Birds are chirping merrily while sun-dappled shadows dance across the whitewashed walls.

Smiling contentedly, I sigh into my pillow. I haven't slept like this in ages. The covers are so soft and fluffy that I'm tempted to just roll around and sleep some more.

But then something else is interfering with my perfect sense of contentment. A grumbling in my stomach, actually lower, my bowels to be exact. I decide to ignore it. The bed is just too nice and warm. The bathroom can wait.

I'm sure Haze doesn't mind that I'm sleeping in. At least he hasn't knocked at my door. Maybe I should check my phone to see if he's texted me? As I reach for it on the nightstand, a dull pain lances through my lower abdomen, reminding me of the fact that eggplants and I are not meant for each other. Ugh. Why didn't I think about that before stuffing myself with moussaka last night?

Fine. To the bathroom it is then.

Barefoot and with only my sleep-shirt on, I make a beeline to the bathroom. I'm grateful to have my own, even if I can't appreciate the lovely white and delft blue tiles with their decorative windmills right now.

Relieved and refreshed after a quick shower, I stroll back to the room to pick out some clothes and finally check my messages, when a tiny paper on the floor in front of the door catches my eye. I pick it up and turn it around in my hands. It looks like something ripped out of a children's notebook with cartoonish lion heads printed all over it. I unfold it, expecting some scribbles of a child, but the neat and clean handwriting makes my heart speed up.

Good morning Penny,

I hope you've slept well and are pleased with your room. I have to go out in the morning on some business inquiries but will be back around midday. Feel free to have breakfast whenever you want. The kitchen is fully stocked, but you can ask Kronos for anything you might need. I suggest you try the homemade orange marmalade if you want to give yourself a treat.

We can go and visit the orchards and greenhouses today if you want to. I'm looking forward to spending time with you!

Haze

PS: Sorry for the odd choice of paper, but I had to borrow one from Nemea.

I'm glad I'm alone in my room, wrapped in naught but a towel, staring at a piece of paper in my hands, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. Haze could have just texted me but opted for a handwritten note instead. On a piece of paper with lion heads and no less.

I bet if I showed this to Lucy, she'd let out an excited squeal and tell me that finding a guy who does this, is like hitting the lottery. Although I probably shouldn't trust Lucy's judgement when it gets to men.

It's just a note and not a confession — not that I'm particularly interested in...love. I don't believe in love. Mutual attraction, yes, but everything else is just a made-up concept by society to lure people into the trap of marriage. I only need to look at my mother to see where that leads. That's not a path I want to follow.

I fold the paper and drop it in my purse. Then I pull out some fresh underwear, socks, my trusted pair of blue jeans and a light cream-coloured sweatshirt. I tie my grey hoodie around my waist, just in case. Early days in spring are much cooler out here in the countryside than in the city. Once I'm all dressed, I proceed to brush my hair while I finally take a peek at my phone. There are two text messages from Lucy.

Just got to my parents' place. They already bombarded me with questions. You know how they are. But I'm not ready to tell them about the baby. It's bad enough with the break-up already. But I'll be all right. Don't worry about me.

Hey, I just realised that you didn't even tell me where you're going during the week! Is it a guy? Is he cute? Do I know him? And what exactly is this business deal? You have to tell me everything! xoxo

I can't help grinning while I type my reply. Of course, Lucy would immediately think that it has to do with a guy. And while I hate to admit that she's not entirely wrong, I'm not really inclined to tell her. This is just a temporary thing, so no need to get Lucy all excited about something that will end after one week. But at least the fact that she's asking me about a cute guy means she's doing okay given the circumstances. I just hope she'll hold up well until I'm back.

It's not what you think. You know I'm not interested in dating anyone. I'll call you on Wednesday and then we'll talk. Stay strong and block Dave's number, just in case. <3

I almost feel bad after having hit send, because I usually don't keep her out like this, but this is different.

Pocketing my cell in my jeans, I tie my hair into a high ponytail and pull out a few strands around my face until I'm satisfied with my looks and then head downstairs.

The house feels strangely quiet after last night's lively dinner. I assume that Nemea is at school and Kronos is probably somewhere out on the grounds with Triad. Not that I mind being alone for a while. That way I can explore everything without feeling observed. It's more than ten already, so I better fix myself some breakfast if I want to be ready for when Haze comes back.

On my way to the kitchen, I peek through one of the hallway windows and see his Jaguar parked in the same spot as yesterday. That's strange. Why would he go walking to a business meeting? As far as I remember there isn't anything worthy of note near this estate. But who knows. Maybe he takes an underground passage. He owns a cave after all.

I stroll towards the kitchen, the rumbling in my stomach increasing. Now that I've gotten the eggplant out of my system, I'm ready to try other delicacies of Haze's household. It takes me a little longer than the usual because not only do I need to search for everything in the various drawers and cupboards, but there's also an impressive selection of food to choose from. Lucky no one's watching me because I must probably look like some desperate scavenger who hasn't eaten in a month.

After breakfast, as I meander through the hallway, I hear a car pulling up outside and peek through the tinted glass of the front door. It's an old four-by-four Rover with more layers of dirt than my wellies.

Shoot, I wasn't expecting a visitor!

I consider running upstairs and hiding in my room. But then I see that it's Haze getting out of the car. He's wearing fitted dark grey jeans, a simple white t-shirt peeking from under his black leather jacket. How is it humanly possible to emerge with completely spotless clothes from a car that looks like it's a regular participant in mud-races?

Stop ogling him, Penny, and move to a more unsuspecting spot, away from the entrance door. I turn around and sprint towards the living room where I flop myself onto the large sofa with a flowery print that looks like right out of a Laura Ashley catalogue. Grabbing a magazine titled Pomology Today from the table, I pretend to immerse myself in an analysis of harvesting techniques.

I hear Haze unlock the door and not long after, he's poking his head into the living room.

"Hey, Penny."

"Hi, Haze." I peer at him over the edge of the magazine and the smile on his face fills me with a warmth I can't quite describe.

"I see you already found the right reading material." He gestures at the magazine in my hands while he walks over to me.

"Oh, yeah. I just started reading. It looks really interesting." And that's not a lie. I might actually keep reading it later.

"So, how was your morning?" When he sits down beside me, his knee briefly brushes mine. "Did you get my message?"

"Yes, I did." Trying not to stare at his legs so close to mine, I drop the magazine on the table and run my hand over my ponytail. "I slept so well that I stayed in bed much longer than what I wanted. And breakfast was delicious." No need to mention my unexpected expedition to the toilet.

"Great." He throws the magazine another glance. "You want to go see the real trees now?"

"Yeah, that'd be cool." My gaze travels to his face and the flecks of gold in his deep brown eyes sparkle like tiny jewels in the sunlight.

He offers me his hand. "Then let's go."