Hazel and Francisco settled beside each other as she served him the Spanish dish she had prepared.
In his regular way, Francisco extended the first bite toward Hazel, expecting her to taste it before he began eating. However, Hazel deviated from the norm.
Instead of accepting the bite, she held his hand and spoke with a touch of vulnerability, "I want you to take the first bite."
"Because I don't know when you are going to return, sir. So, first you eat, then I will."
Francisco, touched by her words, smiled and reached out to trace her face. His fingers delicately moved across her cheek, prompting Hazel to lower her gaze momentarily.
When he demanded, "Look at me," Hazel met his gaze, finding herself captivated by the intensity in his eyes.
With a hint of playful teasing, Francisco added, "I hope you won't poison me."
The unexpected comment injected a mix of tension and humor into the moment, causing Hazel's heart to quicken in response.
Hazel, despite the nerves that churned within her, maintained a composed exterior, a skill honed by the training she received from the force. She veiled her anxiety with playful banter, a facade to conceal the true depth of her emotions.
In response to Francisco's jest about poison, Hazel adopted a mockingly serious tone.
"Yes, Mr. Francisco, I added poison here."
"I am really after your money and your property."
Her words carried a hint of jest, a playful tease to diffuse the intensity of the moment.
"Can you just eat and say what the poison tastes like?"
Francisco playfully challenged, his smirk suggesting that he was enjoying their banter. His fingers ventured into her hair, tightening their grip, an intimate gesture that hinted at the thin line between playfulness and something more.
"I am your PA, Mr. Francisco," Hazel reminded him.
However, the air in the room shifted as Francisco, undeterred, halted just before her lips. His breath, warm and enticing, brushed against her, intensifying the charged atmosphere.
Francisco pressed his lips for a moment of restraint before giving in to the magnetic pull between them. His hot breath lingered on Hazel's lips.
What if, before going to Texas, I mark you as mine, Hazel?
I just didn't want to force you.
For the first time, I felt not forcing and control myself.
With a sudden surge of impulse, Francisco leaned in and planted a kiss on Hazel's cheek. The unexpected touch left Hazel breathless, her stillness resembling that of a stone.
Slowly, she looked up at Francisco, their gazes locking in a moment charged with unspoken emotions.
"Mr. Francisco…,"
Hazel began to speak, but he cut off her sentence abruptly, redirecting the focus to the meal.
"Let's eat."
Hazel pressed her lips together and adjusted her posture, attempting to regain composure. Francisco gave her a sidelong glance.
As they delved into the meal, a veil of silence enveloped them.
Hazel, feeling a bit uneasy in the quietude, finally broke it, asking, "Is it good?"
Francisco, offering her a small piece, "Taste it!"
Hazel, tense and conflicted, looked at the food before cautiously taking a small bite.
The weight of the situation pressed upon her, and she felt compelled to comply, unwilling to arouse suspicion by refusing Francisco's offer.
In her mind, the unspoken presence of the added drugs loomed, a silent reminder of the intricate web of deception she was weaving.
"Hazel!"
Francisco called her name, his gaze focused on her. He took a mouthful from the same spot where she had bitten and remarked, "Do you know we indirectly kiss each other a lot of times?"
His words, charged with a subtle flirtation, left Hazel tightening her grip, a mix of discomfort and internal conflict surfacing.
Instead of responding directly, Hazel, attempting to divert the conversation, asked, "Mr. Francisco, Ms. Emily and you are together, right?"
It was a strategic move to shift the focus away from the intimate undertones of their interaction.
Francisco, recognizing the change in direction, considered her question. A moment of silence lingered before he responded, "Emily and I have our dynamics, Hazel."
"Why do you ask?"
Francisco, observing Hazel's tightening grip and her pointed question about Emily, raised his brows in curiosity.
"Why are you asking about her?"
Francisco inquired, his gaze unwavering.
Hazel, attempting to maintain composure, reached for the whiskey bottle.
"I am so sorry to say, doesn't she have a problem that I am staying here?" she commented, offering the whiskey to Francisco.
He accepted the glass, his eyes fixed on Hazel.
"I thought you already know how I am, Hazel," Francisco remarked.
"But I heard you guys are dating," Hazel said.
"It's all rumors," Francisco clarified, taking a sip of the whiskey.
"But you did not think to clear the rumors too. That means you want it," Hazel pointed out.
Francisco, his piercing blue eyes locked on hers, took another sip of the whiskey before responding.
"Hazel, my life is not so easy."
"Do you not hear anything except dating?" he asked sternly.
As the conversation between Hazel and Francisco delved into more profound territory, Hazel, with a hint of trepidation, parted her lips and met Francisco's gaze.
"About?"
"About me?" Francisco prompted, his eyes searching for clarity.
"Yes, I heard..." she began, her voice trailing off.
Francisco slowly blinked his eyes and placed the glass on the table.
"What is it?"
Hazel, with a deep exhale, mustered the courage to speak the truth.
"You are a criminal."
The room seemed to freeze at that moment. Hazel's revelation, stark and unapologetic, hung between them.
But Hazel, at that point, felt no fear of being caught. Standing up, her demeanor transformed. The softness and innocence that once marked her face gave way to a steely resolve. She met Francisco's gaze with unwavering determination.
"I know who you are, and that's why I came here, Francisco," she declared.
Francisco took a deep breath and arched his brows.
Attempting to rise, he found himself overcome by dizziness, his body betraying him at that critical moment.
Hazel, her eyes focused on Francisco's blurry figure, witnessed his collapse with a sense of grim determination. The revelation of his criminal identity had set in motion a series of events that Hazel couldn't afford to lose control of.
As Francisco murmured, "Why?"
Hazel, with steely resolve, met his gaze.
Francisco, with a final look at Hazel, closed his eyes, his mind swirling with thoughts of retaliation.
Is it true what I am seeing?
I swear, I will ruin you with myself, Hazel.
Seizing the opportunity, Hazel swiftly moved towards his closet, determined to uncover any remaining secrets. Her search expanded to the bookshelves, a relentless quest for the elusive drive that held the key to Francisco's clandestine activities.
"Where did he keep it?"
Hazel pondered, realizing that the success of her mission hinged on finding that crucial piece of information. Every moment was precious, and failure to locate the drive would jeopardize everything.
Her meticulous search led her to the table, where she decided to open the drawer. As she pulled it out, her eyes widened at the sight of a book nestled within the contents of the drawer. Recognition flashed across her face.
"It's..."
Hazel, with narrowed eyes, contemplated the significance of the book that Francisco had kept separate from the others.
Her investigative instincts kicked in, prompting her to explore further. Taking the book in hand, she carefully examined the drawer, searching for any hidden compartments.
As she touched the drawer, Hazel wondered if there might be a concealed space within. Determined to uncover the truth, she slowly opened the book with one hand, simultaneously exploring the drawer with the other.
Finding nothing in the drawer, she shifted her focus to the pages of the book. Methodically flipping through, she reached the end, where her persistence paid off. A hole discreetly carved into the pages revealed a concealed compartment, housing the sought-after pen drive.
"Is that it?"
Hazel whispered to herself, a triumphant smile forming on her lips. With a swift, calculated move, she extracted the pen drive and turned her attention back to Francisco, who remained incapacitated.
A sense of accomplishment and relief washed over Hazel as she gazed at the hidden drive, a crucial piece of evidence that could potentially unravel Francisco's secrets. Concealing the pen drive within the folds of her dress.