Chapter 5.

HAZEL.

The winds rushed through my hair as I made my way down the arrival unit. I stared up at the large sign. Welcome to Seattle. The familiar scent of my hometown hit me in the face and my heart sank to my stomach.

Not a lot of things had changed since I was here, six years ago. I clutched the tickets in my hands. Four. Mine, the kid's. And Agnes'.

"You're ready?" I looked back at my aunt. Her voice was gentle as she held onto the last suitcase. I nodded. "I'm so happy you came with me" I said to her. The twins were right next to her, playing on their iPad. "And them too," I added.

Maybe Seattle wasn't a bad idea after all.

"You know this was the first company that offered to take them along. You know I would never leave them otherwise" I nudged Agnes' shoulders whose lips were always in a smile.

"You're just like your Mum," She said. "She would be so proud."

"Mummy. Mummy" Elizabeth called. "This means we get to see daddy right?" She asked the question that stopped my heart. My lips fell open, but the words didn't come out.

"You know what your Mummy said" It was Agnes who replied to her and then came David. "She said soon" He replied. "Well, it's not the time yet." Agnes said. "You'll see your father someday."

I knew it wouldn't be long until it came up again. They were six years old now it was only natural that their curiosity grew with them. I couldn't tell the truth. That their father was a man I'd met in the club one night.

That I didn't even know what he really looked like.

"Someday," I just always said. Hoping that day would never come.

"Let's go look for Aunt Evelyn" I drew their hands, immediately navigating the crowds for her. But just ahead of us was a scene. An elderly man was apprehended by some guards. They slapped him across the face and I gasped, letting go of my bags.

"Hazel!" My aunt called but I'd already charged towards them. "Hey!" I exclaimed. "Why would you do that?! What did he do to deserve that?" I dared to yell in the old man's defense whose eyes were glassy with tears.

All eyes turned to me, the five-foot petite woman who dared to stand up to these guards.

"What seems to be the problem?" Another voice emerged from

behind. A man with dark glasses and a newspaper gazette in his hands stepped forward. He looked to the guards.

"I said teach this man a lesson." The moment he took off his glasses was when I realized. "It's you!" I exclaimed. It was the same man I had bumped into at the hotel in Chicago. The rude spoiled one who thought he could always buy his way out of things with money.

He returned a narrow gaze at me and he was furious.

"Are you stalking me, woman?" He struck a finger at me. "Don't flatter yourself" I chuckled, grasping the old man's hands. "Is he your father?" He looked at the two of us.

"Will you stop assaulting him if I said yes?" I threw the question back at him and there was a glint in his eyes. "What are you even doing here in Seattle again?" He grunted.

"Go!" I let go of the man who scurried away in his ragged clothes. The guards tried to go after him but he halted them with a stern wave. "Let him." He grudgingly muttered.

"I want you to know you just helped a thief run away" He looked at me before putting on his glasses. The moment he buried his hands in his pockets, I knew just what he was about to do next.

"You know I don't need your charity" I stepped back. He hefted out a wad of cash with a chuckle. "This isn't charity. It's so you can fuck off. You think I don't know your type?" He accused.

"You hear of Nicolas, the richest billionaire and you flock around him, stalking his every move. You want in" He said. His words riled me up. I could feel my hands fold into his fist.

How dare he?

"This is for you to drop it. Quit and leave because it would never happen" He said. Did he think I was some sort of low-life hooker?

I watched the man walk away. I still froze in my steps until I heard my name from a distance. "Hazel!" I immediately recognized her voice. I turned around to Evelyn who screamed and embraced me.

"I can't believe it's you!" She squeezed around me tightly. "I can't believe you're back." And then she pulled away. "What happened? I saw you talking to Nicolas Vaughn." She arched her brows, looking at the money on the ground, urged to pick it.

"Don't." I stopped her. "He's an asshole."

"Why wouldn't he be?" Evelyn scoffed. "He's like the most powerful man in all of Seattle. Rose to wealth a couple of years ago after you left. They say cryptocurrency but it's something shady if you ask me" Evelyn said. Her words faded in my eyes as I turned around to his back before he disappeared.

There was a sense of familiarity that struck me. From him. Like I knew him. "Come on," Eve pulled my hands. I shook my head but I couldn't quite shake the feeling. I looked at David and immediately repulsed the thought.

"It couldn't be" I told myself. It was merely a resemblance in his hair.

"Hey. You're okay?" Evelyn pouted. "It's almost like you're not excited to see me" She said. I dropped it. Immediately embracing my best friend.

"I am!" I exclaimed with a convincing tone.

Evelyn smiled. "Then let's go. I have a lot of things to show you. And the twins" She hugged them. "Aunt Evelyn!" They called her name. They knew her of course and they loved her.

We walked out of the airport and the breeze blew into my hair. I was looking forward to my first day of work here. My first day as a fully contracted baker in one of the biggest hotel chains in the world.

The next day came faster than light and I picked out my best dress alongside my lucky charm apron. I charged through the doors of the newly opened Earls Hotel, here in Seattle.

I was excited, and that was an understatement. I was thrilled. Ready to take on anything. Nothing was going to bring me down.

"Hazel Bennett" A voice called from behind and I turned around to a man with a clipboard in his hands. Dark hair with skin the color of caramel. I looked at his tag but he was quicker.

"I'm Joseff" He stuck out his hands and I took them hesitantly. But he had a friendly smile. "I'm your supervisor, come this way" He urged, leading me up the stairs.

"You should meet the new boss, who couldn't shut up about your cakes" He teased and I beamed with pride. "I'm sure he can't wait to see the face behind such heavenly delicacies." Joseff added.

"He has a vision for this place, and we can't wait to see what you do with it" He continued, halting in front of a door. Once again, he stuck out his hands. His face was a bit flushed.

"It's an honor" I said before I opened the door and I didn't hear his last words quickly enough.

"Nicolas would love you." The moment I saw him, my breath hitched in my throat. I locked eyes with the CEO and the moment he spun his chair around, he arose to his feet.

It was the same man from the airport and the one from Chicago. He pressed his knuckles against the hard edge of his table, narrowing his eyes at me.

"It's you again" He scowled. Far from thrilled and I wasn't either.

"You have got to be kidding me."