Page 42 of The Payback Plan
Before there was a chance to fully think it through, Paige was already opening her mouth. ‘What would you say if I not only knew the son of a famous British Shakespearian actor who made it big in Hollywood but that he is currently living in St Ives.Andis also a script writer?’
Well, that was a bit of a stretch but he had written scripts. Or partially written anyway. And he’d hate it which made it about as perfect as it could be.
Win/win.
It was Doris’s turn to blink. ‘You know Roger Prendergast’s son?’
Paige supposed given the tabloid coverage of him being in St Ives all those months ago, it wouldn’t take someone as switched on as Doris to put two and two together.
‘I do.’ She wasn’t about to admit to living with him lest she have the entire WI turn up on her doorstep.
Although…
‘That would be amazing!’ Doris’s eyes sparkled. ‘Would he say yes, do you think?’
‘Of course. We’re like this,’ she said, lying her ass off as she crossed one finger over the top of the other to demonstrate said closeness. ‘I reckon he’d love to help out the WI.’
Given it had taken her weeks to pry him off his couch to just step outside the door to the beach, she knew for sure he was going to hate it. Paige couldn’t wait to see his face when she sprung it on him. ‘I’m sure he wouldn’t even mind bringing along one of his dad’s BAFTAs, probably the Oscar statue too.’
Doris’s eyes practically bugged right out of her head she was so incandescent with excitement. Paige felt a momentary twinge about using an unsuspecting WI in her payback plan for Oliver. But itwasdoing them a favour. And if it just so happened to completely inconvenience Oliver at the same time then even better.
‘Oh my.’ Doris pressed her hand to her chest like she was about to take a fit of the vapours. ‘That’s better than anything Pippa could offer.’
Paige figured poor Pippa had enough on her hands to be miffed over being one-upped by an Oscar statue.
‘Ladies!’ Doris turned to the group giving their coffee orders, beaming like a freaking lighthouse. ‘We have a replacement for Pippa that’s going to blow your minds.’
And that was it, there was no going back now.
* * *
‘No.Absolutely not. One hundred per cent no.’
‘Oliver.’ Paige, expecting resistance, folded her arms and adopted her sternest expression. She’d waited until later that night when he was watching one of his favourite movies in the media room before she dropped her bombshell. ‘It’s the WI. They’re a national institution. You can’t say no to them.’
The overhead lights were out, the flickering of the screen casting shadows on the walls and across their faces. Oliver paused the movie, the shadows freezing in place as Oliver also folded his arms and returned her gaze unflinchingly. ‘Watch me.’
Casper, who was lying on the couch between them, whined slightly, obviously unhappy about the tension between his humans. ‘You want to say no to a bunch of women whose mothers and grandmothers practically ran the country through two world wars? You’re a braver person than I am. Theyknowthings, Oliver.’
There was no response. Just unblinking resolve.
‘Besides, I’ve already told them you would.’
‘Wellun-tell them.’
She shook her head, her curls bouncing. ‘It’s impossible. It’s a done deal. I promised Doris. They’re expecting you and they’re so excited. Myrtle is making a batch of her scones which are reputedly the best in the county.’
Oliver gaped. ‘How can you be in town for just over three weeks and already know Doris and Myrtle from the bloody WI?’
‘Because I’m not an anti-social hermit. I met them at Jiya’s café in town and we got talking.’ She bugged her eyes. ‘This may come as a surprise but people actually like me.’
Before she got plastered all over the internet, Paige had been very social. She made friends easily and liked to chat to random people at a coffee shop or on the Underground. The revenge porn had made her more guarded, pushed her into a shell and she was only just starting to realise this exercise she was undertaking with Oliver was dragging her out of her comfort zone as well.
He opened his mouth as if about to rebut what she’d said then shut it again before saying, ‘No. It doesn’t surprise me.’
Paige wasn’t sure if it was a compliment and refused to dig for more info but her body was taking it as one anyway, flushing with pleasure. Not sexy times pleasure but pleasure at being appreciated. God knew if anyone had a reason to not like her, especially after her campaign of discomfort by a thousand paper cuts, it was Oliver but he was regarding her earnestly and the only conclusion she could draw was that he liked her, too?
Despite the constant irritant she’d been to him these past weeks.
