The office smelled faintly of smoke.
Not fresh.
Lingering.
Like it had settled into the walls long before now.
Richard stood by the window, one hand tucked into his pocket, the other holding a cigarette between his fingers.Untouchable from where he stood.
He took a slow drag held it then exhaled.
The smoke curled into the air, lazy and controlled before disappearing just like everything else in his world.
The office smelled faintly of smoke.Behind him, the door clicked open.
"Sir." One of his surbodinate bowed holding a file but Richard didn't turn.
"Leave it on the table." The sound came hard and commanding.
A footsteps approached, quiet against the polished floor as he file was placed on the desk.
Slowly, he turned, crushing the cigarette into the ashtray without looking at it. The faint ember died instantly and his gaze dropped to the file.
Hazel
He walked toward it, each step unhurried, like time bent around him instead of the other way around.
His fingers brushed against the edge before flipping it open page after page.
The file was her information the first thing he noticed was her multiple jobs too many.
His eyes lingered as he read through Morning shifts.Evening shifts and Night events. And a faint tilt of his head.
"She runs herself into the ground," he murmured as his gaze shifted
Her Family Background was not something he coukd dwell on.
Mother—dead
Father—alive but not in touch
Has a Stepmother.
His expression didn't change but the air around him did when he read through it.
Abused neglect and removed from residence.
"Thrown out." He murmured.
His jaw tightened just slightly barely noticeable as his mind went back to the poster he saw in her room that night.
He turned the page.
Emergency Contact: Cecilia
That was the only one name there, his thumb tapped once against the paper.
Something caught his interest immediately as it spark up his intrest a smirk appeared on his face.
"Had just gained admission" He smirked as he read the word
His gaze stayed on that line longer than necessary then slowly again a faint, almost invisible smirk touched his lips.
"So that's it." He muttered but as he closed the file and a plan came to his mind.
Richard reached for another cigarette,his mind now beaming as the perfect opportunity he needed showed itself,and he wasn't about to lose this opportunity at any cost.
"She smiles while she's drowning." The words were quite almost thoughtful, but it was the truth because he had seen it.
.....
Hazel was trying to survive the day behind a café counter.Soft voice and polite smile serving people who didn't even look at her twice. But every time no one was looking it disappeared like it had never belonged to her.
Richard leaned back slightly, smoke drifting around him.
"She doesn't ask for help," he said.
He was waiting for her call, to atleast be like the other women he knew after finding out about his identity but he had waited for 5 days now and no calls from her.
"He knew she was strong or perhaps faking it but not to this extent she wasn't willing to be a lady in distress that needs to be saved by him,but he needs to let it happen and the perfect opportunity he had was enough.
⸻
Night settled over the city.
Hazel stepped out of the event venue, her body heavy with exhaustion another part time done yet wasn't enough to cover all her expense.
Her heels clicked softly against the pavement,uneven now and slowly.
Her hand slipped into her bag she pulled out the folded paper her tuition notice cane to view as she opened it.
Final Deadline: Tomorrow.
Her breath caught as she looked at it,tears threaten to fall but she held back her fingers trembled slightly.
"I don't have enough… yet." she whispered.
She had wanted to,she does because it's her mothers dream for her to go to school,her mother believed education is the best push she could get and now she wasn't competent enough to fulfill it.
"One day" Hazel whispered as she dried up her tears.
"Hazel." A voice suddenly called.
The voice cut through the night,low,commanding and familiar. Her body went rigid, it been a few days yet she remembered that voice clearly and all the emotions that night came rushing back again.
Hazel turned around and there he was standing under the dim streetlight, shadows falling across his face watching her.Her heart slammed against her chest.
"You…" she breathed and wanted to force a smile to mask up her swollen face.
He took a step forward and all Cecillia warning came rushing back.
He was no ordinary man and looking at him now she seems to understand it, she blamed herself for not having looked him up yet.
His aura was commanding and dark only his eyes carried softness and Hazel knew for someone like that he must be very dark.
"How is your leg ?" She asked glancing at him.
"I told you,I don't need to rest to heal remember?", I can walk well now" Richard smirked as he stopped in front of her.
"Richard..." Hazel stopped midway trying to remember what Ce has called his last name.
"Come work for me" His voice came as a command as Hazel was still trying to remember what Ce has called him.
"What do you mean ?" Hazel was confused.
Who the hell walks up to somebody and just tell them to work for them. But his voice sounded serious, he was t joking from the looks he gave her , she knew he wasn't joking.
"You need money, I can give you " His voice sharp as he stated.
Hazel heart pounded painfully.
"Ho… how do you know I need money ?" The question was stupid but she had to ask,something didn't sit right with this. Sef could feel it.
"Think carefully about tomorrow before you say no"
Hazel grip tighten around her the bag reality slowly kicking in.
"Richard isn't an ordinary man"!." Cecillia warning echoed in her head.