49 A Grand Gesture and a Shocking Meeting Hazel's POV 1 I collapsed onto my couch, emotionally drained after putting Leo to bed. The past week without Liam had been harder than I wanted to admit. Every night, memories of his face haunted me - the pain in his eyes when I walked away, the desperation in his voice when he called my name. Leo stirred in his sleep, breaking my thoughts. I moved to his room and watched his peaceful face. His little chest rose and fell rhythmically, his tiny hand clutching his favorite stuffed dinosaur. In moments like these, everything else faded away. "I love you more than anything, little man," I whispered, brushing a dark curl from his forehead. The doorbell rang, startling me. Who would be visiting at 7:30 in the morning? A delivery man stood at my door holding what could only be described as a wall of flowers - a massive arrangement of vibrant red tulips that almost obscured him from view. "Hazel Vance?" he asked, barely visible behind the blooms. "That's me," I replied, bewildered. "These are for you. Could you sign here, please?" I signed for the delivery, then struggled to find space for the enormous bouquet on my kitchen counter. Red tulips - my favorite. Only one person knew that. My hands trembled as I reached for the card nestled among the blooms: *Hazel, I know words aren't enough. I hurt you in ways I can never fully repair. But I promise to spend every day trying. You are my perfect love, the missing piece I've been searching for. I won't give up on us. - Liam* Tears sprang to my eyes. I grabbed my phone and called Chloe. "He sent flowers," I said the moment she answered. "Red tulips. A ridiculous amount." "How ridiculous?" Chloe asked, her voice still sleepy. 1/5 49 A Grand Gesture and a Shocking Meeting "They barely fit through my door. And there was a note." "What did it say?" I read it to her, my voice cracking. "That's… actually really sweet," Chloe admitted. "It doesn't change anything," I insisted, wiping away tears. "He can't just say pretty words and expect everything to be okay." "Of course not," she agreed. "But it's a start, isn't it?" "I don't know what I feel anymore, Chloe. Part of me wants to forgive him. The other part remembers how easily he believed the worst of me." "You're allowed to be confused. Take your time." "I just need to focus on my new job and Leo," I said firmly. "Liam will give up eventually." After hanging up, I got Leo ready for daycare, trying to ignore how the tulips brightened my whole apartment. My phone buzzed constantly - twenty-three missed calls from Liam by the time I dropped Leo off. I silenced my phone. No matter how my heart ached, I needed to stand my ground. My self-respect demanded it. At Cole Publishing, I threw myself into work. My new boss, Morris, was nothing like Liam - easy-going, paternal, and appreciative. "Hazel, you've been a godsend," he said, stopping by my desk mid-morning. "I've never seen the filing system this organized." "Thank you," I replied, genuinely pleased by the recognition. "I enjoy bringing order to chaos." "We have an important client coming in at eleven. They're interested in publishing a series of business leadership books. Could you prepare the conference room and join us for the meeting? I'd value your input." Pride swelled in my chest. After years of working for demanding bosses who never acknowledged my contributions, being valued felt incredible. "Of course. I'd be happy to." 2/5 < 49 A Grand Gesture and a Shocking Meeting I spent the next hour preparing presentation materials and arranging refreshments in the conference room. This was my chance to prove myself at Cole Publishing - to show I was more than just an efficient assistant. At exactly eleven, Morris appeared at my desk. "Ready? The client just arrived." I smoothed my navy pencil skirt and followed him down the hallway, mentally reviewing what I knew about business publishing trends. Morris pushed open the conference room door. "Hazel, I'd like you to meet our potential new author." I stepped into the room with a professional smile fixed on my face, only for it to freeze when my eyes met familiar violet-blue ones. Liam Sterling sat at the head of the table, his powerful frame impeccably dressed in a charcoal suit. His gaze locked on mine with an intensity that stole my breath. "Ms. Vance," he said smoothly, rising to his feet. "What a pleasant surprise." My heart hammered against my ribs. This couldn't be happening. My safe, Liam-free workplace was suddenly anything but. "You two know each other?" Morris asked, surprised. "Ms. Vance worked for me until recently," Liam replied, his eyes never leaving mine. "She was an invaluable asset to Sterling Group." I found my voice at last. "Mr. Sterling and I have a… professional history." "Wonderful!" Morris beamed, oblivious to the tension crackling between us. "That should make our collaboration even smoother." Liam's mouth curved into a subtle smile. "I couldn't agree more." I sank into a chair as far from him as possible. This was no coincidence. Somehow, Liam had tracked down my new workplace and manufactured this meeting. As Morris launched into his presentation, Liam appeared to listen attentively, nodding and asking insightful questions. But I felt his gaze repeatedly drifting to me, studying my reactions. "What are your thoughts, Hazel?" Morris suddenly asked, pulling me from my internal 12:10 3/5 11 panic. "I… believe Mr. Sterling's expertise would be valuable to our readers," I managed. "His approach to leadership is… uniquely effective." "High praise from someone who knows my methods intimately," Liam commented, his voice low and loaded with meaning only I could understand. My cheeks burned. "I simply meant I've observed Mr. Sterling's business strategies firsthand." "And I value Ms. Vance's insights," Liam added smoothly. "In fact, I'd like to request that she be the point person for this project." My eyes widened. "I don't think-" "What an excellent idea!" Morris interrupted enthusiastically. "Hazel is extremely capable." I could only stare as my carefully constructed boundaries crumbled. Liam Sterling had found a way back into my daily life, creating a situation where I couldn't avoid him without jeopardizing my new job. The meeting concluded with handshakes all around. When Liam's fingers wrapped around mine, he held on a moment longer than necessary, his thumb brushing across my knuckles. "I look forward to working closely with you again, Ms. Vance," he murmured for my ears alone. "This isn't fair," I whispered back fiercely. "All's fair in love and war," he replied, his eyes softening. "And make no mistake, Hazel - this is both." As Morris escorted Liam out, I remained rooted to my chair, heart pounding. The flowers had been just the opening move in Liam Sterling's campaign to win me back. Now he had outmaneuvered me completely, ensuring I couldn't escape him even at work. The question now wasn't whether I could avoid Liam Sterling - it was whether I could protect my heart when he was determined to tear down every wall I'd built around it. 12.10 ) 415