47 An Apology Too Late 47 An Apology Too Late Hazel's POV @ My heart pounded when the receptionist called. "Ms. Vance? Mr. Cole would like to see you in his office right away. He says it's important." Important? I'd only been at Cole Industries for two days. Had I already messed up? The anxiety that had become my constant companion since leaving Sterling Group tightened around my chest. "I'll be right there," I managed to say, smoothing my navy pencil skirt. The elevator ride to the top floor felt endless. I used the mirrored walls to check my appearance - hair pinned back neatly, minimal makeup hiding the shadows under my eyes. I looked composed on the outside. No one would guess I was barely holding it together. The doors opened, and I stepped into the executive wing. Mr. Cole's assistant nodded toward his office door. "Go right in, Ms. Vance. They're expecting you." They? My stomach dropped. Was I about to be fired again? I knocked softly and pushed the door open. The scene inside made my blood freeze in my veins. Adrian Cole stood behind his desk. Chloe was perched on the edge of a leather chair, her expression tense. And there, looking more haggard than I'd ever seen him, was Liam Sterling. My Liam. No, not mine. Never mine. "What is this?" I whispered, one hand still on the doorknob, ready to flee. "Hazel," Mr. Cole stepped forward. "Please come in. I promise your job isn't in jeopardy." I couldn't tear my eyes away from Liam. He looked terrible - deep circles under those violet-blue eyes, his usually immaculate suit rumpled, his hair disheveled as if he'd been running his hands through it repeatedly. "Why is he here?" I asked, my voice stronger than I felt. 1/6 "He has something important to tell you," Mr. Cole said gently. "I think you should hear him out." I looked at Chloe, betrayal flashing through me. "I told him to leave," she said quickly. "But he wouldn't. He says he has proof about what happened at Sterling Group." Proof? My heart thumped painfully. "We'll give you privacy," Mr. Cole said, nodding to Chloe. "We'll be right outside if you need us." "No," I said sharply. "Chloe stays." Mr. Cole nodded and left, closing the door behind him. The click seemed to echo in the silence. Liam took a step toward me. I instinctively backed away. "Hazel," he began, his voice hoarse. "I was wrong. So terribly wrong." I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to shield my heart from his words. "About what?" "About everything. The documents were forged. You were set up." He ran a hand through his hair. "It was Bianca. She was working for Maxwell Industries." The words didn't make sense at first. "Bianca? Your secretary?" He nodded, his expression pained. "She had access to my personal files, to your workspace. She planted evidence making it look like you were stealing information." "And you believed her over me," I said flatly. "I didn't know-" "No, Liam. You didn't want to know." Anger flared, melting the shock. "You didn't even give me a chance to defend myself." "You're right." His voice cracked. "I should have trusted you. I should have listened." Chloe sat silently, watching our exchange like a hawk. "How did you find out?" I asked. 12.10 2/6 47 An Apology Too Late "Carter discovered unauthorized access to the security system. We found footage of Bianca planting documents in your desk drawer." He stepped closer, desperation in his eyes. "Hazel, I'm so sorry. I've never been more ashamed of anything in my life." I remembered the cold fury in his eyes that day, the cruel words he'd hurled at me. The humiliation of being escorted out by security. "You called me a snake," I said softly. "A liar." His face contorted with pain. "I know. There's no excuse- "You said you should have known better than to trust someone like me." My voice trembled. "What did you mean by that, Liam? Someone like what?" He flinched. "I didn't mean-" "Someone poor? Someone not from your world?" Tears stung my eyes. "Or just someone stupid enough to fall in love with you?" Liam's breath caught audibly. "Hazel, no. I was angry and scared. I lashed out because I felt betrayed." "And I didn't? You were everything to me." I wiped away a tear. "I gave you my heart, my body. I trusted you completely." "I know." He moved toward me again, stopping when I shook my head. "I'll do anything to make it right." "You can't," I said simply. The silence stretched between us, heavy with what had been lost. "I fired her," he finally said. "Bianca. She'll face charges for industrial espionage." "Good for you." "I want you to come back." His words tumbled out desperately. "Your job is waiting. Everything can go back-" "Back?" I laughed bitterly. "There is no going back, Liam." "Then forward," he pleaded. "We can move forward together." I shook my head. "You don't understand what you did to me. It wasn't just the job. It 12.14 3/6 47 An Apology Too Late was the way you looked at me-like I was nothing. Like everything between us had been a lie." "It wasn't a lie." His voice broke. "What I feel for you is the most real thing in my "And what is that exactly?" I asked. "What do you feel for me, Liam?" life." He stepped closer, close enough that I could smell his familiar cologne. "I love you, Hazel. I've been falling in love with you since the first day you challenged me in my office." The words I had once longed to hear now landed like stones in my stomach. "If you loved me, you would have trusted me," I whispered. "You would have given me the benefit of the doubt." "I know." A tear slid down his cheek. "I'll regret it for the rest of my life." I looked at him-really looked at him. The powerful, arrogant CEO was gone. In his place stood a broken man. Part of me wanted to comfort him, to ease the pain etched on his face. But a stronger part remembered how it felt to have my world shattered by his accusations. "I accept your apology, Liam," I said softly. "But I can't forgive you. Not yet. Maybe not ever." "Hazel, please-" "No." I stepped back. "You hurt me in ways I didn't know I could be hurt. You made me doubt myself, my worth." "Tell me how to fix it," he begged. "I'll do anything." "There's nothing to fix." I wiped away my tears. "Whatever was between us is broken beyond repair." His face crumpled. "I can't lose you." "You already have." The words tasted bitter. "Goodbye, Liam." I turned and walked to the door, my legs trembling but my resolve firm. 12 10 4/6 "Hazel!" His voice was raw with desperation. "I'll wait. However long it takes." I paused, my hand on the doorknob. Without turning around, I said, "Don't. I need to move on. And so do you." I stepped out into the hallway, tears flowing freely down my face. Mr. Cole stood there, his expression sympathetic. "Are you alright?" he asked gently. I shook my head, unable to speak. Chloe followed me out, immediately wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "Take her home," Mr. Cole told Chloe. "Both of you take the rest of the day off." "Thank you," Chloe murmured. As we waited for the elevator, I heard Mr. Cole's voice from inside his office. "She needs time, Liam. If you truly care for her, you'll respect that."< The elevator doors opened. As Chloe guided me inside, Mr. Cole called out, "Ms. Vance? Hazel?" I looked up through my tears. "Your job is secure. Take all the time you need." His kind eyes held mine. "You have a friend in me, Catherine." The doors closed, and I collapsed into Chloe's arms, sobbing for everything I had gained, lost, and learned in the space of one devastating week. 5/6