Damien Knight,

I am leaving.

Take care,

Winnie.

A feeling of emptiness in his heart as clenched the small paper, not believing what is written.

I am leaving. Just some plain simple words but very unbelievable.

No explanation. Nothing more. But isn't it what he deserved. Deep in his heart, he wanted her to come out of the kitchen with a cup of coffee in her hand. God how much he was addicted to her coffees. Or perhaps she could just walk out of her room. Nothing is possible anymore. He has lost her. Just when he realized his feelings for her. Chris did warn him about it, that there will be a day when everything will not be under his control anymore. He did take her for granted and now he has to face the consequences.

This seemed like one of those nightmares he gets every night, where Winnie leaves him. So finally, she built a courage and escaped. Escaped from a place which was a hell to her. Sometimes nightmares do come true and in his case he made his nightmare come true.

Damien has already figured that there is a high possibility of her going to Xander's. If he wanted, he could find it out in seconds but he was so assured for it to be the correct information that he didn't want to find out anymore. It will hurt him, he doesn't want her to be with any other men than himself.

He is willing to give her sometime, because that is what she wants. From his side, there will of course going to be an effort to bring her back to his life, this time not as his chef or an assistant but as his girlfriend.

"Where is Winnie?" Oakley asked, coming out of Winnie's room when she went there to search.

Damien sighed, how on earth will he try to explain to her that. He messed up everything so Winnie decided to disappear from their life.

"I don't have any idea." Damien answered the child honestly.

"Winnie play hide and seek with us?"

Not knowing what to answer, he nodded. "Yes."

"Let's go find her." Oakley hold Damien's hand in hers and grabbed him all over the penthouse.

Damien stopped her and picked her up to sat her down on the table. There, he passed her a cup of milk that he poured for her earlier and in a gentle tone, told her, "This hide and seek is a little different from what kids play, here we adults, don't hide in the same place and they only come back whenever they want to."

"Oh. Winnie not home?" Thank god for her smartness and not asking him anymore questions.

"No."

"When she back?"

"I don't know the exact day but soon, very soon."

...

Her eyes snapped opened as the rays of sunlight tingled upon her eyes, disturbing her sleep. Winnie woke up in the guest room of Xander. She checked the time and it was ten. She yawned as she looked around, last night when they arrived, she was extremely tired to try unpack. She needed a sleep very desperately and now she woke up fresh.

She had doubts in leaving Damien but now she feels so relaxed like as if a big weigh from her shoulders has been released. She doesn't feel any heaviness in her heart and those toxic vibes Damien used to give her all the time were also gone.

Xander, on the contrary of Damien, is a very nice gentleman. Whenever speaking, always making everyone around her smile.

Dismissing her thoughts, she stood up from the bed and went to the toilet to do her morning routine. She took a long relaxing hot shower. When she was done she blowed dry her hair with a dryer that was in the toilet and wrapped herself around in a towel. She stepped out of the toilet and searched for her clothes in the suitcase. She took out her most comfortable sun dress and worn it. When she was done, she walked out of the room to the kitchen.

Xander might be sleeping till now, she decided she will cook them breakfast. Maybe surprise Xander with breakfast on bed. But that would be weird as that is supposed to be a thing done by couples. And she doesn't want to put his hopes high up.

She heard some noises coming from the kitchen. Stepping in, she saw naked Xander with just apron around his body and thankfully shorts on his lower body making some pancakes. Her cheeks turned red as she stood uncomfortable.

"Morning!" She greeted after a moment and normalising her blush.

Xander turned around and gave her a smile, "Morning, princess. Had a good night sleep?"

"Yes. Thank you..."

He cut her off, "No worries."

"Should I help with the breakfast?"

"No. It's almost ready. Help yourself in the dining table, I'll be there soon."

Winnie nodded and sat down on the dining table which was also ready for two people.

Xander came with a big tray full of different food, this time he took off the apron and wore his shirt. The heavenly and yummy aroma of the food made Winnie grumble with hungriness. Boiled eggs, croissant, waffles, strawberries and bacon. Looked like a perfect breakfast. He put the tray down on the table and went to the grab a banana smoothie he prepared for her and a cup of coffee for himself.

"Thank you." Winnie murmured before taking a croissant to eat.

"Your welcome." He replied back.

As they both finished the breakfast, Winnie helped him do the dishes and cleaning the dining table.

They sat in the living room, switching on the tv. To her misfortune, he tapped on a wrong programme. There it was, the great Damien Knight, owner of Knight Co, giving an interview about himself. The interview wasn't recent, Winnie can firgure it out to be at least two years old so it doesn't make sense why was it on tv at the moment but of course every tragic things happens to her.

Xander looked apologetically towards Winnie who shrugged her shoulder. She doesn't hold any feelings towards him anymore so she shouldn't effected. He has been a part of her past that she left behind. She has to learn to move on, especially from toxic negative people. She has to make her weak heart a bit stronger for her own sake.

"So Winnie, I have a surprise for you." As she isn't very fond of surprises, she looked at him weirdly and nervous.

He got up and went towards his room. Few moments later he was back with something in his hands which he hid behind his back.

"Close your eyes and give me your hand." Winnie anxiously forwarded her hands towards him, shutting her eyes.

Winnie felt as he put a paper type thing on her hand and she slowly opened her eyes. Looking down at the paper, she picked it up and read it loud.

"Masterchef USA audition ticket."

She gulped. Feeling like someone has put her destiny in her hand. Tears rolled down her eyes as the opportunity that just knocked her life and who helped her through it? Xander, the boy who is head over heels for her and she feels nothing in return for her.

Should she even grab this chance and go for it. There is a possibility of building a good career, a fantastic bright future for herself with this. And also be able to pay Damien's debt so she can live a debt-free life.

"Don't cry, princess." Xander wiped down the tears from her eyes.

"The audition is in just two days, I was supposed to give it to you that night but couldn't."

Winnie nodded and checked the audition date. Just in 2 days. Here, she hasn't even made up her mind if she wants to try her luck in this or not. Sure, she cooks good but there in the competition will come people who are great too. Will she be able to defeat all of them and get the first position. Most importantly, how will she face so many mean people around there. She had seen masterchef in tv and sometimes people can be very vulgar. She wasn't so sure if her fragile self will be able to compete there but then if she can deal with Damien Knight then those people might not be that bad.

But she hasn't make her mind yet. She needs at least a full night to come with a final decision whether or not to take this opportunity.