her plate. “This is really delicious” she said.

            Jamie half laughed “I try” he said in a mock faint voice that made Paige giggle. As Jamie sat with his coffee watching Paige eat he questioned her about what had been going on in her life.

            “I’ve spent most of my time trying to build up my business” Paige said in a tired voice “it was hard work but has paid off at least, I now I have two restaurants in Paris, one in London and two in the Caribbean as well as countless ones around the states”.

            “Very impressive” said Jamie with genuine enthusiasm. Paige beamed, then blushed. Compliments from Jamie always seemed to take preference over a compliment from anyone else, even now.

            “What about you?” Paige asked taking a sip of her coffee “what have you been up to since…”. Paige stopped, she couldn’t even talk about their break up and it had been three years. Paige wondered if maybe Jamie had meant more to her than she’d first thought.

            Jamie’s voice interrupted her thoughts as Paige looked up at him. “Well…” he explained “I’ve opened up 4 showrooms for mobile homes, you remember I said I had my own designs?”.

            Paige vaguely remembered her and Jamie talking about his big plans for the future but she’d never imagined he would make it. “Oh I remember” she said “you must be pretty successful then”.

            Jamie smiled but shrugged modestly. “I get by” he said off handedly. Of course this was a huge understatement but modesty was just Jamie’s way, one of his flaws. Then again he thought, so was accepting defeat. He thought as he reminisced that maybe if he’d stood his ground and proved to Paige he wasn’t responsible for the money loss in her business all those years ago then maybe they would still be together now. He glanced up from where he’d been staring down at the floor only to see Paige looking at him curiously. He suddenly realised they’d been sitting in silence. Breaking into it he said “how’s you’re family?”

            Paige looked slightly taken aback at this remark but shrugged it off and continued “well my mother is still well and healthy, I helped her open her own pastry shop, it gives her something to do, she’s a genius when it comes to baking”.

            Jamie smiled, he remembered only too well how good Pauline’s cooking had been. When Paige had taken Jamie to meet her parents her mother had prepared such a feast Jamie was stuffed afterwards. “I see” he said nodding “and your father?”

            Paige’s body stiffened at this point and he face went slightly pale. She hadn’t seen her father since the row he’d had with her mother a year ago because she wouldn’t give him money out of her savings for a business venture. Paige remembered how they’d shouted for hours before her father had lashed out hitting her mother. That was about all Paige was going to take, within minuets security had been hauling her father off the estate and a few weeks later a divorce was in progress. Paige sighed wearily, she loved her father but he was such a klutz with money and when he couldn’t get what he wanted… Paige suddenly shook herself out of her thoughts. “He’s fine” she said glancing up at Jamie.

            Jamie however had seen the paleness in Paige’s face but he knew that this was a matter to avoid and didn’t pursue the conversation. Putting his coffee cup back in the sink he turned towards the door. “I’m going to go and have a shower then head into town, you’re welcome to join me if you want”.

            Paige shook her head “I’ll be fine” she said “I want to get a shower anyway”. Jamie’s mind was suddenly flooded with thoughts of Paige in stepping out of a shower glistening in a fluffy white towel. He shook his head. Not pursuing the matter he walked over to the door to go upstairs to change. Jamie kept walking staring stubbornly straight ahead desperately trying to keep his mind clear. Paige had been in the house less than twenty four hours and she was already invading his thoughts, he couldn’t risk any old feelings come back, he’d worked too hard to get over her to let that all go to pieces now. He reached the top of the stairs and walked along the corridor towards his bedroom. He passed the open door of the spare room, the room Paige had slept it. He couldn’t help briefly peering in. The bed was neatly made and there was a strong smell of her perfume lingering in the air. The rich aroma brought back his memories of the first time they’d met. It had been back in high school. His best mate of the time, Danny Kesler had been holding his official summer pool party, the biggest event of the year. As his friend Jamie always felt obliged to go, though it wasn’t his idea of a perfect evening, back then he’d always kept himself to himself.

