Page 105 of Mr. Fixer Upper
Paige smiled through gritted teeth and led her mother through the main floor, praying that Gannon would stay wherever the hell he was and away from here. Her mother had indeed slapped on her professionally cool smile and politely greeted Gannon’s crew and Paige’s.
Leslie listened intently as Paige gave Tony feedback on the B roll he’d just shot and sent Bradley downstairs to help Chantay set up the lighting to shoot.
“I’d show you upstairs, but it’s even more of a mess than down here,” Paige told her mother, hoping that the brief tour would count as family quality time and they could be done.
Leslie arched an eyebrow as she glanced at the construction materials and inches of dirt and dust surrounding them. “I find that hard to imagine.”
“Paige!”
She heard the rumble of Gannon’s voice coming from the staircase. Oh, hell.
“She’s in here,” Flynn the traitor yelled, winking at Paige and her mother as he breezed by carrying sawhorses.
Gannon appeared and zeroed in on her. “Princess, I want to talk to you about some off-site shoots.”
“Princess?” Leslie’s voice took on the icy qualities of Antarctica.
Gannon stopped and looked back and forth between Paige and her mother, a slow grin sliding over his face.
“Mom, I’d like you to meet Gannon. Gannon, this is my mother, Leslie.”
“Dr. St. James,” Leslie corrected. “And we’ve met.”
“Who could forget a voice like yours, Dr. St. James?” Gannon asked.
“I’ll assume that is a rhetorical question.”
“Mom,” Paige said in a warning whisper.
“Assume whatever you like, Dr. St. James,” Gannon told her with a magnanimous wave of his arm. “Of course, you know what happens when you assume.”
“I see you’re consistently antagonistic,” Leslie announced. “Have you ever seen a therapist for that flaw?”
Paige blinked in horror. But Gannon simply laughed, which was always the wrong thing to do in front of Leslie St. James.
“Have you lost your damn mind?” Paige hissed at her mother, but Leslie wouldn’t be cowed.
“Iassumesince you’re working with my daughter, you must be sleeping with her again. What a shame. I’d thought she had better taste,” Leslie announced.
Paige let out a breath that sounded like air leaving an accordion. “Okay. Enough,” she finally snapped.
“Thank you for the tour, Paige. I can show myself out. I’m getting a headache being surrounded by all this… filth.”
“I’d be happy to show you out, Leslie,” Gannon offered, pushing yet another button. “It’s such a shame you can’t stay longer.”
“I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you. I’m sure you have a lot of work to do for the cameras.” She glanced around the empty dining room with its stripped floors and bare walls. “I suppose some find it gratifying to make their fortunes by debasing themselves on television.”
Gannon’s grin bared his teeth.
“Mother!” Paige snapped. “Enough. You’ve overstayed your welcome.”
“So nice to finally meet you in person, Gannon,” Leslie said, the picture of phony pleasantries.
“I was just thinking the same thing,” Gannon said, offering his hand.
Leslie shook it disdainfully and then wiped her palm on her skirt as Paige dragged her toward the front door.
“Just what have you done that earns you the right to be an asshole?” Paige demanded as she slammed the doors behind them.
