"What''s going on?"


    Gwh still had her fork and knife in hand as Hawthorne dabbed his mouth with a napkin. "I''ll go take a look. Finish your breakfast, or you''ll bete."


    Hawthorne headed downstairs while Gwh hurriedly finished her milk, concern etched on her face as she trailed after him.


    It wasn''t long before she saw one of the housekeepers approaching, carrying a tiny, scruffy puppy. Hawthorne frowned. "Where did thate from?"


    The housekeeper looked uneasy. "I''m not sure when, but there''s a hole by the garden wall. It must have crawled in through there."


    Except for the koi in the pond, Hawthorne almost never allowed pets in the house. He found them troublesome and preferred a quiet home; cats and dogs were too noisy for his taste.


    "Get rid of it," he said coolly.


    The housekeeper, well aware of Hawthorne''s mood, quickly grabbed the puppy by the scruff and made for the door.


    "Wait."


    Gwh was now at the foot of the stairs, realizing they''d been chasing after a stray puppy. It didn''t look like any particr breed, and its pitiful eyes and dirty fur tugged at her heart.


    "You want to keep it?" Hawthorne''s brow was still furrowed.


    "Don''t you think it''s just so tiny and helpless?"


    Gwh reached out to take the puppy, but Hawthorne stopped her just in time.


    "If you like dogs, we can go to a pet shop and get you one. But not this one. Stray dogs can carry diseases-we don''t know where it''s been."


    "We can take it to the vet, can''t we? I don''t want another dog."


    She just couldn''t bear to see the little thing abandoned, not when she had a chance to help.


    Hawthorne knew thispassion would only bring trouble, but Gwh''s stubborn expression left no room for negotiation-he could see she wasn''t backing down.


    "Fine. Take it to the vet. If it''s healthy, you can keep it."


    Gwh stared at him, barely believing he''d agreed. She threw her arms around him, forgetting the housekeeper was right there, even happier than when he''d given her those art supplies.


    "Thank you."


    Hawthorne took her hand with a sigh. "If I''d said no, would you have picked a fight with me over this puppy?"


    Gwh was momentarily stunned, but then answered with certainty. "No."


    If he truly didn''t want it, she wouldn''t have forced the issue. After all, it was his house. She just couldn''t stand the thought of such a tiny puppy being left out to die.


    Hawthorne''s eyes softened in a way she couldn''t quite read. He looked at her for a long moment before speaking quietly. "Once it''s cleared by the yet, you can bring it home. Now hurry, you''re going to bete for work. Should I have Hans drive you?" Cóntent


    It was only then that Gwh nced at the clock-eight already. If she didn''t leave now, she''d definitely bete.


    "Alright, I''ll go change."


    She rushed upstairs, changed quickly, then came back down to head out with Hawthorne, though they each left in their own cars.


    On the road, something sharp must have punctured her tire; it blew out suddenly and with just minutes before she''d bete, Hans happened to spotan acquaintance nearby. He arranged for Gwh to catch a ride with the other man to the office. Cóntent


    The man, apany executive well past fifty, kindly dropped Gwh off right at


    the front of her building. He''d recognized Hawthorne''s car immediately and guessed the woman Hans was chauffeuring must be the much-rumored Mrs. Everhart.


    As Gwh got out, someone from


    herpany spotted her. The


    executive even got out of the driver''s seat to open her door, shielding her head from the car frame with practiced, gentlemanly hand Gwh felt a bit embarrassed at all the attention.


    “It''s nothing. Give my regards to Mr. Everhart," he said warmly.


    He watched to make sure Gwh made it safely inside before driving off. But in


    those few minutes, word had already started to spread around the office.