Chapter 1 All about ice-cream

“When I first met you, I had no idea how much you would end up meaning to me.”

-Unknown

Dexter POV

“Sweet pie, come on, the car is ready,” I’m calling for Andrea few times after waiting for a while in the living room. Today was her day which means I need to free myself from other thing and make myself only available for her.

“I’m here daddy.” The sweet and little angelic voice approached me. She wore a knee length floral dress with her curly blonde hair tied in ponytail.

“What took you so long, sweet pie?”

“I’m a girl, daddy. Choosing a cloth takes time.” Can you imagine a four years old girl having the difficulty to choose her outfit for the day. I shook my head with her words. I spoiled her enough but I never regret that.

“Ok, ok. Whatever you said.” I felt defeated.

“Let’s go daddy, my ice-cream is waiting for me,” she grabbed my hand and pulled me to the car.

“Can’t wait, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I will order a lot of ice cream today. Make sure you bring enough money, dad,” she grinned. I opened the door for her and made her sat inside and buckled the seatbelt for her.

I revved the engine to live and drove out from the mansion while my bodyguard follows from behind. I need extra precaution when I bring my little angel with me. I won’t allow anyone take her away from me, just like how they did to my family one year ago. The memory hurt, it still haunted me.

We arrived at ‘Snow Cafe’ after 50 minutes on the road, I parked the car nearby. I commanded two of my bodyguards to wait outside the cafe. It will cause too much attention if they guard us inside the cafe. All eyes will focus on us whom I don’t mind about that but not for my little angel, Andrea.

“Choose whatever you want,” I said to her who was now looking at the variety of ice-creams with a big grin on her face. She loved this place. I will try to make time out of my busy schedule for her once per week just to come to this place. She chose few flavors of ice-creams and picked some for me too.

“Done?” I asked looking at her happy face.

“Yeah.” She nodded and clapped her little hands. I chuckled with her action. I make the payment and proceed to the table nearby the window.

I hold the two big bowls of ice-cream while Andrea walks in front of me. She was all jumpy because of the ice-cream and suddenly she bumped into a woman. I couldn't manage to call out for her attention before it happen. The bowl from the woman dropped on the floor and the ice-cream was all over the floor. I quickly placed the two big bowls ice-cream on the table nearby.

“Hey, woman. Watch where you are going,” I scowled at the lady.

Andrea was on the floor. I ran towards her to check on her.

“Are you ok? Are you hurt?” The feeling of worries rushed to me. I won’t let her hurt even a small cut.

“I’m sorry. I didn't notice her,” the lady said nervous.

“Sorry can’t solve anything. Luckily she didn’t get hurt. If not, you won’t even breathe right now.” I spatted angrily and ignoring the eyes that keep looking at us.

“Daddy, no. It was my fault. I’m the one who bumped into her. I didn’t be careful enough.” Andrea pulled my hands tried to stop me.

The lady lowered her body and kneeled on the floor looking at Andrea.

“Hey, princess. I’m sorry, okay?” She said with apologetic smile on her face. Andrea released my hand and stepped closer to her. She placed her hand on her shoulder, in a friendly way.

“It’s okay. It wasn't your fault. It was mine. I’m sorry about the ice-cream,” she paused and glanced at me. “And about my brutal daddy, too” she whispered the last few words which I still can heard it clearly. The lady chuckles in return.

The waiter came and cleaned the ice-creams that were all over the floor.

“Dad, we need to buy her new ice-cream,” Andrea said holding the lady’s hand that was now standing across me.

“Oh no, you don’t have to do that. I will order myself. I will be fine, princess,” she refused, with her hands on Andrea’s cheek.

“No, daddy.” She stomped her feet forcing me to follow her request to make amend.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you want sweet pie,” I said surrendered. She was my weakness and I can’t even say no to her. I’m not a mafia in front of this little girl.

“Let’s go.” She pulled her hand forcefully and walks to the counter to order ice-cream for her. That was weird; Andrea wasn't a girl that speaks to a stranger. I trailed them from behind and settled the bill once the order was done.

“Are you alone?” Andrea asked to which the lady nodded.

“Oh, that is great. Come, sit with us,” she said which caught my attention and the lady gasped nervously with her invitation. Yeah, who will like to sit with a person that just scolded her with few eyes as the witnesses.

“Oh, no no. It will be okay, I don’t want to disturb you and you dad.” I could sense that she wasn’t comfortable with me. Well, that was a good thing. I don’t want she joins us neither.

“Come on,” Andrea pleaded with her puppy eyes and now I doubt if she can refuse that.

“Hmm,” she was out of her words, thinking about a polite way to turn down a girl.

“Dad,” now she looks at me, asking for my help to invite her. I sighed.

I carry her ice-cream which was ordered by Andrea on her behalf and put it on the table where our ice-cream was placed earlier.

“Just come and join us before the ice-cream melts,” I said taking a sit on the chair without glancing at them. I heard Andrea cheers joyfully and she pulled the girl to the table.

“What is your name?” Andrea asked while both of them were seated on the table. They sat together side by side and I was seated across Andrea.

“Call me Elsie,” she said sweetly. “And what is your name, princess?”

“Andrea, you can call me Princess Andrea,” she said jokingly which caused her to chuckle and I hid my smile, listen to their conversation. There must be something about this lady that turned Andrea into a talking person. I never saw her being chatty with anyone, especially a stranger. Not after the incident that happen to her parents. She was three years old back there but I guess she understood what was going on. From that day, she started to call me daddy and I don’t have any objection about that.

What spell that you used, woman? My inner voice asked while eyeing her.

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