Chapter 3: HE HATES ME

Turner and Hazel shifted their heads to look and realized it was Ethan who'd just replied, standing at the entrance to his office.

Turner, being an elder, could denote something wasn't right with the manner at which Ethan had reponded, coupled with the scowl on his face, but he chose not to interfere and only gave Hazel a friendly smile before departing with the other person.

Hazel couldn't bare to look in Ethan's direction anymore, and she only spun to take the next elevator when she heard the door slam!

She could tell it was Ethan who had just slammed his office's door in rage.

She brazed her shoulders and stepped into the elevator without glancing back.

She got to her office floor and immediately went into Laura's office.

"Here are the documents you have to re-type; be fast about it!" Laura said, slamming the pile of documents on her table for Hazel to pick up.

"There's no need for that, Mrs. Clemson." Hazel spoke softly and dropped her staff card on Laura's table, then stormed out in a jiff to avoid any question from Laura as she'd already on the verge of breaking down.

****

Hazel got home in a sullen mood, she glanced at the sack letter the secretary had passed to her at the company earlier, she couldn't help but let out tears.

She had refused her friends' assistance on many occasions and just wanted to stand on her own, but at the moment, nothing seemed to be working in her favour.

Hazel turned to the frame she had placed on her table in her living room and her expression became more sad.

"Mom! I'm tired." Hazel muttered, staring at the frame with tears in her eyes.

12th of next week would be her mother's death anniversary which is why she had invited her two close friends to accompany her. 

She felt so exhausted and could only sit and stare at her mother's picture in a gloomy state.

****

 GAMO OIL AND GAS, LTD.

"Dad, I'm done, got to leave." Alfric said to his dad who had just returned to his office.

"Alfric! Are you really my son?" Turner asked in annoyance.

"Dad, please do not start this." Alfric replied in a pissed manner knowing what his father was driving at.

"What do you mean by that? I see no reason why I would keep pestering you to have a stable position in your own father's company... How I wish I was blessed with other children, I wouldn't give a hoot concerning you." Turner raised his voice in provocation.

"I'll see you later Dad, take care." Alfric turned to step out avoiding more of his father's scolding.

"Eh you! Wait, I saw a la..." Turner wanted to tell Alfric of the lady he had seen at RD group as he'd finally remembered how he had come accross her, but he paused in his statement as Alfric had already shut the door and left irefully.

Alfric ignored the staffs' greetings while exiting the company as he was much pissed with the drama his father was always creating about him not working in the company.

He had wanted to leave a free life and not having to succumb to certain rules mainly cos' he was a young master of the Gagmons.

He got into his car in a jiffy and drove off infuriatetively. He connected his phone to his iPod to make a call.

“Let's go play golf.” He said and hung up afterwards.

He had just spoken to his cousin brother and the other party was always interested in golf sport, which left no room for him to refuse Alfric.

Alfric sighed deeply and drove off at high a speed. He doesn't really like his identity as a young master. To him, it attracts so much trouble and stress.

****

"Hello mum." Ethan's voice went through the phone.

"You have to come home after you leave the office. The Wilsons invited us for a family dinner.

“Dinner?” Ethan was taken aback.

“Yes, and why are you surprised? Aren't they your late girlfriend's family?” Maltida said, unsure of why Ethan sounded suprised.

“Alright; it's fine, will be home soon.” Ethan consented and they both hung up afterwards.

“Amel.” Ethan muttered. He had so much missed her and hadn't been able to move on after her death.

His mind shifted to Hazel, and a deep frown appeared on his manly, striking face.

He couldn't believe he had unknowingly had a fling with his staff on the night his late girlfriend's death clocked a year.

To him, Hazel was his worst nightmare, it was difficult for him to sinker that a mature lady as such would be so shameless to get on his bed, claiming It went out of her control.—Did she expect I'll believe such?

But one thing remained certain, he still couldn't figure out exactly what Hazel wanted to achieve to have done that, well, he would wait and see what action she takes next. He deluded this.

****

Wondering what might have transpired before now to cause such a rift between Hazel and Ethan? Let's do a brief flashback.

****

★Few months back★

Hazel strode in a café to get an ice cream for herself, she happened to be in a delightful mood and a dazzling smile could be seen on her face which revealed her purely graceful face.

She quite appeared like a high school student who had just been given a sudden scholarship and had felt so elated to celebrate such achievement.

She got herself a cup of strawberry ice-cream, stepped out and strode forward playfully.

With her look and stature, one couldn't easily tell of her real age as she appeared so young like in her late teens. Meanwhile, she had just celebrated her 25th birthday few weeks back together with Alfric as they both shared thesame birth date.

Anyone around could discern that Hazel was indeed delightful mainly because she'd just secured a staff position at RD group. One of the biggest known companies in the country of England, located in Manchester, Rochdale.

It wasn't easy for one to get a job in such a big company, Hazel could only bring it down on her luck or probably life had just chosen to favour her.

As she strode forward, a male kid who was riding a bicycle playfully, lost control and hit her accidentally.

Due to the fact that Hazel wasn't vigilant enough and was hit unexpectedly, she was already on the verge of sliding hard on the ground and was already envisaging the aftermath awkwardness.

Unexpectedly, a strong but warm arm held her firmly and prevented her from slumping, after Hazel regained her senses, she immediately turned and beheld the man who had just saved her bacon.

Hazel's eyes lit up instantly, as she wasn't expecting the man to appear stunning and fascinating.

She had actually dated cute guys and even seen some, but to her, none of them was as sightly as her friend 'Alfric' but beholding this man, she affirmed Alfric was on seventy percent while the man was on one hundred and one percent.

Ethan, who had come to the area for a site survey with an investor and was smart enough to have caught the scene and hurriedly saved the lady, saw how she was staring at him and couldn't bother much with her.

"Thank you so much for saving my neck, I'm grateful." Hazel said with a bazing smile revealing more of her appealing beauty.

Ethan only gave her a glance and nodded, then left immediately to proceed in conversing with the investor.

Hazel was in a daze as she stood rooted on her spot with her ice cream melting away.

'What kind of man would be this spunky?'

'I am liking him already.'

Hazel notioned to herself, and she reluctantly walked away after seeing that the man had left in his black Bentley flying spur.

★★★