Zayden (softly): "Are you okay?"
Hazel (half-smiling): "Of course, Dad… I'm fine."
Zayden pulled her gently into a side hug.
Zayden: "Come on, Hazel. I can read your face."
Hazel (sighs): "It's just… work load, Dad. You know how it is."
Zayden (looking at her gently): "Hazel, don't lie to me. You can talk to me… whenever you're ready, alright?"
Hazel stayed quiet, just looking at him for a long second.
Zayden: "I don't know what's going on in that head of yours… but whatever it is, you don't have to carry it alone."
Hazel smiled softly and leaned in, giving him a tight, warm hug — one of those hugs where you don't need words to feel loved.
A little while later, Zayden left.
Hazel walked back in,and just threw herself onto the couch, exhaling deeply.
She didn't even realize when her eyes closed and sleep gently pulled her under.
---
Next Morning
Sunlight spilled through the curtains. Hazel was still curled up on the couch, tangled in a soft throw blanket, her hair a little messy.
Her phone buzzed on the coffee table.
Still half-asleep, her hand fumbled around before finally grabbing it.
Hazel (groggy): "Ughmm… what…"
Levi (cheerful): "Sleepy head? The party is tomorrow at 6 p.m. Don't forget. Hotel Meridian. You must come."
Hazel (mumbling): "I'll try…"
Before Levi could say anything more, the call ended.
Levi stared at his phone, blinking.
Levi: "She hung up on me…"
---
Back at Hazel's place, she rubbed her eyes, stretched, and forced herself up.
She brushed her teeth, took a quick shower, and made herself a simple breakfast.
After that, she got dressed — blazer, tucked-in blouse, fitted trousers, clean and confident — and headed out.
She reached the company. Her assistant was already waiting at the entrance.
Assistant (smiling): "Good morning, ma'am."
Hazel: "Morning."
And with that, they walked inside, both slipping back into work mode — like the night before never happened.
While Hazel was reviewing some documents on her desk, her phone vibrated beside her.
She glanced down.
Message from: Drake
"See you at the party."
Hazel stared at it for a moment, her jaw tightening. Without replying, she locked the screen and pushed the phone aside.
A second later, she pressed the intercom.
Hazel: "Call off all ongoing deals with Starlight Corporation."
A pause—then her assistant's voice filtered through.
Assistant (cautiously): "Ma'am… cancel? But it's difficult—there are contracts in place. The product collaboration is in final phase, and the investors—"
Hazel (firmly, cutting her off): "I said cancel it. I don't want any reasons. Just do it."
There was a beat of hesitation.
Assistant: "Understood, ma'am."
Hazel ended the call. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, like steadying herself against the storm rising within. A second later, she opened them and turned her focus back to the document in front of her, flipping the page like nothing just happened.
---
Meanwhile, the assistant sat at her desk, concern flickering across her face as she made the necessary calls. The Starlight Corporation project was a major deal—months of collaboration, heavy investments, multiple departments tied up in it. Backing out at this stage would bring questions, tension, and damage control.
But she followed orders—because Hazel Knight never changed her mind once it was made.