Morning light slipped through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Hazel slowly opened her eyes, finding herself alone in the vast bed. The steady ticking of a nearby clock filled the quiet space.
Francisco, as always, was already up.
Hazel stared at the ceiling, her hand drifting to her forehead.
The weight of her situation pressed down on her, but she steadied herself. There was no turning back. If she wanted to survive...
And protect her parents... she had to earn his trust.
Whatever it took.
Suddenly, the bathroom door creaked open.
She turned her head toward the sound. Francisco stood there, his wet hair tousled, towel in hand. Droplets of water rolled down his jawline, catching the morning light and outlining his sharp features.
Hazel swallowed, a strange wave of shame washing over her. She hated what he was... what he'd done... but she couldn't ignore the fact that he was arrestingly handsome.
The wet strands of his hair clung to his forehead. His skin glistened, his chiseled abs still damp from the shower. Hazel's eyes traced the lines of his torso before she quickly looked away, battling the conflict surging inside her.
Damn it.
She took a breath and pushed herself upright, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"We have a flight," Francisco said, his tone calm and casual. "You should get up and be ready."
Hazel tilted her head and locked eyes with him. Then she stood and walked toward him slowly. Francisco stopped drying his hair when she came close.
Hazel placed a hand gently on his chest, her fingers brushing the warm, wet skin.
"You should have woken me up early, Mr.," she said softly.
Francisco raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. A faint smile curved his lips as her fingers remained.
"Why, though?" he asked.
"I need someone who can rub my back. That's why," Hazel said teasingly.
Francisco raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by her sudden playfulness.
"But alas! Someone just missed showering with me," she added, her fingers still remaining on his chest.
Francisco smirked, catching on. "Really?"
Hazel gave him a playful push and added, "I thought to shower with my kidnapper."
Francisco chuckled lightly and turned back to her. "You thought?"
Hazel paused at the washroom door, looked back with a sly grin, and said, "Yes!"
Francisco tilted his head, "What about now? Still, I can help you wash."
Hazel let her gaze drift slowly from his face down to his wet chest, then back up again. With a smirk, she replied, "Now, I'm not in the mood. Please tell Lily to come."
She started walking away but stopped briefly to throw one last remark over her shoulder. "And don't make me wait too much. Because, ultimately, you will be late, not me."
With a quick roll of her eyes, she stepped into the washroom and locked the door behind her. Francisco stood still for a moment, smirking... clearly entertained by her antics.
Outside the mansion, Francisco stood next to his sleek black car, checking his watch with growing impatience.
"Master, we will be late if you don't go now," his bodyguard reminded him politely.
Francisco didn't answer right away. His eyes narrowed slightly, recognizing Hazel's subtle rebellion in making him wait.
Then came the sound... heels tapping rhythmically on polished stairs.
Francisco turned and lowered his sunglasses.
There she was.
Hazel descended the steps with quiet confidence, dressed in a white, knee-length dress that clung perfectly to her curves.
The fabric hugged her frame in all the right places, moving fluidly with each step.
The neckline dipped just enough to suggest elegance with a whisper of allure, while the slight flare at the hem gave her walk a soft, playful sway.
She didn't speak.
She didn't need to.
The white dress against Hazel's skin gave her an almost ethereal glow, a soft radiance that sharply contrasted with the dark, commanding aura of Francisco. Her heels added a few inches to her height, elevating not just her frame but her entire presence.
Francisco couldn't deny how striking she looked... and he didn't miss the deliberate choice behind it. His jaw tightened. If only Hazel kept this kind of bold allure just for him, behind closed doors.
Hazel reached the bottom of the stairs and stopped in front of him. She flashed a playful smile.
"Sorry for being late, Mr.," she said with a smirk before casually walking toward the waiting car, pretending not to notice his gaze.
At the car, Hazel turned to the driver with a mock expression of surprise.
"Should I open, or..." she let the question hang, eyes expectant.
The driver fumbled. "My bad, Ma'am," he stammered, quickly stepping forward to open the door.
Around them, the other men in Francisco's crew subtly turned their heads, avoiding any direct look.
Hazel slid into the car with smooth grace. Before the door shut, she glanced back at Francisco.
"We will be late if you stay there like a statue," she teased, her tone light but clearly intentional.
Francisco clenched his jaw, exchanging a look with Lily. She'd already tried to talk Hazel out of wearing that dress, but the warning had gone ignored.
Without a word, Francisco pressed his lips into a line and finally stepped into the car.
As the car pulled away, he turned to Hazel, his gaze sharp.
"What is it?" he asked, his voice low, eyes narrowing as they locked on her.
Hazel glanced at him, feigning innocence. She raised her brows like she truly didn't understand the fuss.
"What do you mean?"
Francisco didn't bite. His eyes narrowed as he leaned in slightly.
"I mean, is this a right time to dress up like this?"
Hazel answered with a slow, seductive smile. She bit her lower lip playfully and ran her fingers lightly along her knee.
"Oh, I see. I'm now a mafia's lover." She gave a soft laugh.
"Oops, my bad. The world actually knows you are a CEO. I'm actually a CEO's lover. So, I need to be gorgeous and sexy, right?" Her innocent blink carried just enough mockery to make her point clear.
Francisco chuckled under his breath, not fooled for a second.
"You're testing me, right?" he asked, trying to read the spark in her eyes.
Hazel casually swept her hair over one shoulder and shot back with a smirk.
"Is that so?"
"It would be bad if everyone didn't look at your lover, wouldn't it?"