"Congratulations!" I smile widely as I hug her tightly.
"Now you are finally a doctor. God. Took you long enough," she laughs and shakes her head.
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." I pull away to see her basically bouncing on her feet. Arya laughs and gives her a hug too.
"Congratulations you goof," they back away and I catch someone walking towards us where we are standing outside the assembly hall. There are flowers decorating the whole garden that is here and through this big crowd of people, I easily recognise that face.
I quickly move Arya closer to me as he approaches us.
"What?" I gesture to the figure walking towards us with a bouquet of white roses in his hand. Arya stiffens beside me and we both look at each other not knowing what to do.
"What should we do?" I whisper in her ear, worry dripping from each word.
"I don't know," she drags out frustrated.
His smile is so big and I smile back when he sees me. He walks faster approaching us and Arya is literally panicking beside me.
"Hey Elvira. Arya." He nods to both of us and we smile back. Upon hearing his voice, Hazel turns around from talking to her friends and freezes.
"Kade." I see the hurt flash across her eyes as she whispers his name. The name showing its familiarity when she utters it, spilling out emotions that I know she has been keeping inside. Kade takes a step closer to her and hugs her while she just stands there frozen.
He starts to back away when Hazel doesn't move in order to not make her uncomfortable but she hugs him back. Resting her head in the crook of his neck, she tightens her arms around him.
I look at Arya and see her smiling at both of them.
Once they back away, Kade says in a small voice.
"Congratulations." He hands her the flowers and Hazel takes them with shaky hands.
"You came," he nods with a sad smile.
"Yeah, I promised you once that I would be here. Although I couldn't be the first one to congratulate you," I can feel Kade being slightly insecure but I can also see the hope he has in his eyes.
"Hazel!"
No. No. No.
I turn wide eyed to Arya to see the same expression on her face. My heart races faster as I realise what could happen.
I look at Hazel to see her mouth close before she could utter anything to him.
We all turn to the person who called her.
There he is. Hunter Knight. Hazel's current boyfriend.
He runs up to her and wraps his arms around her right in front of Kade. Brown hair, dark black eyes with glasses. You would think he is a nerd but this guy is anything but. He looks innocent but damn do me and Arya know just how innocent he is.
"Congratulations babe," and kisses her. Right. In. Front. Of. Kade.
I can see the small hope shatter in his eyes. He staggers back and I know he is having a hard time comprehending what is happening. My heart turns heavy with guilt knowing what just happened.
They both back away and Hunter turns to us.
"Hi. Sup." He says to both me and Arya then frowns when his eyes land on Kade.
"You are?" Kade shakes his head smiles at him. I know behind that smile is so much hurt hidden.
"Kade, this is Hunter." Hazel introduces them, she pauses before stating his relation with her.
"My boyfriend." I hold my breath waiting to see Kade's reaction but his face is void of any emotion.
"Hunter, this is Kade."
"A friend." That was the last stroke.
She just turned him a stranger with those two words. She broke his heart and didn't even realise. We kept the information of Hunter being Hazel's boyfriend away from Kade for the benefit of him so he doesn't get hurt further. But now I realise it has been a mistake.
Kade looks at us both and shakes his head before walking away.
"Kade. Listen-" I try to stop him.
"Don't. There is no point. Thanks for the useless help." I can practically hear his heart break in his voice. He shuts everyone off when something happens to him. Last time, it didn't end well. I so hope he doesn't do something stupid like drown himself in drinking and ruining himself.
He walks away from us. It's not fair how a kind guy like him has felt this. I don't know how I could have avoided this.
I don't run after him though. He needs some time because I know he may be blaming us so if I go after him, he might as well hate me even more.
Hazel what have you done?
***
"Ready?" Ella nods and opens the glass door to the conference room. She walks in before me and stands to the side.
With my bag and files in my hand, I walk in and watch everyone in the room stand up at my presence. Walking to the top seat, I nod at everyone before I glance at the other head of the table where Zane is standing with his hands in his pockets. I nod at him too before sitting down, I don't want to give him the satisfaction of winning.
