CHAPTER 133: EPISODE 1: PANCAKES

The morning sunrays streamed through the window, cascading across Aveline’s porcelain skin and making her look radiant and breathtaking in the soft golden light.

Suddenly, her eyes squeezed shut against the bright rays. She stirred, flipping away from the light, trying to return to sleep when her mobile started ringing.

’Ring... ring... ring...’

With a groan, she reached for her phone on the bedside table but knocked it down instead.

’Thud’

She suddenly sat up, her hair messy as she blinked in a daze, still drowsy. She only remembered drinking a few glasses of bourbon.

Maybe it was drinking after such a long time, or her medication’s effect, but she had felt the buzz sooner than usual. While talking with Alaric, she had downed more glasses than necessary.

However, after that, everything in her memory was blank. She had no idea if she had drunk more or eaten anything afterward. She had no idea if she had called someone to pick her up or booked a cab, since Alaric had been drinking too.

She looked around. She was in her apartment, sitting in her pajamas. Assuming she had returned in a cab, she grabbed her mobile and saw the missed calls from her brother, Tara, Grace, and Bloom’s social media manager.

Ignoring all the messages, she dialed her brother’s number first. As soon as he answered, she asked excitedly, "Calling me to update about your date?"

"If you want to know that, I didn’t like her. I called you because, Aveline Laurent, Why don’t I know you’re running a secret company?"

"Huh?" Aveline scratched her head, wondering if she was having a nightmare.

Charles chuckled and continued, "I’ve sent you some links. Take a look." Then he ended the call.

Aveline’s eyes widened as she looked at the article that mentioned she had been running a company for five years but had hidden her name. The turnover of the supposed company was in the hundreds of millions.

Then she checked another link. It was a video clip from a live TV show. The video was titled "Why Are Rich Kids Considered Just Spoiled?"

A young man was saying that rich kids work twice as hard as common people due to their lifestyle. By a young age, they learn, even master, various sports, cultures, and business practices. If anything, they are several levels above common people.

Aveline knew it was just a social media stunt to grab attention when something sensational started trending.

What caught her eye was the link to an international news article. The article wasn’t just about her recent art, "His Whispering Wave." It had pictures of several artworks she had created during her studies under different names. There was even a blurred picture of her in trousers and a top.

Aveline hummed in satisfaction. This had earned her the worldwide recognition that the exhibit wouldn’t have given her. That recognized her talent, not her father’s name or her family’s reputation.

There was also mention of her company, Grace and Bloom. She wondered if that could help her secure any events.

After sending a message to her brother and Scarlett, she dialed Tara, who often forgot it was too early for work calls.

"Hey..."

[Ms. Laurent, client meeting at 10.] Then her voice softened. [And I called you this morning out of excitement. I ended the call right after the first ring, I swear. Anyway, we’ve received several DMs asking about packages and prices. I ignored them all, but there are two that need your attention.]

"Thank you, Tara. I’ll check them at the office. See you there." She ended the call, maintaining her calm.

She did want an assistant who could filter things out and give her space. She wouldn’t be able to live her life with work calls day and night. But she was in no hurry since they hadn’t secured even one event yet.

Getting out of bed, she quickly freshened up and went to the kitchen. She swallowed hard before beginning. She had watched the video several times. ’I can do this,’ she encouraged herself.

Episode One: Her first-ever breakfast by herself in the kitchen of her apartment.

Dish: Pancakes.

Still in a silk robe and her winter fluffy slippers, she tied her hair back with determination. She mixed the batter too softly at first. When lumps started forming, she began mixing with too much vigor, sending flour into the air like confetti.

"Ahhh, it’s getting everywhere!" she cried, looking at the kitchen island.

She placed the pan on the burner. Once she felt it was hot enough, she dropped a large blob of butter into the pan. "I think that’s a lot," she murmured.

When the butter didn’t melt quickly, she turned the heat to full. Then the butter sizzled, and then a small pop of oil landed on her hand.

"Ow!" she yelped, shaking her hand and wondering if she should wear long sleeves, maybe gloves.

Afraid to get closer, she dropped the pancake batter into the pan from a distance. The oil splattered even more violently. A small flame burst up the side of the pan as the melted butter caught fire.

"Ahhh..." She let out a scream and dropped the spatula.

"MY KITCHEN’S ATTACKING ME!" She ran out of the kitchen, through the hallway, and stood outside her main door.

"I want to run a company but couldn’t make a pancake without causing a fire..." She slapped her forehead.

Then she looked at her hands. "Shit, I left my mobile inside."

’Should I go inside?’

’What if the whole apartment is on fire?’

Suddenly, she heard hurried footsteps from the far corner, and her jaw dropped when Alaric ran out of the emergency exit in his gym wear.

Aveline blinked at the sight of sweat glistening on his collarbone, his black gym tee clinging to him as if it had been sculpted there.

"What happened?" he asked, his breath slightly uneven with concern, looking her over from head to toe to make sure she wasn’t hurt.

Aveline snapped out of her daze, recalling the fire. "My kitchen is on fire," she said hastily. "Call the fire department."