            “Oh come on Jamie”, Danny had whined “you’ll have fun and there’ll be loads of cute girls there”. Jamie didn’t much care about the number of cute girls one way or the other. Since his break up with long term girlfriend, Veronica Fisher Jamie had put a hold on his love life. Danny unfortunately knew this and, being Danny knew exactly how to use it to his advantage. “Besides…” he’d continued in a smug voice “you don’t want Veronica to think you’re sulking do you?” before adding in a macho voice “not you, Jamie Saviour, god’s gift to women”. Jamie had laughed, Danny had always had a way with words and it was this that had got him to give in. Jamie had driven Danny back to his house once he was ready to go and helped him set up for the party. It didn’t take long for the party to fill, loads of students, some he knew and some he didn’t were crowding out Danny’s pool, dining room, kitchen and pretty much most of the house for the whole day and most of the night. A couple left as the afternoon winded down to evening but most stayed and continued to get drunk and generally have a good time, they way average students did. Jamie would sooner have left earlier but he couldn’t let Danny down. He’d mingled among the other guests. Danny had been right, there were a number of good looking girls there but they were just the usual social crowd. Jamie didn’t want that, he wanted something more than that, and then he’d seen her, Paige. It had pretty much been love at first sight, they had sat chatting all the way through the part and had gone on many subsequent dates after that.

            Sighing wistfully and grinning as he remembered the good old days Jamie entered his bedroom. Removing his dressing gown Jamie recalled the memory of the first time they’d made love. They’d been going out for several months and they were having their first real row. “My dad was right about you” he remembered Paige had said with tears in her eyes “you really are just a user, we’ve been together almost a year and I find you fooling around with other girls.

            Jamie narrowed his eyes as he wandered into the shower. He remembered how angry he’d felt that Paige didn’t trust him. “Paige, I told you” he’d said “Harriet was drunk, she threw herself at me, she kissed me I didn’t kiss her”.

            As Jamie turned the shower on he recalled the look of loathing and betrayal in Paige’s eyes as she’d responded with “Well how very convenient for you…” before ranting on “if you think I’m falling for that you’ve got another…” He didn’t let her finish, he pulled her into a kiss and it felt like the most special thing they’d shared together. Breaking the kiss Jamie whispered into Paige’s ear “Paige, I love you, I’ve always loved you and I’ll never love anyone else”.

            The next thing that happened was one that had shocked Jamie. Paige had looked up into his eyes and as if delivering his judgement she delivered two words that would change their relationship forever, they were the two words he would always remember “prove it”. After that Jamie didn’t need any encouraging, they’d made love that night and since then she’d never doubted him. Not until that fateful day three years ago. As Jamie wrapped a towel around his freshly showered body he thought bitterly back on that day, how could Paige not trust him? After everything?

            A knock on the door suddenly interrupted his thoughts, walking over to the bathroom door he saw Paige standing in his bedroom doorway. Walking over to his chest of drawers Jamie pulled out a t-shirt, pair of jeans and boxers before turning to glance at Paige. She was smiling at him, “I thought you’d forgotten me” she said sweetly.

            Jamie smiled, like he could he thought. Ever since Paige had come back into his life she’d been on his mind. “I just got a little pre-occupied” he said “I’ll be down in a minute”. Paige nodded and disappeared out the doorway. Jamie began to dress thinking over all the things he’d done with Paige, all the time they’d shared together, lost because she didn’t trust him. Jamie remembered the way Paige had looked at him last night, so suspicious, so mistrusting. Maybe, all that had changed though, maybe spending the night here dampened her doubts about him, maybe there was some hope. Jamie shook his head dismissing the idea as he hung his damp towel over a radiator. He and Paige were over, and however much he didn’t want it to be he would have to accept it. Walking out of his bedroom he proceeded back downstairs. Paige was now seated in the living room just finishing her coffee. “I shouldn’t be more than an hour” he assured her as he sat down on the arm of the sofa to put his trainers on “you sure you’ll be ok while I’m out?” Paige gave a confident nod and with that Jamie walked over and out the front door grabbing his car keys as he went.

            As he drove down the road Jamie pondered about Paige’s accident. He would need to inform the sheriff about the wreck on the road. He rounded a corner passing the now smashed shell of the car at the side of the road, it looked even worse in the day light. The bonnet and front of the car were completely crushed into the cliff face, he could tell the repair costs would be phenomenal, probably cheaper to buy a new car. It only took 15 minuets for Jamie to reach town. As luck would have it as soon as he was done parking the Landrover and had climbed out the sky opened and rain poured down. Not bothering to unlock the car to retrieve his anorak he ran down the road into the supermarket. Having purchased his groceries and deposited them in his car Jamie ran across the street and into the sheriff’s office. “Well” said Jim, the cheery red faced sheriff from behind his desk “hit a monsoon Jamie?”

