CHAPTER 4

HAZEL

An unpermitted moan followed as I screamed out of bed. Beads of sweat plastered on my forehead, my chest heaving, my thighs wet and slimy.

What the fuck just happened?

Did I just….Did I just have a sex dream about Niko? My brother-in-law? My sister’s husband? In their house?

I am so done…

Argh!

What the fuck is wrong with me?

The ghost of his hands, the weight of his body, the phantom taste of his mouth, his hard cock, pressing against my ass, my wet clit—everything felt so real, vivid, and shameful.

Fuck.

I pressed my face into the pillow, a silent scream of embarrassment muffled in the cotton.

I thought seeing me with a vibrating Dildo was embarrassing him but how do I face him after I just had a dream of him fucking me from behind on his sacred kitchen counter?

I need help.

There is only one way to live through this.

IGNORE HIM!

And that’s what I did.

I waited, everyday for him to leave the house after taking care of Vira before leaving the house.

Yvonne rarely comes home. It’s been five days since I moved in and I have only seen her once and that was because she came to grab a document she forgot.

I wonder how Vira and Nikolai handle the absence.

Ah…whatever, it’s none of my business.

My phone chimed as I pulled out of my bedroom, sure that Nikolai and Navira were both out of the house.

DASTON: Boss, we have a meeting today, don’t be late.

DASTON: You’ve been slacking since you moved in with your sister’s family.

DASTON: Are you sure you don’t need me to buy you a new apartment? We can go house hunting after the meeting.

My lips curled into a smile, my business partner and longest male friend, Daston bombarded me with text.

I could already tell the look he has on his face while typing this.

He worries a lot and he is not a fan of my being inconvenient.

ME: I don’t need a new apartment, Dad…You worry too much. Let’s have coffee in one hour before the meeting.

DASTON: I got you.

“How late will you be tonight?” I heard his voice behind me, and my heart almost jumped out of my chest.

I thought he left…why is he still here?

“Very..very late, I have a few things to finish up today,” I muttered, clearing my throat and making sure I do not spare him a glance.

“So you won’t be back in time for dinner? I was going to make some mac and cheese, you and Vira love my mac and cheese.” He muttered, slight worry and concern in his voice.

“Uhm..no, I won’t be back in time for dinner.” I muffled.

“By the way, I forgot to ask, where did you say you work again?” He rasped.

Right…he doesn’t know…they all don’t know how successful I am now.

Should I tell him?

He’d be proud of me.

No…no…I should ignore him…I can’t have another dream about him.

“Uhm  I work at uhm….Safe Haven hotel.” I answered, my back still turned to him.

“Oh..that’s nice…”

“I have to go now, I’m late.” I dashed out before he could say another word.

Three more days went by, I ignored him completely, I left when he was out to work and I returned really late.

Daston hates me because I kept him with me, preventing him from going to the club just because I couldn’t go home in time.

But tonight I failed.

As I walked in through the gate, my eyes locked on the black Mercedes at the park.

Yvonne.

I opened the door, gently walking in. Everyone was awake.

Yvonne, Navira, and Nikolai who was busy putting the food together in the kitchen.

“Oh perfect, you’re back…Join us for dinner, how was ….” She paused, her eyes dragged through my body. “Do you still take allowance from mum and Dad?” She asked.

“No.”

“Honey, did you give Hazel some money behind my back?”

Nikolai turned and for the first time in four days, our eyes met but he peeled away quickly, turning to his wife, “No, why?”

“Why are you asking all these questions?” I grumbled, rushing to meet her at the dining table.

“I was just wondering how you were able to afford that Dior dress on your body…it’s limited edition, you see…you can’t afford that.” She muttered.

“Yvonne, Aevia is a grown woman, I’m sure she can afford a dress if she wants to, and working in a hotel like Safe Haven, I am sure they pay her enough,” Nikolai answered, placing a plate of spicy shrimps on the table.

Yvonne chuckled, “You’re the only one that calls her Aevia…I wonder why.” She took a bite and my throat tightened.

