Chapter 306 - Butter And Maple Syrup
Angela slept through the harsh weather in Brooklyn, New York. She woke up when a branch of a sleeping tree ratted on the window. Her eyes fluttered open, and the room was dark with the drapes drawn close, so she took her time to blink a few times to adjust to her surroundings until she remembered that she was in Gael's house.
Only Gael wasn't in bed when she looked from side to side.
She sat up and recalled that he was cuddling her last night. A soft chuckle escaped her lips at the reminder of Gael's bedtime story remix. Who'd have thought that a modern prince and princess story would turn into an action thriller sort of thing? Apparently, Gael was now a self-proclaimed genius storyteller. She would have to ask him later how the story ended because she fell asleep while he stroked her back and talked above her ear. His deep voice was the perfect ASMR for her.
Angela scanned the room, but only his coat from last night was there. Had he left already?
After relieving herself in the bathroom, she washed up and did her morning skincare routine. The temperature was colder than she was used to, even with the thermostat on, so she figured to add another layer to her clothing. As she looked through her luggage, she realized that she didn't pack enough warm clothes. Last night, she was still so out of it that even after Gael told her what to bring, she only managed to pack a few thick clothes that were probably not enough for her stay here. Though she wasn't sure how long she would stay.
Once she put on a hoodie, she checked her phone and realized that it was eleven in the morning. She'd slept for about six hours, and it was the best sleep she'd had since she found out about the arranged marriage thing.
There was a text from her father, a reply from her message last night, telling him she would be flying to New York with Gael and promised to call today.
[ Dad: As long as you're not alone. I heard there's a snowstorm there today, so stay warm. Be safe, princess. ]
There were also texts from Nina, but Angela decided to get back to them later when her stomach grumbled from hunger. Knowing that Gael's meeting should have started a few hours ago, she thought she was alone in the house. Something ratted on the window that caught her attention. When she swiped the curtain to the side, her eyes widened. The backyard was completely covered in white. Heavy snow fell from the sky, accompanied by a strong wind. She thought it was the air vent that's making noises. Gael couldn't be out there, right?
She left the room and began to descend the stairs while calling his name, "Gael?"
"I'm up here," he responded, his voice coming from the floor above her.
Turning around, she headed towards him. She hadn't explored the rooms upstairs, but she knew he had a home gym up there. On the last door down the hall, the door was open, and she peeked inside to see him working out.
Gael was conveniently and deliciously shirtless. Two straps attached to the ceiling dangled above him. They had large rings at the ends—one on each strap—and he reached for them. Grasping one ring in each hand, he pulled his body up and suspended his legs forward until his body formed an L shape. Gael maintained the pose while he spoke to someone on the phone through Bluetooth earpieces. His muscles flexed, and sweat dripped down his body. Angela had to steel herself and lean against the door frame for some support as she ogled him.
"Time is what I don't have, Sav. Find another way." He paused for a beat to listen to whatever the other person was saying. "I don't care—" Pause. Gael glanced at Angela. He sounded upset, but he tried to control his tone. "Whatever. Talk to you later."
His legs lowered, and he released the rings, then landed on the floor. Grabbing a towel from a bench, he wiped his face and neck as he walked towards her, his body glistening under the ceiling lamp.
What a tasty breakfast he was.
"Hey… How was your sleep?" he asked, but she didn't answer. Her eyes were trained on him. A smile slowly formed on his face as she openly checked him out. He smirked and tilted his head to the side. "You like what you see?"
Angela took a deep breath, raising a hand and reaching for his hard abs but not touching. "Yes. I was craving bacon for breakfast, but all I need is butter and maple syrup, and I'm good." She caught his stare and grinned, picturing him naked on the table for breakfast with maple syrup on his abdomen.
Gael swallowed, and then he chuckled at Angela's naughty thoughts. "Hungry?"
"Yeah." She flicked her gaze up to his face and nodded. He placed a hand on her waist and led her down the stairs.
***
"So, what happened to your meeting?" Angela wondered as she wiped the last dish dry while Gael rinsed the sink to remove the soap suds. He'd cooked her breakfast—bacon, and pancakes, of course—while she made them fresh orange juice.
He turned around and leaned his backside against the counter, and folded his arms across his chest. "We had to postpone it. Most of them are going to be away with their family for vacation, so I don't know when I'll have their time again—that is, if they'll still be interested by the time they come back."
"What about a video conference?"
"I suggested, but only one of them was available. I pitched to him earlier."
"How did that go?"
"It went well. We'll sign contracts after the new year."
Angela smiled. "Well, that's great! I'm sure the others will want to work with you too."
Gael let out a sigh and rubbed his neck, a small crease forming between his brows. "It's the second time that this meeting has been postponed. I'm not so confident they're really interested in working with someone like me. It's a lot of money to trust someone when they know my last name."
Realization dawned on Angela. For many years, Gael's family had been working dangerously. It wasn't a baseless reason for the potential investors to be hesitant in putting their trust in him. This caused her heart to ache. "Do they…know?"
He shook his head. "I doubt it. They probably heard a thing or two about our family's….risk-taking behavior when it comes to our other businesses. But putting those aside, they'd see the success behind the clubs, petrol, and real estate."
She squeezed his arm to give him comfort. "You'll find your footing. I believe in you."
Gael hooked a finger under her chin and lifted it towards him, pressing a soft kiss on her lips. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." She smiled.
"I need to take a shower. Will you be okay for ten minutes?"
"Of course. Take your time. I'll just…snoop around for something interesting here. Who knows what I'll find?"
"Be my guest. On second thought, it might take longer than ten minutes. Your presence inspired me this morning. I need to make use of this image in my head." He winked.
Angela's mouth hung open, and Gael laughed as he walked out of the kitchen. "Don't peek in the basement. There are monsters down there."
While he was taking a shower upstairs—and possibly relieving himself in lustland, she took her time checking out the paintings on the walls and picture frames here and there. Gael had impeccable taste. The house was so neat and orderly that it made her think he'd notice if she so much as moved a decoration by an inch. His keenness for detail and sophistication showed how classy he was, yet the house felt like a real home, and it was probably because he grew up here with his mom and grandmother.
As she sat on the living room's sofa, she picked up a hardcover book in dark red with the title "The Art of War by Sun Tzu" and she smiled as she began flipping the pages.
The doorbell rang, and her brows knitted together, wondering who it could be in this weather. Who in their right mind would walk in this storm? Angela went to check, and her eyes widened to see a man on the intercom's screen. A man who looked very much like Gael, only older.