            Jamie laughed as he shook out his hair spraying water droplets everywhere. “Not exactly Jim” he explained “just the usual morning, with the usual downpour.”

            Jim laughed uproariously “I can see that” he guffawed “anyway, sit down lad, you want a cup of coffee, you look like you could use it” and at that he guffawed again.

            Jamie smiled but shook his head “thanks for the offer Jim” he said “but I’m just here on business”.

The sheriff looked solemnly at Jamie, while Jim only controlled a small town he took his job seriously. “Not poachers again I hope” he said.

Jamie shook his head “a car accident, last night, out on the road that edges the cliff”. Jamie saw a glint of worry in Jim’s eyes “there was one person in the car, but she’s ok. I took her back to my place last night. It was closer than the hospital.”

At the mention of Paige Jamie saw the sheriff smile in a smug way before going back to serious. “That is bad” he said “but of course it was expected after the weather we had last night”. Jamie nodded, he didn’t think he should tell the sheriff about his and Paige’s theory of deliberate sabotage, not until they were sure anyway. “Jamie…” the sheriff’s voice interrupted abruptly.

Jamie glanced up at the sheriff. “Mmmm?” he enquired looking at him curiously.

The sheriff went on saying “I was just saying I will try and get a clean up crew out there as soon as I can”.

Jamie nodded and smiled in appreciation. “Thanks Jim” he said before glancing up at the clock. “Well…” he continued “I better be off, lots of things to do”. The sheriff nodded and gave him a friendly smile before Jamie turned and left. Once outside the sheriff’s office Jamie made his way up to the animal rescue centre. He often volunteered on weekends but lately he’d been too busy. Jamie walked up the stairs and into the building.

“Well, well, well” came the voice of the secretary Maggie from behind the desk before adding “look who graces us with his presence” she accompanied this snide remark with a smirk.

Jamie laughed “Sorry Maggie” he said leaning on her desk “I’m afraid i’m just passing through, got some stuff to take care of”.

Maggie laughed, she had always ridiculed Jamie for being a workaholic, but only in fun. She had always been there for him when he needed a friendly voice or someone who would listen. She sighed in a dramatic way “when haven’t you got stuff to take care of?” she said sighing.

Jamie laughed once more “any new patients?” he asked. Despite how hectic his life was and despite the fact that he wasn’t here as often as he’d like to be he still made a point of asking whenever he was around.

Maggie gave an off handed shrug before adding “a few wild horses, they were out on farming land, nothing out of the ordinary”.

Jamie paused for a moment, Paige had loved horses when they’d been together, maybe he should consider opening a stable. Jamie shook his head dismissively, that had been over a long time ago, he and Paige were over and there were no feelings left between them. All the same, he thought, as he made his way out of the building, the feelings he’d felt when he’d seen Paige again were very real, but this was silly. He was a respectable business man, things like love didn’t bother him, not any more. Suddenly Jamie was distracted by a loud honk. Shaking his head he looked around and saw he was waiting to cross at a zebra crossing and was the impatient honking of an oncoming driver that had caught his attention.  Jamie crossed the road cursing himself because he’d let Paige his distract him. Then again, he thought that was Paige all over. Crossing the road Jamie walked into a DIY superstore. The store was run by two close friends of his, Thomas and Sarah. They had been his first friends since leaving the city. Looking at the two of them bustling around behind the counter Jamie thought how much he envied them. They had been married for 25 years, married almost straight out of High School. They had been through more than most couples he knew and yet they were still together, for better or for worse.

Walking up to the counter Jamie was greeted by Tom’s loud boisterous voice. “Well, well, well…” Tom bellowed “would you look what the cat dragged in, how have you been Jamie my boy?”

“Thomas!” said Sarah in a hushed voice “keep your voice down, Jamie doesn’t need you deafening him the minute he walks in”. Tom rolled his eyes behind his wife’s back which made Jamie laugh. Turning to him Sarah said gently “how’ve you been Jamie dear?”

