Chapter 06

HAZEL 

This can’t be freaking happening! There’s no way the mysterious stranger I had a one night stand with Kane and Aria’s uncle! Yet the truth was staring right in front of me in the shape of an older man, in the light of the day, he looked younger and so much hotter than I could have ever anticipated. 

What the hell! The situation is already worse and the last thing I should be doing is thinking about how good looking he was, if Kane or Aria ever finds out what I did… I’d lose my best friend. At this point, I think there’s a good reason to think the universe is punishing me for what I did last night. 

Guilt was already eating me up for having a one night stand, even though Kane cheated on me first, we weren’t broken up. I stoop to his level, actually lower because he didn’t do it with my aunt. My heart slammed painfully against my chest at the knowledge of what I just did, I felt sick to my stomach. 

“Your friend?” His deep voice, the same familiar voice that moaned naughty things in my ear last night. 

Feeling embarrassed and ashamed for the train of my thoughts, I briefly looked down, ignoring his outstretched hand. I didn’t trust myself enough to touch him, hell! I wanted to get away before Aria would pick up on my nervous behavior. 

“Nice to meet you Mr…” I never got his name, didn’t feel the need to and if Aria had mentioned it, it completely went over my head while I was trying to recover from the shock that my one night stand is her freaking uncle! 

“It’s Zade…sweetheart.” The firm emphasis on the word sweetheart made me shift uncomfortably, why is he doing this to me? It’s like he’s getting a sick amusement from watching me squirm on my toes. 

I cleared my throat, pushing back the flashbacks from the night before. “Nice meeting you Mr Zade, I’m Hazel…” I look around the place, a desperate attempt to avoid eye contact. “Lovely home you got here.” 

Unaware of what’s happening, Aria fling her arms around me. “See? I have been inviting you here since forever, we are going to have so much fun.” Turning to her Zade with the same amount of enthusiasm. “I’m going to take Hazel on a tour, please can you ask one of the servants to take our bags to my room? Thank you!” 

Without waiting for a response, she was leading me out of the house. I looked over my shoulder, quickly looking away when I found Zade already staring at me. Coming here was a bad idea! I can’t stay here, I thought, looking for a way to break it to Aria. 

“Since you like nature so much, it’s only fair I take you to see the garden first. It was planted in the memories of his mother who loves nature as well.” Aria continues, leading me through a smaller gate this time around. 

“Aria…” I called as I stopped walking. 

She immediately looked at me with concern. “What's wrong? Are you feeling okay?” 

Seeing how much she cares for me, makes me feel even more guilty. How could I have done this to her? Perhaps if it was only Kane in the picture, I wouldn’t feel this much guilt. Aria deserves more than a cheating lying best friend who slept with her favourite uncle! 

“I don’t think I should stay here, I don’t want to be a burden to you or your uncle.” I informed her, which is far from what I really wanted to say. 

“Hey, don’t say that. You’re not a burden to me and as for Uncle Zade, he’s always happy to have company since he doesn’t have a family of his own yet. Trust me, you need to stop overthinking and start enjoying the moment, isn’t that what we came here to do?” 

Accepting defeat, I nodded my head in agreement. For now, I’ll enjoy the moment, then later I will worry about how I’m going to survive staying here a whole weekend without bumping into Zade. Maybe if I’m lucky, he will feel as guilty and ashamed as I’m feeling right now so what happened last night will never be spoken about or acknowledged. 

Half an hour later, I followed Aria into her room, which has more colour and taste than her apartment back at home. It’s clear from their interactions that they have a very close relationship which is why she can never know about what transpired between me and Zade. 

“Where are my things?” I asked, noticing my luggage was not in her room like she requested. 

“I was going to ask that too, could the servants have misplaced it?” She double checked through her stuff and still found it missing. 

“Is there a problem?” I jumped at the sound of Zade’s voice. 

I swallowed hard, my heart racing as I took in his sudden appearance. He had changed into a casual outfit, sweatpants and a grey sweatshirt, he rolled up the sleeves revealing his masculine arms and I found myself unable to look away. 

“A minor one, I can’t find Hazel bags.” Aria's response shattered the trance I was in. 

He wasn’t looking at her when he answered but instead directly at me. “I told the servant to put them in a separate room.” 

My heart skipped, is there some kind of implication there or was my imagination running wild? “Uhmm, I think I would prefer to share a room with Aria if that’s okay.” 

“There’s no need for you to share, there’s enough room in the manor right, Aria?” He glanced briefly at his niece. 

“Right! I better go wash my face real quick.” She walks into the bathroom, leaving me alone with him. 

For a split second, I debated going in with her but stopped deciding it would raise suspicion which will seem to Zade like I’m avoiding him. From the corner of my eyes, I saw him take a step towards me. 

“Don’t.” I begged, stealing a glance at the bathroom door. 

“You do remember me then.” He smirked and before I could form a response, his lips were on mine, kissing me down!