"Let's get planning, shall we?" They nod and we start discussing where it could be.
I didn't realise Irene was here too but when she saw me, her eyes lit up and all the anger I felt coming here evaporated. This is why I chose this job. People believe in me and choose me to make their day special. She was very excitedly telling me everything she wanted while Ella was writing on her iPad everything she was telling me. I was nodding and adding in few suggestions of myself.
Irene is such a humble person. She didn't want it extravagant, but a simple birthday party, but despite her saying that, I know we had to extend some things to make it a massive event. A main colour she wanted was rose gold in contrast with black. I loved that idea. She wanted a grand hall with massive chandeliers but simple table cloths and close to nothing on them. A dance floor and a bar with drinks.
The whole time I could see Zane's calculating gaze on me from my peripheral vision. But I did not once look at him. Smiling and talking to everyone except him. Although I am in his building, in his conference room, I am ignoring him.
But I won't feel guilty or intimidated. He is mistaken if he thinks I will, just by stepping in his territory.
"So about budgets, here is what our estimates are," I say as I set up the projector and get up in front of everyone.
"The three venues we chose, the fabrics as Irene wanted a rose gold theme, we are going to have to see more samples of them." They all nod listening intently.
"So have guys got in mind about the budg-"
"There is no budget." Comes the firm voice of Zane, he lays slightly back but has a hand tapping on the glass table. He smiles my way but I know this is just to show Irene.
I smile back and nod and sit down after presenting. The meeting soon ends and I stand up.
"Thank you, Irene, for sharing your ideas. I will get in touch with you soon." She walks around the table and gives me a hug which I return. Looking over her shoulder, I watch Zane dismiss everyone, including Ella.
I part away from Irene and she walks away with a satisfied smile on her face.
I start packing my things since everyone is now gone. I don't want to be in a room with him. I am only doing this for Irene and because the girl deserves the world. She deserves everything, it isn't her fault her brother is ungrateful.
"Violet." He says but I ignore him. I quickly turn away from him and head towards the door. My breathing is quickening in case he does something. I won't be able to handle my myself if he gets close to me.
Strangely enough, I started liking bickering with him. But now, now I don't I want to anymore.
As soon as I open it, a hand shuts it and I stagger back when I see him lock the door.
Huffing, I cross my arms and actually look at him now. Eyes narrowed; he stalks towards me as I stay still in my place.
"What do you want Zane?" He tilts his head like not understanding me.
"Where are you going? No pleasantries, not even a glance?" I put a smile on my face and take a deep breath.
"Hi Zane, how are you? Good? The meeting is over by the way, I should leave," I walk around him but he backs me in the nearest wall making the bag and papers from my hand to fall to the ground.
His fiery gaze fixed on me as I try my hardest to breathe.
"Remember in Paris? You said if I ask you once, anything, you would give it to me?" His voice deep as he holds me in place by holding both my upper arms.
I swallow with my heart pounding but don't give any answer.
"Well now Violet, I want something. Willing to give it to me?" His voice turns hoarse as he nears me, his lips so close, so damn close to mine.
"Yes Zane, I do." I whisper back to him in hopes he loosens his grip on me.
"But you know what else I said?" He hums while looking at my lips.
"I said only if you deserve it." He frowns and looks at my eyes which are glaring at him. Slightly shocked, his grip loosens and I push him back and start picking my papers up.
"And guilt tripping me into accepting this deal was definitely a move wasn't it?" He doesn't say anything. I finish picking things up and get up but find myself looking at him. His face not showing anything which makes my heart sink.
He doesn't care?
I don't know what I was hoping for, but it definitely wasn't what he says next.
"I wanted you to accept it. And for what reason? That, I can't tell you." Getting frustrated, I roll my eyes and walk towards the door.
"Can't tell me my ass. If only you knew." I mutter under my breath.
