47 Chapter 47 – Apologies and Rejection.
“Hazel, please give me one chance to make this right. We can rebuild what we had,” he begged.
The commercial department buzzed with constant energy around me. Dozens of cubicles formed neat clusters throughout the expansive space, with Morris’s glass–walled office serving as the only private sanctuary. Phones rang incessantly while colleagues debated strategies and shared gossip. The organized chaos felt invigorating after months of uncertainty, and I had already begun forming genuine friendships with my teammates. But Morris’s urgent summons sent ice through my
veins.
I knocked twice before entering, my voice steady despite the butterflies.attacking my stomach. “You wanted to see me, sir? How can I assist you today?”
“Everything’s organized and documented,” I confirmed, sliding the completed folders across my desk. “The quarterly reports are color–coded by department. Do you need me to walk through any specific sections?”
“Hazel, please don’t retreat from me. Let me come closer” Liam pleaded, genuine anguish in his voice.
“Not now, kiddo. The big man upstairs is waiting, and he sounded pretty insistent about seeing you immediately,” Morris replied, practically shooing me toward the elevators. “If I have questions about your work, we’ll tackle them later. But seriously, don’t keep him waiting.”
“Your job performance has been exemplary, Hazel. Morris speaks very highly of your work, and I’m confident I made the right decision hiring you,” Mr. West assure “This meeting concerns what transpired at Sterling Enterprises.”
- me.
“Miss Hazel, Mr. West needs you in his office right away,” Morris announced, appearing beside my desk like a nervous sparrow. “Drop everything and head up there now. Did you complete that client analysis I assigned this morning?”
I glanced up at my new supervisor, taking in his compact frame and thick–rimmed glasses that made his eyes appear owlish. Despite his quirky appearance, Morris had proven to be surprisingly warm–hearted, constantly humming cheerful melodies that drifted across our bustling floor.
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1am began explaining everything they had uncovered about the corporate espionage. He revealed that Bianca had orchestrated the entire setup, that she was the actual mole feeding information to their competitors. The security team had to maintain the charade of suspecting me while they traced her contacts and gathered evidence.
Hazel’s POV
1 clung to my friend as the tears continued falling, washing away the last remnants of hope I’d been secretly harboring.
She was absolutely right. I couldn’t risk this drama affecting my son.
now.”
“Hazel, as both your employer and your friend, let me suggest you handle this: Mr. West interjected kindly. “Use my office for privacy. Chloe and I will be in the conference room if you need support. I’ve already made it clear to Liam that you’re not facing this alone.”
I glanced at Chloe, who watched me with obvious concern. When I turned back to Liam, his appearance shocked me. Deep shadows ringed his eyes, and his usually impeccable appearance seemed disheveled. His shoulders slumped as if carrying an invisible weight. Despite everything, my heart clenched seeing him like this.
“Unless Mr. Sterling brought law enforcement to arrest me, we have nothing to discuss. May I please return to my duties?” I asked, hearing Liam release a shaky breath.
“Sit down, Mr. Sterling. You wanted to talk, so talk. But keep your distance,” I replied coldly.
I wasn’t particularly surprised by Bianca’s betrayal. She had always been opportunistic, inserting herself into conversations and situations where she didn’t belong.
I stared at Liam, confusion replacing my initial panic. What could he possibly want now? Hadn’t the public humiliation and character assassination been sufficient?
He moved toward me, and I immediately stepped backward. I couldn’t allow him to touch me, knowing my resolve would crumble instantly.
But forgiveness wasn’t something I could simply grant on demand. The wounds were too deep, too fresh.
I exhaled slowly and nodded. Better to endure this conversation now than dread it all
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aftemoon. After Mr. West and Chloe left, the office felt suffocatingly quiet. My pulse hammered as Liam and I faced each other across the vast space. Despite the pain he’d caused, my traitorous heart still responded to his presence.
The executive secretary offered a reassuring smile when I approached her mahogany desk. “Go right in, dear. Mr. West is expecting you.”
“Fine. Mr. Sterling. I’ll listen to what you have to say, but only after my shift ends, I conceded.
Chapter 47 – Apologies and Rejection.
“Hazel, I’m begging for your forgiveness. I was an idiot who acted on pure emotion instead of logic. I was cruel and unfair to you. I’m so sorry, Hazel. When I saw those fabricated emails, I felt betrayed and refused to listen to reason. I didn’t give you any chance to defend yourself. Please forgive me,” Liam said, his voice breaking.
The sight that greeted me nearly knocked me backward. Mr. West sat behind his imposing desk, but he wasn’t alone. Chloe occupied one of the leather chairs facing him, her expression unreadable. And there, looking haggard and desperate, sat Liam Sterling.
“I came to apologize, Hazel. Please, just hear me out. I made a terrible mistake,” Liam said, his voice rough with exhaustion as he scrubbed his hands over his face.
“Hazel, please come sit down,” Mr. West said gently. “Liam requested this meeting to speak with you. I wanted to make sure you were comfortable with that arrangement.” Chloe approached me, speaking in low tones. “Listen, if it were my choice, this jackass wouldn’t get within a mile of you. But he’s been persistent, and it’s better to handle this here than have him showing up at your apartment with Leo around.”
I stood abruptly and walked out, heading straight for the conference room. The moment I entered, sobs wracked my body as months of suppressed pain finally erupted. Chloe immediately wrapped me in her arms while Mr. West placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.
“Please don’t touch me,” I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut.
“Mr. Sterling, you had me escorted from your building like a common criminal. You screamed accusations at me, called me names I won’t repeat. You refused to hear my side of the story, wouldn’t even let me speak in my own defense. You told me I
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belonged in the gutter, I said, tears streaming down my checks despite my efforts to stay strong. “Do you honestly believe a simple apology erases all of that? That asking for forgiveness makes everything disappear? It doesn’t work that way. You shattered my heart in ways I never thought possible.”
He reached toward me, and I flinched away from his touch.
“Mr. West, if this conversation doesn’t relate to my position here, I have nothing to discuss with Mr. Sterling, I stated firmly, fighting to keep my voice from cracking.
“Take the rest of the day off, both of you. I’ll explain everything to Morris. You have my full support, Hazel, he said before quietly leaving us alone.
My legs felt leaden as I made my way to the elevator bank. The polished steel doors reflected my anxious expression while soft Mozart drifted from hidden speakers. I forced myself to breathe deeply, counting each inhalation as floors ticked by. Whatever Mr. West wanted to discuss, I would handle it professionally.
We settled into chairs on opposite sides of Mr. West’s coffee table. Liam’s face showed clear signs of suffering, but I couldn’t let that affect me. He probably missed having at convenient scapegoat more than he missed me.
My blood turned to ice water. This had to be about my termination from Sterling Enterprises. Liam had probably convinced Mr. West that hiring me was a mistake, that I was some kind of corporate spy who couldn’t be trusted. My vision blurred as tears threatened to spill.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that, Mr. Sterling. I was publicly humiliated, degraded, and discarded. I can’t simply forget that happened. I appreciate you coming here to clear my name, and I’m genuinely glad you’re making progress in your investigation. But that’s all I can offer you.”
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