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Hazel followed closely, she felt his eyes scan in silence. For some reason, she was kind of reassured about it when she saw Matteo's smile.
It was strange because she did not do anything funny and she was sure he had smiled because it was a good thing right? And for some reason, Hazel could no longer be upset with Vincenzo. It's like his way of bribing her without saying a word.
Matteo was behind her, his eyes fixed on the staircase that led to the ground floor. "Do I have to worry?" She asked calmly
"There is no need to worry." He assured, his eyes fixed on the stairway.
He wanted to tell her more but she did not have to be told twice that if he said more than that, Vincenzo would surely have his head.
"Okay"
They went down the stairs in silence and soon the chatter of older women filled the house.
Is Vincenzo introducing her to his aunt? She wondered.
The look in his eyes when she approached the living space said a lot. He was sitting in a corner, eyes on his phone without paying attention to ladies who went on discussing anyway.
"Hazel!" Annie called the excitement apparently, she was sitting in between them and Hazel didn't seem to notice her at first.
"Annie, how are you?" Hazel asked Annie as approach the living area
"I'm fine"
"And classes ? How did it go?" She asked "Very good, meet my aunt. Aunt Millie, Aunt Yin and Aunt Rose" Annie introduced
Hazel bows her head in greeting.
"Hello, Aunt, it is a pleasure to meet you" she smiles
"My goodness" Miller walks towards Hazel, her mouth agape as if in shock.
First, women of that age don't look young…
Okay, maybe her image of an aunt is usually old with a pair of thick rimmed glasses, but these women were rather very young.
They looked not over a day over thirty. Millie held her face in her hands and Hazel felt an immediate surge throughout her body.
A shocking but pleasing feeling.
Miller smiled, almost laughing.
"You look better in person!" She offered.
"My, my, my, she looks so radiant" Yin adds with a laugh.
"UHM, I don't look old myself if that's what you mean," she said in a sassy tone "Ignore her. Sometimes she forgets how old she is!" Yin rolled
"Aunt Miller, Hazel is my bestest friend! She listens to me and she gives me the best advice, she helped me stop dad from being upset with me" Annie announced.
Jazel gave a small smile, her eyes on Vincenzo. Maybe he could explain what is really happening? And why they all seem so interested in her ...
"She is a jewel! A precious Jewel. I tell you!" Miller burst into laughter. A smile that has reached the depth of her deep blue eyes ....
"And her skin ..beauty!" Yin offered
"Stop exaggerating, would you ? The young people of these days spend so much money to keep their skin looking so young!" Rose snapped
"I have no skin care routine though " Hazel muttered
"Ignore her. Come, come with us" Miller offered
"I'm sorry, I can not ...."
"It's okay! you can sit with us" Miller assured
"Mr. Vincenzo ..."
His eyes snapped up in pure shock, almost as if he wanted to be out of this whole discussion.
She could almost imagine him pouting in annoyance.
He will address this later in a way that she would not want at all...
"Vincent !!" Miller called suthouratively Vincenzo exhaled, turning his attention to her.
"Yes aunt?" He asked
"Is there any reason why she can not stay here?" She asked, as if daring him to say something else.
"She can stay wherever you want her to stay, aunt, feel comfortable," he offered. Hazel could see that he is not so happy to have them all in the house.
It was almost like he was afraid of these aunts ...
she could put a bet he was nervous to have them around.
So, Vincenzo has someone he's afraid of uh?
"Well" Miller turns to Hazel with a smile.
"That's settled"
"I can't stand these wo. Come the Annie"Rose led Annie up the stairs while she mouths an apology to Hazel
" I want to see all your collections my darling, it has been so long since I had to do something that educates with these two around"
Hazel accepts Miller's invitation in hesitation. This is so wrong but what could she do?
They must be doing that because of Annie but really, she should not get that kind of treatment, not when some staff members seem to have something to say about this kind of ...
Vincenzo darts her a look, as if asking her to explain what she had just thought about
But what use is it?
One minute he is cold and the next the warmest person.
Hazel realised she was heading towards the space beside Vincenzo!
Before she could protest, she was sitting next to him and he didn't move an inch, his focus on his phone the whole time.
"There!" Miller cooed
Hazel missed his warmth despite being uncomfortable. As though he read her mind, he leaned in close, his hand fell behind the chair.
His finger gently brushed her hair, a sweet feeling that almost made her moan.
"Look at them, so perfect for the other" Yin said
Ohkay…. This is making her feel uncomfortable.
Why would they match make them? And why do they treat her so well? Why?
Match making her with a man who doesn't even like the mere shadow of her?
"My heart feels so alive to this sight!" Yin pointed out
"Aunt Yin, I think there was a mistake ..." "I'm sorry." His hand pats her hair slowly and rhythmically.
"I did not know her that you come today", he offered
"Do not play games with me Vincent, you know why we are here" Miller snapped
"Annie expressed her discontent and we came here to make things right!" Yin offered
"And this kind of behavior is unacceptable to a woman who took great care of Annie! Miller snapped .
Vncenzo exhaled, not saying a word.
Hazel never knew that it was possible for him to accept defeat!
He was the type to stand on his opinion about anything and he isn't going to back down no matter what.
He was going to do anything for the sake of his ego …
Vincenzo glanced at her, his eyebrows arched in question. She offered a nervous smile in response.
"If I treated her differently, what would the staff say about it?" He asked
"She is not one of your staff!" Miller snapped
"I do not think I should be here ..." Hazel tried to stand on her feet to leave but Vincenzo held her back in place, his hand on her thigh.
Strong and warm…
"Would you have lunch first aunt?" He asked
"Hazel cooks the best meals trust me" he smiled
"That would be lovely!" Miller smiled
"Anything you cook deer would do just fine" she offered
"I am so excited honey. I suppose you can cook any dish at all, right?" Yin Asked
"Anything she cooks would do just fine" Miller said once more
Hazel stood on her feet and walks out much to her relief
"Dinner will be ready in two hours" Hazel offered
"Take your time dear " Miller smiled
Hazrl bowed her head and leaves immediately, her hands fiddling with the hem of her dress nervously.
"What a lovely lady!" Yin beamed
"And she looks like the picture! Like she walked straight out of it" Miller smiled
"And you? I can't believe you treat her so badly!' Miller accused
"And she's trying so hard!" Yin adds
"Is that why you came all the way? To give me some lecture?!" He asked
"Yes Vincenzo and it is worth it!" She snapped
"I would not be here if you would just do the right thing! " Yin snapped
"You waited all these years just to see her and now you treat her like this?" Millet puzzled
"I don't understand you youngsters this days" Yin muttered, taking a seat
Vincenzo exhaled
"I'll take care of everything aunt if you would just let me" He pleaded
"And when is that going to be? Two years from now?" Miller asked in irritation
"We came here to make sure you do the needful. We are done having your lonely self living like a ghost" Yin offered
"Even I already got a boyfriend," Yin cleared her throat.
"What?" Vincenzo asked
"Who is that piece of…."
"Donald" Miller offered
"That creep?" He asked in irritation
"Watch it kid" Yin snapped
"Alright" he surrenders. He knew he wouldn't want to say anything negative about Yin's new partner.
It would only piss her off
"Now, we are here to put things right. In anyway we can" Miller offered
"And I miss my little Annie. She looks so much like her mother!" Yin Beamed
"Aunt" he called
"Save it! " Miller snapped