5

Hazel stood, unsure how to feel as she waited for Lucas Rossi to come see her. Her heart pounded continuously beneath her chest. She had been led to a beautiful lounge room where she was to wait for the devil himself. Hazel fiddled with her fingers as she continued to wait for him, the few minutes past felt like several hours in her anxious state. She begun to admire the intricate objects around her when she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps behind her. Hazel spun on her feet, her heart skipping a beat or two, and without a doubt, Lucas Rossi in his dark suit and bright grey eyes, stared right back at her.

The man was truly everything romance writers imagined and more, a perfectly cut jawline, confident, beautiful eyes and he stood over a foot and a half above her. She was nervous, and from the small upward curve of his lips, she could tell, that strangely, he knew he was having an effect on her.

He tucked his hands into his pockets, and she fiddled with her fingers. This was the man she felt she was so ready to face squarely, and now that she stood before him, facing him squarely, she felt her initial courage disappear, and a new shyness overtake her very being.

Lucas cleared his throat very lightly. “Why were you out in the rain?” He asked, voice deep and velvety.

Anger washed over Hazel. Did he really want to pretend he didn’t know what she was here for? That he had no idea why she stood out in the sun for hours and then passed out in the rain?

“Because you wouldn’t face me and accept my rejection.” She snapped.

He exhaled deeply, his stance remaining unnervingly calm. “You do not wish to get married to me?”

“Not at all I do not.” She insisted.

Lucas gave no reply for a while, he simply continued to stare at her till she found herself looking away and her cheeks flushing with anger and anxiety. “May I leave? Now that I have passed message across?” She gritted.

“Walk with me.” He responded calmly.

“Why?” She asked, brows raised in confusion.

“I will like to give you a tour of the mansion.” He shrugged.

Hazel shook her head firmly; did he not understand her message? She had no wish to continue to stay anywhere around him, not when he made her heart beat so strangely, no... she simply had to leave before she explodes from this anxiety. “Mr. Rossi I do not have time for such gallivanting, I would very much rather get back to my work with the Rogers, all I ask is that you end this madness, go back to marrying their daughter like your initial agreement with them, and if you do not wish to marry Miss Alva, then you might as well pick someone else, but it cannot and can never be me.”

“Why?” He asked softly. She almost found herself melting at the disappointment in his voice.

But Hazel knew she simply couldn’t lose track of what she had come here for. She could not afford to be carried away his appearance and lavishness. “Because I do not wish to play a role in whatever game this is, kindly leave me out of it and allow me to get back to my old life.”

“Your old life…?” He quirked a brow in disbelief. “Take a good look around you, look at this mansion Hazel, the luxury, the meals and the vast riches I present to you in exchange for a few rehearsed vows at an altar, and tell me why you wish to return to your old life.”

To anyone, his words sounded alluring, like promises of not just rain, but milk and honey in a dry dessert, true temptation itself. But not to Hazel, whose resolve will not quiver under these sweet words. Instead they felt rather bitter to her ears, like an insult to her precious dignity.

“So this is what you assume of me Mr. Rossi? That because you feed me some fancy meal and offer me a bed in your mansion, that I will tie myself down to an arrogant man such as yourself?” She demanded, pupils dilated in fury.

“Arrogant?” He quirked a brow, huffing. Lucas could barely understand her animosity towards him. Hadn’t he just offered her what only fairytales could? How could she want to return to the hectic life of a maid she lived with the Rogers?

“Yes, you are a very arrogant man Mr. Rossi.” She repeated, firmly, eyes burning like flames.

“You do not know me, Miss Clarke.” He replied, surprised if not angered by her audaciousness.

What was he doing wrong that already made her hate him so much for a start?

“Neither do I wish to.” She retorted harshly as he stared down at her small frame, he wondered how someone so small could be so… unafraid. “I will not marry you Mr. Rossi, maybe you need to get your head checked if you are willing to marry a girl who you do not know, and neither does she know you.”

“That is enough Miss Clarke, I will not stand and watch you insult in my own house.” He replied, oddly calm.

The fire burning in Hazel’s eyes dimmed, and for once she felt she had crossed boundaries she did not intend to. Heat rose to her cheeks and she found herself wishing she was as calm and calculated as he was. But no, she let her pent up anger pour through her, and only God knows what consequences await her for her careless words.

Lucas gave her one last stare before he turned to leave. “I shall have you escorted out, you can take your belongings from the maid.” He said, leaving.

The maid walked in immediately he neared the door, bowing her head in respect at him, he did not acknowledge as he left without a word.

The lady walked up to Hazel, she was a different person from the one she ran in to earlier. She had a pair of folded clothes in her hands. “These are for you.” She said to her.

Hazel took the clothes from her, head lowered, she murmured a thank you to her.

“A car would be waiting to drop you off when you have changed into your clothes.”

“I don’t need a car, I can get home myself.” She murmured.