The design studio was quiet that evening.
Most of the employees had already left the building, leaving only the soft hum of the lights and the faint sound of fabric moving under careful hands.
Hazel stood near her workstation, adjusting the sleeve of a new design. Her focus was intense, as always.
She preferred working when the building was quiet.
It was easier to think.
Easier to breathe.
"Still working?"
The sudden voice made her pause.
Hazel turned and saw Luca Valentino standing near the doorway.
For a moment she was surprised. The CEO rarely visited the design floor this late.
"Yes, Mr. Valentino," she replied politely. "I just wanted to finish this before tomorrow."
Luca stepped closer, his gaze moving over the design on the mannequin.
"You work harder than most people here."
Hazel said nothing.
She wasn't sure how to respond to that.
After a short silence, Luca spoke again.
"You don't have to stay this late every day."
"I don't mind," Hazel said calmly. "I enjoy the work."
Luca studied her for a moment.
There was something about Hazel that kept drawing his attention. It wasn't just her talent.
It was the quiet strength she carried.
"You've brought new ideas to this company," he said. "That's rare."
Hazel lowered her eyes slightly.
"Thank you, sir."
But something about the way Luca was standing there made her uncomfortable.
It wasn't anything he had done.
It was simply the closeness.
The attention.
Her fingers tightened slightly against the fabric she was holding.
Luca noticed the small shift in her posture.
"You seem nervous around me," he said.
Hazel forced a small smile.
"No, sir."
But the answer wasn't convincing.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Luca said something unexpected.
"I'd like to take you to dinner sometime."
Hazel's heart skipped.
Her head lifted quickly.
"I— I don't think that's appropriate, Mr. Valentino."
"It's just dinner," Luca replied calmly.
Hazel stepped back slightly.
The movement was small, but Luca noticed it immediately.
"I prefer to keep things professional," she said quickly.
Luca frowned slightly.
Something about her reaction didn't feel normal.
It wasn't simple shyness.
It looked more like fear.
"Hazel," he said quietly, "I'm not trying to pressure you."
"I know."
Her voice was polite, but distant.
"I just think it's better if we keep our relationship strictly about work."
Luca studied her carefully.
He had expected hesitation.
But not this level of resistance.
Hazel quickly gathered her sketches.
"If you'll excuse me, sir, I should go home."
Without waiting for another response, she walked past him and left the studio.
Luca remained standing there.
Confused.
Meanwhile, outside the building, Hazel walked quickly toward the street.
Her heart was beating faster than normal.
She wasn't afraid of Luca.
Not really.
But the attention from a man — any man — always made something inside her tense.
A memory she had tried for years to forget.
A terrible night from the past that she had never told anyone about.
Not her family.
Not even Abi.
It was a secret she carried alone.
And because of it, Hazel had built invisible walls around herself.
Walls that no one had ever been able to cross.
Until now.
And that frightened her more than anything else…
Thank you for reading this far I'll drop the next chapter tomorrow 🤗❤️