Just a Night

Chapter 3

For the next two minutes, there was only heavy silence and angry glares passing from Hazel to Sandra.

“You know what? I’m really leaving this time,” Hazel said suddenly.

“Bye then… good luck,” Sandra replied casually.

Hazel stormed out of the house and slammed the door.

Sandra just chuckled to herself, shaking her head.

After fifteen minutes…

“Oh my God… Hazel was actually serious!” Sandra realized, panic rising.

Just then, her phone rang. She looked — it was her mum calling. She picked up quickly.

“Hey Mum… good evening,” Sandra said, trying to sound normal.

“Evening Sandra… how are you dear?” Mrs. Allen asked from the other end.

“I’m fine Mum… everything is okay.”

“Are you sure you are okay? You sound worried and tense.”

“Mum… you know I can’t lie to you,” Sandra admitted.

“Sandra… is everything okay? What happened?” Mrs. Allen asked, her voice full of concern.

“No… Hazel ran away. She hasn’t returned home yet,” Sandra confessed.

“That is exactly why I called,” Mrs. Allen explained. “I heard the news that Hazel is the new Assistant Secretary. I tried calling her to congratulate her, but she wouldn’t pick up her calls. That’s why I called you instead.”

“Mum… I am so worried about her,” Sandra said, her voice trembling slightly.

“Don’t worry. I will call Jessica right away to help us find her and bring her back,” Mrs. Allen said firmly.

“Okay Mum… thank you,” Sandra replied.

“Once she returns home safely… please inform me immediately,” Mrs. Allen instructed.

“Alright Mum… I will,” Sandra promised.

She hung up the phone. Just seconds later, her phone rang again — it was Jessica calling. Sandra picked up quickly.

“Jessica! Have you found her? Is she okay?” Sandra asked urgently.

“Yes… we found her. She was on her way straight to the airport,” Jessica informed her.

“The airport?! Oh no… can I come pick her up right now?” Sandra asked, already reaching for her keys.

“No need to come yourself. My men are already there. They will bring her back safely. And don’t worry… if she tries anything funny or stubborn again, they know exactly what to do,” Jessica reassured her.

“Okay Jessica… thank you so much. Thank you for everything,” Sandra sighed in relief.

“You’re very welcome… bye for now,” Jessica said.

Sandra ended the call and slumped onto the couch, letting out a long breath.

About fifteen minutes later…

Knock knock!

“I’m coming!” Sandra rushed to open the door. There stood Hazel, looking defeated and annoyed.

“Hazel!” Sandra grabbed her arm immediately and pulled her inside. “Are you nuts?! Running away like that?!”

Hazel pulled her arm away and glared at her. “Look at you… acting like you saved the day.”

“You wanted to run away just because of a job? A simple job, Hazel?!” Sandra asked in disbelief.

“Did I ever say I want to work?!” Hazel shot back.

“But lazing around all day won’t help you, Hazel. You need this job,” Sandra argued.

Hazel shook her head. “Sandra… just forget all this. You all want to force me to work right? Fine… I will work.”

Sandra smiled in triumph. “Good. Oh, and Mum wants to talk to you. She’s on the phone.”

She handed the phone over.

“Hello? Sandra? Is she back yet?” Mrs. Allen’s voice came through clearly.

“Yes Mum… she’s right here,” Sandra said.

“Hand the phone over to her please,” Mrs. Allen instructed.

Hazel took the phone reluctantly. “Yes Mum?”

“Hazel… are you alright dear?”

“Yes Mum… I’m fine,” Hazel replied quietly.

“Good. Now listen carefully — prepare yourself properly for work tomorrow… and stop all this nonsense,” Mrs. Allen said firmly. “You are behaving just like a child.”

“Mum, hold on a second… aren’t we all working for the Volz Company? You and Dad are partners there, Sandra is part owner now… and now me too? Why are you all so obsessed with this one company?” Hazel asked, frustrated.

“Hazel, we are not obsessed with their company… but you are the one who needs to work with them,” Mrs. Allen explained.

“Well… I honestly don’t want to work with him. I don’t like him,” Hazel muttered.

“Well… you just have to,” Mrs. Allen replied calmly.

“But why do I have to?” Hazel demanded.

“You just have to. And listen to me — living like this, lazing around and doing nothing, won’t help you at all. It won’t add any meaning or value to your life,” Mrs. Allen said seriously.

“Okay Mum… fine. But I haven’t fully accepted it yet. And honestly… I wonder why you all want me to go work with such a proud, bossy, difficult man,” Hazel said.

“Hazel… you really love complaining, don’t you?” Mrs. Allen sighed.

“I am not complaining, Mummy… I am just saying the truth,” Hazel defended herself.

“Hazel… I don’t want to hear any bad news or trouble from you anymore,” Mrs. Allen warned.

“Mum… I’ll try my best to be good,” Hazel promised softly.

“That’s my girl. Take care of yourself, honey,” Mrs. Allen said warmly.

“Bye, Mummy… love you,” Hazel said and ended the call.

Sandra turned to her with a bright smile. “You finally agreed! I knew you would.”

“Yeah… only because Mum forced me to,” Hazel replied, rolling her eyes playfully.

“Great! So come on… let’s go pick out the perfect dress for you,” Sandra said excitedly.

“Sorry… I didn’t hear you properly. What did you say?” Hazel asked, pretending not to understand.

“I said — let’s go to your wardrobe. I’ll help you choose an outfit, something smart and beautiful, so you look absolutely perfect tomorrow,” Sandra explained.

Hazel crossed her arms and looked at her. “Look at the person who wants to dress me up! You haven’t even finished dressing yourself properly, and now you want to come tell me what to wear?”

“Hazel… you don’t have to be so rude about it,” Sandra said, hurt.

“I am not being rude… I am just telling you the plain truth,” Hazel shot back.

“You are too rude sometimes, Hazel,” Sandra shook her head.

“And you… you are too nice sometimes,” Hazel replied with a grin.

After spending some time choosing clothes and arguing playfully, they sat down together to watch television. Soon enough, tired from all the drama and emotions of the day, they both fell asleep on the couch.