Chapter 3

**Judy’s Perspective**

“Shut up!” she gasped. “Are you serious? You went to Gavin Landry’s VIP suite? As in THE Gavin Landry?!”

I nearly tackled her to quiet her down; she was being way too loud!

“Keep your voice down!” I warned, trying to cover her mouth with my hands, but she was too quick and dodged me.

“How can I keep it down when my best friend went to Gavin Landry’s hotel room last night and didn’t tell me until now?” she exclaimed.

Nan was a waitress at the hotel restaurant where the engagement party was held last night. The hotel, Carter Resorts, was located in human territory and owned by Patrick Carter, the Delta of the Silver Crescent pack. That was also Gavin Landry’s pack.

I wasn’t surprised to see Gavin there, especially since his daughter was the bride-to-be. I was even less surprised that he had a VIP suite at the hotel.

I sighed.

“It all happened so fast, and I had a bit too much to drink,” I confessed. “I almost forgot when I got home because other things happened.”

I wrapped my arms around myself and looked into her concerned eyes.

“What else happened?” she asked, lowering her voice to a whisper.

I took a deep breath and shared everything with Nan, right up until Ethan came over and asked me to be his mistress in exchange for paying off my father’s debt. By the time I finished, Nan’s jaw had dropped.

“The nerve of that jerk!”

She hissed, “How could he! He turned you down and now he wants you to be his little plaything? He has no shame.”

“I don’t know what to do, Nan,” I whispered. “I can’t possibly raise 5 million dollars to pay off my dad’s debt.”

We sat in silence, lost in our thoughts, until her face suddenly brightened. I recognized that look—it was a mix of excitement and nerves. I knew she had an idea, and I also knew I probably wouldn’t like it.

“You said he gave you his shirt to wear?” she asked.

I nodded.

Her eyes widened as she grabbed my arm. “Isn’t it obvious, Judy? Gavin likes you! That’s why he gave you his shirt. He wanted his scent on you! He’s very selective. In all my time as a waitress, you’re the first woman he’s ever offered his shirt to.”

I stared at her, shocked. “Nan, he’s not into me,” I insisted, shaking my head. “He gave me his shirt because mine ripped. That’s all there was to it.”

“Why would he care?” Nan asked, crossing her arms. “He’s Gavin Landry. He doesn’t have to care about anyone. And you told me he kissed you passionately. You were ready to go all the way with him, which is a big deal since you wanted to wait until marriage. There must have been some connection last night.”

I looked down at my hands. “Or maybe I was just hurting and wanted to get back at Ethan,” I said quietly. “Plus, I had a…

a meeting scheduled?” she asked, her voice flat.

“No, but it’s important,” I replied, trying to sound confident.

She raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. After a moment, she sighed and picked up the phone. “I’ll see if he can take a visitor,” she said.

I waited nervously, my heart racing. I knew I was about to take a big step, and I wasn’t sure if it was the right one.

After a few minutes, the receptionist hung up the phone and looked at me. “You can go in. Just remember, he’s busy.”

“Thank you,” I said, trying to hide my anxiety as I walked toward Gavin’s office.

I knocked on the door, and after a brief pause, I heard him say, “Come in.”

I opened the door and stepped inside. Gavin looked up from his desk, surprised to see me. He was handsome, with dark hair and a charming smile that could easily disarm anyone.

“Hey, what a surprise! I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said, leaning back in his chair.

I took a deep breath. “I know this is unexpected, but I wanted to talk to you about something important.”

Gavin’s expression shifted to curiosity. “Sure, what’s on your mind?”

I hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of my decision. But I had come this far, and I needed to be brave. “I need your help, Gavin. My family is in a tough spot, and I think you could really make a difference.”

He leaned forward, intrigued. “What kind of help are you thinking about?”

I took another deep breath, remembering my plan. “I know this is going to sound strange, but I think if we work together, we can find a solution. I just need you to trust me.”

Gavin looked thoughtful, and I could see the wheels turning in his mind. “Alright, I’m listening. What do you have in mind?”

I felt a rush of hope. Maybe this was the chance I needed to turn things around for my family.

“Do you have an appointment?”

“Uh, no, but—”

“Listen, I don’t have time for this. Many women come in here wanting to see Gavin, and I have to tell them the same thing. Mr. Landry is very busy and doesn’t have time to deal with another fan,” she said with frustration.

“And who are you to turn away people who want to see me?” a deep voice interrupted.