Just a Night

Chapter 4

Hazel and Sandra got prepared for work. Hazel wore a pencil skirt with a black top and styled her hair beautifully.

“Oh my gosh, Sandra, I look so cute!” Hazel said.

“Honestly, you don’t look cute at all. This is your first day at work; you are meant to look formal,” Sandra replied.

“Oh Sandra, keep your advice to yourself. Don’t forget that I am a fashion designer; I don’t need anyone to tell me what to wear,” Hazel said, flipping her hair.

“Can we go now? I don’t want to be late,” Hazel said.

“You, Hazel? You don’t want to be late? That is the opposite of who you are,” Sandra replied.

Hazel wore her heels and checked herself again. “Can we go now?”

“Yes, your majesty,” Sandra said.

“Lock the door, servant,” Hazel teased.

“Yes, your majesty,” Sandra answered.

“Where’s the car key? I want to drive.”

Sandra frowned immediately. “Or do you mean you want us to get into an accident?”

Hazel looked at her, confused. “What do you mean?”

“You think I didn’t hear what you did?” Sandra asked.

“Hear what exactly?” Hazel replied.

“About your supernatural skills in driving,” Sandra teased.

Hazel rolled her eyes. “Oh Sandra, stop praising me too much.”

Sandra shook her head. “Praise? I heard they are horrible. You even crashed into a tree during your driving lessons.”

“That is a total lie!” Hazel exclaimed.

“Really? If I show you the video, your entire first month’s salary will belong to me,” Sandra warned.

“Keep dreaming,” Hazel scoffed.

“Rubbish. I thought you would argue back,” Sandra said.

“I am going to be late if you keep nagging me,” Hazel replied quickly.

At the Office

When they arrived, Hazel looked up at the tall structure, impressed.

“Wow… not bad at all,” she said.

“You already love the building?” Sandra asked.

Hazel adjusted her clothes. “Well, as a fashion designer… the design is okay…”

Sandra cut her off sharply. “Shut your trap, Hazel. I don’t need to be reminded of your job or your skills right now.”

Hazel simply shrugged. “Well, I won’t judge it just by how it looks from the outside. Let me check and see what the inside is like first.”

“Alright then, let’s go in,” Sandra replied.

The moment they stepped inside, they heard a woman shouting at the top of her voice. Sandra leaned closer to Hazel and whispered, “That’s Kayla.”

Hazel raised an eyebrow. “Does she shout like this every single day?”

“Yes, she does. And trust me, you had better start getting used to it,” Sandra warned her.

Kayla turned sharply to look at them. Sandra spoke up politely, “Good morning, Miss Kayla.”

Kayla barely glanced at her before asking, “Morning. And who is this standing next to you?”

“This is the new staff member,” Sandra answered quickly.

Kayla shifted her gaze straight to Hazel. “Well then, introduce yourself properly.”

Hazel stood her ground and said calmly, “I’m Hazel Allen. I’m your new assistant, ma’am.”

Kayla frowned. “Why didn’t you give a long, proper introduction of yourself?”

Hazel replied without hesitation, “Because I knew you would just cut me off anyway. Besides, I already said everything that matters. I don’t want to start my day by getting shouted at or insulted by my boss.”

Kayla stared at her for a moment, then a slow, sharp smile formed on her lips. “I see. You think you are very smart, don’t you? Too smart for your own good, in fact.”

Hazel simply smiled, unfazed by the remark.

Kayla scoffed. “And you, Sandra… what are you still standing around here for?”

“I… I need to show her around the building,” Sandra stammered.

“Then why are you still standing here talking? Get moving. And you—” Kayla glanced sharply at Hazel “—make sure you don’t get too comfortable here. Now leave at once.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Sandra replied quickly, pulling Hazel along with her.

After they had finished walking around the whole building, Hazel let out a long sigh.

“I’m tired of walking up and down, Sandra,” she complained.

“Just a bit more. We are almost done with the tour,” Sandra told her.

Hazel stopped and looked at her hopefully. “Finally… so can I go home now?”

