Page 34 of The Billionaire's Off Chance

“Thank you, Chasmin.” He smiles, a dimple forming on his left cheek. Chasmin kisses it before leaving, and I close the door.

“Seems that we’re making plans for the season,” I mutter, opening the door to the front seat for Chasmin.

She gets in, placing a warm gloved hand on my cheek. “It’ll be fun. We’ll be rolling around in the snow.” She winks and shuts the door. Chuckling, I get in the car and drive out of the cottage garage.

Our first stop is the World of Beatrix Potter aquarium. It’s touted as a magical realm of aquatic wonders, and it is true. It’s a fantastic space with lively colors of blue in the dome above. Aquatic animals are swimming in the blue water around us.

Eric is immediately captivated by the playful otters, their sleek bodies sliding effortlessly through the water. “Wow, Daddy, they’re like furry torpedoes!” he exclaims, his eyes glued to the otters’ antics.

I squat down to watch the otters as well. I’m content, basking in his pure joy. Chasmin joins us. Eric points at some otters that swim while others laze around.

I chuckle, “They sure are fast, Eric. But did you know that otters can hold their breath for up to eight minutes?” That is the extent of my knowledge on aquatic animals, but I think it’s nice to say something to impress him.

“That’s amazing!” Ben gasps, his admiration for the otters growing even more.

We move on to the ducks and witness their graceful, gliding movements gliding. Eric giggles as a duck waddles up to the glass, its beady eyes peering inquisitively at us.

“Hello, Mr. Duck!” Ben chirps, waving his hand at it.

The duck quacks in response, tilting its head playfully. Eric’s laughter echoes through the aquarium as he continues to interact with the friendly creature. Next, they check on the fish, enjoying their vibrant colors. Eric is particularly fascinated by a school of neon tetras, their shimmering scales casting a rainbow of colors through the water.

I bring him up on my shoulder as he points at the fish, swimming higher. “Look, they’re like little jewels!” His eyes sparkle with delight.

I nod in agreement. Chasmin follows us. She takes turns with me to delight him with stories as we tour the aquarium. Our final stop is the frog exhibit. Eric is initially hesitant, not being a big fan of frogs. But as he watches them leap and swim, he is intrigued by their unique movements.

“They’re not so scary after all,” he admits, his curiosity overcoming his initial fear.

I smile and remark, “That’s the spirit, son. It’s always good to try new things, even if they seem a little scary at first.” He holds my hand, squeezing gently on my fingers with his small hand.

As we leave the aquarium, Eric talks ceaselessly about the fish and otters. I see that he is hyped for more activities. His enthusiasm is beginning to rub off on me. I listen patiently, my heart filling with joy as I watch my son’s imagination soar.

I take him to a serene environment to relax a bit. The aquarium isn’t that far from the shores of Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake. The tranquility of the lake is mesmerizing, with its mirror-like reflection of the snow-capped mountains painting a breath-taking panorama. Eric is stuck between Chasmin and me as we walk along the shore, our footsteps crunching the crisp snow. The invigorating fresh air fills our lungs.

“I like it here, Daddy. Chasmin, have you seen a lake before?” he whispers, his voice filled with awe.

Chasmin smiles and nods. “Yes, but none as big as this. a lake where I grew up freezes up in the winter. Everyone skates on it. We could try skating later.”

“Yay!” He runs forward, spreading his arms and acting like he is skating.

We sit on a large rock, admiring the breathtaking view. Eric joins us, and I bring him up on my lap. I hug him, and he rests his head on my chest, breathing slowly. The silence is broken only by the gentle lapping of the water against the shore and the occasional chirp of a bird.

“This might be my favorite place,” Eric declares, his eyes sparkling with happiness.

I murmur in assent, “Wait till you see more beautiful sights, Eric. The world is a magical place.”

“Oh, we should see it together with Chasmin, okay?” He holds Chasmin’s hand.

I look at her, smiling brightly and her cheeks grow red. “Sure. I won’t be leaving her behind.” She leans closer to me, resting her head on my shoulder. Even with their weight on me at this moment, I feel quite light. We sit here for a long time, lost in the beauty around us. The sun begins to set, casting a warm glow over the snow-covered landscape.

The sky turns a fiery orange, and the mountains glow with a soft pink hue. Eric and Chasmin go stand by the lake as I take pictures with the beautiful sky behind them. Finally, Chasmin grabs the camera, and I pose with Eric as she takes more pictures.

On our way back home, we pass the town market and stop to get mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, and gingerbread men. Eric plays a game and wins a stuffed reindeer to take home. We stay in Cumbria for a week before we return to London. Arriving, I check in on my brother, Igor. He informs me of the progress he’s making in compiling a list of suitable homes. I plan to check on them as soon as I’m settled in.

Returning to the penthouse with Chasmin and Eric feels like returning home. I laugh as Eric runs to the door and crashes into me.I think I’m ready to move into a new home soon… with Chasmin.I admire Chasmin in her shorts and my t-shirt with the sleeves rolled up, coming to give me a kiss.

The next morning, we wake up to a heavy downpour of snow. When Chasmin opens the window, the temperature quickly drops and she shuts it quickly. Outside is a world of white frost. I hear the faint jingle of Christmas bells. “Whew, it’s freezing. I don’t think the cook will make it in today. I’ll prepare something warm and refreshing.” She gets in bed, straddling me, and kisses my forehead.

“That sounds amazing. I’ll go check on Eric.”

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