Page 23 of Billionaire's Second Chance

“Good morning, Ava,” the kennel owner Sharon greeted me brightly.

Sharon and I had become fast friends ever since my first time volunteering at the kennel. We shared an undeniable love for animals, and her kind heart had always been a shelter for my stressful life as an aspiring actress.

“Check the dog runs. There’s this dog I’m sure you’ll love to meet. She’s new, a Labrador," Sharon informed me and slipped on her gloves.

“Really?” My eyes bulged.

I hurried to the dog runs, and there she was—a happy, fluffy lab with the deepest brown eyes I'd ever seen.

“Who’s a beautiful puppy?” I rejoiced.

The Labrador tilted her head to a side, ran toward the fence, placed her paws on it, and wagged her tail. She was about four months old, her yellow coat poking through the wire mesh of the fence.

I tried to reach in and caress her head, but the little runt scampered inside her cage again, tongue hanging out of her mouth.

“Her name is Gracie.” Sharon appeared from behind the dog runs.

"What a cutie!" I smiled.

“So, how have you been? I haven't seen you in a couple of weeks.” She nudged my ribs.

“I’ve been great," I lied.

Gracie barked and pranced around.

“Tell me about her,” I changed. the subject.

“She was brought in a week ago. Her owners were expecting a baby and said they couldn't take care of her anymore. You like her?” Sharon asked, excitement rising in her eyes.

“She’s adorable. How can they just let her go?” I frowned.

Sharon knelt close to the Labrador's cage and fumbled with the lock.

“People adopt these precious puppies in search of redemption. As if to fill the void of missing love, then turn right back to abandon them when their voids are filled," she deliberated.

Sounds familiar. I must have been a puppy in a past life.

The cage opened, and the puppy pranced into her arms. Sharon scratched her head and ran a hand down her back. The other dogs barked, each one seeking the same attention. She turned back to me.

“Would you like to adopt her?” she quizzed me in all seriousness.

The thought of having my own dog made my insides flutter with love and excitement. But I couldn't even imagine it at the moment.

"You know, if I could, I'd adopt all of them," I joked. "Some day that will happen! But not today. I can barely take care of myself, let alone one of these babies."

Sharon put a leash around Gracie and watched her run as much as the leash would let her.

“Thank you, Sharon. Come on, Gracie.” I tugged her leash, and we headed outside.

She strutted next to me, happy to be out in the open. We walked in silence, her breathing and our footsteps the only sounds between us. When we neared the park, Gracie barked excitedly.

When we got close to a bench, I knelt beside my new friend and scratched the back of her ears.

“You don’t mind if we sit for a while, do you?”

She nuzzled against my hand. We walked over to the bench, but Gracie wouldn’t sit down. Instead, she circled around my legs, wrapping her leash around them several times.

“It feels great to be out of your cage, doesn’t it?” I smiled at the canine, but she barely paid attention to me.

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