Sandra let out a short, dry laugh. “Go home? Not yet. We still need to go to your boss’s office.”

Hazel’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You mean Kayla? That woman is a total madwoman. She is completely crazy.”

“She is a bit strict, yes… but that’s just how she is,” Sandra said cautiously.

They soon arrived at Kayla’s office door. Sandra knocked gently.

“Come in,” Kayla’s voice called out from inside.

Sandra pushed the door open and stepped in. “Ma’am, we are done with the tour.”

Kayla looked up from her desk, frowning. “Done already? Don’t you know what comes next? You still have to see the CEO and his sister.”

Paul stepped in, looking between them with a confused expression. “What exactly is going on here?” he asked.

Sandra quickly stepped forward. “Sir, this is Hazel. She’s the new assistant secretary.”

Paul raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Then why hasn’t she been properly introduced to me until now?”

“I am so sorry, sir,” Sandra apologized immediately.

Kayla shot Sandra a sharp look. “Make sure this kind of mistake never happens again, Sandra.”

“Yes, ma’am. I am very sorry, ma’am,” Sandra replied, head bowed.

Hazel leaned closer to Sandra and whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, “I never knew you could be this submissive and quiet.”

Sandra elbowed her hard in the ribs and hissed, “Shut up, Hazel! Just keep your mouth shut!”

Paul turned his full attention to Hazel. “Hazel… that is your name, right?”

“Yes, it is,” Hazel answered calmly.

“Then from now on, you will address me as ‘sir’ and speak to me with proper respect,” Paul instructed firmly.

Hazel let out a short laugh. “Respect? Honestly, I think you and I are going to be colleagues, maybe even friends. So tell me… exactly what kind of respect am I supposed to give you?”

Paul frowned, clearly annoyed. “Let me make one thing clear — I am the manager’s best friend. That alone demands your respect.”

Hazel shrugged, completely unbothered. “And? I really don’t care about that.”

Paul turned sharply to Sandra. “Sandra!”

“Yes, sir!” Sandra answered, trembling slightly.

Paul turned back to Sandra, warning her sternly, “Take care of your sister. She talks way too much.”

Hazel simply chuckled under her breath.

“Paul,” Kayla called out.

“Yes?” he replied.

“The CEO wants to meet her. Let’s see if she still runs her mouth when she’s standing right in front of him,” Kayla said with a smirk.

At those words, Hazel suddenly grew nervous. Sandra noticed and immediately held her hand tightly, squeezing it to calm her down.

“Let’s go,” Kayla ordered, leading the way.

As they drew closer to the CEO’s office, Hazel’s heart began to race. She could hear a man shouting loudly at someone, his voice sharp and commanding.

Kayla glanced back at her. “That loud voice you hear? That is my fiancé, the manager and owner of this company.”

Hazel’s eyes widened in fear.

Sandra leaned in and whispered, “Are you scared?”

“Yes… a little,” Hazel admitted.

“Don’t be. Everything will be fine,” Sandra reassured her softly.

A moment later, they reached the door.

Kayla stepped forward and opened the door. Hazel took one look inside, turned around, and was about to run away, but Sandra quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her right into the office.

The room was spacious and beautifully furnished; there were elegant designs on the walls, and several doors leading to other sections. Hazel glanced around and noticed a man sitting with his back toward them.

Kayla walked straight over to him, tapped him on the shoulder, and then sat comfortably on the large sofa nearby. Paul took a seat on one of the chairs, and Sandra did the same.

Hazel remained standing, staring at the man’s back. She felt a strange, familiar sensation — as if she had met him somewhere before, though she couldn't quite place where she knew him from.

The CEO was on a call, still facing away from them, but he eventually ended the conversation and turned around.

“Darling,” Kayla said sweetly, “my new assistant is here. Let’s see if she is fit to work with me.”

He turned fully around, and his eyes landed directly on Hazel. He stared at her in complete shock, while Hazel stood frozen, her mouth slightly open — she recognized him immediately.

“Hazel… do you two know each other?” Kayla asked, looking between them.