Jamie smiled at Sarah fondly, she had been like a mother to him, she’d helped him out emotionally more than anything. Returning her kind smile Jamie said “I’m fine Sarah and your lovely self?”

Sarah blushed as she said “I’m good thank you Jamie, you young flatterer you”.

Jamie grinned giving Sarah a cheeky wink. “Oi!” barked Tom “I am standing right here you know?” Jamie and Sarah both laughed at Tom’s out burst before Sarah turned and disappeared into the back office.

Tom watched his wife go before leaning on the counter. “So…” he continued “how are you my boy?” Jamie paused for thought, he didn’t want to off load his problems onto Tom and Sarah, they weren’t his parents and he’d relied on them enough.

So with a laugh Jamie just said “getting by Tom, you know how we peasants live.”

Tom gave Jamie a playful slap on the back “give over” he said “your one of the wealthiest men I know, you’ve got money to burn and speaking of money…” he continued “ when are we gonna get together for a nice poker game, few beers, swapping stories and rude jokes”. Jamie laughed at the prospect, then paused. “What’s up J?” asked Tom looking at him curiously.

Jamie looked up, he wanted nothing more than to catch up with Tom, what with him being out of town so much lately but Paige had been through so much over the past few days and he didn’t want her to feel left out. “The thing is Tom…” he started to explain “I’ve got a female friend staying with me at the moment and I don’t want her feeling left out, I doubt poker and beer is her thing”.

Tom laughed uproariously “well why didn’t you say so you muppet! Sarah can come and the girls can keep each other company.”

“You sure Sarah wouldn’t mind?” Jamie enquired. Tom laughed again and glanced behind him to make sure Sarah wasn’t coming out of the office.

“She loves a chance to have a natter with a girl” he said, but Jamie still wasn’t convinced. Paige had been through a lot and although Sarah was a wonderful woman who Jamie cared for a lot one wrong word could send Paige off the rails.

“You’re sure Sarah won’t mind?” Jamie asked “I mean I think it would  be better if we waited till…”

“Nonsense!” Tom interrupted “she’ll be fine with it I’ll get the boys together, say your place tomorrow?”

“Sure” said Jamie with a smile, maybe this was what he needed to calm down, get his thoughts about Paige off his mind. “I’ll see you then” he said turning towards the door. Having given Tom a polite goodbye Jamie turned and left the store heading over to his car.

As he drove back Jamie thought about how long Paige would be with him. That car of hers would need to be picked up and then the insurance would need to be processed and possibly and new car. That would take a few weeks at least. The more he thought about it the more Jamie questioned whether he would mind having Paige with him. They did have a lot of history together but that’s what it was history, wasn’t it? Despite all the logical thinking Jamie couldn’t make himself believe that what he and Paige had shared was history. After all there was nothing logical about Paige, that tantalising stare, that intoxicating aroma, there was nothing logical about that. Jamie pulled into the driveway, the first thing that he noticed was that all the lights were switched off but then again that didn’t concern him much. Paige had always been like that, conserving energy and after all it was daylight. Climbing down from the car Jamie walked through the garage and into the house.

Glancing around the living room Jamie couldn’t see Paige at all, he took a few steps into the room and was just about to call her name when suddenly he felt a body hit him from behind. Toppling forward Jamie hit the floor but didn’t loose consciousness, it took him a few minuets to turn over and see who had hit him. There standing over him with his pistol in her shaking hands with a grim look on her face was Paige. Staring straight into his eyes and with a voice dark like her expression Paige growled “don’t move”.

