FATED ENCOUNTER

ENCOUNTER💕

CHAPTER 13

“I should not have kissed him…”

(Hazel’s POV)

---

Sleep never came.

Every time I closed my eyes, I felt it.

The kiss.

It was supposed to be a slip. A moment. An accident.

But it didn’t feel like an accident.

I remembered the way his breath caught. The way his hand gripped the floor beside me like he was fighting gravity itself. His lips—warm, still, and then suddenly gone.

He had pulled back like I burned him.

Like he regretted everything.

I groaned and buried my face into my pillow.

“Stupid. Stupid,” I whispered, my voice cracking.

---

7:00 AM – The Next Morning

I stood in front of the mirror, tying my hair up into a tight ponytail like armor.

No makeup. No accessories. Just plain Hazel.

There was no room for feelings now.

I stepped into the kitchen and was met by Rose, who gave me a warm smile.

“Good morning, Miss Hayden. Mr. Wilson is already in his study.”

“Thank you,” I said, trying to match her smile, but mine barely reached my eyes.

As I walked down the hall, every step felt heavier. My heels clicking too loud. My breath catching on nerves.

I paused outside his door.

You can do this. It’s just a job. He’s just your boss.

I knocked gently.

“Come in,” his voice replied. It was flat. Empty.

I stepped inside.

There he was—Alexander Wilson, behind his desk, dressed in his usual sleek black suit. His posture was perfect. His gaze… fixed on a document.

He didn’t look up.

“Prepare the quarterly reports. And reschedule my 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. calls,” he said, voice clipped and formal.

No warmth. No acknowledgment. Just business.

Just like he wanted.

I hesitated. “Yes, sir.”

As I turned to leave, he said it.

“Hazel.”

My hand froze on the door handle.

He looked up at me. Those cool gray eyes that once softened at the corners now locked me in place.

“That… last night. It was a mistake.”

A pause.

“Forget it.”

The words sliced through me, clean and deep.

I forced myself to nod. “Of course, sir.”

I left quickly, not daring to let him see the way my chest was rising too fast. The way my eyes burned.

Not again.

---

(Alexander’s POV)

I watched her leave, and something clenched inside me.

She didn’t say anything. No arguments. No smart remarks. She just… accepted it.

And that hurt more than I expected.

I should’ve been relieved. That she didn’t fight me. That she didn’t look back.

But instead…

I was furious.

With her.

With myself.

With this entire impossible situation.

I ran a hand through my hair, biting down on the urge to call her back. To say anything—something—that would undo what I’d just done.

But I didn’t.

Because if I let her in…

I didn’t know if I could ever let her go.

---

Hazel’s POV – Later That Afternoon

We had a lunch meeting scheduled with Damien Carter and a few AW board members.

I tried to push my emotions away. I focused on organizing the files, double-checking names, arrival times, guest preferences.

I needed to be perfect today.

Alexander said nothing as we walked to the restaurant together. He sat beside me at the head of the table, his presence commanding as ever.

I kept my head down, taking notes, passing menus.

And then—

Damien Carter arrived.

His cologne hit me first—strong and expensive. Then his eyes—smug, dark, and far too amused.

“Well, well. Miss Hayden. You’re looking especially radiant today.”

I shifted in my seat, feeling his eyes linger. I offered a polite nod. “Good afternoon, Mr. Carter.”

But he leaned in, his voice low. “Alexander, I must say—you’ve got good taste. Most assistants I’ve had were never quite this… tempting.”

My blood ran cold. I heard the clink of cutlery.

Alexander’s voice came sharp. “That’s enough.”

The table went silent.

Damien only smiled, sipping his wine like nothing happened.

I didn’t look up again for the rest of the meeting.

---

Back in the Car — After the Lunch

The silence between us felt heavier than usual.

Alexander sat beside me, one arm resting on the window, the other tapping his thigh lightly.

I glanced at him once. His jaw was tense.

I wanted to say thank you. For standing up for me. For not letting Damien cross a line.

But something in his expression told me this wasn’t the moment.

So I said nothing.

And neither did he.

---

That Night — Hazel’s POV

Back in the penthouse, I paced my room.

I thought time would make it better.

That ignoring the kiss, staying professional, burying it all beneath reports and schedules would be enough.

But it wasn’t.

Every glance. Every silence. Every time I passed him in the hallway—it twisted something inside me.

I sat on my bed and opened my journal.

> “I should be relieved he wants to forget it.”

“But why do I feel like something between us died today?”

“Why do I feel like I’m mourning something that never even had a chance to begin?”

I closed the book slowly.

💭 Comment “CHAPTER 14 NOW!” if you need to see what happens next!

📌 #CEOromance #EnemiesToLovers #Tension #ForbiddenKiss #HazelAndAlexander #FatedEncounter