Orange lights flickered above the ceiling of the restaurant where Hazel now worked, casting a yellow glow on the faces of the remaining customers in their small shop. It was already late evening, and through the glass windows you could spot people returning from work and various other destinations of the day’s activities.She sighed heavily as she lifted a tray of food, standing for more than six hours at a stretch had clearly taken a toll on her. She dragged her feet away from the counter with a sigh of exhaustion as she begun to make her way to her next customer, plastering a dull smile on her face yet again. "Here is your order sir." She managed to say, placing it hastily on the counter with a tight lipped smile, not in the slightest bothering to meet his eye as she hurried back behind the counter. Her shift had ended afterall, her feet ached and her back throbbed unbearably. Her limbs felt like they will slack and her whole body give up into exhaustion any moment. Yet she knew sh
Luca Rossi Honey colored eyes. They continued to torment his every thought, haunt his every imagination.Her honey colored eyes never truly left his mind. The way they stared at him with so much anger and confusion. It struck a certain kind of guilt in him, did he really think he would ever be able to get her to marry him in such a way? With her unwilling?Lucas had not stopped thinking of Hazel for the past few weeks. He had neither seen her nor spoken of her since, yet, she had never truly left his mind. She was always lingering somewhere in the back of his mind, from her eyes to her scent, to her... Ah! He slammed a stack of papers down on his office desk. What was the point? He could not focus at all. No one has ever been able to conjure such an effect on Luca. And the aftermath of her defiant rejection burned in him. He was way too confident, too confident in his influence and appearance that he really thought he could get her to agree to marry him, a total stranger. Such arr
She looks exhausted. He watched her, how she lifted her forearm to wipe the traces of sweat on her forehead and swipe a stray strand of her brown hair to the side. Red tee shirt tucked loosely into her dark jeans, she looked frail. Thin, worn out. His heart ached; was this the kind of life losing her job with the Rogers has subjected her to?Working late hours? Luca had never really been a frequent in this side of town, infact, it was his very first time here. It smelled of sauce, street food and crime. He was in a simple dark shirt and dark jeans this time around, hoping not to magnet any attention or troublemakers. He couldn't be seen here. Yet, he was here, for her, for her safety. Whatever it was Luke felt was going to threaten her safety tonight, he needed to be there to make sure it doesn't come remotely close to happening. All the hours that went by in which he spent daydreaming about her, he couldn't truly believe she was right here before his eyes, looking so weak. Could
The walk up the stairs was a very long and tiring one. Several times she had swayed or stumbled, and he would have to hold unto her to stop her from falling, muttering soothing words all along. His touch was oddly warm, it felt tingly too, like sparks against her skin. She tried her hardest to ignore it, although all she wanted to do was succumb into his embrace and let his warm scent engulf her. They arrived at the door to her small apartment, and with a deep sigh, a pause and a silent prayer, she lifted her hand, knocking on the door. Luca stood firmly behind her, he could see she was nervous. Ye stared around, at anywhere else but her. The dirty brown tiles that were broken and cracked in many spots in the long hallway of doors. The door swung open forcefully, and a short elderly woman peeked at them, eyes full of worry and surprise. "Hazel... Where have you been?" She gasped, her worried eyes scanning her frightfully.Hazel heaved, forcing a tight lipped smile."Sorry I am late G
Hazel shuffled around awkwardly as her grandmother led Luca's tall frame to a sofa in the living room. Their house was not a big one, yet it was small, comfortable and smelt of a floral air freshener Hazel made sure to hang sure in the corner. It was clean as always, and standing there knowing it couldn't compare even a fraction to the mansion he was used to, she was oddly not worried about what he thought of her small space. "You have a beautiful home, ma'am." Luca commended with a small smile. Hazel's grandson beamed. "Thank you, son." She turned sharply to Hazel... "Ah, Hazel, I had almost forgotten about you, please seat down. Are you hurting?"Hazel smiled weakly, shaking her head. "I think I am fine.""She might need some pain killers, and perhaps a cold compress." Luca stated. "That is true, Hazel. Seat down, now." Her grandma ordered, shooing her into a seat in the living room. Luca watched with an awkward smile, rubbing his chin lightly as her grandmother left them both
The walk to Lucas' car is silent. The cold night breeze washed over the both of them. Luca tucks his hands into his pocket, and Hazel rubs her arms with both hands, lowering her head and biting her lower lip nervously. They approach his car successfully, he inserts the key, unlocking the door before turning to her. He stares down at her for a moment, she is staring up at him too, her brows slightly furrowed, and he is happy seeing her anything but defiant this time. She looks... Worried? She bit her lower lip, he swallowed, watching her release the plump lip, his eyes lifted back to her eyes and a deep blush appeared upon her rosy cheeks. He smiled inwardly. She brushed strands of hair away from her hair, clearing her throat. "Thank you."He raised a brow, staring to the left and then back at her. "Thank you? For?"She gave him a look, rolling her eyes. "Thank you for saving me Mr. Rossi.""You can call me look Luca." He murmured. "That is not necessary Mr. Rossi." She shook her
"He did what?" Anna spun on her foot like a ballet, turning to face her friend Hazel with a look of disbelief in her eyes. She blinked at her, unable to believe the gist filling her ears.Hazel nodded her head softly, flipping the egg in the pan on the stove. Anna had come over this morning for breakfast, and her friend was spilling some irresistible tea already.Anna shook her head, her face housing a wide grin. "So you're telling me... Lucas Rossi was here in this house, and he saved you from an attack, rode you in his car, and even met your grandmother?" She walked over to Hazel, eyes it up like torches in some sort of second hand happiness and excitement over it all.Hazel scoffed, unable to understand why her friend seemed so excited about it all. She had asked this over and over again, and each time she affirmed, her friend would let out and excited squeal with she was unwilling to hear again. "For the fifth time, yes." She groaned out.Anna shook her head in disbelief once more
Luca stared up at Hazel. Her honey colored eyes held a great deal of surprise, but there was no trace of anger, so he felt his formerly tense nature dwindle slightly. He closed the magazine in his hands, placing it flat on the table. "What are you doing here?" Hazel questioned, brows still raised. She stared at him, his dark hair was slightly tousled and a certain kind of tiredness made his formerly bright blue eyes seem dull. She couldn't explain it, but there was a squeezing feeling in her chest as she continued to stare at him, almost like... Almost like she was happy to see him. She has found it difficult not to think of him ever since, but she had been determined to try, and now, he was seating right here before her, like she was in a trance, once again imagining meeting him.He cleared his throat lightly, turning his head away for a moment. "It's a restaurant." He shrugged.Her brows furrowed ad she glared at him. Hazel resisted a brewing urge to roll her eyes at this man. Th