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All Chapters of Lust & Love: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

101 Chapters

CHAPTER 51

Hazel frowned, genuine concern replacing her anxiety. Sarah was a permanent fixture on the forty-second floor. She was a brilliant, iron-willed assistant who flawlessly managed the terrifying CEO's entire life. "Oh no. That's awful. Is she coming back?""Who knows," Chloe whispered. "But the executive suite is completely panicking. You know how Sterling is. The man is a machine. He doesn't function without a schedule. Human Resources is scrambling to find a senior-level temp, but he's already fired two people this morning just for making noise in the hallway."Before Hazel could respond, the sleek black phone on her desk buzzed loudly.Both women jumped. Hazel looked down at the caller ID. It didn't say Executive Reception. It just said Xavier Sterling.Chloe's eyes widened. She quickly stood up, grabbing her coffee. "I'll let you take that," she mouthed, backing out of the office and pulling the glass door shut.Hazel swallowed hard. Her hands were slightly trembling as she reached ou

CHAPTER 52

Hazel nodded slowly, completely unsure why he was telling her this. "I'm sure they can find someone more qualified by tomorrow.""I don't have until tomorrow," Xavier snapped, his voice dropping into a dark, commanding rumble. He walked around the edge of his desk, completely closing the distance between them. "I am closing a massive acquisition with a London firm this week. The files are highly confidential. I do not trust a random temp from a staffing agency to handle my private communications, and I do not have the time to train someone."He stopped right in front of her. He looked down, his intense gaze locking onto hers."You are taking over her desk," Xavier ordered.Hazel’s breath completely stopped in her lungs. She stared up at him, entirely convinced she had misheard him. "What?""You heard me," Xavier said smoothly. "You are moving out of the marketing department. You are my interim executive assistant, effective immediately.""Xavier, no," Hazel argued, her voice rising in

CHAPTER 53

When she carried her box off the elevator on the forty-second floor, the reality of the situation completely crushed her.She walked over to the massive, pristine reception desk sitting directly outside the heavy mahogany doors of Xavier's office. She set her box down. She sat in the expensive ergonomic chair and logged into the computer system.It was absolute torture.The glass walls of his office meant she had a completely unobstructed view of him all day long. For the rest of the week, Hazel sat at the desk, completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of his corporate demands. She answered his private phone line. She organized his incredibly complex, minute-by-minute schedule. She intercepted nervous executives trying to secure five minutes of his time.Every single time he walked out of his office to hand her a file or issue a new command, the sharp scent of his cologne washed over her, making her heart hammer painfully against her ribs. She was managing his entire life, playing th

CHAPTER 54

"You are attending with me," Xavier stated, his voice completely flat. "The event is at the Pierre Hotel. It starts at eight o'clock."Hazel’s heart gave a violent, painful jolt. She dropped the invitation back onto the desk. "Xavier, no. Absolutely not. That is a highly exclusive event. The entire board of directors will be there. The press will be there. If I walk into a ballroom on your arm, people will talk. It completely violates the boundaries of the contract.""It violates nothing," Xavier replied coldly, shutting down her argument instantly. He leaned forward, placing his large hands flat on her desk, completely dominating her space. "You are my executive secretary. It is completely standard protocol for my assistant to accompany me to corporate events.""I am an analyst playing secretary for a week!" Hazel argued fiercely, her chest tightening with panic. The idea of standing in a crowded ballroom with him, wearing a formal gown, pretending they were just colleagues while she

CHAPTER 55

The heavy door of the Maybach swung open, letting the freezing autumn wind rush into the quiet cabin.Hazel stepped out onto the damp pavement. Flashbulbs immediately exploded in her peripheral vision. A thick crowd of photographers and reporters was penned behind velvet ropes, shouting names and snapping pictures as New York’s absolute elite filed toward the grand entrance of the Waldorf Astoria.She stood on the edge of the red carpet, the freezing air biting at her bare shoulders.The stylist Xavier had sent to the penthouse at noon had been ruthless and incredibly efficient. Hazel was wearing a breathtaking, floor-length emerald green gown. The heavy silk clung tightly to every single curve of her body, completely weaponizing her shape. The neckline plunged into a sharp V, and a dangerously high slit rode up her left thigh, exposing her bare leg with every step she took. Her dark hair had been swept up into a sleek, elegant twist, and a pair of heavy diamond drop earrings brushed a

