The room felt smaller.
Tighter.
Like the walls were slowly closing in.
Hazel stood frozen between Cecilia and Richard, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure they could both hear it.
"Ce… what are you trying to say?" she asked, her voice unsteady.
But Cecilia didn't answer.
Her eyes were locked on Richard.
Fear.
Real fear.
Hazel had never seen that look on her before.
Not when they were broke.
Not when things were at their worst.
Not even when life had been cruel.
But now?
Cecilia looked like she had just seen death itself.
"No…" Cecilia whispered again, shaking her head slightly as if trying to deny what she was seeing. "This… this isn't possible."
Hazel turned slowly toward Richard.
He hadn't moved.
Not even a step.
But everything about him had changed.
The quiet, injured man she brought home?
Gone.
What stood there now was something else entirely.
Still calm.
Still composed.
But colder.
Sharper.
Dangerous.
"Do you know him?" Hazel asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Cecilia let out a shaky breath.
"Know him?" she repeated, almost like she couldn't believe the question.
Her grip tightened painfully around Hazel's wrist.
"Zel… that's not just some random guy you picked up from the street." Cecillia whispered to her.
Hazel's chest tightened.
"What do you mean?"
Cecilia hesitated.
Like saying it out loud would make it more real.
More dangerous.
Then finally she said That's the Richard."
Silence.
Hazel blinked nodding her head "I know"she muttered starting trying to understand the situation
"…Richard yes I know his name"
That was the moment everything shifted.
Because the way Cecilia looked at her?
It wasn't just fear anymore.
It was disbelief.
"Hazel…" she said slowly, her voice almost breaking. "He is Richard Vance."
The name dropped like a bomb.
And even though Hazel didn't recognize it immediately
The weight of it?
She felt that.
She frowned slightly. "I… I don't understand."
A soft sound broke the tension.
A low chuckle.
Both girls turned.
Richard pushed himself off the wall slowly, ignoring the injury in his leg like it barely existed.
His gaze flicked between them.
Calm.
Amused.
"You talk too much, Cecilia," he said smoothly.
Cecilia flinched.
Actually flinched.
Hazel noticed immediately.
And that scared her more than anything.
"You… you need to leave," Cecilia said suddenly, stepping slightly in front of Hazel like she was shielding her. "Right now ,we are so sorry our small apartment would not be condulsive for your type."
Richard raised a brow, He was amused by these two girls.
"Or what?" He questioned. The question was quiet but threatening.
Cecilia swallowed hard but didn't move.
"Or I call the police."
For a second, Hazel thought that would matter but then Richard smiled.
And that smile?
It wasn't warm.
It wasn't kind.
It was the kind of smile that made your stomach drop.
"Go ahead."
Simple.
Confident.
Certain.
Cecilia didn't move.
Because deep down she knew that wouldn't save them.
Hazel's heart started racing again.
"Okay, stop," she said quickly, stepping forward. "Someone explain what's going on because I'm clearly missing something."
No one answered immediately.
Richard's eyes shifted to her.
Softer now.
But still intense.
"You should listen to your friend," he said quietly. "She's smarter than you."
Hazel frowned. "Excuse me?"
"You let a stranger into your home," he continued, stepping closer. "You trusted me without asking questions."
"I was helping you," she snapped.
"And that," he said calmly, "might be the biggest mistake of your life."
The words hit harder than she expected.
But still She stood her ground.
"I don't regret it."
That made him pause.
Just for a second as something unreadable crossed his face again.
Then a phone buzzed, Richard reached into his coat and pulled it out, glancing at the screen.
His expression darkened instantly.
Business.
Serious.
Dangerous.
He answered without hesitation.
"Yes."
Silence filled the room as he listened.
Hazel and Cecilia exchanged a glance.
"I told you not to move him," Richard said, his voice colder now. "Handle it." His dangerous voice dominated the room.His jaw tightened.
"I'm on my way."
The call ended.
And just like that he look up at them again.
The atmosphere shifted again.Sharp and terrifying.
Richard slipped the phone back into his coat and looked at Hazel.
Really looked at her.
Like he was memorizing her.
"You shouldn't have helped me," he said.
Hazel's chest tightened slightly.
"…You've said that already."
"This time," he added quietly, "I mean it."
Cecilia stepped forward again. "Just leave please ." Cecillia added politely not trying to sound rude.
Richard ignored her completely.
His attention stayed on Hazel.
And then
Something unexpected.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small card black minimal and expensive. He held it out to her.Hazel hesitated.
"…What's that?" She asked guarded.
"In case you get into trouble," he said.
Cecilia let out a sharp breath. "Don't take it!"
But Hazel for reasons she didn't understand took it, their fingers brushed again and that same spark but stronger this time again.
Richard noticed.
His gaze darkened slightly.
"Stay away from trouble, Hazel," he said softly while smiling.
Then, after a brief pause he looked at her
"Because next time…"
His voice dropped.
Lower.
More dangerous.
"I might not be the one saving you."
And with that he turned to Cecillia and smirked before he walked to the door.
And left.
Just like that.
⸻
Silence filled the apartment.
Heavy.
Overwhelming.
Hazel stared at the door.
Then slowly she looked down at the card in her hand.
Just a name.
And a number.
Simple.
But it didn't feel simple.
Not at all.
"Hazel…" Cecilia's voice came out shaky.
Hazel looked up.
"What?"
Cecilia ran a hand through her hair, pacing slightly now.
"You have no idea what you've just gotten yourself into."
Hazel swallowed still ignorant of what was going on.
"Then tell me."
Cecilia stopped.
Turned to her.
And said the words that would change everything
"Richard Vance isn't just dangerous, Zel, He owns half the underworld in this city." Cecillia half cried yelled.
"How come I don't know him ?" Hazel questioned
"You barely keep up with things zel" Cecillia answered still pacing the room.
Hazel's grip tightened around the card.
Her heart racing again.
Fast.
Uneven.
Confused.
But beneath all that
Something else.
Something she didn't want to admit.
Curiosity.
Dangerous curiosity.
Because despite everything. Despite the warning Ce gave, despite the fear, despite the way Cecilia looked like she was about to lose her mind Hazel couldn't stop thinking about him.
⸻
And somewhere in the city…
Inside a black car speeding through the rain Richard sat in silence his phone in his hand but his thoughts were not on business, not on enemies nor power. But on Hazel.
The girl who wasn't afraid of him.
The girl who looked at him like he was just Human, His jaw tightened slightly.
Annoyed.
Restless.
Intrigued.
"Sir?" the driver called carefully. "Where to?"
Richard leaned back, his expression unreadable.
"Handle the situation first."
Then, almost as an afterthought—
"And find out everything about her." He mutter slightly.
Because something told him, this wasn't over not even close.