The Enemy's Puppet

Chapter Five

After the class was dispersed by the professor, Scott and Leon grabbed their stuff and stood up to leave, when they saw Hazel Styles walk towards them. Scott immediately excused himself, foreseeing the thickness in the air. Hence, he ran to Jenna, who stood awaiting him by the door.

Leon scoffed seeing his friend run at rat speed, and leaned himself on the wall of the classroom, his gaze fixed at the delicate doll who paddled towards him, seemingly nervous. His face gave out no expression, making her nervousness increase by the second.

He didn't really want to indulge in any sort of conversation with any of the Styles' family members, but since he had already disrespected her without his intention, he didn't want to be more of a douche and decided to listen to what she had to say.

"Hey" she muttered, once she reached his proximity. Fidgeting with her fingers, looking down, she stood there waiting for a reply.

When she didn't get one, she looked at him nervously, to find him staring at her with dead expressions. He did intimidate her.

Upset, because of not getting a word or gesture from him after her greetings, she sighed, and turned around, to leave, when he finally spoke, not moving his stance or expressions by an inch, "What is it Hazel?"

Surprised, she turned around again and bit her lower lip, finding no approachable aura, asked innocently, "Please get your jaw treated." She knew there was not going to be a reply, and hence she continued, "I am sorry for what my brother did. It's just his anger got the best-"

Leon interrupted her, "You don't need to apologize. I kind of deserved it. And, I am sorry, I shouldn't have made assumptions which were so awkward and disrespectful towards you"

Without waiting for her reply, Leon pushed himself off the wall, and grabbed his phone from the table before walking past her, out of the door, leaving a speechless Hazel behind. She was finding it hard to digest that the one she considered a bad guy, who never apologized for his wrong doings, had just apologized to her.

And here she stood still after his apology, not knowing how to react to that. Smiling sly, she hit herself on the forehead slightly before walking out of the classroom to her locker that was assigned to her, to find books already stuffed in there by the college authorities.

The day ended in a jiffy, with mostly lectures, making new friends and also with bits and pieces of eye locks between Leon and Hazel, leaving her blushing, with butterflies in her stomach, and titillating smirk on Leon's face. One who knows Leon, can definitely vouch that there's some plot already being played by his mastermind.

-

Bidding Jenna goodbye, Hazel walked towards the lockers, to lock her books in, and exit the campus, to go to her pending designs at home that needed her attention. She wasn't a well-known fashion designer yet. But she still had a few clients here and there, who'd keep her busy and pay for her independent expenses.

It felt good to earn your own money. Always. Since, you're only answerable to yourself. And, well, your Chartered Accountant.

Jenna was leaving with Scott, because he had planned 'something special' for her. She was surprised when she found out that her best friend was ready to date someone, but to say the least, she was extremely happy for her. Jenna deserved all the happiness. And she could only hope that Scott wouldn't be a bad decision.

Walking towards her car, she felt conscious as there were multiple gazes on her. Her doubts confirmed, as she looked around only to find a few student groups staring at her, as if she was a piece of some famous art. Feeling a bit of discomfort, as she had always been an introvert, she quickened her pace, and entered her car. Her beautiful baby, her Audi.

-

Leon, on the other hand, after the chat with Hazel, decided to do the exact opposite of what she had suggested out of pity. He didn't get his jaw treated. It was a constant reminder that he needed to keep the rage within him burning with passion.

He entered the changing room that was assigned to the university's sports team, washed his face; to get rid of the dried off blood, he changed his shirt from the checkered shirt to his formal sky blue shirt that he had carried along in his bag.

After a quick change, he left for the office. He couldn't waste a single moment, not at least after what happened today at the university. His anger needed to be vented out, and what better way than to convert anger into success?

Reaching the office, he was formally greeted by the employees, juniors and seniors, and was immediately submerged in work. Hours and hours went by, with Leon's continuous meetings, file checks and calls.

He was so deep in his work, he didn't realize when the clock hit 8:00 pm in the evening, until the door was banged open, and in came his best friend, Scott Harrison. Leon frowned at his best friend who was supposed to be with the new girl the entire day, and checked his watch, as Scott settled himself on the chair opposite his.

"Why are you working so late, Leo?" Scott asked, pulling out his Rubik's Cube and worked his fingers on it, solving it, while waiting for Leon's reply who sighed and stretched back a bit.

"Didn't realise, you say, why are you back so early? Did that girl kick you goodbye so early?" Leon smirked as he sipped some water from the glass kept on the desk.

Scott scoffed, and muttered angrily, "No. She didn't kick me goodbye. In fact, she said yes to being my girlfriend."

Leon's eyes widened in surprise, "That's great buddy! Congratulations! I am so happy for you! I know how long you've been waiting for her to say yes." Scott smiled at him, and Leon continued, "But now, answer my question, why are you here so early if everything went well?"