Paige had slept late that morning, she’d woken up twice in the night from nightmares. She’d seen her car hurtling along the road and she couldn’t stop it. The car had sped along the road and straight off a cliff. As the car sped down into the darkness Paige could see a large pair of eyes just staring at her, she tried to scream but no sound would come out. She just kept getting closer and closer to that giant pair of eyes, closer and closer until the gaze almost swallowed her whole. Then she’d awoken with a start, in a cold sweat. Thinking back on her dream Paige recalled Jamie’s theory that someone was trying to kill her. The thought made her shudder, someone was watching her every move and must have been for some time. That thought filled Paige with an eerie feeling of dread. Suddenly, shaking herself out of it Paige climbed out of bed. Choosing to neglect her usual blazer and having her hair up in a bun which made up her usual business attire, she pulled on her blouse and leggings before making her way down stairs. The smell of bacon and freshly brewing coffee met Paige half way down the stairs. She smiled fondly remembering all the times Jamie ad made her breakfast when they had been together, he’d been so romantic back then, bringing her breakfast in on a tray with a rose and…Paige shook her head, banishing the thoughts. That was a long time ago. Her and Jamie had been over for a long time, the wounds had healed and the feelings had gone. At least, Paige thought as she made her way down the stairs she hoped all he past feelings had gone it would mean more broken hearts and promises for both her and Jamie. Walking into the kitchen Paige saw Jamie over by the cooker. As she entered he tured and smiled at her. Paige could feel her heart wrench, that smile had been the most heart aching thing for her, the thing it had been most difficult to forget. With an effort Paige managed to ignore the killer smile and sat down at the table. Jamie walked over and sat down opposite her placing the plate on the table. Paige ate her breakfast quickly and in silence trying to avoid Jamie’s eyes. When breakfast was finished Paige was relieved to hear Jamie excuse himself to go upstairs. Once Jamie had left Paige sat up and breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn’t keep doing this, dodging around whenever Jamie happened to come along. Deciding to make a clean slate of things, Paige made her way upstairs to speak to Jamie. She reached the top of stairs and was about to turn right towards Jamie’s room when something caught her eye. Her bedroom door, which she could have sworn she shut when she left was wide open. Cautiously Paige walked over and pushed the door completely open. At first there seemed to be nothing odd about the room, everything was just the way she had left it. However, as she walked into the room Paige could feel a strong sense that there was someone else in the room, the feeling made her shiver. Suddenly a clatter interrupted her thoughts. Jumping half out of her skin Paige turned towards where the sound had come from. By the bed the window was open and a gust had parted the curtains and her purse had been knocked onto the floor. Paige stared at it for a moment pondering. She was sure she’d left her window shut so what had happened? Deep in the back of her mind Paige could feel the old doubts she’d had about Jamie arising again. As she walked across the floor Paige wondered if Jamie really was telling the truth about her and that accident. Paige reached the spot where her purse lay and knelt down to pick it up. Then suddenly she stopped. She could smell it, it wasn’t strong but it was still distinctive, male aftershave, and if she was right it was James’s aftershave. Paige gathered her things into her purse quickly, having made sure nothing was missing. Then she got to her feet seething with rage, he’d lied to her after all this he’d…Paige stopped for a minuete, she couldn’t be sure it was Jamie, not yet she needed more proof. Thank goodness Jamie was going into town, it would give her a chance to have a proper look round. Leaving her purse on the window sill Paige walked out of the room cautiously shutting the door behind her. She didn’t want to confront Jamie, not yet, not until she was sure. Walking down the corridor Paige remembered all the feelings of heartache, anger and regret she had felt when Jamie had gone. She couldn’t believe he had betrayed her, she’d trusted him and he’d thrown it back in her face and thatwas how it felt now. She couldn’t believe he’d done it again after he’d stood downstairs and sworn to her last night that he had changed. Well she would get him, she would make sure he never made a fool out of her again. Suddenly Paige shook her head. She’s been so distracted by her feelings of resentment and hate towards Jamie she almost walked straight past his door. Stopping herself just in time Paige knocked on Jamie’s door. Pairge waited patiently hardly believing  what had happened in her room. Jamie had gone into her room, gone through her things and all for, for what Paige couldn’t say. It seemed a lot of trouble to go through for money especially as Jamie was wealthy in his own right. Paige couldn’t quite put her finger on it but there was something that Jamie was after which could explain why she was here and she was going to figure it out.

Suddenly Paige’s thoughts were interrupted by the door opening and Jamie stood in the doorway. Thinking fast Paige said “I thought you’d forgotten me” in the sweetest voice she could manage without feeling physically sick.

