Chapter 14

HAZEL'S POV~









"I never meant to hurt you. The universe played us both."







*flashback*





Tonight was my first casino mission. I breathed nervously as I sat in the hired limo thinking about the job at hand. Jimmy had earlier briefed me on the right actions I was to take tonight and although I knew all I had to do. That still didn't stop the nerves. All I had to do was show up as one of the players at the party and every other thing will be handled. Soon the car arrived at the front of what looked like a five-star hotel. The driver opened the door for me, reaching out a hand to help me step out.



I was putting on a beautiful pastel pink gown with flowery lace covering the silk underneath. I coupled it with a pair of nude-colored heels and pearl earrings. The outfit had been prepared by a well-known designer, Jimmy hired for the job. A lot of money has been put into this mission, it would be foolish of me to make even the slightest mistake because Jimmy wouldn't forgive me.

Walking through the red carpet, a doorman greeted me with a forced smile opening the door. I knew just how it felt to spend the whole day giving out fake smiles just for a little pay. Giving him back a genuine smile I walked into the lobby breathing out nervously.





"Hazel," a familiar voice called out from across the lobby. I looked to see Nick waving me over with a joyful smile on his face. Seeing the familiar face helped relieved some of the tension in my body but that didn't mean I still wasn't nervous. This is completely out of my comfort zone. I have spent the last few months preparing rigorously for tonight and I didn't want to mess it up. If this mission goes well, I will be able to take my mom to a better facility for treatment. This was the only motivation why I was taking this huge risk.



"Wow!" Nick gushed out when I came over. "You look like a whole different person," he started accessing me. I gave him a smile accessing his clothing too. His muscular build was clouded in a deep blue three-piece suit which I was sure was also prepared for him. There's no way in hell Nick would be caught owning a suit, I mean he is Nick the torn jeans, tight t-shirt kind of guy.



"You clean up nicely too," I complimented behind my nervousness. I blew out a few breaths while rubbing my palms together.



"Cheer up darling, you look beautiful," he encouraged giving me a comforting smile which only added to my nerves. I was also afraid of disappointing him. I knew how much time he spent being as supportive as he could. I didn't want to let him down. I signed, putting my big girl pants on before placing my hands in between his awaiting arm.



He leads me carefully through the lobby into an elevator and then to the ballroom. Around me people were doing one thing or another, some were discussing issues, and other sitting by the bar. Some couples were dancing in one corner while the rest of them moved around greeting people. I saw some familiar faces on television and in magazines. I noticed that although everyone seemed occupied their eyes constantly went back to the big roundtable at the center of the room. I could see the roulette wheels, cards, and some chips arranged carefully on top of it. About six chairs were arranged around it with bold numbers at the back of it. Nick quietly excused himself to use the restroom promising to return in a few minutes. I found a sit at the far end corner of the room beside a door that lead to what I guessed is a balcony. Eyes stuck at the center of the room, I didn't notice the man that was approaching me.



"What's a beautiful lady like you doing here by yourself?" The older-looking man asked. He towered over me mostly because I was sitting down. A drink was in his hand.



"Minding her business," I replied, uninterested in the conversation. I wasn't in the mood for any interaction. My mind was occupied with thoughts of the game, there wasn't any room for distractions.



"How would you like to dance with me?" The idiot asked again, failing to get the obvious point that I wasn't interested.



"I don't dance," I replied in a sarcastic tone. "If you will excuse me," I got up from the chair not wanting to prolong the conversation. Choosing to go outside, I stepped into the balcony breathing in the comforting scent of the evening breeze. Leaning on the rail I watched as lights blinked from every corner of the city. Lost in thoughts I didn't notice that someone had joined me.



"Not a fan of gatherings like this?" A deeply accented voice asked from my side. I turned to see a very attractive stranger standing beside me leaning on the railing. He had a comforting smile on his lips as he stared up at the dark sky before finally turning to me.



