Suddenly, he bolted upright in bed, the sheet sliding down his bare chest. What the hell?Pennywas the one who was leaking confidential information to their father, which led to him sitting in his office every third week, complaining about his work?
He tried to take a deep breath, but his lungs were contracting and the oxygen level in the air seemed drastically reduced. Why the hell would she do that? Why would she go behind his back… Sheknewit was upsetting him! She knew it was putting pressure on him! She…she…
“Are you okay?” A hand landed gently on his shoulder, and he flinched.
“No.” He dropped the phone. “No, not really.” He tried to take a deep breath again, but the air seemed to fill his head instead of his lungs. He was dizzy.
“Hey,” Hazel said worriedly, cupping his face so he would look at her. “Everything’s okay. You’re not alone. Breathe.” Her thumbs were infinitely gentle as she stroked his cheeks, and he felt the knot in his chest loosen.
You’re not alone.
“Fuck,” he whispered, closing his eyes. “It’s Penny. God, what is she thinking?”
“What about Penny?”
He clenched his hands. “She’s the one who's feeding Dad information! About our income and expenses. About the contracts I sign. He always knew too much. I had no idea how, but…apparently my sister just forwards my emails!”
“To your dad?”
“Yes! Because he can’t stop meddling in the business.”
“And she never told you?”
“I’d remember that,” he stated bitterly.
“Hmm,” Hazel said. “And she knows you’d mind?”
His eyes abruptly widened. “Of course she knows!” he snapped, pulling her hands away from his face and standing. He searched for his boxers and stepped into them. How could Penny not know? “Are you on her side or what?”
“I’m not on anyone’s side,” Hazel said, astonished, raising her hands defensively. “I’m just trying to understand whatexactly happened and why it’s upsetting you so much. And could you stop getting dressed? It’s distracting. When you’re dancing around half-naked in front of me, I can’t concentrate.”
“I’m not dancing!”
She waved a hand dismissively. “Maybe. But it’s still kind of hot, and I want to concentrate on your words, not your body, so stop.”
He snorted, but his mouth wanted to smile. “No, I’d better go.” He glanced at his watch. It was after midnight. “It’s late and I’m in a bad mood, so…”
“Stay,” she whispered.
“What?” He paused, astonished.
He saw Hazel biting the inside of her cheek. “You’re upset. I don’t want you to drive in this state, so…stay. Talk to me.”
“What if I don’t feel like talking?”
“Then shut up,” she said seriously. “Gareth, I know you prefer to solve your problems yourself and that you don’t like to talk about them when you’re feeling down. But do you seriously want to be alone right now? With your anger?”
He blinked at her, confused. Did he want that? How was he supposed to know? He wasn’t good company when he was angry, so…he was usually alone then.
“You don’t have to say anything,” she murmured, pulling back the covers beside her. “You can just lie here and wallow in your anger. I won’t interrupt you. But I could…return the favor for hugging me outside my mother’s house. A favor for a favor, so to speak.”
He opened his mouth to say no.
“Before you say no,” she interrupted, “it actually makes sense. We’re discussing Devreaux’s contract tomorrow morning anyway. Why not do it here before we take it to Penny? It’s more…convenient. Besides, I brought you a Milky Way fromdownstairs.” She placed the chocolate bar carefully on the pillow next to her.
He hesitated. Not because of the Milky Way or the hug. No, because of Hazel as a whole. Because she opened her arms and looked at him expectantly. Because she looked far too good in his unbuttoned shirt. Because he didn’t want to be alone. Because if he left, he’d call Penny and yell at her and that might not be the best idea. And he didn't want to wind up back on Cian's floor.
“Fine,” he stated tersely, sinking back onto the bed. “But I won’t talk!”
