Marriage with my daughter's father: Darling please be gentle - Chapter 71

Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Will you go out with me?
Gina wrapped up the shoot, impressing everyone with her flawless shots. She was beyond perfect when it came to modeling only a few newcomers who could stand alongside seasoned professionals the way she did.

Despite the praise showered upon her, Gina’s attention was fixated on Sean, who was still engaged in conversation with Vincent.

“We’ll get back to you shortly, Mr. Fords,” Sean said, his voice steady as he concluded the discussion. As his eyes lifted, they immediately caught sight of Gina approaching him.

Vincent silently excused himself, though not before noticing the radiant smile Gina wore as she neared Sean.

A pang of jealousy twisted in Vincent’s chest, but he chose to withdraw without another word.

“So?” Gina began, her voice light with curiosity. “Did you like my photos?”

Sean, already mesmerized by her beauty, could only nod in agreement.

“Any particular shot that struck you the most?” She pressed, tilting her head slightly. “I mean, throughout the shoot, I kept catching you staring at me and you didn’t even look away.”

A flush crept up Sean’s ears at her bold remark. His gaze flickered around nervously, realizing that several people had turned their attention toward them, likely having overheard Gina’s words.

Sean was known for his quiet nature and respectful interactions with his female colleagues. Despite his striking looks, he never indulged in flirting, even though many women in the industry swooned over him. But Gina’s forwardness had him completely at a loss for words.

“See? Your ears have turned red. Did I impress you that much?” Gina teased, her tone flirty but genuine.

She had never been this persistent with a shy guy before; they usually avoided indulging in playful banter. But with Sean, it was different. His shyness amused her, and she enjoyed every second of his flustered reactions.

Sean quickly rubbed his ears, as if that would erase the redness. “No, that’s nothing,” he stammered, desperately trying to brush off the embarrassment of being caught.

Just moments ago, he had been confidently defending her, and now he was back to being a nervous wreck under her attention.

Gina couldn’t help but smile. “Okay, I won’t make things difficult for you,” she said, pausing for effect before adding, “but will you go out with me?”

Gasps echoed around them.

Sean’s eyes widened in shock, mirroring the reactions of those who had overheard Gina’s bold words.

“G-Go out?” He stuttered, completely caught off guard. The weight of curious stares pressing on him only made his nerves worse.

Gina’s lips curled into a playful grin. She was truly enjoying the look of pure disbelief on his face. But before the onlookers could let their imaginations run wild, she decided to clear up the misunderstanding.

“I meant for lunch,” she clarified, amusement dancing in her eyes. “After all, you helped me get rid of Vincent.”

Sean’s jaw dropped, and so did his heart. For a fleeting moment, he had thought she meant something entirely else. But she completely flipped her words.

As much as Sean was disappointed, so were the people around who quickly retreated when they couldn’t find anything to gossip about.

“So, what’s your answer?” Gina’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. However, he couldn’t bring himself to respond right away.

***

The entire day passed with Winter focused on completing her assigned tasks. Yet, no matter how much she tried to concentrate, her thoughts kept drifting to Kalix. He hadn’t bothered her since leaving the storeroom, and while she had initially thought keeping things professional was for the best, a strange feeling settled in her chest when he didn’t call her for lunch.

Low-key, she had expected to hear from him. But when the realization hit that he hadn’t, she found herself unsettled.

“Ahem-hm.” Someone cleared their throat, pulling Winter from her thoughts. She turned to see Mia staring at her expectantly.

“Wanna join us for dinner? There’s this Korean restaurant downtown that serves the best ramen and fried chicken,” Mia offered, her tone hopeful.

Winter’s gaze flickered to the other person beside Mia. A familiar face.

Felix. One of the employees and a friend of Mia.

She hesitated for a few seconds before finally nodding.

“Okay.”

Mia grinned like a child who had just won a trophy. Soon after calling it a day, the three of them left the office and headed to the restaurant.

***

[Restaurant]

“I’ve been wanting to introduce you two, but I guess you already know his name by now. Anyways, Felix, meet Winter. Winter, meet Felix,” Mia said, quickly making introductions.

Felix shyly averted his gaze while Mia continued to chatter away. Ever since he first saw Winter, there had been an undeniable urge to know her better. However, her reserved nature had kept him from making a move.

Now, thanks to Mia, he finally had the chance. And as much as he found Winter attractive, it was her quiet beauty and poise that left him speechless.

Winter caught the flustered look on Felix’s face and smiled politely. She wasn’t particularly fond of meeting new people and preferred the company of those she was already comfortable with. But she knew expanding her social circle would help her in the long run, so she forced herself to blend in.

“What would you like to order, Miss Winter?” Felix asked politely.

Winter hesitated at the unexpected gentleness in his tone. It made her feel strange—almost uneasy—but she couldn’t bring herself to refuse him outright.

“I’ll have whatever you all are ordering,” she replied, matching his politeness.

With that, they placed their orders and settled in for dinner.

Winter wasn’t worried about picking up Seren from school since Lilac had offered to help. Still, the thought of her daughter lingered at the back of her mind. It had been too long since they last talked, and she found herself expecting a call, either from Lilac or Seren.

Mia and Felix continued their conversation with her, but Winter’s focus kept drifting. The more time passed without a call, the heavier her unease grew.

Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore.

“Excuse me for a moment,” she said, excusing herself from the table.

She stepped away to a quieter spot and quickly dialed Lilac’s number. No answer.

Frowning, she called Butler James next. Still, no response.

Her heart pounded.

“Why isn’t anyone answering my calls?” she murmured, her grip tightening on her phone.

A dreadful thought crept into her mind.

‘Did something happen to Seren?’

The mere possibility sent a shiver down her spine. Before the panic could take hold, she turned back toward the table, forcing herself to stay composed.

“I’m sorry, guys, but I need to leave,” she said abruptly, grabbing her bag.

Felix immediately stood up. “Miss Winter, let me drop you home,” he offered.

She hesitated. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t have minded the help, especially since Felix had a car, but she was careful about keeping her personal life private.

“That’s fine, Felix. I can manage,” she quickly declined before turning to leave.

And with that, she rushed out, a sense of urgency settling deep in her bones.