His grey eyes captured mine in a hypnotic gaze. His eyes held so much depth I felt like I could get lost in them if I stared any longer. Then My eyes met his attractive face, tanned to perfection. He looked like his jaw and face were sculpted by the gods. He smirked when he caught me staring.



"This is my first time, I'm just overwhelmed," replied to his questions trailing my eyes around his broad chest. Even the suit he wore didn't do enough justice to his looks. Absent-mindedly, I licked my lips finally looking back at his eyes. He stared back at me with an amused grin showing his clean set of teeth.





*End of flashback*









That night we talked and talked until I lost track of time. I didn't even know when I lost track of time. It was mostly him talking with me listening. He talked about everything from family to business, at that moment I felt whole and normal like every other girl out there. I didn't even have to try or pretend he didn't pressure me to say anything about myself. I wanted that moment to last forever, he was to me a mirror of the future. I didn't mean to hurt him, I didn't even know he would be involved in the job. The look he gave me before I entered Jimmy's car later that night still haunts me now.



"Hazel?" he called from his desk. He was still as attractive as ever only now he was an entirely different person. That night I had introduced myself as Blake woods to him, something I have told anyone to date not even Nick.



Hazel was a nickname that stuck when I moved in with my foster parents because of the color of my eyes.



"Judging from your expression, I'm guessing you didn't hear a thing I said just now," he started looking at me. I walked forward taking a seat on a chair in front of his desk.



"Nope!" I replied, popping the "p". His face squeezed into a handsome frown as he took out his phone.



"Mikhail, come down now to my office with Jamie and Tom," he said, placing his phone on the desk, I watched as he went typing into his laptop. Ignoring my presence.



"Who are you?" I asked, staring at him. He paused for so e before carrying on.



"If I am going to be doing anything with you, I would like to know what I'm getting myself into besides, I'm sure you already know everything about me,"



"Do I?" He asked, stopping momentarily to analyze me. "The information I got about you said your parents died in an accident only for me to dig in further to see your mom had survived."



"And so?" I asked, shrugging my shoulders. "That doesn't mean I hid anything from you or anyone else. It's not like you walked up to me and asked. Maybe if you did so I would have told you the truth." No, I wasn't and we both knew that.



"Besides, that doesn't change the fact that I know nothing about you. Asides from the fact that you are a big asshole and force loyalty by threatening people to work for you. Oh and also the fact that you own a whole mansion of deadly weapons. So what are you?" He didn't say anything for a while watching me.



"I am not hiding anything from you sweetheart, like I said earlier I will answer only when I'm sure that I can trust you. If not, I will have to kill you to protect my identity," he replied with a serious tone. I knew he wasn't joking so I just nodded my head to avoid further confrontations. My left arm was starting to hurt, even more, I hissed at the feeling I got when I tried moving it. He caught on to that staring at me emotionlessly.



"Did you have that checked out?" He asked without any hint of concern in his voice.



"Not yet, Jamie promised to take me to the doctor," I replied shrugging.



"For fuck's sake, Hazel! we have a lot to do. I don't want you dragging us back because you feel it's unnecessary to take care of yourself!" he snapped. His eyes darkened.



"What's your problem?" I was irritated by his attitude. I was the one who injured her. Why is he acting like I did anything wrong? Did I intentionally break my arm? I scoffed at his attitude, choosing to look anywhere but at him to calm myself. Like I said before, I wasn't ready for any confrontation. I feel like all of our discussions always end up that way.



The door of the office opened and in came Mikhail who smiled at me, Jamie waved at me while Tom was his usual robotic self. It didn't even look like he knew I was in the room as he greeted Matteo, ignoring me.



"You requested for us," Mikhail said, taking a seat on the other chair beside me while Jamie and Tom stood behind us.



"Blakey," he added smiling at me. I met his gaze with a frown annoyed at the name he used to address me. Somehow he had found out my real name and insist on calling me that instead of, Hazel. The most annoying part of it all is that he wasn't even pronouncing the name as it is rather he customized his version of the name to one I hated even more. I mean which other twenty-two years old would love being called a lame pet name like that?