FALLING FOR THE MARRIED BILLIONAIRE.

DAD IS HOME!

( LORI'S POV )

It was Lori's first day working at her weekend job as a home tutor. She had gotten up early and prepared on time. It was not easy getting up early, she had stayed at her mother's bakery until 2am, working on her edible.

She had it ready, after so much input, late and constant battle with indecision. She already texted johnny to meet her after work at her mother's bakery to have a taste.

She was confident in her ability, but there was always that lingering doubt. There was also the hint of fear that she carried all through the process and even after.

Laced with a long black skirt that hugged her figure, and a white shirt with buttons all the way to her neck, Lori stepped out of her house and into a cab.

She hoped her shoes weren't too formal and too much, her aim was to appear official, it was her first day.

She soon got to her location, Lori almost forgot that she stood. The house was all she thought of the Mrs and more. It wasn't so flamboyant, it was the right amount of elegant, rich and standard.

She counted about three luxurious cars and two baby sized cars she immediately assumed was Frieda's. The large swimming pool, gave Lori an immediate yearn to dive inside with her clothes on.

One of the resident's security personnel tapped her out of delusions and showed her inside the house.

While Lori stared in utter admiration, tiny footsteps approached her. Lori saw Frieda dressed up elegantly, with her hair all jelled up with an ipad in her hand. She appeared to be in a video call with someone.

She has a speck of brown substance hanging at the side of her lips.

***********************

Lori stood at a corner with her hands wrapping her bag.

" Mom, she's here. " Frieda replied giving Lori a tender smile but refusing to maintain eye contact.

Lori heard, " Give the phone to her honey. "

Frieda approached her and handed the phone, Lori became face to face with Caitlyn. She was inside the back seat of a car, with a giant beach hat on her head.

" Lori, " Caitlyn replied with a relieved smile on her face, " You finally came. "

" Well, welcome. I told you I was leaving for a family event, I had to leave sooner. "

Lori's eyes were fixed on the screen, she felt a scratch in her chest, as if a butterfly fluttered around.

" You can begin with her, I assume by 12pm you'd be done, I reckon to be home before them. "

Lori felt like she had to say something

" Okay___

" Make yourself at home, and Frieda like chocolate cookies, I had some inside the oven, please, she's not allow to have more than two pairs in an hour. "

Lori smiled, that explained the brown substance on her lip.

" Of course ma'am, " Lori knew that rule would be broken.

" Don't let her inside my room, she always mess things up, almost ruined my favorite lipstick and also my clothes. "

" Uhm, yeah... " That was a stretch, Lori thought, but it wasn't much work, after all, the child was her responsibility as long as she was with her.

" Again, feel free, make yourself at home, if you need a drink, you know where to find one. Thank you Lori, please say goodbye to my daughter for me. " Caitlyn ended the call.

********************

" You have something right there.... " Lori gestured to her lip as she said.

Frieda immediately wiped it off, " Don't tell my mom. "

Lori wore a smile, " Don't worry, you can have three cookie's per-hour, " She wanted to gain the girl's likeness and favor, " It could be our little secret. "

" Like mom's closet? "

" You can be in your mom's closet, but you can have a cookie. "

" I already finished it, can we make some? " Freida asked with eyes lit.

" Of course, but after our classes. Is that okay? "

" Yeah, "

The girl seemed to have loosened up a bit.

" You're gonna be teaching me literature and history? "

Lori though she sounded too mature for her age, " Yeah. What's your__

" Are you a historian? "

Lori arched a brow, just how old was the girl??

" No I'm not. " She answered.

" Then how are you gonna teach me history? "

Lori was lost for words, " Uhm__

" What is your name? "

" Lori Hart. "

" How old are you? "

Lori narrowed her eyes, she realized if she continued with that stance, she would loose the battle of dominance.

Freida drew close to her, " I don't like your shoes__

" Oh, " Lori felt bad, " Why? "

" The leather looks tired. "

Lori heart shredded, " Oh, " Her tone fell.

The girl turned upstairs, " Mom said we should learn inside my room. "

" Of course. " Lori followed the girl up the stairs.

" Literature and History, which is your favorite. we'd save the best for last. "

" None. "

Lori was trying her best, " Really, you don't like literature? I bet you it can be real fun. "

" I guess I'll just have to go with history. "

She opened the door and introduced a magnificent scene to Lori as her room.

Frieda ran over to a set of table and chairs. There were a few books, pen and pencil sitting on the table.

" History seems like fun. "

" Why do you say so? " Lori settled on the bigger chair.

" Because I get to learn about historical events, like Adolph Hitler and the titanic. "

Again, Lori was thrown off balance,

" How old are you? " She had to know.

" I asked you first. " Frieda had her hands sitting under her chin as she gave full attention to Lori, almost like she wanted to fill her eyes.

" Fine, " Lori smiled, " I'm 25. "

" My mom is older, she's 31. My dad is a year younger, he's 30. "

She was bright, Lori was all smiles.

