Gavin’s POV
I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist. By the time I returned to the bedroom, Judy was gone.
The bed was still messy, but the room was empty. I frowned, pulling on my clothes quickly without bothering to dry my hair.
Heading downstairs, I came across Harper walking around the corner.
“Is Judy in the kitchen?” I asked, tucking my shirt into my pants.
Harper shook her head. “No, Alpha. She said she had to get to school early this morning and left.”
I stopped mid-step, narrowing my eyes. “She left?”
“Yes, sir,” Harper confirmed before hurrying off.
A low growl rumbled in my throat. Judy had just left? Without saying anything? Why hadn’t she spoken to me about it?
I wondered briefly if she’d told that Chester character instead. The thought made my jaw tighten.
Chester had always been the same — too charming for his own good. He cared more about impressing people with his smooth words than anything else. Still, I had to admit he was talented at what he did. His food was flawless, and it had been one of the few bright spots in this section of the pack. At least, until Judy arrived.
When I stepped into the kitchen, the air was thick with the smell of breakfast. Chester was, of course, behind the counter, cooking and joking with his kitchen staff. Their laughter rang out, feeding his ego.
“Stop flirting with your coworkers,” I muttered as I entered.
He froze, then glanced back at me with a grin. “Sorry, Alpha. I can’t help myself. Maybe you shouldn’t have hired such talented people to work with me.”
The women chuckled again at his remark. I rolled my eyes and sat at the counter. “I don’t pay you to flirt. I hired you to cook.”
“Can’t I do both?” he teased.
“Don’t you have a thing with Harper?” I shot back, narrowing my eyes. His grin faltered.
I’d noticed the way Harper looked at him. I’d also overheard enough whispers in the hallways to know something was going on.
“We’re… friends,” he said carefully. “She knows what this is.”
I didn’t believe him. If Harper’s expression around him was anything to go by, she was in far deeper than he was. I shook my head. “This is why you don’t mix work with personal distractions.”
Chester looked awkward for once but didn’t argue. Instead, he plated the food and slid it toward me.
“Is Judy coming down soon?” he asked.
I frowned. “She already left this morning.”
He blinked. “Without eating?”
“Apparently,” I said between bites. His cooking was infuriatingly good, but I wasn’t about to admit it aloud.
“She spoke to Harper and not you?” he asked, almost offended.
“Yes,” I replied sharply. “Harper is her handmaiden. You’re just the chef. She doesn’t need to report to you.”
Chester folded his arms, giving me a look that bordered on insolent. “Then I suppose it’s safe to assume she didn’t tell you either, Alpha.”
Normally, I’d tear into someone for speaking to me like that. But instead, I almost laughed. Almost. I bit the inside of my cheek and glared at him until he cleared his throat and turned back to the sink.
“You should probably wash those dishes,” I said.
“Yes, Alpha,” he muttered quickly.
Once he turned away, I let a small smile slip and shook my head.
After I finished eating, I left the mansion for my villa. Filming there should be wrapping up soon, and I’d finally have the place to myself again.
I had been avoiding Skyla ever since she staged that kiss for the press. I’d demanded the story be taken down immediately, furious at the false implication. But that mess was behind me now.
These days, I spent most of my time at the mansion with Judy, or in my office. And that was exactly how I preferred it.