CHAPTER 56

She was trying to do her job. She was trying to focus on the corporate espionage he had assigned her.But her heart was hammering a frantic, terrified rhythm against her ribs. She was waiting for him. Every time the heavy brass doors opened, her breath stalled in her lungs.At exactly eight-thirty, the low hum of conversation in the ballroom suddenly shifted. The energy in the massive space changed instantly, heads turning and conversations pausing as a ripple of attention completely swept toward the front entrance.Hazel lowered her champagne glass. She looked toward the doors.Xavier Sterling walked into the ballroom.Hazel’s chest completely caved in. Her lungs stopped working.He looked terrifyingly handsome. He was wearing a custom-tailored, pitch-black tuxedo that fit the massive, broad lines of his body with absolute perfection. The crisp white shirt and dark bowtie sharply highlighted the hard, ruthless angles of his jaw and his piercing blue eyes. He radiated a dark, completel

CHAPTER 57

Victoria kept her hand firmly resting on Xavier’s bicep. Every time she laughed at a joke, her fingers lightly, casually brushed against the dark fabric of his tuxedo jacket.Hazel gripped her champagne flute so tightly the crystal threatened to snap in her hand. Her vision completely blurred with thick, hot tears.She loved him. She was completely, hopelessly in love with the terrifying man standing fifty feet away from her. She had surrendered her body to him, she lived in his house, and she knew exactly how his chest moved when he was exhausted. She knew he drank his coffee black and cooked eggs in sweatpants on Saturday mornings.But the world didn't know that. The world saw Victoria Kensington.Victoria was the suitable match. Victoria had the pedigree, the money, and the public standing to walk into a room holding Xavier Sterling’s arm. Hazel was just the hired help. She was the temporary, contractual possession he kept locked away in the dark, hidden inside Penthouse 42 for his

CHAPTER 58

He was showing her exactly where she belonged. He had brought her here to watch him operate, completely blind to the fact that forcing her to watch him with another woman was tearing her to shreds.Two hours passed in pure, unadulterated agony.The dinner plates were cleared. The charity auction began on the main stage. The heavy doors to the terrace were opened, letting the cool night air filter into the overheated ballroom.Hazel had not moved from her corner. Her feet were screaming in pain from the towering stilettos, and her jaw physically ached from keeping her teeth locked tightly together. She had finished her glass of champagne an hour ago but hadn't grabbed another one, terrified that any alcohol would completely strip away the fragile, professional mask she was holding up.Across the room, the auctioneer called out a staggering price for a piece of modern art.The crowd clapped politely. Xavier stood up from the VIP table. He buttoned his tuxedo jacket and whispered somethin

CHAPTER 59

The applause from the ballroom floor echoed loudly, a sharp, ringing sound that completely battered against Hazel’s skull.She stood in the shadowed corner near the terrace doors, watching the bright flashes of the press cameras illuminate the front stage. The mayor of New York was standing at the podium, smiling broadly. Standing directly to his right was Xavier, looking effortlessly powerful in his custom black tuxedo. Standing to Xavier’s left, perfectly positioned in the center of the flashing lights, was Victoria Kensington.Hazel couldn't breathe. The air in the massive, overheated room had grown incredibly thin. The scent of expensive perfume, roasted meat, and melted wax from the table centerpieces suddenly made her stomach turn violently.She had to get out of there.She turned away from the stage, keeping her head down. She navigated blindly through the maze of round tables, dodging waiters carrying heavy trays of empty champagne flutes. Her black stilettos pinched her toes w

CHAPTER 60

Hazel’s eyes snapped open. She immediately stood up straight, turning off the gold faucet and reaching for a thick, monogrammed hand towel. She wiped her damp fingers, forcing her posture into a rigid, professional line as she looked through the mirror to see who had walked in.Victoria Kensington let the heavy door swing shut behind her.The tall, stunning heiress walked into the marble room, her silver gown shimmering fluidly with every step. She didn't look tired. She didn't look flushed from the heat of the ballroom. She looked completely immaculate, her blonde hair sitting perfectly over her shoulders, the massive diamond necklace resting heavily against her bare chest.Hazel’s chest tightened. She placed the damp towel on the edge of the sink and picked up her black clutch, intending to walk straight out the door."Don't leave on my account, Miss Evans," Victoria said smoothly. Her bright, melodic voice echoed clearly in the quiet room.Hazel paused. She turned slightly, keeping

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