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Hazel sits up, her eyes finally able to focus on her environment. She must have slept off after eating last night.

Orna is such a darling! She had brought in a tray of boiling soup.

She is a real lifesaver.

When she asked Hazel what had happened to her and Annie. And why Vincenzo had her brought to his room instead, she was more than relieved to see Vincenzo walk in at that point, shutting any further discussion.

Orna had hurried out without saying a word, making eye contact with Hazel on her way out.

She knew their discussion was not over yet but in the meantime, she had enough time to come up with something reasonable.

Hazel turned on her side to see Vincenzo on the seat beside the bed. His eyes fixed on steadily with a cup of coffee in hand.

"Good morning " he offered as he placed his glass on the table.

Hazel stared in silence, her hands under her head. She wasn't sure what to make put off everything that was happening to her. And the things that had happened and are happening….what on earth should she make out of this?

"You're still not telling me anything ?" She asked

"You still think about so many things at the same time? How do you go on with your day like that?"He accused

"Stop changing the subject," Hazel said rather weakly.

Vincenzo exhaled and leaned forward, rubbing his hands together, not sure how to tackle her question.

"Annie wants to meet you. She's been worried sick" he offered

Hazel exhaled and nodded.

"I'll see her now." She sits up, surprised by how strong she felt.

Nothing a few days of rest wouldn't do right.

Vincenzo picked up his telecom and called Annie's room.

"Hazel wants to see you" He informed

The call went off before he could complete his statement. The next thing he heard was the knock on his door, a very frantic knock from an over-excited kid.

"Come in"

Annie stepped in. She hurried towards Hazel on the bed, her face brightened in excitement.

"Hazel, you're awake! I was so worried about you!" Annie said, a look of worry on her face

"I'm doing okay now aren't I?" Hazel chuckled

"Here" Annie hands Hazel her purse that contained her inhaler.

"I didn't know you were asthmatic " Annie muttered

"Thank you" Hazel smiled

Annie picked up the pepper spray.

"What do you need this for?" She asked

"For the really bad people around me"

"Who? "Annie asked

Hazel shrugs.

"It's something I use to protect myself. From getting into trouble" she offered

"Trouble?" Annie puzzled

Hazel smiled

"How was class?" She asked

"I couldn't concentrate. I was really worried that the Sag…"

Vincenzo glared at her and Annie sealed her lips shut immediately.

She knew better than to talk about that incident.

"About that day," Hazel asked

"Don't you have work to get back to? 0now. Mind getting out of my bed and doing some work?" Vincenzo asked

Hazel hurried out of her bed in realisation.

How could she have laid in his bed so comfortably? This isn't the first time she'd slept there but she knew her limit quite alright.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience" Hazel apologised

"Don't pass out during the slightest fright. It's not a classic scene to watch" he snapped

"Dad!" Annie cautioned

Hazel glared at him, she couldn't believe this man!

"I won't. Sir" Hazel bowed her head and took her to leave.

Annie glanced at her dad, a small scrawl on her face. He sighed, knowing full well what that look meant.

"What is it, Annie?" He asked, directing his focus to his laptop.

"Why did you talk to her like that? You clearly like her but then you talk to her that way" Annie whined

"She's my employee"

"That you care about! Dad, you were so worried when we came home that say and you almost ripped Adam to pieces when he told you what happened!" Annie reminded

"What are you driving at Annie?" Vincenzo asked in annoyance.

He massaged his brows, he's had a long day and the last thing he wanted to deal with is a whying Annie by his side.

"You're not denying you as her" Annie said in amusement

Vincenzo glanced up at her in shock

"Why would you say that? I wouldn't want any of the staff to think I care about them. Or feel any sort of way about the way I treat my staff" he snapped

"And you would have brought any of them into your room? Have then treated in your room?" Annie asked

"What's that supposed to mean?" He frowned

"You wouldn't let anyone into your room dad but you allowed Hazel?" Annie questioned

"Don't you have assignments or something?" He asked

"All done and my study session is not until 9 pm" Annie offered

"Annie I had a long day and I would appreciate it if you wouldn't bother me tonight. Can I ask that of you?" He pleaded

Annie folded her arms and frowned

He exhaled, here comes the serious Annie…

Something she inherited from her mother. She had a way of making a grown man and leader feel uncomfortable….

"If you won't be nice to Hazel, I won't be nice to you either and I'm going to tell grannie all about it!" Annie walks out of the room in anger.

Vincenzo sighed, massaging his brows. The last person he wanted on his neck was his mother. Like Annie's mother, she could be a really scary person when she wants to.

"Just great" he muttered

He was so sure Diana would be right at his doorstep in a matter of hours.

How else could he have made Hazel forget all about what had happened at the amusement park?

He shouldn't have let them go that day. Maco warned him but he wasn't in his right senses when he spoke to her.

Heck, he's never in his right senses whenever she's around! Her scent finds its way into his nostrils and messes with his brain and his partner wants to get all cuddly.

"This is the last time I'm going to listen to you" he muttered

//you don't have a choice. If you won't listen, I'll make you listen//

Vincenzo clenched his jaw, Evan is so used to getting his way, with or without his consent. Both hor tempered and impatient…

They make the perfect team.

//what are you going to do? Diana is going to come knocking by tomorrow at most//

Vincenzo massaged his brows.

"I'm aware of that. She's always welcome. I hope she doesn't come with the whole squad….they are the worst set of people to have around" he shook his head

//this will be fun…//

******************

Hazel found her way to the staffroom. Everyone glanced at her with questioning looks. It was then it dawned on her that the incident must have spread like wildfire.

She was in the boss's room for two days! Of course, they would look at her funny.

"Wonder what it feels like to warm the boss's bed. How scandalous" one of the girls said as the others giggled

"And she's the only one who can go into the boss's room. I knew something fishy was going on" another said, earning another round of laughter

"Oh please, a girl can dream. Who wouldn't want those hands around her, touching, holding and …."

The girls giggled once more, making Hazel red in the face. Is this what the others thought of her?

A solution?

If only they knew half of what happened! They wouldn't have said those words at all.

"I hope he's good in bed. And gives her a lot of money too" another said

"Who wouldn't jump at the sight of flashy bills and a huge mansion?"

"At least she got the boss's attention, what did you all get? An all-nighter with the dirty dishes in the sink and the laundry,?" Orna snapped, standing right behind Hazel.

Chole placed her hand on her shoulders as the rest bit their lips in regret.

"It's so easy to gossip and say things when you've barely hot enough work to keep you busy right? " Orna asked

"Answer me when I talk to you!" She snapped

"No Orna" they chorused.

"Mo. I think if you have enough work, you wouldn't have the time to gossip" Chole adds

"It's nobody's fault that she's been clinging to the boss" a lady muttered

"Who said that?" Orna asked

Tina and Sharon stopped out, staring at Orna and Chole in the eye without regard for them.

"I did. And I would gladly repeat what I just said. While some of us came here to work, others came here to shut around" Tina chuckled

"Excuse me?" Hazel asked

"You heard me, Hazel. No surprise from a girl who works as a waitress in an elite club. She must be used to swinging around with what she's got" Sharon adds

Hazel glanced up at Sharon, she could feel her anger boiling from the very depth of her soul.

"What did you say?" She asked in a dangerously low voice…