LOGINHAZEL I picked up my fork and then forced my eyes toward my plate, focusing on taking one bite after the other.“How was your day?” his voice suddenly sounded.I paused for a second before I lifted my gaze toward him. He was leaning back slightly in his chair, watching me.“Fine.”“Just fine? Nothing interesting happened today? No studying?”I looked at him before I responded.“It was fine.”He was quiet for a second before he nodded, and then we went back to eating in silence again. Angela brought in dish after dish as we ate in silence, throwing me glances I couldn't read, wondering what she meant with her gaze.But soon, the dinner was finished, and as usual, Axel stood up.“I will be in my office.”I nodded.“Okay.”He walked ahead without adding another word, as he always had, and I sat there as Angela cleared the dishes, giving me this look I couldn't understand. And I couldn't take it anymore.“What?” I said to her.“Nothing,” she said and continued walking.That's just great,
HAZEL Then I raised my hand toward my lips, feeling them, wondering if I had just kissed Axel or if that had all been my imagination.But no. That feeling, the way he held me, the way he kissed me... that was not an imagination. I always knew Axel wanted me, and it seemed like nothing had changed.But also... I swallowed as Harris's face came to mind.What am I doing? I shouldn't have kissed him. Why did I kiss him?Did he kiss me? Did I kiss him? I don't know who was to blame for what happened, but he had looked shaken afterwards. Was it that he didn't want to kiss me?Was it that his... I shook my head and stopped my mind from going wild. I could never figure out Axel. It was stupid to think about him. I should be thinking about myself and what that kiss meant.Did it really mean anything if the first thing Axel did after was, “We can't”?Did he regret kissing me?Did it have to do with Harris?Did it have to do with what happened?Or did he think I didn't want to?This was so fr
HAZEL I didn't know what to say. There was something in his voice that made the teasing suddenly feel different. It felt like this wasn't teasing anymore. This was heavier. More real.I looked away towards the garden."How much is long enough?"He was quiet until I looked his way quickly."I think that was enough questions for one night.""You told me that you were going to tell me everything you knew about me that I didn't know you knew.""You didn't tell me I had to say everything right now. Like the fact that you have never really had a best friend, one that you can tell everything, one that you trusted completely."I froze, then I looked back at him."Ho.... How.....?""I already told you," he interrupted. "I've been watching you."There was a way he said that that made me pause. As we sat there looking at each other in the night, some of the angles in his face a little darker than the others, I wondered.I wondered if he was still attracted to me. I wondered if he did all of thi
HAZEL Then I looked at how his suit fit him. I could clearly envision what his body looked like underneath it. I could feel what it would be like with my hands on him, running my hands over him. I couldn't help sticking out my tongue to wet my suddenly dry lips. His gaze went towards my mouth immediately following the action.I don't know what would have happened in the next few seconds if the phone in his pocket hadn't started ringing. The shrill sound was a wake-up call; we both seemed to come back down to earth with the ringing."Sorry, just one second." He said to me before he turned away to pick up his call.I used that time to compose myself and take a huge breath."Yeah?" He said into his phone. Then listened. "All right. Send it to me. I'll look it over."He hung up, then turned towards me."So, are you ready for that walk?""Ready as I'll ever be," I said as I stood up.He walked towards the door, opened it, and waited for me. I walked out first, trying to act like my heart
HAZEL Were we flirting?I laughed to cover my thoughts."You definitely can be arrogant.""That's your opinion," he said."It's a fact."He shook his head, and I couldn't help smiling too. There was something so easy about this. Something I hadn't expected. I found myself walking closer to his desk."What do you think.....?" I asked, getting a little serious, but also keeping it light. "When you look at me?""Well, when I look at you, I see a determined woman going after something she wants, and that's how I know you're going to become a nurse."His eyes stayed on mine, never wandering."I am very sure about that.""You're very sure?""I told you. I know," he responded.I smiled."And what if I fail?""You won't.""What if I do?""You won't," he responded, not leaving room for questions.I laughed softly."You really don't leave room for doubts, do you?""Not when it comes to you," he responded, still holding my gaze; there was something in there.There was something that made me swa
HAZELThings have been moving swiftly these days.I had already started my Chemistry prerequisite classes. I have breakfast with Angela. Sometimes she doesn't show up when Axel does. But We have lunch together since Axel is never home. And then, of course, for dinner, I have dinner with Axel every night.After dinner, we always find our way back to his office, where I study and he works. And more often than not, I find myself falling asleep. Sometimes I start to get sleepy, throw in the towel, and say goodnight before going back to my bedroom.So far, we have found our own tune in our own surroundings, and I have gotten to know more of Axel Moretti.....this new Axel Moretti who is so different from the man who had held me captive before.He has these smiles he throws my way, scarse and few. He has a softness to him when it's just the two of us and He actually listens to me, he pays attention too. sometimes, of course, we steal glances at each other and I like it more than I should.I
AXELThe minute Remo walks into the penthouse, I know he’s about to give me another headache.I don’t even look up right away.“What’s that smile for?” I ask.I know Remo. And I know that smile.I don’t like it.He just shrugs. “Nothing.”“Anything you found out about Morozov?”“No. I’m still diggi
HAZELAxel gives me a look.A look that says I’m way beneath him.A look that says I am undeserving of an answer or an explanation.“You’re here, aren’t you?” he says, almost bored. “You’re safe, you’re fed, you have a roof over your head, and that’s all you need to know.”That gets my anger rollin
HAZELAngela freezes as she stares at me.“Remo? Why?”“You told me he’s the only one who might know where Axel is,” I say flatly. “And I want to know where he is.”“That’s not a good idea,” she says. “And Remo isn’t here.”“I can wait,” I answer undeterred by her words.She studies me. “You’re loo
HAZELI am an idiot.A stupid, stupid idiot.Whàt was I thinking?What the hell was I expecting? That Axel was magically gonna change just because we slept together? That he was gonna..... I don’t know, spoil me? Take care of me after? Say sweet nothings into my ear? Whisper that he loved me?Gosh







