8

Lucas Rossi was bluffing, this was all a prank. Hazel thought to herself as she dragged her feet home one evening.

She couldn't believe it, she still found herself thinking about the entire incident almost a week after it occured.

He said they would be married in two weeks didn't he?

He might have to come tow her and tie her to the Church pole whenever he is ready. Which might be never, because she had nether seen nor heard from him in days.

Perhaps he had finally forgotten her, left her alone, or realized how worthless she was to him as a servant.

Either way, it was good for them both.

She never wanted to hear from him again.

Street lights burned brightly ahead of her, lighting her way home.

The street remained busy with activity, and she found herself hungry as she passed by a barbecue stand, the smell of steak filling her nostrils.

The day had been thoroughly hectic, and she painfully hoped that maybe her grandma would have managed to make dinner already without her assistance, seeing the old lady was slowly drifting deeper into her illness.

Spotting a bench by the side of the road, she dragged herself to it, plopping down on the chair with a deep sigh, exhaustion weighing upon her like a ton of bricks.

Famished.

That was the only word that could describe her current state. She was famished from standing all day. She badly needed some rest, yet she found herself working two jobs to pay for her poor granny's medication.

She pondered upon buying some of the steak, starring at it as the man turned them on the grill, heating both sides properly. Maybe some of that protein would do her good...

No... She shook her head, she needed to save. And that was the reason she was choosing to walk home anyways.

Picking herself up with a deep sigh of exhaustion, Hazel was forced to continue the walk home with a growling stomach.

Orange lights flickered ahead of her as she approached home, dragging herself with a dying determination.

She was already thoroughly famished as she arrived home, unlocking the door and letting her back fall against it with a light thud as she continued to breathe heavily, chest rising and falling.

"Hazel, are you home?" Her grandmother's voice echoed through the walls of their tiny apartment.

"Yes ma, I am." She called back in return, as she loudly as her famished breath would allow her.

"Oh, that's good." She responded. Hazel walked to the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of cold milk. She did not bother to heat it at all, she gulped it down rapidly, some trickles escaping her lips and rolling down her cheeks, falling to her shirt. She rinsed the cup away dutifully, returning it to it's rightful place before staggering to her grandma's room.

"How are you feeling?" She asked as she creaked the door open gently.

She heaved where she lay on the bed, turning her head for the door with a crinkled smile. "Not too good, but I think I would be alright."

Hazel felt her heart sink. She could sense her grandma was getting even more critical by the day. The woman wasn't even really old at all, she had not even clocked sixty-five, yet something seemed to be eating her up inside. "I got you some fresh fruit. I think this is important for you to feel better and stronger so you can fight this sickness."

"Oh dear, how very thoughtful." The woman smiled, trying to seat up, even though it seemed very painful for her.

Hazel hurried to her side, anchoring her to help her. She placed the tray of fresh fruit by the table, grabbing a slice of cut mango and offering her. Her grandma begun to eat while she watched the old woman devour the tray of fruits. She knew her grandma always loved mangoes above any other fruit. She made sure she got as many as she could for her.

"Have some." She offered her, trying to be nice to her grand daughter whom she suspected was famished as well.

"I am full." Hazel lied, but her grandma saw through her facade. The poor girl had a habit of trying to be stronger than her small frame. She knew she would soon fall ill too if she continued to pretend to be fine.

"Hazel..." She called her in a warning tone, glaring lovingly at her.

"Yes Ma?" She answered with a faint smile.

"Have some. You do not have to pity me so much." She pushed a slice of peeled orange into her hand. Offering no room for rejection.

Hazel smiled weakly as she was forced to accept the fruit. "Okay."

Not long after her grandma had eaten and she has tucked her back into bed, Hazel took herself to her room.

She showered, prayed, and tucked herself into bed. Grateful the next day what a Saturday morning.

As she went about her house cleaning the next morning, a knock on the door surprised Hazel.

"Who is it?" She called, walking towards the door with furrowed brows.

She opened the door with a look of confusion as she was met with two strange faces. Two women stood at her though, both dressed in cooperate attire.

