Accidentally Crossing the Tycoon Chapter 114

Caspar's POV:

As we walked to the car, I caught Daniel's gaze following Audrey.

I glanced back at him warningly, then subtly blocked his line of sight without drawing attention.

Once we were all settled in the car, Audrey turned to Noah in the backseat.

"So, how was kindergarten today? Did you have fun?" she asked, her voice warm with genuine interest.

Noah's face lit up. " I made a tower with blocks that was this high." He stretched his small arms upward, indicating an impressive height.

"That sounds wonderful," Audrey smiled. "Did you make any friends?"

Noah's expression stiffened momentarily.

"I don't like playing with them," he said, his voice suddenly flat. "They're too childish."

Audrey smiled gently at his serious response, so adult-like coming from such a small boy.

"That's okay," she said simply. "Sometimes it takes time to find people you connect with."

Noah shrugged. "There's a boy named Max who has a dinosaur lunchbox. He showed me all his dinosaurs."

I drove slowly, savoring the strange domesticity of having both of them in my car.

Noah continued chattering about his day while Audrey asked all the right questions.

I felt oddly excited by this simple family moment, something I'd never experienced before.

When we arrived at the Thornton estate, Edward was waiting at the entrance.

As soon as Noah climbed out, Edward gently intercepted him.

"Noah, it's time to change out of your school clothes," Edward said smoothly, guiding him toward the house.

"We have your favorite snack prepared in the kitchen."

Noah glanced back at Audrey with a small wave before allowing himself to be led away.

Their voices faded as they disappeared down the hallway, leaving Audrey and me alone in the spacious living room.

"It's getting late," Audrey said, clutching her purse a little tighter. "I should head back."

I stepped closer, my eyes never leaving hers.

"About this morning," I said, my voice low and direct. "That hug at the kindergarten—does it mean you're beginning to accept me, Audrey?"

Her cheeks flushed at my bluntness. The color suited her.

"I—" she hesitated, her eyes darting away before meeting mine again.

"Yes. I think I'm willing to try, Caspar. To see where this might go between us."

The admission sent a rush of satisfaction through me.

I took another step toward her, closing the distance between us.

Audrey instinctively stepped back, her back nearly touching the wall behind her.

She raised her hand between us.

"Caspar, wait," she said, her voice soft but steady.

"I meant what I said about being willing to try, but I need us to take this slowly."

I nodded, my expression serious. "I understand."

Despite my words, I continued moving toward her.

Audrey's eyes widened slightly, her back pressing against the wall as I leaned toward her face.

"Caspar, I just said—"

My fingers gently plucked a small dry leaf from her hair, holding it up between us for her to see.

"You had this caught in your hair," I explained, a hint of amusement in my voice.

Her lips formed a small "oh" of realization, and I watched with fascination as a blush crept up her neck to her cheeks.

"I..." she started, clearly embarrassed at having misinterpreted my intentions. "Thank you."

I couldn't help but find her flustered state endearing.

"You're welcome," I replied, stepping back to give her space.

Audrey smoothed her hair self-consciously and glanced toward the door.

"I should get going. I'll be back tomorrow morning to help with Noah's drop-off."

"That seems unnecessarily complicated," I said, seizing the opportunity.

"Why not just stay here at the estate? It would save you the commute back and forth."

Audrey shook her head with a gentle smile.

"It's really no trouble. And I have some work to finish tonight anyway. I'll see you tomorrow morning."

I walked her to her car, fighting the urge to find another reason to make her stay.

As she drove away, I remained standing in the driveway longer than necessary.

After her leave, the mansion suddenly felt emptier than before.

I made my way back to the living room.

Settling into my leather armchair, I spread the quarterly reports across the coffee table and attempted to focus on the figures before me.

But not having absorbed a single word from the previous one.

"Sir, if I may be so bold," he began, setting down a cup of coffee beside me, "I couldn't help but notice your... distraction today."

I arched an eyebrow. "I'm perfectly focused, Edward."

He cleared his throat.

"With all due respect, sir, you've been staring at the same page for twenty minutes."

I glanced down at the paper before me.

"Your point?" I asked, not bothering to deny the obvious.

"Perhaps," Edward suggested carefully, "Are you thinking about Miss Lane?"

I didn't answer, which was answer enough.

Edward continued. "If I may, sir, in matters like these, a more... assertive approach might be beneficial."

I raised an eyebrow, gesturing for him to continue.

"In my experience," Edward said, his proper butler demeanor slipping just slightly to reveal a surprising wisdom.

"When pursuing someone worth having, one must sometimes set aside one's pride. The most successful gentlemen in matters of the heart are those willing to be a bit... shameless."

"Shameless?" I repeated.

"Indeed, sir." Edward's expression remained perfectly serious.

"Love rarely rewards those who stand on ceremony. "

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose.

"And what exactly do you suggest?"

Edward's eyes gleamed with unexpected mischief.

"Perhaps you and Master Noah could pay Miss Lane a visit. At her apartment. With enough essentials to... extend your stay."

"You mean we should go to Audrey's and just... not leave?"

The idea was absurd, impulsive.

"Yes! Audrey promised we would have a sleepover someday!" Noah's small voice suddenly came from the doorway, startling me. I hadn't heard him approach.

I turned to see my son standing there in his pajamas, his favorite stuffed animal tucked under one arm.

I looked between my son's hopeful face and Edward's barely concealed smile.

"This is ridiculous," I muttered, even as I found myself considering it.

"Sometimes, sir," Edward said quietly, "the most successful strategies in matters of the heart aren't the most sophisticated ones."

Thirty minutes later, Noah and I were in the back of my car, heading toward Audrey's Chelsea apartment.

I'd instructed James to follow with our overnight bags.

"Are we really going to stay at Audrey's house, Daddy?" Noah asked, bouncing slightly in his seat.

"We'll see," I replied, suddenly uncertain.

What had seemed like a brilliant impulse back at the mansion now felt increasingly reckless as we pulled up to Audrey's building.

Minutes later, we stood outside Audrey's apartment door.

Noah vibrated with excitement beside me while I felt an unfamiliar tightness in my chest.

Finally, I reached out and pushed the button. The soft chime echoed from within the apartment.

Footsteps approached from the other side of the door. Each sound increased the tension coiling within me.

Audrey opened the door, her expression shifting from surprise to confusion as she took in the sight of us standing there.

She was wearing simple jeans and a loose sweater, her hair pulled back in a messy bun. But she looked beautiful.

"What's going on?" she asked, her eyes moving from Noah to me.