Leon saved the files on his laptop, as Scott replied, "She had a family urgency, she couldn't skip, so I dropped her off at her place before 7."

Leon hummed, as he turned the laptop off. "You say, why was Jenna's best friend coming your way, back in the classroom?" Leon looked at him and realised that his best friend didn't even know who that girl was. Not even her name, let alone her background.

"She was Hazel!" Leon started, as he closed the laptop lid, and leaned back on his chair again, before continuing, "Lucas Styles' sister." Scott's eyes went wide as he heard Leo's words, before clenching his teeth, "What did she want? Why can't these Styles' leave you and your family alone?"

Before Leon could disrupt his misunderstanding, Scott added, "I swear these Styles' are the lowest of the low. They are using their women, knowing very well, that the Martin's are someone who would never fight a woman."

Leon shook his head at his pal's words, he was really protective when it came to Leon, and would only think in the extremes, good or bad.

"Scotty boy! She didn't come as a threat. She meant good. She is definitely not like the men in her family." Leon knew, each word he said, held nothing but truth. Hazel didn't come off as a person who would be any threat to him. In fact, she would only be of use to him if he played his cards right.

Scott frowned at his friend's words, but sighed anyway. He, deep down, had hoped Hazel wouldn't be a threat, because if she was, it would somewhat affect his relationship with Jenna, who he was head over heels for.

Scott, who'd solved the Rubik's cube, stood up, gesturing him to get up as he spoke, "Let's go! Drink's on me tonight!" Leon laughed and stood up, "You really are an ass, you just got the girl, and here you're again going to w***e around?"

Scott threw the cube at his friend with a scowl, who dodged it effortlessly, his laughter only increasing ten folds. "I'm not going to w***e around!"

"Cool, cool! Let's go! Anyway, it's rare that Scott James Harrison feels generous enough to throw a treat! Who am I to say no to that?" They both ended up laughing, as they walked out of the cabin, Leon locking it behind him.

-

Hazel, after returning from university, had been quick to remove her natural-looking make-up for the day, freshen up and get out of her college attire. Once she was done, she walked out of the washroom, clad in her nude satin lace sleeveless nightwear; spaghetti strap top and mid-thigh length shorts, leaving her hair open to settle in their natural waves. She then applied her moisturizer and wore her fluffy panda slippers.

Quickly getting her green tea from the butler, who'd stood outside the room with it, she paddled her way to the little gazebo in her balcony, Zoey and Luna following right behind. Cuddling both her little babies, she spent a fair amount of time with them, showering them with sweet kisses and tummy scratches, as she sipped her tea whilst also admiring the beautiful garden their house was surrounded by.

Once done with her tea, she got up, and let go of the little cats, who strolled their way out of the room. Picking her empty tea cup and her phone from the bedside table, she walked out of the room, placing the tea cup on the table outside her room, knowing the butler would take it in a while.

Entering the room next to hers, which was her designing room, where she'd spent hours and hours together, was her favourite and the coziest after her own room. The room was a mixture of baby pink and white, and was flooded with bright white lights for designing purposes. Multiple mannequins were placed across the rooms, with half-done dresses clinging to them.

A huge white marble table in the middle of the room helped her do the precise cuttings needed for her dresses. The room had multiple shelves, placed at her own height, that contained various raw materials.

The room had a dressing table along with a revolving chair on the extreme left of the room, attached to a mirror with cute little bulbs that decorated the mirror like a border. Multiple floor length mirrors across the room to showcase her work to her naked eyes without much effort.

Multiple cloth hanging stands were placed next to one empty wall and hung on it were her completed designed outfits. The floor-length window opened up to a lush green garden, with no other house around. The window graced natural light during the day if not hidden by the curtains, and filled her tea time or refreshment times with peaceful silence and eye-pleasing views.

A cute little book shelf stood just next to the window, which mostly served to keep her romantic novels and fashion magazines intact. Well, one does get bored sometimes, and what better to kill boredom than reading? Right?

The baby pink bean bags just added to the cuteness and comfort of the room. She was at peace with how her room/ design space had turned out to be.

This was her personal boutique. She loved to be there. The only room in the house, she would be found most of her time. Also, the only room that was prohibited to Zoey and Luna, and hence always closed, so that they did not wiggle their way in, knowing they had the tendency to ruin her outfits effortlessly with the help of their cute little paw-nails.

Placing her phone on the table, opening the sketch she'd been working on, Hazel immediately pulled out the raw materials she needed to fulfil the dress' needs. And just like clockwork, she began her handwork. She had challenged herself to complete the costume before dinner tonight, and if she put in just the right amount of effort and patience, she would be able to achieve that easily.

This was Hazel.

And her simple, designer life.

College, cats and designing.