CHAPTER 2

The sharp, freezing wind of San Francisco whipped off the bay, cutting through Hazel’s wool coat the moment she stepped out of the Vanguard Holdings lobby. It was barely past six in the evening, but the sky was already dark, the city illuminated by streetlights and the endless crawl of headlights.

Hazel let out a long, exhausted breath, pulling her scarf tighter around her neck. Her legs felt heavy. The adrenaline from the morning’s presentation had completely crashed, leaving her drained.

Every time she closed her eyes, she still saw him. Xavier Sterling.

The man was entirely intimidating. He hadn't yelled, he hadn't threatened her, but the sheer, oppressive weight of his presence had been enough to make her hands shake. He was the kind of man who looked at people like they were pieces on a chessboard, easily moved or discarded. Hazel rubbed her arms, trying to shake the lingering chill of his cold blue eyes. He was just a scary, powerful boss. She had survived the meeting, she still had her job, and that was all that mattered.

A familiar horn honked twice.

Hazel looked up and instantly smiled. Liam’s dark sedan was idling at the curb. Before she could even walk over, Liam shifted the car into park and stepped out into the cold. He was wearing his gray work slacks and a heavy sweater, a wide, excited grin on his face.

He met her halfway across the pavement, wrapping his arms securely around her waist and lifting her right off her feet.

"Liam!" Hazel laughed, grabbing his shoulders to steady herself.

He set her down but didn't let go, pulling her flush against his chest. He leaned down and kissed her deeply, right there on the busy sidewalk. It was a warm, firm kiss that tasted like mint and the end of a long workday. Hazel melted into it, her tense muscles finally relaxing as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Forty-two floors above them, the executive office was pitch black.

Xavier Sterling stood perfectly still in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass window, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his tailored trousers. From this height, the people on the street looked like ants. But his sharp blue eyes were locked entirely on one specific spot on the curb.

He watched Hazel Evans wrap her arms around the man. He watched the man kiss her.

Xavier’s jaw clenched. A hard, rigid muscle ticked in his cheek. He didn't blink, his expression remaining a terrifying blank slate as he stared down at the couple. He watched the man open the passenger door for her. He watched the taillights of the sedan merge into the city traffic. Xavier stood in the dark for a long time after the car disappeared, the silence of his massive office completely unbroken.

Back in their apartment, the smell of spicy Thai takeout filled the small kitchen.

Hazel sat cross-legged on the couch, eating noodles straight from the carton. Liam was pacing behind the kitchen island. He had been practically buzzing with restless energy since he picked her up. He hadn't even taken off his work shoes yet.

"Okay, Carter," Hazel said, pointing her chopsticks at him. "You are pacing a hole into the floorboards. What is going on? Did your quarterly review go bad?"

Liam stopped pacing. He looked at her, a massive grin breaking across his face. "It didn't go bad. Hazel, it went perfectly. Better than perfectly."

Hazel lowered her food, her eyes going wide. "Did you get it?"

"They offered me the Senior Accounts Director position," Liam said, running a hand through his hair, laughing in disbelief. "Complete salary bump. Full benefits. It’s exactly what we need for the house down payment."

"Liam, oh my god!" Hazel abandoned her food on the coffee table, jumping off the couch. She ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck as he caught her by the waist, spinning her around the narrow kitchen. "I knew it! I told you they were going to give it to you!"

"Wait, wait, let me put you down," Liam laughed, setting her back on her feet. His smile faltered just a fraction, a nervous energy settling into his eyes. He reached out, taking both of her hands in his. "There’s a catch, Haze."

Hazel’s smile softened into a confused frown. "What kind of catch?"

"The firm is expanding its overseas operations," Liam explained, his thumbs rubbing gently over her knuckles. "They don't want me managing the accounts here in San Francisco. They want me to spearhead the new division."

"Okay," Hazel said slowly. "Where is the new division?"

"Singapore."

Hazel blinked, the word taking a second to process. "Singapore. That's... that's on the other side of the world, Liam."

