You Are Family

"Okay, I'm listening." Paige told Aurora.

"It seems Mr Stefan signed a $32000 contract with the BFL group we are meant to be their exclusive supplier for two of their upcoming shows for the rest of the year.

They've been trying to reach out to him, but it seems he's ignoring their calls as well Ma'am. I don't know how to say this, but I think we're in trouble. It seems Mr. Stefan just made away with the money." Aurora said in-between sobs.

"You're joking." Paige said laughing hilariously. "What did you just say Aurora? It's not even possible, how is that even possible?" She asked refusing to believe what she just heard. "I'm not dreaming right?" Paige finally asked after a few seconds of silence.

"Ma'am please, this is not a dream, this is so real. What should I do? I'm literally shaking right now. Please tell me what to do. I need to be told what to do." Aurora continued sobbing.

"This can't be happening to me." Paige murmured to herself in a shaky voice. "I need to speak to a lawyer." She finally whispered to herself as she struggled to find her voice. I'll call you back, I need to speak to a lawyer right now." She finally spoke up loud enough to Aurora's hearing before hanging up.

Recalling that she has Anna Kentleys phone number, she dialed her number immediately.

"Hello," Anna said after picking up.

"Anna, this is Paige Patterson, your mother's.....

"Paige, I know. How are you, are you okay? You don't sound too good." Anna said.

"I... I think... I think I'm in big trouble. I need counselling, help or whatever it is you think I might need right now."

"Okay, just calm down and tell me what this big trouble is all about."

Paige proceeded to explain everything to Anna and when she was done, she paused and waited to hear what Anna had to say to her.

"Firstly," Anna started. "We need to track your boyfriend down, to be sure he is safe. Then I'll have to speak with your secretary and the BFL group so as to come to an agreement with them. But that will be done after ensuring your boyfriend's safety. Is that okay by you?" Anna asked.

"Yes please. it's very okay by me Anna. How do we go about finding him?" Paige asked.

"That can be handled by my brother. I'll speak to him. I'll sort out the rest and will revert back before the end of the day. Just text me your boyfriend's contact number and a recent picture of him."

"Okay.... okay, I'll do that right away, thank you so much."

"You're welcome. Now cheer up, it's really not a big deal as you're making it. It's just money and money is never a problem okay." She reassured Paige once more before hanging up.

Poor Paige sat on the bed after sharing the necessary details with Anna. She was still in shock and scared to bits. She tried to replay everything her secretary said earlier and shook her head in denial.

There were a couple of scenarios playing in her head. Stefan was either in trouble or he's trying to ruin her by making away with her money and as much as the latter try to seem like the reality, she chose to believe he must have gotten into some trouble.

She found it hard to believe that her Stefan would want to hurt her for any reason.

'There must be an explanation to all this.' She kept telling herself.

It wasn't until 4:00pm before she got another call from Anna Kentley.

"One of my brother's friend was about to find him at a casino in Warren City. He is rather wasted and have just 14,000$ left with him. So that means we will need to find a way to make a refund to the BFL group as soon as possible. Do you need the money with him or you want both him and the money? Anna asked.

"Anna, is your brother's friend sure he wasn't kidnapped and nobody made him spend the money against his will, maybe? It could be that he was threatened." Paige said trying to sound not so dumb.

"You ain't a baby Paige. Nobody threatened him. If it helps, I was told he was with some girl." Anna replied.

Hearing that he was with another girl brought a flash of reality to Paige's.

"I need the money." She finally said.

"But I'm worried that he might die or suffer to death if he has no money to sustain him. I know he stole from me but I can't leave him for death." Paige said in the softest voice ever.

"Wow!" Anna exclaimed in shock. "You do know that he will not reciprocate if he were in your shoes right?" She asked Paige, but got no reply as the poor girl was already in deep turmoil.

"So my brother should let him go right?" Once again, Anna's question was followed by another line of silence. "Talk to me Paige." She coaxed.

"Anna, I don't know, I th....."

"That's okay." Anna interrupted her. "You can get a loan from Simon. Just like you, he's kind at heart and generous when he sees the need to be. You can have him to deduct it from your salary till you pay up." Anna suggested.

"My salary is not even up to 32,000." Paige replied in a sad voice.

"Well, we will think of something. He has a cardiac surgical centre. You can offer your service on some free days to make up for it. That way, you won't have to fold up and selp off your business. He'll definitely allow that. Simon is a kind man. He will be willing to help out. I'll do the talking if you want me to. Now you need to give me an answer. Should I tell him to let your boyfriend go?" Another silence.

"Look Paige, Simon is many things but patient is not one of them and I already fear for your boyfriend with all the time we've wasted already."

"Please tell him to let him go. He shouldn't hurt him please." Paige pleaded.