Jamie smiled “sorry I got a little distracted” he said in a half flustered voice that made Paige very wary of him. His voice had been the same when she’d questioned him about her father’s accusations. Shows how much he was still like the scumbag she’d thrown out a long time ago. Jamie walked out of his room, pulling the door quickly closed behind him. Trying to hide things, Paige thought cynically. Well it didn’t matter  she would still find out and then it would be even sweeter to throw it back in his face. The two of them walked downstairs together, Paige trying to keep as far away from Jamie as she could without making it seem obvious. The two of them reached the living room together and Jamie picked up his coat. “You’re sure your ok?” he asked.

“Yes” said Paige with what seemed to her like a little too much desperation. Trying to cover any suspicions Jamie may have, Paige coughed. “I’ll be fine” she said smiling “now go”. Jamie smiled at her before her turned and departed. Paige waited until she heard the car pull down the driveway before she turned to walk upstairs to Jamie’s bedroom. If she was going to find anything incriminating to support her already doubting thoughts about Jamie then that’s where it would be. Cautiously Paige pushed the door open. The door wasn’t locked but then again why should it have been? Jamie didn’t know Paige was suspicious. He thought she was the same poor little girl he’d gone out with all those years ago, well she would show him. Paige began searching Jamie’s room thoroughly investigating all the drawers but finding nothing. After this Paige proceeded to ransack Jamie’s wardrobe and bed side cabinet but once again she came up empty. Paige frowned, maybe she was wrong about Jamie, maybe he was innocent after all. He had rescued her from her car and brought her into his home after all. Paige’s thoughts were suddenly side tracked but the feeling of a soft but cold object beneath her foot. Looking down at the floor Paige saw a large brown envelope sticking out from under the rug.  Frowning a little, Paige bent down and picked up the envelope and looked at both sides. There was no name or address on the front but on the back there were dates printed on the flap,

12 – 06 -1997 – 18 – 05 -2000.

Paige’ s blood froze, those were the dates from when she had thrown Jamie out to a date about a week go. Terrified of what she would find Paige opened the envelope and emptied the contents onto the bed. Carefullt she began over turning the pieces of paper tat fell out. With a slow and painful realisation Paige saw that they were all photographs, of her. The photographs had been taken in numerous locations, a few of her leaving her apartment, some of her at the shops and at restaurants she owned. Paige felt her blood boiling over. Jamie had been following her for almost 3 years and he had the nerve to have a go at her for not trusting him. He had been the one who’d tried to run her car off the road, but not only that, he’d been following her, for years. Paige felt her heart flutter in a panic. She had to get out of here, before Jamie got back. Running out of the room, leaving the photographs scattered on the bed Paige ran into her own room. Flinging the door open Paige ran frantically around the room, grabbing her jacket, hair tie and shoes she had neglected to put on that morning. Before she left the room Paige did one last check. She didn’t want to have to come back for anything. Clutching her belongings, Paige bolted down the stairs. Quickly she put on her coat and shoes before heading for the door, no note, the photographs upstairs would explain everything she had discovered. Paige walked through the kitchen towards the back door and cautiously opened it praying there wasn’t an alarm. Thankfully there was no sound. Having stuck her head round the door to make sure Jamie was defiantly gone, Paige took a few cautious steps out into the grounds before she stopped and stood motionless for a few moments completely taken aback. All around her there were flowers in bloom and trees in blossom. The field she now stood in sloped down until it reached the main road but from there, there wasn’t a souk to be seen for miles. Just beautiful landscape as far as the eye could see. The sight took Paige’s breath away. It reminded her o the day when Jamie had taken her down to the coast near her old house. Paige hadn’t minded when Jamie had taken her to the coast but she told him they weren’t going up to the cliffs above, “I’m deathly afraid of heights” she’d said. They’d speant a lovely day together then when they were going back for dinner Jamie had sneakily turned off the main road. Paige had been so relaxed she hadn’t noticed where they were until the car pulled up. “You rat Jamie!” she’d exploded when he’d stopped the car, “you take me back….” She didn’t finish he sentence, with one swift movement Jamie had opened her door and lifted her out placing her on the bonnet of the car. Terrified that she would fall, Paige had sat there completely ridged with her eyes tight shut.

Then she’d felt Jamie’s warm hand and the slight bounce of the car as he’d sat down beside her. “Open your eyes” he’d whispered, so softly and gently “you won’t fall, I have hold of you, trust me”.

