She was sitting in a very comfortable bed in the luxurious room of the crown prince wing of the main palace. Three days back she was shifted here due to Ezequiel’s insistence.She was not allowed to go and visit Noah due to the mental trauma she faced. Doctors had asked Ezequiel quite strictly not to bring her to the hospital.The maids of the wing were particularly instructed to keep her occupied and not to leave her alone for a single minute. She was busy in fighting her own demons.She found it unfair to involve Ezequiel in her battles when he had his own to fight. The soup bowl was lying on the side table brought by the maid a few hours back. It had become cold, sticky and thick. She had not been able to sleep since the night she had dreamed of the knocking.One: She was not interested in meeting Alec.Two: She was least interested in meeting Noah.Yes. Noah was still hanging to his life in the hospital. Ezequiel, who

“Hazel. Table no 33 wants some extra sauce for their chicken wings.” Clara came near the counter, tossing the tray in the plastic container.“On it!” Hazel muttered and filled the small porcelain container with the sauce. While balancing the tray expertly with drinks, sauce, and a Mac and cheese she went to the required tables to deliver the order.In a grey uniform that consisted of a button-up blouse with a short skirt showing her shapely legs paired with half-inch black heels, she looked beautiful yet graceful. Her hair was tied in a braid which always required Clara’s assistance as the hotel’s code never allowed them to keep the hair down or to make a chignon.It was the executive restaurant of a five-star hotel, the second topmost hotel of the city, where sixty to seventy percent of the customers used to be hotel guests. She got the job with the help of Clara who was not only her college fellow but also a very good friend

He wanted to drop her first before going to the hotel he was staying in but she forbade stubbornly.“You are not staying anywhere Dustin.”“But where would I sleep?”“You can sleep with me, idiot. I am safe with you, now I know.” She stuck out her tongue earning a playful punch from him. He collected his luggage which only consisted of a small suitcase.“Just a suitcase, Dustin? Seriously?”“I’ll be leaving tomorrow darling.”  “What? So soon?”“Next time sweetheart! I promise.”They both went back to her apartment.“You are doing well Hazel. You purchased it?” He was looking around hell impressed. The apartment was not much spacious but was furnished and had a class with minimal stuff.“Yeah” she smiled placing her purse on the tabletop. “The shampoo business helped a lot.”The

They all were looking at her curiously. For a minute she did not know what to say. Then she just shrugged her one shoulder trying to look around nonchalantly.She did not know what to say. They all were looking at her expecting some answer and quite frankly she wanted to lie. But they all were her friends and deserved some honesty.“He was my class fellow in high school, in Kavoda city.” When she named the capital city of Kavoda kingdom their eyes went wide.“Hazel. You never told us you are from the city of Kavoda.” Poppi narrowed her eyes, “Not even when we were discussing visiting it. We discussed so many times about Royals but you never mentioned Noah James being your classmate. ”Hazel was thinking for some appropriate answer when Elli intervened, “Come on you guys. She just told you in College Café that she is still getting over a heartbreak. Do you expect to open up about her life so soon?”

After reaching back at Elli’s place, she got her purse and dug in to find her phone. She was planning to send Ezequiel a message, after settling down for the movie with others. Without disturbing her friends.It was a home theatre with bomb speakers.“Dustin. Join us!” Elli had paused the movie but Dustin just shook his head. And then something odd happened. Something, everyone sitting there was least expecting.“Hey, Jackson! Are you enjoying the movie?” Out of nowhere, Dustin asked Jackson.“No man!” Jackson had a bored expression on his face causing everyone sitting there to look at him savagely. “What?” Jackson had a smug expression on his face but that too evaporated when they all heard Dustin’s next words.“Do you want to spend time with me? If it’s ok for you?” Hazel who wanted Dustin to leave as soon as possible so that she could send a message to Zeki was shocked