3

Chapter 3 

“ Honey! calm down…!! Think about your blood pressure!!” There were shouts and screams and lots of yelling that evening in the fox household, the news of Piper running away from their home enraged Nicholas to his end. Piper was rebellious since she was in her teenage years, Winter wasn't surprised with her sister. She was applauding in the corner for doing something fearlessly like she had 'actual balls'. 

“I can't calm down! What if she gets kidnapped!? What if she dies While driving or travelling?” Nicholas' voice breaks at the end, it's not a secret for Nicholas to be overly sensitive at the word 'travel' 

“Honey! It's okay, Piper will be fine, She's old enough to take care of her own” Ada pleaded helplessly, She couldn't remember the last time She had seen Nicholas getting so worked up and it scares her a little. 

“How could she do this to me? Why couldn't She learn a little from her sister?” Nicholas pointed his finger at Winter when he said that. Meanwhile, Winter was seconds away from spitting out the truth. She never wanted her father to think of her as the sweet, innocent daughter that never disobeyed him. 

In Nicholas's eyes, Winter was the only daughter that never hurt him nor disappointed him, ever since she was a kid, She's the golden child that gives him hope. 

“Daddy, Please Calm down, Sis might be leaving now but she'll come back for sure” She tries to console her father who's on the verge of crying. 

“I will not take her back!” he spat and stalked towards his room in a rage. Once he was out of sight, Every person in the room let out a breath they've been holding. 

“Phew, That went better than I expected, I thought dad will start calling the police,” Joy says in amusement.  Jake is wolfing down their pancakes without a care in the world. Winter let out a whistle observing every face of her family. Sure, they were the best but She wanted to spend her youth experiencing things she couldn't even imagine to begin with. 

“Mom, Please take care of dad, His health is not great,” Andrew, Winter's oldest brother says gently. Ada's lips moved inaudibly, the siblings rolled their eyes at their mother's behaviour. 

“She's praying again with her eyes open” Jake whispered in her sister's ears. Winter pushes Jake's face away giving him the middle finger secretly. 

“My ears need a bath now, your breath stinks!! Your mouth needs Holy water...Perhaps it would chase the smell away” She grumbled angrily. On seeing the anger on his sister's face, Jake grinned evilly and leaned his face closer. 

“Shoo!Shoo!” he breathes on her face intentionally. Winter pulls his hair until he lets out a cry. 

”Let go! You evil!!!!” Ada gasped from beside them. 

“Jackery Fox!! How dare you call your sister evil?!....” Taking that as a chance, Winter runs up her stairs with an evil laugh echoing in the whole place. 

The next day, Winter strolled down the street wearing her casual long sleeve blue blazer and black high waist pants which she found in her closet after years of hibernation. The one thing Winter couldn't stop wondering about is the ability for her clothes to disappear always…..as if her clothes have legs and went for double dating when she started searching to wear for work. 

Isn't this lovely? 

I know I am lovely,

Won't you need me? 

She danced a little to her songs. If any stranger saw her, they would probably think she's crazy but most of the town people knew her lively behaviour and didn't even bat an eye when she passed by a couple of people,dancing and singing in her little world. 

“Good morning! My Dear…..Gareth!!!” her arms stretched wide open in a dramatic way. Dozens of eyes looked up at her without blinking, Winter froze in the doorway staring at the unfamiliar faces who gazed at her like she's from Jupiter. 

“You are here!! Come in and greet the executives of the Knight Corporation” Gareth sounded amused. 

“Uh-Huh..haha.Ummm….Sure” She stammered awkwardly, her face turning pinkish from the amount of attention she's receiving. If she knew, the executives of the Knight corporation would be visiting their humble office, She would have worn some decent clothes and organized their office. 

“Miss Fox” One of the men with brown- hair stood up from his seat and extended his hand for a handshake. She shook his hand, chuckling awkwardly. Her gaze landed on Gareth who seemed to be enjoying watching her embarrass herself.

