Page 43

She should have knocked.

It doesn't take that much of an effort, does it?

It's just a two-step thing

One tap after another, then he would have known someone was going to walk in.

Then he would put some clothes on, then….

"Then what?" He asked

"Uhm?" Hazel asked.

Vincenzo gestured at her head.

Right! She keeps forgetting this man could read her mind.

"You should have put some clothes on!" Hazel scolded

"The last time I checked, this is my room," Vincenzo replied, walking towards her.

"Stop!"

He did just that, brows furrowed in annoyance

Why does she always do that? Does she hate their nearness to each other?

"I'm still upset with you" she informed in seriousness

Vincenzo sighed and nods in understanding

"I understand " he replied

"I came on behalf of Annie. I don't think you are aware but…she made this dress"

Vincenzo looked shocked

"Annie did?" He asked as though it was impossible

"Yes, she did. And this is one of the many pieces she's made herself" Hazel adds

Vincenzo observed her in thought, waiting for her ever-busy mind to tell him what this was about…

He heard nothing.

"Where did she get all this?" He asked

"My point is, she's gifted and she needs your help" Hazel informs, ignoring his question

"You haven't given me a reply " he reminded

"Can we focus on the main thing here?" Hazel asked

Vincenzo chuckled, Hazel was unbelievable.

"You want my help, these are the questions I need to ask" he offered.

"If you forget those questions….I won't get mad at you anymore" Hazel offered, staring him in the eye.

"Turn around," Vincenzo said, breaking the awkward silence.

If he had to let go of his questions just so Hazel could talk to him and smile at him again, he would never ask questions ever again!

"Uhm?" Hazel puzzled

"You want me to support Annie's work then you'll have to give me an eye full right?" He asked.

How could he say those words with such seriousness despite how funny that sounds?

But again, she is doing this for Annie, right?

For Annie's dreams!

Hazel turns rather quickly

"Do it slowly?" He said

Hazel glared at him, is he trying to piss her off?

"I'm not. I could barely see anything when you turned so fast"

He seems honest but something in Hazel's instincts told her this man wasn't!

He was trying to pull some stunt.

Vincenzo holds back a smirk, of course, he was pulling a stunt.

He knew she was doing this for Annie and he wasn't exactly sorry for taking his time with her…

Hazel turns slowly, giving him a view of the whole dress.

Annie is really good, good enough for him to hold himself back from peeling Hazel out of that dress and…

"A fine piece" he admits

"Yes. She opened a website for her clothing brand and she got a lot of orders. She gave them already but the problem is how to get the dresses to their respective owners" Hazel explained

Vincenzo wondered why Annie didn't tell him thus herself. Was she scared to tell her no? Or worse still yell at her?

He wasn't even that bad a person was he?

"Come with me" Vincenzo heads out of the room for Annie's.

"We can talk about this! You don't have to yell at her!" Hazel blocks his path to her room, hands wide open with a stubborn look on her face.

Vincenzo pulled her closer, one arm wrapped around her waist as he lifted her off the ground like she weighed nothing. Hazel made a terrible mistake by staring into his eyes.

His eyes were so inviting, making Hazel forget all she wanted to say in a second.

Vincenzo had made his way into Annie's room before she could snap out of it.

That…..manipulator!

Hazel hurried into Annie's room and stopped at her track when she made eye contact with Hazel.

She looked really worried

"Hazel told me you made her dress," He asked

Annie glanced at Hazel as she swallowed hard.

"Yes" Annie replied

"Could we just talk about this?" Hazel stood in front of him. "There's no need to scare her "she adds

"Scare her?" His face curled up in amusement

"I thought you wanted me to help. I'm doing just that" he offered

The duo still found it hard to believe, was he telling the truth or was he trying to be a jerk as always?

Vincenzo glanced at Hazel, his voice in a low whisper.

"Don't make me show you the meaning of that word in bed Hazel. I doubt you will be able to handle it!"

Hazel felt shivers run down her spine at these words. A part of her wanted to dare him and push him to the wall…

"Why didn't you tell me about this Annie?" He asked

Annie bowed her head as Hazel turned to see her.

"I was scared you would get mad at me" Annie replied

"Why?" He asked

Annie sighed

"I thought…"

"Thoughts are not the same as actions Annie. You do understand that don't you?" He asked

Annie nods solemnly

"When were you going to tell me? When you're about to get married?!" He asked.

"Vincenzo!" Hazel cautioned

He pulled Hazel to the side and tightened his grip around her waist.

"No dad" Annie muttered

"You know you can tell me anything and if I give you a negative answer that is because it has to do with your security. You understand right?" He asked

"Yes Dad"

Vincenzo nods

"What do you need help with?" He asked

Annie's face brightens up quickly.

"I just need to get these orders to their owners" she offered

"I'll make a few calls and get you a delivery guy from one of my men. Would you rather have two? Or more?" He asked

"Ten would be great" Hazel offered

Annie nods in agreement

"That's settled. Are you going to tell me how you plan to balance school and work?" Vincenzo asked.

Annie hands him her schedule note and he goes through it quietly.

Haz and Annie exchanged looks of hope. Fingers crossed….

"Fine," he said, handing the book over to her.

"As long as your grades don't go down, you can do this. I will keep my eyes on your grades and one slack behind and you will stay away from designing for a month!" He offered

"I understand sir" Annie agrees

"Good. I'll have workspaces designed for you, you can't keep making use of that hole are you?" He asked

Annie glanced at her bookshelf and realised she had dropped a trail of fabrics hanging in between the door and the room.

"What do you plan to do with the money you earn?" He asked

"I will save it till I can open my brand officially one day" she smiled

"Good. Do you have an account?" He asked

"Yes. Hazel helped me" Annie replied

Hazel gave a nervous wave as he glanced at her.

"You get me a list of all the things you need and I'll make a few calls " he promised

"Thank you, dad!" Annie said jovially

He glanced at Hazel.

"We have a deal then," he asked

"Once you get her settled, then we can talk" she replied

He gave her waist a gentle squeeze and stepped out of the room.

"Thank you, dad!!" Annie said

The door swings shut.

The duo exchanged excited giggles, jumping on their feet at the new improvement.

"Thank you so much, Hazel!!" Annie smiled

"Let's get that list ready Annie. We don't want your dad to change his mind do we?" Hazel asked

"Not at all" Annie picked up her jotter and settled on her desk, writing all the things she needed without forgetting the last detail.

She had read and watched all about running a business in her house so she needed just the things she needed.

"Hazel, what deal did you make with dad?" Annie asked

"Don't worry about it. I'll be back so we can go through it together!" Hazel promised as she stepped out of the room.

She heard a bit of commotion down the stairs and wondered what it was all about.

As she approached the landing, Vincenzo stood there, hands in his pocket and expression neutral as he glanced at whatever was going on downstairs.

Hazel stood beside him, a bit worried about his change of mood…

"There he is!" A lady chirped happily

A lady in her early twenties, adorned in expensive jewellery, dressed in a red gown that hugged her figure tight and stopped several inches above her thigh, a pair of boots to match as well as overly red lip gloss.

Who is she?

"Booboo dear! I've missed you so much!" She walks up the stairs, removing her arms around Vincenzo in a rather scandalous hug.

"Goodness! I've missed you so much!" She said, placing a kiss on his chin.

Woah!

She's got real guts for a man who seems to intimidate everyone. And she had to do it right in front of her!

How crude!

"It's been a long time!" She cried

She finally seems to notice Hazel.

"Who are you,?" She asked in distaste

"She was just leaving" Vincenzo replied his eyes on Hazel