CHAPTER 3:

“So, why you wanted to see me?” Noah was sitting behind his office desk. His office was more sophisticated than Mr. Jacob’s. Which was understood because of being a prince.

“I wanted to thank you.” She said while her eyes were cast down. For some unknown reason he wanted her to look at him.

He just smiled. “My father has taught us to always appreciate people who struggle and work hard. I just helped a little, otherwise it’s you who deserve the appreciation.”

She nodded still looking down. She seemed nervous.

“Is there anything else you want to say Hazel?” Hazel just shook her head.

“No Sir.”

“hmm.” there was an awkward silence in the room.

“I think I should take my leave.” She stood and bowed her head before turning around.

When the guard opened the office door for her, she did not exit but stayed there trying to decide.

“Hazel?” Noah called her gently which made her turn around.

“Milord. I think we need to talk. Alone.” This time there was finality in her voice.

When the guard was sent outside the office, she told Noah everything about last night. The expressions on his face were unreadable but he was clutching his desk so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.

“What were you doing at the rooftop?” Gone was the friendly person before her. She did not know his face could become so hard with rage and annoyance.

“I told you. I saw him passing outside my room.” she said a little defensively.

“Are you sure he wanted to suicide?”

“Yes I am sure. I just told you about our whole convo.”

“Are you sure you did not tell him your name or anything else about you?”

“No I didn’t.” She said confidently. She did not want to tell him about her wig part.

She was sitting on the chair. And Noah was strolling in the room either wringing his hands or brushing them through his hair. This was bothering him.

“Who was he milord?” she looked at him innocently. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

“Hmm. That? …”He sighed deeply. “He is … our former head butler’s son.”

Hazel’s mouth made a silent O shape. She was impressed with the prince now. Such a caring attitude towards a head butler’s son.

“How he got … like this?”

“In a war. Somebody attacked him using trickery. They … injured him badly.” He stopped in front of her. “Hazel, you won’t tell any of this to anyone. Right?”

Hazel nodded.

“Not even that boy when you meet him again.”  His eyes were scrutinizing her.

She nodded again.

“I really can’t thank you enough for coming to me and sharing this piece of information.” Then taking out a chit of paper from his writing pad he scribbled something. “Here take this.”

He handed her over the paper piece, “It’s my personal number. Do let me know if you need to talk to.”

Hazel could not believe her luck.

“Do you own a phone?” he asked to which she just shook her face slightly.

“I’ll arrange one for you.” He said softly while taking his seat behind the desk.

“Hazel!” she raised her head a little. “I need this favor. Keep meeting this guy. Without letting him know that we talked. Get closer to him. Just make him agree to get himself treated. He has given up on everything. Please help us. … I mean help me.” He almost pleaded.

“He is being kind of stubborn and unreasonable.” He muttered under his breath.

“I would try milord.”

When she left the office she wanted to do a puppy dance. The great prince Noah talked to her, smiled and even shared his personal number with her.

He not only asked for her help but also promised to give a phone to her. Her personal phone. She never owned one. Her school fellows did. Even Lily had one.

This was proving to be the best day of her life.

While seated across his desk Prince Noah James seemed like a picture of concern, anxiety and fear. He knew that the girl had a crush on him and was also aware that he was being unfair by taking advantage of her innocence.

But did he have a choice?

…

“So how is it working in a palace?” Ivy asked her dreamily making her smile.

“I haven’t even started it yet Iv. But I am enjoying my independence.” She said while digging in the bowl of crackers. Her official duty was supposed to start from Monday. So she had at least two days for herself.

She did not discuss anything about the palace or the suicidal boy or even Noah. She wanted to do her job with honesty. Besides Prince Noah had put in his trust with her and she had no plans to sabotage it.

Alec was not home so they were enjoying the peace by eating junk.

“How is he in there?” Hazel pointed towards Ivy belly.

Ivy rubbed her, a little protruding tummy lovingly. Her second trimester had started.

“How do you know it’s a he? She said while stuffing potato chips in her mouth and then choking badly. “Hey, careful Ivy.” Hazel quickly offered her water while rubbing her back.

“Nausea is getting better but the bile rise pops up anytime.” She was now rubbing her chest. “Hazel, umm …” she hesitated a bit. “Were you serious when you asked me … to … runaway?”

