Timeless Fortune

By Nicole Ramirez

Paige Masterson’s life is turned upside down when she travels through time and ends up in 1823. Paige is taken in by wealthy owners and has no choice but to start making a life for herself. The Roberts are wonderful people, and Paige even falls in love, but if given the chance, will she return to the time she’s from, or choose to to stay in her new life?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nicole Ramirez
• Release date: Jun 11, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301451319

Book preview

Timeless

Fortune

Nicole Ramirez

~~~

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2013 by Nicole Ramirez. All rights reserved.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

For my husband, who encouraged me to take the next step with my writing and helped me through the process. I love you.

Chapter 1

So? How did it go? How was the interview?"

Paige Masterson sighed and dropped into the cushioned chair across the messy desk from her friend. I don’t know. Maybe I’m not cut out for it.

Her friend Beth laughed and set aside the loan paper she was looking at seconds before. You are the only person I know that can do that job! You already do most of the things that a manager does anyway!

Paige straightened a stack of papers on her friend’s desk and smiled when her friend shot her a mock irritated look. I know, I know, but Bob has worked here longer, and we both know that Mr. Peters likes him better than anyone else. Remember for Christmas last year when we all got a plate of cookies and Bob got a gift card to that really nice Italian restaurant in Scottsdale?

Yeah, Beth said slowly, but you are so much better for the job. And, you don’t suck up to the boss like Bob does.

Beth, Paige said, looking over Beth’s shoulder.

Honestly Paige, if you followed Mr. Peters around the office the way Bob does—

Beth! Paige warned.

–Then you would be Peters’ favorite too. But you’re going to get that job because you’re better for it! Beth finished with a smile.

Paige smiled nervously at someone standing behind Beth. Hi, Bob.

Beth’s face drained of color, and she slowly turned around.

Hello, Beth. How are you today? he asked.

Fine, thank you. Beth answered, her face now turning red. And you?

Fine, he said. He turned to Paige. Good luck, he said, holding his hand out. May the best man win.

Paige shook his hand and smiled slightly. Or the best woman.

Bob smiled but turned and walked away without another word. Paige turned to Beth and the two women giggled. Alright, I need to straighten up my office so that I can leave for the night, Paige said. I am surprising Brian with a candlelit dinner tonight.

Beth gave her friend a direct look. Your office is always clean. What’s the occasion? Beth asked, following Paige to her office.

It’s our three-year anniversary, Paige exclaimed excitedly, picking up her purse and straightening the stapler and tape dispenser on her desk.

Shouldn’t you be going out to dinner then, not cooking?

Chances are Brian doesn’t even know it’s today, Paige said, smiling. He isn’t exactly the most romantic guy. The two exited the office and Paige turned off the light and closed the door, making sure it was locked behind her.

Well, Beth said, have a good night. And don’t worry too much about the job. You’ll be my new boss before you know.

Paige laughed. You’d better hope so, otherwise you just insulted your future boss if Bob should get the job.

Beth shrugged her shoulders. I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true. You do deserve it more than he does.

Thanks Beth, Paige said, giving Beth a hug. You have a good night.

The two walked towards the entrance. Oh, I will. A TV dinner and ‘Wheel of Fortune.’ What’s more exciting?

Paige laughed. See you tomorrow. Paige hurried to her brand new silver BMW and got in. She dialed Brian’s number on her cell phone but it went straight to voicemail. Hey babe. I just wanted to let you know I am going to stop at the store to get stuff to make dinner tonight. I’m not sure if you remembered but it’s our three-year anniversary and I wanted to do something special for you. I’ll be home in about thirty minutes. Love you! She hung up the phone and put it on the seat next to her. She fingered the watch box that held the $800 watch she had bought on her lunch break today for Brian and smiled when she pictured him opening it. She had dropped a few hints of presents she would like for their anniversary: a black and white Chanel purse, the new Gucci shoes she saw at the department store last week, or an engagement ring with a big shiny diamond. Of course, who knew if he even got her hints, much less remembered on his own.

As she daydreamed about what Brian would get her, raindrops fell onto her windshield. Great! Paige said, hitting her steering wheel. She was wearing her new suede jacket for her interview today and she didn’t want it to get wet.

She pulled into the grocery store parking lot and parked her car. She glanced in her back seat and found her umbrella on the floor. She grabbed it and quickly headed inside.