"I know. It's a six-month contract," Liam said quickly, his grip tightening on her hands. His eyes searched her face, looking for any sign of panic. "They need me on the ground there to build the team. Once the six months are up, I come back to the San Francisco office, keep the Director title, and keep the salary."

Six months. Half a year. Hazel felt a sudden, heavy ache in her chest at the thought of coming home to an empty apartment for six months. No morning coffees together. No car rides to work. Just a twelve-hour time difference and video calls.

"Hazel, listen to me," Liam said, his voice dropping to a serious, completely devoted tone. "I told them I needed a day to talk to my fiancé. If you don't want me to go, I will march into the office tomorrow and turn it down. I mean it. I can find another promotion eventually. You are my priority. Always."

Hazel looked at his earnest, loving face. She knew he meant every word. He would throw away the biggest opportunity of his career if she shed a single tear. But she also knew how hard he had worked for this. The late nights, the stress, the endless emails. This was his dream.

She took a deep breath, pushing the selfish ache down, and squeezed his hands.

"Don't you dare turn it down," Hazel said firmly.

"Haze, are you sure? Six months is a long time."

"We are saving for a wedding, Liam Carter," she smiled, forcing a light, teasing tone into her voice. "We have student loans. If you think I’m letting you give up a massive salary bump just because I'm going to miss you, you're crazy. You have to take it."

Liam let out a massive breath of relief, resting his forehead against hers. "Are you absolutely positive?"

"I'm positive. I'm so proud of you," Hazel whispered, closing her eyes as he kissed her.

"Thank you," Liam breathed against her lips. "I promise, I'll call you every single day. The time is going to fly by. We’ll be buying our house before you know it."

"I know we will," Hazel smiled, pulling back slightly. "So, when do you have to leave? Next week? We should plan a going-away dinner with Chloe and the guys."

Liam grimaced slightly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Actually... the project is already behind schedule. They already booked my flight."

"When?"

"Tomorrow night."

Hazel’s stomach dropped. "Tomorrow? Liam, that's insane. You haven't even packed."

"I know it's sudden," Liam said apologetically, pulling her back into his arms. "Corporate moves fast. But I'll pack tonight. Tomorrow, we both go to work, I'll come home early, grab my bags, and head to the airport. It's going to be a crazy twenty-four hours, but we can do this."

Hazel looked up at him, seeing the sheer excitement and ambition shining in his eyes. She couldn't ruin this for him. She swallowed the sudden lump of anxiety in her throat and nodded. "Okay. Tomorrow night. We better start doing laundry then."

"Laundry can wait," Liam murmured.

He didn't give her a chance to argue. He leaned down, catching her lips in a deep, hungry kiss. He backed her up against the edge of the kitchen counter, his hands sliding down to grip her hips. The reality of his sudden departure shifted the atmosphere in the room. The kiss wasn't just sweet anymore; it was urgent and a little desperate.

Hazel responded instantly, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. She let him lift her, her legs wrapping around his waist as he carried her out of the kitchen and down the short hallway to their bedroom.

The door clicked shut behind them. The room was dark, lit only by the streetlights filtering through the blinds. Liam set her down on the edge of the mattress, his hands quickly working the buttons of her blouse. Hazel helped him pull his heavy sweater over his head, her hands pressing flat against his warm, familiar chest.

There was no hesitation between them, only the deep, comfortable intimacy of a couple who knew exactly what the other needed. Liam was gentle but demanding, his kisses trailing down her neck and collarbone, making Hazel gasp softly in the quiet room. She tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling him closer, wanting to memorize the weight and warmth of his body against hers before the brutal distance separated them.

Hours later, the apartment was completely silent.

Hazel lay curled on her side, her head resting on Liam’s bare chest. His arm was wrapped securely around her, his steady, rhythmic heartbeat matching the slow rise and fall of his breathing. He was fast asleep.

Hazel stayed awake for a few minutes longer, staring at the shadows on the bedroom wall. She traced the edge of the silver diamond on her left hand with her thumb. Six months. It was going to be incredibly hard, but they were strong. They loved each other. Nothing was going to change that.

She closed her eyes, pressing a soft kiss to Liam’s chest, and finally let sleep take her, feeling completely safe in his arms.