Worry washed over Hazel instantly, could something be the matter?

"Good morning." They greeted her with a soft smile.

"Good morning." She returned slowly, "is something the matter?"

"Are you Miss Hazel Clarke?" One of them inquired.

She nodded reluctantly, could she be in trouble of any sort? Was she owing the landlord anything? "Yes... Indeed I am. How may I help you."

"We have been sent by Mr. Rossi." They declared.

Instantly, anger washed over Hazel as her anxiety y melted away.

"What does he want?" She snarled.

"He insists you accompany us to pick out a wedding dress." They announced with a smile.

A look of astonishment fell over her face instantly, she glared in bewilderment."A wedding dress? Is he insane?"

"He would be paying for all the expenses, a spa session and a manicure, pedicure and whatever else you might request for in preparation for the wedding." They explained.

"There would be no wedding." She declared with a tone of finality. He must be out of his mind if he truly still insists on a wedding. She would not allow it!

"Pardon?" One of them raised her brows in confusion.

"Tell Lucas Rossi that I would not be marrying him, and he would have to tie me up and tow me to the altar before I would bind myself to a man as stubborn as himself." She clarified sternly.

"But miss..."

"Leave, and if you come back... I would be calling the police and filing for a lawsuit." She cut in on them harshly before she shut the door immediately, locking it up.

"Hazel...? Who was that?" Her mother walked in, a mug of steaming herbal tea in her hands.

"It was no one ma." She sighed, running her hand roughly through her hair.

"No one? Did the wind knock at the door?" Her grandma rolled her eye.

"I am sorry ma, it was the neighbors, they needed to borrow some salt." She lied, avoiding her eyes as she waked into the kitchen.

"Oh, I hope you handed them enough." She called after her.

"I did!" She answered.

"You seem angry, did they say something to upset you?" She followed her into the kitchen.

Hazel groaned inwardly in frustration. "No... I am just a little tired. I will be alright." She half lied.

"Oh dear, you work so hard, you should go get some rest now. I would like to take a nap now too anyway." Her grandma smiled, placing a hand lovingly on her shoulder.

"Okay grandma." She smiled, kissing her cheek softly.

Hazel hurried into her room, grabbing her phone and dialing the first person who came to her mind in times like this.

"Hello, Ann on the line." Anna's sing song voice cane across the line.

"Some strange people just knocked on the door this morning, you wouldn't believe it at all." Hazel gushed.

"What happened? Tell me." Her friend's voice urged across the line.

"Lucas Rossi." She whispered into the phone.

"God, what did he do this time? Spill spill spill!" Anna gushed.

"He sent his minions over here to accompany me to go shop for a wedding dress!" Hazel exclaimed in disbelief.

"What?! How does he even know where you live?" Anna queried.

"I have no idea..." Hazel exclaimed in exasperation.

"This is insanely dramatic... Like you both are the leads of some chaotic drama series." Anna laughed hysterically across the line.

"Don't laugh! It's not funny!" Hazel whined.

"But it is... What did you do?" Anna asked.

"I sent them away." Hazel rolled her eyes.

"As you should, he can't intimidate you into marrying him. Who does he think he is?" Anna huffed.

"Right!" Hazel agreed.

"What is his obsession with you?" Anna whispered in a confused tone.

"I have no idea... I mean, out of every other girl in the world? Why me? Why not Alva?" Hazel groaned, Alva was a lot more suitable and beautiful for a billionaire. She was simply a maid, and she could not comprehend Lucas Rossi's liking for her at all.

"No, Alva is a bitch. A living nightmare, I can see you why he would marry her servant over her." Anna rolled her eyes.

"Don't speak of her like that, she was once our friend." Hazel murmured.

"Was once. Not anymore."

"What do you think I should do about this?" She groaned.

"Don't be worried at all, this isn't the ninteen sixties, he can't make you marry him. Though I strongly wonder why you are so against the marriage, he is a billionaire for heavens sake!"

"We do not know each other! I cannot agree to such an arrangement. I am not ready to get married and when I am it would be to a man I know and love." Hazel declared.