Just when I reach the door, Zane walks up to me again and keeps a hand on the door from behind me to prevent me from opening it.
"Just listen. You need to understand that I did it for a reason," I don't move. Why answer him when he isn't willing to tell me why he has done this. Despite him having a reason, it will not make up for the fact that he practically forced this on me without even considering how I might not want this. I don't need to tell him in order for him to respect my decision.
"I don't even care anymore." But I freeze when he moves my hair away from my shoulder and puts it to the other side.
"Believe me." He whispers. I can feel his breath fanning my shoulder so I close my eyes in hopes of not letting it affect me.
"Zane, stop." I weakly protest.
And he does. He stops but doesn't back away.
"I will have you agreeing to me, to touch you. I won't deny that kiss in Paris was something."
"Something I would love to experience again," he whispers in my ear as his lips brush against the shell of my ear.
I hold a breath in at the thought that he doesn't regret the kiss, I feel somewhat happy but I don't think too much of it.
"Well, it won't be anytime soon," I say before I turn around and see we are both so close to each other. My eyes flicker down at his lips for a fraction of a second before I look in his eyes again.
"Zane I-"
His lips are on mine before I can utter another word. I quickly shake myself from the shock and kiss him back. The papers and bag falling from my hand and going through his hair. I arc my back slightly when his tongue runs along my bottom lip. His hand on my back pushes me closer to his body and I move forward without any protest. But since I am mad at him, I don't let him go deeper with the kiss.
He tries but I keep denying it, getting frustrated he bites on my bottom lip emitting a gasp from me as he uses that as a way to push his tongue through. I pull his hair tighter to silently punish him. Groaning, he finally backs away and so do I.
I rest my head against the door with my eyes closed breathing heavily, the silence of the office is filled in with our heavy breathing. Opening my eyes, I look at him and see him staring at me with a smirk.
"What were you saying?" I frown but then remember what I just told him. I roll my eyes but I know he saw my lip twitch.
"I won't let this go easily," he says as he runs his thumb over my lower lip, he brings the thumb to my eyes and I see slight blood on it. From when he bit me for not letting the kiss go deeper.
I watch as he sucks the blood off his thumb and leans forward, taking my bottom lip in his mouth, he sucks gently trying to rid the blood but all I can do is moan slightly at how hot that is.
Backing away for a second, he goes back in and places a soft kiss right where the blood was coming from.
"Zane," I whisper out to him but have nothing to say.
He slowly takes few steps back.
"I got what I wanted," he says but his eyes stay dark before he turns around faces out the window wall.
"So did I," I shrug not letting this bother me. He wanted another kiss? What was it that he wanted? It can't be a kiss can it? He could go to any woman and they will happily let him kiss them.
He turns around hearing my response and I wink at him.
"Have a good day Mr. Roman." I walk out with leaving him stunned.
A smirk is on my face at the way I didn't let him win.
He made my heart race, kissed me, then acted like it was normal. Like it was normal to make me forget everything with him just being close with him. Are you serious?
I roll my eyes but not let it bother me. It's not a big deal. Not a big deal.
I huff in the elevator as I think over. Who am I kidding, it is a big deal. Everything I told myself is gone out the window, just client. Right.
After I walk out the building, I walk straight to mine as I notice Ella has gone already. When I arrive in my office, I check on my desk to see the applications for the new interns. I go through them all and pick out ten that I think are the best suited. Organising their interviews with me tomorrow, I get done with the day as I need to head home.
Just under thirteen days left till her birthday.
Fourteen days left till mine.
I hope you liked this chapter.
Wow, who knew?
Kade and Hazel have history?
Hazel has a boyfriend?
Zane and Elvira kissed AGAIN!!
This chapter did go 📈📉📈📉
Tell me your assumptions on Hazel and Kade!
Vote if you like the chapter.
(If you spot any mistakes let me know as sometimes I may overlook them)
Next update on Wednesday or Thursday.