“It’s a nice name, don’t you think?” Niko muffled, sitting next to her but she doesn’t respond.

We all sat at the table, eating.

I hate this tension. I hate that I have to sit at this table with them…so happy…so married.

“Mummy, this week the school needs the parents to come over, you and Dad were invited but Dad has always been the one showing up, will you show up this time?”

“Huh, Vira, are you tired of seeing Daddy?” Niko frowned but I could see it..the anger he was hiding, not towards his daughter but towards his wife, my sister.

Did something happen?

“No, Daddy, I will never get tired of seeing your handsome face, I just…none of my classmates have seen mummy and most of them always come with their mummy so I was hoping mummy could come this time.” Vira pouted her hands dancing around her food.

The silence was deafening, Niko's eyes dragged to his wife, who didn’t even spare her daughter a glance.

Was Yvonne always like this?

“Yvonne?” Niko’s tender voice turned dark as he glared at his wife.

Her gaze finally teared off her food, “Sure, mummy will make time.” She said it like it was a chore then went back to her phone while scrolling her phone with the other hand.

----

I woke up to the revving sound of Yvonne’s Mercedes, I slightly opened my curtain, only to find her driving out of the mansion.

“Is today not the day Vira needs her at school?” I mumbled to myself.

I made my way to the kitchen in a black short dress, my hair tied up in a ponytail, with a light lip gloss on my lips.

My eyes scanned the kitchen for the powdered milk, until they settled on it at the top of the counter. I stretched reaching for it when I lost balance slightly.

Shit.

Once again, I crashed into his arm, my back colliding with his wide chest, making me so small in his arms. He reached for the milk and slowly brought it down to me.

I can’t stay close to him…who knows what sort of dream I would have now.

I pulled away, stepping away from his grasp, “Thanks.” I whisper, stepping out of his space but he caught my wrist, gentle but unyielding, “Aevia, wait.” He whispered.

“Let go, Nikolai, I have to get to work,” I whispered, my gaze everywhere but on him. I could feel my cheeks burning from his gentle touch.

“You’re avoiding me.” He muffled, his voice, low, deep, yearning.

“No…I’m not.” I lied.

“You can’t even look at me.” He fired back.

“I have no reason to.” I retorted.

“Hazel, stop.” His voice stern, direct, “Look at me.”

“Nikolai…”

“Aevia, please.”

Slowly I lifted my face, my eyes finding his.

“You’re avoiding me…is this because of the kiss or because I caught you with the dildo…”

I squeeze my eyes shut, mortified, “Niko, please don’t.”

“I am not shaming you, Aevia, I swear, I’m not.” His voice dropped, earnest, strained, “I don’t want you to avoid me, Aevia, please don’t ignore me…please.” The raw vulnerability in his words cracked something open in my chest, unleashing memories I buried somewhere. I should pull away and ask him not to request something like that from me but I couldn’t bring myself to.

I nodded.

“Okay.”

“Thank you.” He murmured, grabbed his things, and left for work.

I went to work completely dazed.

“Boss, you have yet to approve the reservation for Montes Holdings. Also, the art exhibition for Julio Art is next weekend, would you like to cross-check the details? Boss, the chef came up with a new recipe, and he wants you to try it before he includes it in our menu. Also, the new chef you want to hire, I already sent you a list of the chefs that suit our image and …Boss, are you even listening to me right now?”

“Huh?”

Nora slammed the schedule file in her hands, “Why don’t you go down for some fresh air, madam?” She faked a wide smile.

Her phone buzzed, she yanked it out of her pocket, “Hello, who is this?.... Yes, this is Hazel’s phone, may I ask who is asking?” She paused, turning to me, “Hold on, I’ll hand the phone over to her.”

“I am not in the mood for any business calls, Nora.” I whimpered.

“It’s Navira’s school.”

What?

I jumped from my chair, yanking the phone from her, “Hello, this is Hazel.”

“Navira would like to speak to you.” The lady at the other end of the phone muffled.

“Aunt Aevia?”

“Navira? Are you okay? What happened?” I rambled.

“Mum didn’t show up…do you think you can come to school?”