Isla Fox

Three years ago, Hazel Vance made a choice that changed everything. One night of passion with a mysterious stranger at a masquerade ball left her with more than just memories—it left her with a son whose rare violet-blue eyes are a constant reminder of the father she'll never find.

Now a struggling single mother, Hazel desperately needs the executive assistant position at Sterling Group. The salary could finally give her two-year-old Leo the life he deserves. But her new boss, CEO Liam Sterling, is nothing like she expected.

Demanding, brilliant, and devastatingly handsome, Liam has a reputation for being impossible to work for. Most assistants don't last a week. When Hazel refuses to be intimidated by his cold demeanor and sharp tongue, something shifts between them. The attraction is immediate and electric, crackling through every professional interaction.

But it's his eyes that stop her cold. The same striking violet-blue shade that stares back at her every morning when she looks at her son.

As the tension between them builds and the lines between professional and personal begin to blur, Hazel finds herself caught between her desperate need for this job and her growing attraction to the one man who could destroy everything she's worked for.

She doesn't know that Liam has been searching for the mysterious woman from the masquerade ball ever since that night changed him forever. And he has no idea that the composed, fiery assistant who challenges him at every turn is the same woman who haunts his dreams.

When the truth finally comes to light, will it bring them together or tear apart the fragile new life Hazel has built for herself and her son?

The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife

I finished coordinating the confidential financial report meeting with Owen for tomorrow and sent Evelyn a message to confirm her availability. Once those details were sorted, I dove back into my remaining tasks.


About an hour later, I heard Liam's office door slam open with enough force to rattle the frame. Before I could react, he was leaning over my chair, his hands gripping both armrests, effectively trapping me. His face was inches from mine, those dark eyes burning with an intensity that made my breath catch.


"Hazel, listen to me very carefully." His voice was low and rough, carrying a weight that made every word feel like a command. "This situation between us ends today. I won't accept any more excuses or delays. Clear your schedule because we're not leaving this office until we sit down and hash this out like the adults we are."


Chapter 21 - Confrontation and Defense