Hazel stopped chewing her food and stretched her hand to pour water for herself. After gulping it down she looked at Ivy’s face.

“I was damn serious Ivy.”

“But where would we go? What about finances?”

“Don’t worry about that Ivy. We have still got two years. With my savings we would plan this together.”

“And what about baby?” Ivy asked worriedly.

“What about him?”

“It would be an added responsibility Hazel.”

“I am getting more than double salary. Don’t worry about the baby and finances. You take care of the baby and I would take care of you both. Trust me.”

“Why you even offered me? Why you are not planning it for yourself?”

Hazel was quiet for a minute. “In my life sincere people are very rare Ivy. Almost none. Those who are. I can’t leave them back to suffer. Just trust me. I would think of a way out. I promise. Till then. Please keep yourself and the baby alive.”

She was holding Ivy’s hands and they both had tears in their eyes.

“It’s getting darker. I think I should leave now.” She jumped from the couch to collect her things and to put on her wig. Ivy was the only person who did not let her feel ashamed of what she was as an individual.

After she reached palace, she went to her room and started arranging her shelves. There was not much to be done so she thought of reading a novel. But as the time passed by she stated thinking about the wheel chair boy.

Later she had dinner with other maids. They all welcomed her with open hearts. She was the youngest among them. Amanda was also there to introduce her.

After dinner most of them were ready to retire except few of those who had duties till midnight. She went to bed but now was getting anxious to go to the roof top.

Not able to take it anymore she tiptoed outside her room and headed towards the elevator. When she came out on the roof-top, the air was chill but tonight she came prepared.

Looking around when she could not find him, she felt disappointment surging through her. Looking around she tried to tell herself that she did not go crazy last night.

Just when she was about to give up she heard whizzing sound behind her. She turned around alarmingly, thinking that it might be a servant loitering over her but her heart skipped a beat when she found him coming towards her.

“I knew you would come.” He smiled.

He was handsome, without a doubt. Under normal circumstances he would not even bat an eye in her direction but here he was. Talking to her, with a friendly smile.

 “I … I …” she was simply at a loss of words tonight.

“Relax! Someone like me cannot do you any harm.” His tone was not sarcastic but still Hazel felt guilty for some unknown reason.

“Why are you standing? Sit somewhere here.” She shot a curious glance at him. He was blind, and there was a piece of cloth around his eyes. How could he know she was standing?

She went near him to wave a hand in front of his eyes, to make sure if he really was …

He gave her a half suppressed laugh, “I swear, I am blind. Now stop waving your hand.”

She was still frowning when he gestured her to sit near him. There was a marble bench at some distance. She held his chair and wheeled it a little then switched on the breaks before taking her seat.

He chuckled again when she pulled the breaks of his chair, “Still don’t trust me?”

“No.” It escaped her mouth without thinking.

To cover it up she said the first thing that came into her mind, “How are your legs today?”

The moment she asked this she wanted to kill herself. But tonight he was all easy about it.

“Same.” He said softly, “How is your … head … I mean scalp?”

“Same.” She burst out laughing when he joined her. For some unexplainable reason they both were laughing their heads out on their lacking. As if they both were accepting it with open heart.

It was a part of them now. The fate chose it for them and they had to live with it.

“It’s been so long since I laughed so much, that too on something silly.” There was sadness in his voice, which made her to want to reach out to him. To hold him.

But for some reason, she knew that he would never like it. His pride would never let him.

“What is your name girl?” His voice was tender, almost like a caress. This was the first time in her life when she was talking to a guy all alone.

“I am Haz… umm … Zella. My name is Zella.” Noah had asked her not to give away her identity. He just nodded.

“What’s yours?” She started playing with the marble stones placed there in a ceramic pot. It was a beautiful garden with different pots in various shapes, sizes and colors.

 “Zeki.”

Her eyes shot up to him, “What kind of name is this?” She had never heard of it.

“The same kind as of Zella.” He grinned mischeviously making her to dunk her head.

He seemed very sharp. And in order to protect her identity she had to keep it simple, and stick to reality as much as possible.

She did not argue and without any idea why she was doing that, she threw a small marble stone at him playfully.

And … Shit! He caught it so easily and casually like he had been doing it all his life.

She jumped from her place and went near him, “Are you sure you are blind?”