Chapter 13
RAVEL
Hazel looks as beautiful as ever. I may have pulled her out of my life, but that doesn’t deter the fact that
she’s a very beautiful woman; always has been. “Hello, Hazel.” The moment I called out her name, her
fingers clenched tightly on the stem of her champagne flute. “It’s nice to see you again.”
Lifting her gaze, she smiled at me, the wrinkles that form at the corner of her eyes any time she smiles,
clearly missing. “I wish I could say the same, Mr. Southwark.”
My jaw clenched at her formality. “What happened to Rav?” I’m used to hearing her call me that.
Tilting her head, she blinked slowly at me, as if bored by my presence. “That seems rather
unprofessional, don’t you think so Mr. Southwark?”
The young man seated next to her ced his hand on hers and my eyes followed the movement. “If
you feelfortable calling me that, then it’s fine.” gging down a waitress, I picked up two
champagne flutes and passed one to June, who muttered appreciation. Leaning back, my hand
leisurely rxed on June’s seat. “Congrattions on your nomination Hazel.”
She smiled tightly yet again. “Thank you, Mr. Southwark.” The other youngdy whispered something
to her before walking away. “And please, I’d appreciate it if you call me Ms. cks.” She stared at me
intently, “Only family and friends are allowed to call me by my first name, and you’re neither of those.”
Chuckling, I bit my inner cheek. “I was once your family Hazel,” I’ll be caught dead before I refer to her
by her father’s name, “Doesn’t that count for something?”
“No, it doesn’t.” She deadpanned, her expression rxed, “Do not insult your date by insinuating such.”
My date? I turned to June and smiled at her. “I’m not being disrespectful and she knows that.” If
anything, I’m only trying to have a civil conversation. “We’re stuck on the same table the whole night,
don’t you think it’s only right that we pipe down the aggression?”
“Aggression?” Hazel let out a short mockingugh. “Correct me if I’m wrong Mr. Southwark, but I
haven’t snapped at you even once ever since you upied that seat.” Twirling the content of her ss,
her lips stretched into a smile. “If you think I’m being aggressive, then you need to check your
conscience, Mr. Southwark.”
The other girl who walked away earlier returned and picked up Hazel’s purse. The young man stood to
his feet and helped Hazel up. My eyes slowly frisk her body, starting from the swell of her breast, down
to her hips, and when it settled on the ridiculously high slit, my jaw clenched.
A feminine voice cleared, snapping me out of my thought. I almost chuckled at being caught ogling. “I
was about to tell you that my eyes are up here.”
Poking my tongue into my left cheek, I smirked. “If you’re going to sh your body like that, you
shouldn’t be upset when we ogle.” With my smirk still locked in ce, I ced my hand on June’sp.
“I’m very sure I’m not the only male who almost got a f u cking bo ner just by looking at you.”
Hazel’s tiny fist clenched into a tight ball. “I can see you aren’t less of the animal you were two years
ago.” She leered at June, “Even though I shouldn’t, I can’t help but feel sorry for the woman in your life
right now.”
June scoffed at Hazel’s words. “Don’t feel sorry for me Hazel, I’m living a better life than I was when I
was under your beck and call.”
Hazel simply shrugged nonchntly. She grabbed the trail of her dress and turned to leave, and for a
moment, it felt like I panicked. “Where are you going?”
Craning her neck, she stared at me for a moment and shook her head with bitter disappointment before
walking away. I had a lot I wanted to say to her, a whole lot, but my phone pinged, stealing my attention
and giving her time to walk
me.
away
from
Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
Slipping my hands into my jacket, I brought out my phone and frowned when I saw a text message
from a very familiar number. I gritted my jaw as I quickly read the message. Stifling a curse, I chucked
the phones over to Raymond. “The ba stard is in this hall or somewhere close. Find him.”
Confused, he quickly read the text before jumping into action. June waited for Raymond to leave before
speaking up. “Is everything okay?”
My eyes scanned the crowd, a futile attempt to find anything or anyone that might stand out. “Yeah,
everything is fine.”
Smiling warmly at me, she ced her hand on mine. “I’m d everything is fine. For a moment, I
thought Hazel got to you.”
My face squeezed into a frown. “What?”
“No need to be upset Ravel, as long as I continue to remain the woman you love, then I’m happy.” She
leaned forward and ced her head on my arm. “I know how much you love teasing people, which is
why I’m not going to read meaning into what just happened here.”
.
Do I? I mean do I love teasing people or did she just assume that? Suddenly sensing a growing
headache, I massaged my temple.
For the rest of the event, I found my eyes drifting across the room to find Hazel. The few times I found
her engrossed in her phones, I smiled, and the other times I find her holding that man’s hand, I felt like
going across the room and flinging him. out through the window.
“Mr. Southwark?” Averting my gaze from Hazel, I blinked at Desmond, the anchor of today’s event. “We
need you on the stage. It’s time to present the awards.” Thankful for the distraction, I walked away with
Desmond.
Standing on the stage, I presented the award to the names the moderator called out. With each
individual, I held their hand and posed for a picture. Each time, I anticipated Hazel’s, waiting for him to
call her out.
When I heard about her nomination, I did everything humanly possible to make sure she gets this
award, not because she isn’t able to get it without my help, but because people like Jeremy Beckham
do not know how to fight fair and a ss holes like him need as shole like me.
“And this year’s award for the best art curator goes to,” Desmond announced and I searched the crowd
for Hazel. I found her seated rigidly, waiting anxiously for the name to be called. “Ms. Hazel cks.”
Her body visibly rxed as she smiled. Even without seeing the wrinkles by the side of her eyes due to
the distance between us, I could tell she is genuinely happy. Involuntarily, I found myself smiling too.
That smile left my lips when the young man whose name I found out to be David stood up, took her
hand, and escorted her to the stage. She didn’t let go of his hold nor did he until she stood right in front
of me, ready to receive her award.
stering that smile with no wrinkles on her face, she held the other end of the award and posed for
the camera. Shortly after the pictures, I gave her a customary handshake which kind of went on for too
long, due to my unwillingness to let go of her hand.
It took more effort and more fake smiles from Hazel before she was able to pull her hand away from my
grasp. The moment she did, David leaned and whispered something to her to which she nodded. Hazel
gave a brief appreciatory speech before returning to her seat.
Ten awardster, I was finally relieved of my duties. The urgency for fresh air led me towards the
elevator and luckily for me, I saw Hazel getting into the elevator too. Ditching the elevator that was
meant to take me to the rooftop, I opted for the elevator that was going to take Hazel down.
away for
Raymond hastened after me as I quickened my steps, but I stopped abruptly and faced him. “I’m
getting on that elevator with Hazel because I want to have a conversation with her.” I looked above his
head, “I want you to keep her friends at least thirty minutes.”
Raymond frowned. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Sir.”
“It’s a good thing I didn’t ask for your input, Raymond.” I took slow steps away from him. “Be sure to
keep them away.” Thirty minutes with Hazel alone should be more than enough.