Chapter 217

**Chapter 217**
**Gavin’s POV**

I stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around my waist. When I left the bathroom, I noticed that Judy wasn’t in bed anymore. I felt a little surprised but also curious about where she might have gone.

I frowned at the messy bed and looked around the room, my eyebrows furrowing. I hadn’t even realized she was awake.

I quickly grabbed my clothes and put them on, not bothering to fix my wet hair. After getting dressed, I left the bedroom and headed out.

I walked down the stairs and saw Harper turning the corner.

“Is Judy in the kitchen?” I asked, tucking my shirt into my pants.

Harper looked up at me with a frown.

“No, Alpha. She said she would be outside.”

Harper stopped me as I was walking. “She had to get to school early this morning and left,” she explained.

I turned to look at her, squinting my eyes in confusion. “She left?” I asked.

“Yes, sir,” Harper replied quickly, then she turned away.

I felt a low growl escape my throat as I watched Judy hurry away. How could she just leave like that? She didn’t even say goodbye or explain anything to me. I wondered if she had talked to that Chester guy about it. I really couldn’t stand Chester. I wasn’t sure what he had that I didn’t, but it made me uneasy.

Sure, I can explain why I keep him around. He’s always been a flirt. He seems to care more about charming the women around him than actually doing his job.

Even though I have to admit, he is pretty good at what he does.

His food was always delicious, and it was the one thing I looked forward to when I came to this part of the house. But everything changed when Judy started living here.

The kitchen smelled amazing as I walked in.

I wasn’t surprised to see Chester behind the counter, busy cooking and making his kitchen helpers laugh with his clever jokes and smooth talk.

I rolled my eyes.

“Stop flirting with your coworkers,” I said as I walked over to him.

When he looked back at me, he suddenly stopped in his tracks. A smile spread across his face.

“Sorry, Alpha,” he said. “I can’t help myself. Maybe you shouldn’t have hired such beautiful women to work for you.”

I rolled my eyes, knowing exactly what he was up to. He was trying to charm the women in the kitchen, making them swoon and weak in the knees.

“I don’t pay you to flirt,” I muttered, sitting at the counter. “I pay you to work.”

“I hired you to cook,” he said.

“Can’t I do both?” he asked.

“Don’t you have a thing with Harper?” I replied, narrowing my eyes and making him frown.

I was sure he wasn’t expecting that question.

I wanted to learn everything about that situation.

**Chapter 212**

I noticed how Harper looked at him. It was clear there was something between them. More than once, I heard them in the supply closet or in his bedroom while they were talking.

I was walking by when I noticed the bold hickey on Harper’s neck. I wasn’t stupid; I understood what it meant.

“We are friends with benefits,” he said quietly. “She knows what this is…”

If you asked me to believe him, I’d say no way. Just look at the way Harper looks at him every day. If her gaze is any sign, you’d think she was completely in love with that fool. But he was breaking her heart. Soon enough, she would probably quit her job because working in the same place as him was too much to bear.

It’s really hard to share the same space as someone who has broken your heart.

I shook my head at him.

“This is why you shouldn’t get involved with your coworkers,” I said quietly.

He looked a little uncomfortable, but he didn’t say anything else.

He turned away and finished cooking breakfast. He plated the food and slid it across the counter toward me.

“Is Judy coming down soon?” he asked.

I frowned and shook my head. I thought he would have known by now that she was still asleep.

I realized I had my answer.

“Nok, she left early this morning,” I replied.

He looked at me with a blank expression for a moment.

“Without any food?” he asked.

“Why would she leave so quickly without even saying good morning to me? That doesn’t sound like her,” I wondered aloud.

“Harper said she had to get to school early and was running late or something,” I explained, taking a bite of my breakfast.

The food was delicious, and I couldn’t believe how good it was. I hated that it tasted so wonderful, but there was no denying that he was amazing at his job.

“She spoke to Harper and not to me?” Chester asked, sounding hurt by the situation.

“Yes,” I replied.

“She is her handmaiden after all. You are only her chef. She doesn’t need to report to you.”

Chester crossed his arms and glared at me.

“Well, since you got this information from Harper,” he said,

“I think it’s safe to say she didn’t tell you,” he said to Alpha with a smirk.

I looked up at him and noticed his grin. Normally, I would have been furious at someone speaking to me that way, but today felt different.

Chester made me laugh, but I didn’t want to show it. So, I bit the inside of my cheek and glared at him.

After a moment, he cleared his throat and pointed at the sink.

“I think…” he started.

“Maybe you should clean those,” he said awkwardly.

“You think?” I almost barked back.

As soon as he turned his back, I relaxed and smiled, shaking my head.

After I finished eating, I left the mansion.

**Chapter 0217**

It’s almost time for me to head straight to my villa. Filming should be done any day now, and soon I’ll finally have some space to myself again.

I had been avoiding Skyla ever since she kissed me and let the press think we were more than just friends. It was all so complicated, and I needed some distance to clear my head.

Something was happening between us. After the news story came out, I called the press and demanded they take it down. I was furious when I saw it, but it didn’t matter anymore; it was over and done with. I decided to let it go.

I usually spend most of my time at the mansion with Judy or in my office. They have plenty of space, which makes it easy to relax and work.