Frieda quickly retracted her smile, like she realized she'd spoken too much. She quickly took a book, tightened her expression and opened the book.

Lori noticed hee drift in character and wanted to return her to her former form.

" What's your favorite activity? " She asked.

Freida played with her hair, " I want to cook, just like my dad. "

Lori was interested, " Your dad knows how to cook? "

" Yes, " She exclaimed.

She seemed excited to talk about her father, lori was willing to dwell on that discovery.

" that must be amazing, "

" My dad is an amazing chef, " Her spark had returned, " He doesn't have time to spend with me, but when he does, we often cook together. I looove, his sandwich, they are the best. "

" Bet if you taste my sandwich, it'll top your dad's. " Lori lured.

Freida gave her a sharp smile, " That's a lie. "

" I'm also a chef. "

" And a tutor? that's absurd. "

Again, Lori figured she should hold some information back from the girl, she was brutal with her words.

" Promise we'll make cookies after? "

" I promise. " Lori replied.

Lori was cheerful with the current mood and energy, she wanted to maintain that pace.

***********************

( PIERCE'S POV )

Pierce had made it a habit and routine to be present at work, seven days of the week. Wether or not he had official task to do. Sometimes, he would lay on his couch and get a nap.

When he was not napping or doing actual work, he was pouring himself a drink and listening to Phil Collins or Dido.

But on weekends, he never stayed late as he normally would on weekdays. He was always home on or before 4pm.

Just as he sat on his chair, sipping calmly from his glass, he received a mail. The contents was something that interested him. No, it wasn't about his employee Lori Hart.

It was about the annual cooking retreat, and for the first time ever, he wanted to enroll his company.

Ethan was right, he sometimes was. The company needed publicity. Yes, it was doing superb, but he had done some thorough thinking.

Project cape would soon come on board and after it's successful initiation, heart culinary would have it's first branch in a far location known as Jacksonville. It was a strange decision to place it there but he had a reason, he wanted to begin growing the brand in one of the biggest location in America.

After the project had come and gone, the next wise step was getting the company's name out there. And instead of hopping in on his wife's input of Yakizi, he would much rather do things on his own and his preferred way. That's if he wanted to keep his sanity and his mental health in check.

Heart's Culinary was already a big name, for God's sakes, they had a fifteen minutes viewing space in food network. The cook-off live had the entertainment field taking for weeks. The show became second in the top three most watch event after Lori's miraculous attempt to save her key ingredient, wonder girl she was. many similar franchise wished to be them at that point. So enrolling into the cooking retreat would be easy peasy.

Winning the competition however, would need core skills and the grace of God. But, Pierce was determined that his company would win. All he had to do was to align a cast of talented chefs and he will guarantee himself a win.

Once heart wins, that's an automatic publicity and a massive one at that. Pierce opened the email and proceeded to fill in the required information. While at it, he glanced at the wall clock, it was almost time to go home, to see his little girl.

********************

It was ten minutes past 12 pm, their classes were almost over.

Frieda clipped her pen shut, " I'm done. "

That was their final remarks for the day,

" Read it out loud. " Lori told her.

" The history of politics has been here ever since the beginning of humanity, I think the game of politics has been played as equally as man struggles to live and survive. "

As the girl read, she blew Lori's mind.

" Politics existed out of humanity's desire fueled by greed, to rule and to survive. "

" Wow, " Lori was amazed, " How old are you again? "

" I'm eight. "

**********************

They had finished the activity for that day, there was still no sign of Caitlyn. Lori wasn't sure if to stay or leave.

A call came in from the iPad. Frieda ran to it, it was video call from her mother, speak of the devil.

" Mom, " Freida began, " Where are you? "

" Honey, can you pass the phone to miss Lori please? "

" Sure, " She muffled and did as her mother asked.

" Hello ma'am, "

" Didn't I tell you to address me by my name? Mrs Caitlyn would be fine please. "

Lori simply smiled.

" Anyway, I assume you are done? "

" I am, I was considering holding on until you arrive. "

" Please do, I'm going to be a little late, because I have to finish up something. "

" You don't have to worry about anything, I'll be here. " Lori assured.

" Thank you so much. The kitchen belongs to you, you can fix yourselves something to eat, I won't be long. " The call came to an end.

Lori winked at the little girl, " Who wants chocolate cookies? "

************************

The cookies were already in the oven, Lori sat on a chair filling Frieda with charming stories to pass away time.

" I don't believe you, " The girl stated, " How can you choose this country over Paris? " She pronounced the Paris with a slightly french accent.

Lori laughed, " My mom___

The front door made a sound.

Frieda gasped, " My dad is back! " She scurried out of the kitchen.

Lori shook her head and opened the oven, the cookies were ready to be out.

She heard footsteps edging close to her location.

" Something smells delicious... "

Lori heard a familiar male voice say, but she couldn't tell totally.

It wasn't until she had the tray of cookies in her hand, she did a turn and found her boss Pierce Boseman standing behind her.

She froze, The tray left her grasp, cascading on the floor.