Paige had waited a few anxious seconds before very slowly she opened her eyes. She remembered how she’d caught her breath as the magnificent view flooded into her mind. They’d sat there for hours watching the sun set. With Jamie’s arms around her Paige had felt safe, and now the meer thought of him made Paige more scared then she’d ever been in her entire life.

 Paige’s thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a rustling in the bushes, it wasn’t close by but she could hear it. Cautiously, as though she was hardly moving at all, Paige went to take half a step back. Suddenly a click caused Paige to stop dead. The sound which she knew to be the sound of a safety catch being removed on a gun. Without stopping to think, Paige turned  and ran back up the steps towards the house. Yanking the back door open Paige darted into the kitchen and ran for cover behind the counter just as an earth shattering explosion sounded and a section of the door frame and indeed part of the door shattered from the impact of the bullet.

Paige crouched down on the floor behind the counter, hugging her knees to her chest. Tears flowed down her face in rage and fear. How dare Jamie do this to her? How dare he convince her that he was her friend and then betray her by getting one of his mates to watch the house, well she wasn’t having that. She would make Jamie regret the day she came back into his life. Carefully, Paige got to her feet and walked back into the kitchen. She needed to find something to even the odds against him. Paige made her way back up to Jamie’s room. There had to be something there. She stormed into the room and yanked the drawer of the beside table out and looked in the slot where it had come from and her heart nearly stopped beating. Their lying on the wood was a gun. Every bone in Paige’s body shook as she reached inside to pick up the weapon. She metal felt cold in her hands which meant it hadn’t been used recently. Paige gripped the weapon firmly as she turned leaving the room turning off the light and closing the door. She needed to get the jump on him, make sure he wasn’t expecting her. Quickly Page ran the length of the upstairs corridor turning off all the lights, shutting the curtains at the windows and closing all the doors. That would make him think she’d gone for a sleep. Then Paige made her way downstairs into the living room. She sat down on the sofa looking into the ashes in the fireplace where the roaring fire she’d woken up to after her accident had been. As she sat there Paige could feel the rage and the fury boiling up inside her. She couldn’t have been sitting there more than fifteen minuets when she heard Jamie’s car coming up the driveway. Quickly, Paige went over and hid behind a large bookcase beside the door which led in from the garage. She knew Jamie would come in through this door because he’d always insisting on parking any car he owned undercover. It was one of the things she remembered about him, a kind of fond habit. Paige suddenly shook her head furiously. She had no feelings for Jamie any more, he was history. Paige’s attention was broken by the sound of the door opening and Jamie’s voice calling her name. Paige waited silently in her hiding place like predator waiting for its prey. She head Jamie’s shoes on the hard floorboards as he walked forward into the room, then she saw him. With all the strength she could manage, Paige flung herself at Jamie knocking him forward. He fell to the floor, dazed but not unconscious. Paige looked at him solemnly, this was it, she was in control now, and Jamie was going to pay.

He sat in his car down on the road outside the house behind a hedge. He couldn’t risk Paige seeing him if she should happen to look out the window, however unlikely that might be. He fiddled nervously with his phone cursing his bad luck. A few seconds more and Paige would have been history. What would that voice do to him, he knew would find out, he always did. Suddenly, so suddenly that he almost dropped the phone in his trembling hand, the phone started to ring. Gingerly he pressed the green button to answer the call and lifted the receiver to his ear. The cold voice started before he had a chance to speak.

“Well…” he demanded “was this attempt better than the last?”. He paused, he could lie, tell him that he’d shot Paige and she was dead but that was too risky. If he lied he also risked being found out and that was a possibility he didn’t want to think about. “Well…” the cold voice cut into his thoughts.

Before he could stop himself he was already babbling out “I took aim carefully, I only missed by a few inches”.

There was silence for a few moments, which was what frightened him the most. Then, after what felt like an eternity the eruption came. “You Fool!” the voice exploded “this is the second time I have given you a simple task to get the girl out of the way and this is the second time you have failed.”

“But sir…” the continued, babbling so much the words tumbled over each other in desperation “I never meant to…”

“I do not want to hear excuses.” The voice interrupted “I shall be coming there myself to make sure there are no more …mistakes. Now Paige has started to distrust Mr Saviour we should have little time before she breaks away, and then she’s ours”. With that final cutting remark he hung up.