CHAPTER THREE

Gavril’s POV.

“Good morning”, A cheerful voice greeted me as I walked into the kitchen to make breakfast.

The smell of freshly made coffee tickled my palate, and I could feel my stomach grumble.

I had made it a point of note to put on a shirt today; I didn’t want to be caught off guard again. But here she was in an oversized T-shirt again, which barely stretched past her thighs.

I took a quick glance at her thick thighs which was a contrast to her thin body.

“Morning”, I replied, walking up to grab a cup when she handed me a warm cup of coffee.

“The weather is pretty bad,” she said, her gaze shifting to the frosted kitchen window.

The news had announced a snowstorm, and I wondered what was going through her head. She had insisted on leaving yesterday, and now it's clear she can’t.

“I guess you have no other choice but to be stuck here. I already said you could stay,” I said, sitting on the kitchen stool.

“Maybe the universe is giving me a reason to stay.” She looked down at the table before lifting her eyes to meet mine.

“Maybe it's telling you that you should enjoy your holiday regardless of your breakup,” I told her.

When she had said my son had cheated on her, I felt a surge of anger charge through me. What kind of idiot would cheat on a gorgeous lady like her?

Typical Nolan ruining everything. If only he had stayed with me while growing up, he would have known one or two things about women.

“Do you need me to fry some eggs for you?” She turned her back to me. My gaze inadvertently travelled down the smooth curve of her legs, heat rising to my face.

I stood up abruptly, gulped down all the contents of the coffee and shook my head. “ No, thanks. I have a work meeting in five minutes,” I said, walking away before more insane thoughts raced through my head.

Before she could turn back to convince me, I dashed back to my room.

I sat at the edge of my bed while on a video call with my personal assistant, who was trying his best to convince me to listen to the media and schedule an interview with the press.

“No, and you know the reason I don’t want to,” I said, remaining affirmative in my decision.

“I mean, I don’t think it’s a bad idea,” he said, trying to persuade me yet again.

After the incident that happened eight years ago, I have been avoiding the media like the plague.

“It’s still a no,” I repeated, reaching for the bottle of apple juice on my bedside table.

My personal assistant tried to press further, but a sharp yelp from the kitchen distracted me, so I used that opportunity to cut him off. “We will talk later and tell whatever media platform is reaching out to you that I still don’t want an interview,” I said, standing up and walking towards the door. Then paused before adding, “Wait! Send me the media asking for an interview.”

I could hear the excitement in my PA’s voice before I disconnected the call.

I opened the door to see the kitchen was a mess. Flour littered the floor, with some kitchen utensils scattered about. Upon walking closer, I saw Winter by the sink, her index finger under the running tap.

“Are you okay?” I asked, rushing towards her. This caused her to turn to me.

“I was bored, so I tried to bake,” she said, casually.

“What happened?” I asked, but I didn’t need an explanation to know what had happened.

Her index finger was injured, and I knew she had been cut with a knife when I saw the bloodstained knife not too far from where we stood. I immediately looked around for a first aid box.

“I thought I would be having fun during my vacation with my boyfriend, but he had to cheat on me. And now I am stuck, bored and alone.” She said, tears streaming down her face.

I walked up to her, switched off the tap and led her to the couch while I tended to her wounds.

“Nolan is such a fool.” I said, then added, “ And you are not alone.”

She looked up at me.

“He shouldn’t have cheated on you.”

“Thanks, Daddy,” she said and laughed immediately after those words left her mouth.

I raised a brow. "Are you planning to keep calling me that?"

"Does it bother you?" she teased, her smile widening.

"Not exactly," I replied, my voice dropping slightly.

Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away while I wrapped her finger with a bandage.

“If you are bored, we can keep each other’s company. Maybe watch TV or play games.” I said.

“Aren’t you supposed to be busy attending meetings and making money? I thought billionaires don’t have the time to laze around,” she queried.

“You looked me up?”

“Occupational hazard, I guess.” She hesitated while I waited for her to continue when she added, “ I am a journalist.”

I didn’t expect that. I had thought she was a model or aspiring actress, not only judging by her profound beauty but also because that’s the type of girl my son dated, considering his occupation. No wonder he couldn’t keep a smart girl like her.

“Well, we have people who make the money for us while we relax,” I replied, taking the remote while I switched on the TV.

We were getting comfortable watching the movie when a sudden loud scream came from Winter. This got me startled, and before I could process what was going on, she had landed on my lap. She squirmed on my lap while I held her tightly.

I didn’t say anything while she was on my lap, as she was clearly looking troubled.

When she calmed down to look at me, we were barely inches apart.

“I thought I saw a cockroach,” she said, in a soft-spoken voice.

“It’s fine; you are safe,” I assured her as I looked around but saw no cockroach.

She made me stand up from my lap when her forehead grazed mine and our lips were barely inches away from each other.

I gave her time to move away, but she paused like time stood still.

Then I leaned in slowly; our breath inched against each other, and she parted her lips to say something, and I took it as a cue to claim her lips.

Her lips were warm and soft against my lips, but I quickly pulled away.

“I…I…” I stuttered.

What am I going to say? A lot of thoughts ran through my head.

Instead, a chuckle escaped from her lips as she pulled me close to her and muttered. “ I want this”,

Without waiting for me to process what she had just said, she landed her lips on mine, first tugging and teasing my bottom lip. But I was impatient with the tease, so I shoved my mouth into hers.

“I want this too,” I said.