“Winter, This is Mr Leon. He's the P.A of Mr Knight '' Gareth introduced handling a file to winter who received it hesitantly. 

Her head couldn't wrap around what was going on, She couldn't remember the time their town was visited by some executives of a billion-dollar company. Much more, Why would a billion-dollar company visit their Newsagency? 

Winter tread on the heels of Gareth as they walked in towards his office. Once she locked the door, Winter started pestering Gareth for an explanation. 

“Are we in trouble!? Why is the Oh-so- great managerial of the BILLION-DOLLAR company of NYC here!!??? In Jefferson town, inside Jefferson News agency!?? Why?...” she looks really confused. Gareth was waiting for her to end with her million-dollar act.

 “They are here for the expansion of their company the Mayor has been talking about” he replied coolly. 

“But- I don't understand why they need to be here? Why are they in our office but not my dad's!?” The only thing that worries her is because of that. She likes to work in a calm atmosphere but six people occupying her space is unforgivable. 

“Calm down!” Gareth says slowly. He explained everything as per the Mayor's request. 

Winter stepped out of Gareth's office with a long face, The men are still in her office talking among themselves. She serves them coffees and cold drinks as a good host. 

“Thank you, Miss Fox. We are sorry to intrude but Mr Fox was the one who suggested meeting here” The guy who introduces himself as Leon thanked her sincerely. Now that She has talked with him once, she takes time observing his looks and behaviour. His brown-hair and the freckle in his cheeks are very cute according to her, Leon doesn't look older than thirty but she likes to act old. Perhaps, he was older than her…….

“You're welcome, Mr Leon” she showed her pearly teeth  and chucked down some cold juice. 

“I think the Mayor and Mr.knight is here” Leon stood up from his seat and held the door open waiting for the supposed 'Mr. Knight' they were eagerly waiting for. 

“This way, Mr Knight” She heard her father speaking professionally. 

“Thank you, Mr Fox, let us hurry with the discussion for I had to leave New York in the evening” The voice sent chills down her spine, not in a 'He's so gorgeous, it sent chills down my spine No, No not that cheesy romantic kind of chills from books, but from the ice water she's been choking down. 

She was sure she heard the voice somewhere but She just couldn't figure it out. And that makes her extremely curious. His voice is so deep, no doubt about that. If only she could see his face…..

“Sure, Let me ask my daughter to serve you some tea” 

Thank you, Jesus! 

“Winter, Can you please serve some coffee for Mr Knight” Her father knocked on her door, times like this, She was always the one who serves tea to any guest. Since,the news agency wasn't so big and there were no P.A and secretaries. 

“Sure, Mr. fox..”Nicholas let out a chuckle at his daughter addressing him as Mr Fox. 

Winter steps out of her office and directly starts brewing some coffee. 

“Here you go, Mr. Knight” She places the coffee on the table, never looking up. 

“Glad we met again” her movement froze after hearing his statement. 

Is it him..!!!

It can't be…!!! 

Last night images start flashing in her eyes, 

“I wasn't staring at your hot body”

If the group could swallow her up, She wanted to dive in. 

Finally, She stares up at the emerald pair of eyes and boy! She was right,!!... And that's few in many. 

She doesn't want it to be right at such a moment, rather it would have been better to be right like the time She thought Zion, her classmates were the secret brother of Chris Evans because he looks exactly like Chris Evans and downright damn gorgeous.

“Ehh...hehe” She chuckled, nodding her head. 

“I am Ethan” he smiled at her. She was sure her heart stopped at that moment. 

It wasn't like there were worms or a hole in his teeth but His smile is surprisingly so warm and beautiful. It's the first time She thought a smile was that beautiful. 

“Gareth” She whispered mindlessly. 

“Huh!?” Ethan asked, confused. 

“Gareth, Gareth” Winter scurried away towards Gareth's office yelling his name- like a crazy person begging to let her marry the president of Zimbabwe. 

Her fragile heart couldn't handle such a situation and the best way was to run away if such a moment occurs- for the sake of her heart.