Chapter 21
Chapter 21
(FIVE YEARS AGO)
HAZEL
It’s been three weeks now and I’m yet to hear from Mr. Ravel after that day at the restaurant, which I’m
grateful for. Someone whom I know nothing about offering to write me an open cheque creeps me out,
and I’d rather not see him again.
A part of me couldn’t help but entertain the thought that he chickened out. Maybe he didn’t understand
the implication of an open cheque when he made that promise. Chuckling to myself, I scooped more
ice cream into my mouth as I stared at the water fountain.
Suddenly, I felt someone touch me from behind and I screamed bl oody murder, ripping the headset
from my ear and jumping to my feet. The man whom I thought disappeared due to his inability to fulfill
his promise stood in front of me with both hands raised in surrender. “What the hell?” I mumbled. “Are
you trying to send me into shock?”
“I’m sorry,” he quickly apologized, slowly taking a few steps towards me. “I called you a few times, but
you were lost in your own world.”
Yeah, I was thinking about how I thought you vanished after realizing the weight of your promise.
Thank heavens for the inability to read people’s thoughts. “What are you doing here Mr. Ravel?” My
eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Are you stalking me?”
Smiling, he slipped his hand into his pocket. “Be assured that I’m no stalker.” He jerked his chin
towards a gigantic skyscraper behind me. “I live there and I happened to notice you whilst I was about
to go in.”
“You live there?” I blurted out sheepishly which made him smile again. Turning to the left, I stared at the
building and then back at the spot where I was once seated before returning my skeptical gaze to
Ravel. “You’re trying to tell me that you saw me from that distance? How is that even possible?”
“When something captures my attention, even distance won’t stop me from taking notice.” Tilting my
head, I stared at him scrutinizingly, that was when I took notice of his tired features and the almost
invisible dark circles around his eyes. “You want toe in for a drink?”
What?! “No!” How I blurted the word out made him bite his lower lips, in an attempt not tough. “I
mean…” I cleared my throat, “it isn’t wise to follow a stranger into his house.”
Slowly, his smiling face morphed into a frown. “Strangers?” Nodding slowly, he took a step back
retreating. Instantly I regretted my words. “I just returned from a business trip, so I can’t take you out for
lunch right now. What do you think about dinner?”
My conscience will not permit me to reject his offer. “Sure, Dinner will be great.”
His smile returned. “Great. I already have your number, but I’m going to need your address so I can
come pick you up myself.”
My address? Hell no! “How about you send the address of the restaurant and I’ll meet you there.” I’m
living with crazy females. Once they catch sight of his car and the fact that he has money, they’ll be on
him until he has sex with them.
“You want to meet me there?” He drawled out slowly. “Okay, if that’s what you want.” It’s obvious that
he has his reservations, but the fact that he respected what I wanted made me smile. “You have a
lovely smile.”
I blushed hard. “Thank you.” A car h onked from a distance, taking both our attention away from each
other. “Is that for you?”
“Mhmm.” He took a step closer to me, “I should be preparing for a meeting at the moment, but
something more important seems to be stealing my time.”
Something more important? ‘Don’t smile Hazel! Don’t smile
1/3
Chapter 21
I smiled.
“Something important huh?”
“Mhmm.” He closed in on me, his face a few inches away from mine. “I don’t know what I’m more inC0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.
love with, your smile
smile. or the wrinkles that form at the side of your eyes when you
How can one man’s word and proximity leave me this breathless? “You gotta chose one mister.” I
teased, something I haven’t done since I got out of rehab. The car h o nked again and I found myself
smiling, probably to ease the tension between us. “Your driver is impatient, maybe you should get
going”
“I’m going to kiss you.” He whispered, cing a hand on my neck, and before I could form a coherent
response thanks to my failing brain, he ced his lips on mine and kissed me slowly.
Shocked at exactly what was going on, I stood still, frozen into stillness. Ravel pulled back. “I’m sorry,”
he apologized, “I shouldn’t have done that without getting a response from you.” He cleared his throat,
his hand falling to his side.
Before he could pull awaypletely, I did something irrational. I stood on my tip-toe and kissed him,
harder than he did. If he was shocked by my action, he didn’t let it show; he simply kissed me back with
the same fervor.
It took another h onking from the driver to pull us about. Ravel ced his forehead on mine and
chuckled. “I’ve never considered firing Raymond until this moment.” He pecked my lips again before
stepping away.
“Your driver?”
“My driver wouldn’t dare to interrupt me like that.” He pulled out his phone, nced at the screen, and
frowned. I’m guessing the Raymond guy just texted him. “I’ll get a reservation, then send you the time
and address.”
“Sure.” He winked at me before walking away. Despite beingte to the meeting he spoke about, Ravel
practically strutted towards his car as though he was modeling on a runway and I shamelessly stared at
his a ss.
“You sure took your time Hazel!” Mr. Harrison bellowed from his desk. “You care to tell me why it took
you four hours to make delivery?”
Because I decided to stare at the water fountain and ended up getting the best kiss of my life. “The
client took his time during payment.”
He blinked slowly, clearly stupefied. “What the f uck did you just say?” I opened my mouth to spit more
lies, but he beat me to it. “Payment reflected over two hours ago Hazel and you and I know that it takes
only one hour to get here from your location and that’s when the traffic is seriously bad. What were you
doing Hazel?!”
There is no way I’m telling this per vert what I was doing.
Harrison suddenly rxed, his lips stretching into a knowing smile as he stood to his feet. He slowly
rounded his desk and stopped right in front of me. “Who picked up the delivery? A man or a woman?”
My nose crinkled at his insinuation. “A man.”
“And what were you doing with this man that made you spend such a long time only on delivery?”
This is ridiculous. Ufortable with his proximity, I took a step back, creating enough space between.
“Whatever that is going on in your head isn’t true sir. I only delivered the chicken and left.”
His eyes slowly trailed my body. “Did you?” He tried to close the distance between us but I ended up
creating more. “How long will you make me suffer Hazel?” He groaned, “I know you want me too, I’ve
seen the way you look at me, so why fight
this?”
The only way I look way this man is nothing but pure disgust. “You are my boss, and I’ve never stared
at you inappropriately.” Maybe it’s time I start looking for a new job.
Chapter 21
“Don’t fight this Hazel.”
“With all due respect sir,” I hissed, “do not cross the line. I am your employee and I ask you to maintain
a level of professionalism.”
He paused and arched his brows. “And if I don’t?”
“Then we will be discussing a case of possible harassment.”
Lifting his hand in surrender, he took a step back. “There is no need for that.” He gestured towards the
door. “You may leave.”
I bowed slightly before heading for the door. I grabbed the k nob when another issue crossed my mind.
“And about the delivery, taking orders to people’s houses isn’t part of my job, and if you want to add it,
you’ll have to increase my pay.” I refuse to be anyone’s pushover.