Chapter 11
1009 Words
Chapter 11
The working hours soon came to an end. People were beginning to return back to their homes and the streets were busier now again.
Hazel walked into the mansion and headed straight upstairs.
"You're back, honey, how was work? I hope you weren't stressed" Mom Marie asked as she reached out to take her handbag, worry etched on her face.
Hazel almost instinctively avoided her touching her bag but the second she saw the look on her face she knew that she genuinely cared about her and that was rare in her life right now.
"You never change mom Marie, when I first started school you told me I could stop if I ever feel stressed like it worked that way and now it's work?" She said smiling slightly but genuinely with a bit of nostalgia, as she let her take the bag.
She walked upstairs with a little smile and Marie trailing behind her ranting endlessly in worry. They stopped in front of her room. Hazel turned to the woman who just doesn't know what 'shut up' means
"Mom Marie, I'm hungry" she said making a sad face for the first time in years.
"You're hungry? Right! You should be, I mean you just came back from work. Oh I still can't believe you work now. What am I saying? Just go freshen up, dinner will be ready in no time" Marie said placing the hand bag into her palm before rushing to the kitchen.
Hazel opened the door and walked inside she placed the bag on her vanity shaking her head slightly before walking into her bathroom.
In the dining hall, the table was already full. Everyone was already down for dinner and small chatters could be heard especially from Shelly.
Hazel descended the stairs taking her usual seat. Everyone was already used to her seating position but she could never really get over her cold gaze each time it landed on either of them.
Dinner began quietly, the room was filled with only the aroma of delicious food and the clinking of silverware. Melvin glanced up at Hazel occasionally like he wanted to say something but didn't know how to start.
He picked his glass of wine and sipped it before clearing his throat, "Hazel, umm you did a good job with the business proposal"
Hazel glanced up casually at him before returning to her food.
"What business proposal?" Beverly asked, looking from Melvin to Hazel and back.
"The business proposal with the Voss Inc. It's a big one and Hazel reached the first step in securing it, she has really grown" Melvin said seemingly excited
"I see" Beverly said before shifting her gaze to Leon, she stared hard at him but quick. Hazel caught that little interaction but returned to her meal like she didn't understand.
Leon dropped his spoon calmly, a total opposite from the mess he was inside. He stood up and walked upstairs. One after the other they all left the dinning hall.
Leon stood on his balcony feeling the wind on his face, the door to his room opened and he closed his eyes slowly, arching his head backwards. He knew what was coming.
Beverly stormed into his room, "Leon!" She barked searching the room with her gaze before sighting the figure on the balcony.
"Didn't you hear what I told you the last time" Beverly barked
"I did hear, mother" Leon said not bothering to explain
"Then why is Hazel finding favor in Melvin's eyes, you and I know how much Melvin likes people who increase his power and now with Hazel securing the proposal, she has more worth in Melvin's eyes" Beverly said barely catching her breath
"Calm down mom" Leon said calmly.
"Don't tell me to calm down, I've carefully plotted this since six years ago and now it seems like that is all for not" Beverly roared "Why are you so useless? If this whole thing fails we are both going down"
"I understand mom" Leon said through gritted teeth before he side stepped and walked away.
Hazel strolled the garden, the Rivera Mansion was very big and aesthetic, during night time the villa was well lit, the most picturesque place was the lake in the garden area. That was Hazel's favourite part, she removed her cozy slippers and stepped bare foot on the grass, she walked along the shore of the lake, bending occasionally to scoop water.
She put on her slippers and crossed the little bridge over the lake, she walked for a while before breaking her stride, she looked at the figure in the distance her calm gaze turning cold again. She continued walking ahead.
"What are you doing here?" Leon's voice broke out in the darkness as he walked towards her.
"Is that supposed to be a question?" Hazel shot back calmly as she came to a stop
"Why did you come back?" Leon asked once again facing her
"Because you're here Hun" Hazel said smirking
"You can't do anything, you already lost six years ago" Leon said dismissively
"Wrong again! The battle only started six years ago, don't tell me this is you chickening out" Hazel said laughing like she just heard a joke
"If you weren't such a stubborn little brat you would listen to me and go back to the states, you're only wasting your time here... kicking up dust" Leon persuaded
"And you keep forgetting that I am Hazel not Leon the ultimate puppet, talk to me when you learn to break free from your mom's control....don't give me insecurity wrapped in fake concern" Hazel said, her eyes freezing over before she walked away.
Leon stared at her disappearing figure for a while before turning away to gaze into the night.
Hazel sat on her bed staring softly at the portrait in her hands, she brushed her fingers softly against it.
"Mom" she called out with unmasked longing in her voice.
Hazel stroked the portrait, her fingers trembling.
“Mom… I’ll make sure you get justice.”
- Writer
