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She’s also sharp. When we’re stuck on some problem in a meeting, she’ll delicately raise her hand and timidly ask a clarifying question. And somehow, in the course of explaining the details to her, people have a Eureka moment that unlocks the whole problem.
I’ve seen her do it four times today. The last time shewinkedat me afterward. She acts all innocent, but she knows exactly what she’s doing. She’s a genius at subtly steering conversations in productive directions.
Part of me wonders why the hell she wants to be a writer, when clearly, she’s got a talent for shepherding high-maintenance engineers and finicky businesspeople. I almost offer her another job, then and there, but then I remember all the touchy-feely-get-to-know-you chaos she brings with her and shut my mouth.
Hazel sighs as we leave our final meeting of the day and head back to my office. “I don’t know how you do it. You spend all day surrounded by people who need something from you. When do you get your own work done?”
“Thatismy work. Pointing my people in the direction I want, then getting them everything they need to do their best,” I say.
“And yet, it’s a battle to get you to give me the answersIneed to do my best,” Hazel says.
I flash her a smile. “It’s because you’re special.”
I watch her trying not to laugh, and something warms in my chest.
“Luke. I see you brought your fiancée,” my dad says.
I jerk my head up. All three of us come to a stop in the wide hallway. There’s plenty of room to slip past, but apparently we’re going to have a conversation.
“Dad,” I say, my voice cold. I haven’t spoken to my dad since Saturday morning, when he threw those damn photos in my face and tried to take away the CEO job I’ve spent my whole life working toward.
My dad waits for me to introduce him to Hazel. It’s petty, but I don’t want to. He doesn’t deserve her, not after the way he threatened her career.
Hazel has no such qualms. She sticks her hand out and flashes him a brilliant smile. “Hi. I’m Hazel Dawson.”
“I’m Roger Dewinter,” my dad says, curtly. Then he turns to me. “I meant to ask, have you drawn up your prenup yet? You’ll need that signed before tomorrow’s wedding.” His eyes flicker to Hazel’s scuffed cowboy boots, and there’s a wealth of judgment in his gaze.
“You didn’t have a prenup with Mom,” I say.
“That was different,” my dad says, icily stubborn. “We weren’t rushing into anything.”
I feel my temper rising. The obliviousarroganceof the man.
He’sthe reason I’m rushing. He’s the only reason I’m doing this. And he has the nerve to act like me being hasty is a sign Hazel is after my money.
“We don’t need a prenup. I trust Hazel,” I grit out.
Specifically, I trust her to leave our marriage at the six-month mark with the massive payday I’ve promised her. But my dad doesn’t need to know that.
He purses his lips and shifts his focus to Hazel. “I’m not trying to be unnecessarily cynical—”
“So it runs in the family?” Hazel asks sweetly, and I choke back a laugh.
My dad ignores her. “I’ve looked into you and your family Miss Dawson. None of you own property, your parents included. All of you have student loan debt and credit card debt. And according to several sources, you didn’t even like my son until a few weeks ago.”
“That’senough,” I hiss. Whatever our differences, dad and I don’t fight at the office. Especially out in the hallway where every employee can hear us.
But apparently dad doesn’t care if the whole company hears him belittle and embarrass Hazel. Because he keeps talking.
“If you want to marry into a better life, fine.” The muscle in my dad’s jaw ticks. “But I won’t have you changing your mind in a year when you realize the life Luke leads is harder than it looks, and taking him for all he’s worth.”
Something in me snaps. “You donottalk to her like that,” I growl, taking a step toward him. I don’t give a damn if people hear me. “She knows more about hard work than you do. And she does it without making the people around her hate her. Because she workswithpeople, not against them.”
Hazel places a gentle hand on my arm. “Luke, it’s all right.”
But I’m not done. “The truth is, she’s the one who’s taking a risk onme. Her life was fine before I came into it. I’m the one who needs her.”I’m the one who was lonely and didn’t know it.“I’m not about to let you, or anyone else, drive her away from me.” I’m so mad, I’m shaking with it. And I don’t even know why. “Insult her one more time and you’re disinvited from the wedding.”
I grab Hazel’s hand and tow her past my dad and into the privacy of my office.