Paige had decided to make Brian’s favorite meal that night, Vegetable Lasagna. After gathering everything she needed, she headed to the check-stand. Stopped in the middle of the aisle about thirty feet away was a couple. The man was reaching for something high while the woman watched, a smile on her face. The man dropped the can in the cart and then kissed the woman.

As Paige neared the two, the man began to look familiar. His brown hair was slicked back in a very familiar way, and the coat he was wearing was identical to the one Brian had put on this morning as he kissed her goodbye and wished her good luck on her interview.

The couple kissed again and Paige saw the side of the man’s face and gasped. The two people turned toward Paige and she felt as though someone had just dumped a bucket of ice water on her. It was Brian. Brian and another woman.

Paige? Brian gawked, losing his coloring. Uh, what—what are you doing here? he asked.

Paige found her voice. Getting food for our anniversary dinner. What are you doing here? she asked, her voice filling with rage.

I’m—uh…grocery shopping, he said lamely, stepping away from the red head he had just been kissing.

For what? Paige shrieked. A new girlfriend?

Paige, please. Brian said, walking towards her.

Please, what? Paige yelled. "Please forget what I saw? Please understand? How could you do this to me? To us?" Paige could feel the tears beginning to form and she didn’t want them to fall in front of Brian. She left her basket and walked hastily down the aisle.

Paige, wait! Brian called, running after her. Paige! he said, grabbing her arm.

Paige swung around and punched Brian in the jaw. Don’t touch me. You can come by tomorrow for your stuff. She ran out of the store before Brian could respond. Rain pelted her face, hiding the tears that were now streaming down her cheeks. Her hair was slicked down to her face, and her brand new suede jacket was soaking wet.

She sat in her car shaking and trying to gain control of her thoughts but when she saw Brian exit the store and look around for her, she started the car and peeled out of the parking lot. She drove for an hour. Where she went, she couldn’t remember. Paige just drove around town until finally her stomach grumbled. She turned her car towards home.

At her condominium she parked in the underground parking and slowly walked to the elevator. She stepped in when it opened and pushed the button that had a black 24 on it. She stepped out of the elevator when it stopped on her floor and walked to the door of her condo. Paige paused before putting the key into the keyhole. Part of her wished that Brian would be there, begging for forgiveness, but another part was hoping that Brian wasn’t there. Would she forgive him if he was there?

Telling herself she didn’t need to decide right now, she put the key into the doorknob and turned the handle slowly. She peeked in, but the lights were off and everything was just the way she had left it this morning. She sighed, although she didn’t know if it was a sigh a relief, or a sigh of sadness.

Ten minutes later she sat at her kitchen table, still in her wet clothes, Chinese food containers from last night in front of her. She looked out the dark window that was a whole wall of her condo and the lights blinked at her from the city below. How could he have done this to me? How long has it been going on? Why didn’t I see it before? A tear fell down her cheek and Paige wiped it away. But then another one fell, and another one, and soon she didn’t bother wiping them away, she let them fall onto her already ruined suede jacket.

Not hungry anymore, Paige took the fortune cookie and went into her bedroom. She changed out of her wet clothes and into pajamas and crawled into bed.

She grabbed the fortune cookie and cracked it open. A burst of lightning outside was immediately followed by thunder, and Paige jumped. The rain was really coming down now. She turned her back to the window and took out the slip of paper with her fortune on it. She read it aloud, A wish will come true. She put the cookie on the nightstand and lay down, looking at the little piece of paper.

A wish will come true? Some fortune. But as Paige lay there, she began to think of what she’d wish for. A simpler life. A life with fewer complications. No interviews for a promotion, no cheating men. A life where she could be appreciated for who she was.

That was a good wish. But not likely to happen, she thought. Tomorrow she was going to have to go on with her life. But now it would not have a handsome man in it. Again the tears overtook her, and it wasn’t until much later that night that Paige finally fell asleep.

Chapter 2

Paige squinted as the sun streamed through her window. She tried to pull the covers over her head, but when she reached down to do so, there were no covers. Opening her eyes, Paige froze and looked around. She wasn’t in her bed. She wasn’t even in her house. She was lying in a field of daisies.

Paige jolted up into a sitting