The CEO Gets What He Wants

As Avery busied herself in the kitchen, sounds of the children squealing in delight came from the living room until Rory gave a sudden cry of pain before silence ensued.

Avery froze while holding some leaves in her hands. She hurried out anxiously and pried Rory's hand away from her eye. “What happened?”

“I poked myself in the eye,” Rory mumbled, feeling guilty.

I have made Ms. Ery worry!

“Is it serious? Does it hurt?” Avery leaned closer with a warm expression and gently blew at the gauze on Rory's eye.

“It doesn't hurt anymore, Ms. Ery,” Rory said sweetly.

Upon ascertaining that the child was no longer in pain, Avery's lips spread into a warm smile as she caressed her hair. “Be good and do some homework with your brother. Dinner will be served soon.”

Rory nodded.

Zachary opened his bag to take out his stationery and books and go started on his homework alongside his sister.

Yearning for a mother's love, the children were terrified of doing something wrong and losing Avery who they saw as a motherly figure.

Obedience was the only weapon they had at their disposal at their young age.

Avery returned to the kitchen, satisfied by the children's attitude with their task.

Though cooking could be a grind, it brought her absolute joy to feed Zachary and Rory.

“Do you need help?” a man's low voice sounded behind Avery.

Without her high heels, Avery was only five foot five. Compared to Cayden, who stood at six foot two in his socks, the difference in their heights was startling. She looked petite next to him.

Avery was about to reject his offer when his slender hand reached over to snatch the potato she was about to peel.

Those who knew Cayden would imagine his private life to be very colorful and surrounded by beautiful women and influencers flocking to him by the dozen.

After all, enjoying the company of beautiful women was what a successful man's nightlife should entail.

Otherwise, it was nothing worth shouting about.

She was amazed that the owner of Trident Group, a nationally acclaimed architect whose reputation exceeded every top architect within his employ, was peeling potatoes in a tiny rented apartment spanning six hundred square feet.

Despite being characteristically immune to the charms of the opposite sex, Avery considered herself mollified.

“Let me do it.” Avery stood at the side and watched him instead of preparing the other ingredients.

It's a strange feeling to have your boss peel potatoes.

“I'll feel awful for having a meal at your expense without doing anything in return.” Cayden kept his eyes fixed on peeling the potatoes.

Somehow, the potato slipped out of his grasp, resulting in the peeler shaving off some skin on his hand.

Avery's gaze widened with horror. Flustered, she was torn between fetching the first-aid kid from the living room and rinsing his wound over the sink.

“How careless of you! I told you to let me do it,” Avery admonished with a frown. She had him rinse his wound as she brought the first-aid kit to the kitchen.

More blood flowed out from the cut as soon the water washed the blood away.

After applying some iodine to stop the bleeding, she produced some bandages and carefully wrapped the wound.

Throughout the entire process, Cayden's brow remained relaxed. He watched the woman who was much shorter than him mutter as she carefully wrapped the wound. Her voice was full of concern about how careless he was.

Avery grumbled to herself at length before realizing that she had overstepped her bounds after she quietened down.

There was oddity hanging in the air between the two of them.

“I'm going to start cooking. The exhaust fan might not work well as it hasn't been changed for many years.” Avery switched on the exhaust fan without looking back at him.

I hope he gets the hint to leave.

Cayden stood his ground in the kitchen and even lit a cigarette. As he smoked, his gaze upon her back did not waver.

I can't get enough of her.

The kitchen was cramped. Avery turned toward the fridge for some seasoning when she found herself face to face with the man's chiseled features and burning gaze through the haze of smoke.

After swiftly procuring what she needed, Avery reached for the spatula and addressed the person behind her, “The kitchen's too cramped. Wait outside.”

“I don't want them to breathe in the smoke.” Under a pretext of protecting the children, he claimed that the kitchen's exhaust fan suited his purpose to smoke as he waited.

Avery's patience wore thin. Fine, just stay in this kitchen then. Don't ever leave!

Despite the setbacks, Avery managed to produce a resplendent feast.

She felt her cheeks burn as she headed out with the dishes in her hands and attributed it to the humidity in the kitchen.

The children sat across each other during dinner, separating the two adults.

Avery was unaware that the children were raised not to speak during mealtimes.