Hazel was getting ready for work when her doorbell rang. She sighed, already well aware of what it was about. When will this end? It was the only question that came to her mind. The bell rang again, pulling her out of her thoughts. A third ring followed, more urgent this time, making her a bit angry. She hurried to the door and yanked it open, but as always, no one was there.

Hazel sighed, her eyes falling on the familiar, small package lying on her doorstep, wrapped just like all the others. It had been nearly a year since these "gifts" had started arriving. At first, they were harmless—flowers, chocolates, anonymous notes. She had even dismissed them as flattering at one point. But then they became more personal, more invasive. She had reported it to the police, but without any leads, there wasn’t much they could do. Now, she was left to deal with it herself.

Picking up the box, she walked inside, already knowing what it contained. Another desperate attempt to get her attention. Another gift from the mysterious someone who had developed an unhealthy obsession with her.

She ripped the paper off and opened the box, revealing a sleek, silver necklace with a diamond-studded pendant. The pendant caught her eye—two initials, H and C, intricately entwined together. Whoever this guy was, he had somehow convinced himself that they were meant to be. The thought didn’t scare her—it infuriated her.



Taped to the inside of the box was the inevitable letter. Hazel sighed heavily before unfolding it.

---

Hazel,It’s been a while now, hasn’t it? I know we’re meant to be together. Just like our initials, H and C, intertwined on this necklace. Doesn’t it feel right? We belong to each other. I picked this out for you, a symbol of what’s to come. I can’t wait for the day when we’re finally together, just like these letters—bound forever.

Wear it, Hazel. Let it remind you that we’re getting closer.

Yours, 
C.

---

Hazel scoffed. “What a load of crap,” she muttered under her breath. The nerve of this guy! He didn’t even have the guts to reveal his identity, yet he kept sending these ridiculous gifts, acting as if they were in some twisted relationship. Her fingers grazed the necklace. It was laughable at this point.

“Who the hell are you, C?” she muttered, rolling her eyes. She wasn’t scared—just annoyed. This had gone on long enough. Part of her wanted to throw the necklace straight into the trash, but another part of her was curious. What did this guy think he was achieving? Did he honestly believe that sending her creepy gifts for an entire year would make her fall in love with him?

Hazel set the necklace down on the table and leaned back in her chair, staring at it. The initials gleamed mockingly under the light. Whoever this "C" was, one thing was clear—he wasn’t going to give up anytime soon.

......

He sat in his office, a satisfied smile playing on his lips as he thought about how she would react to the gift he had sent her today.

His mind drifted back to the day he first saw her.

Flashback

He had come to America for a project—a lucrative offer that had piqued his interest. Little did he know he would find something far more intriguing than the project itself.

The office was in chaos that day, with everyone preparing the meeting room, organizing files, and doing everything possible to impress him. If he was impressed, the company would soar to new heights. But if he didn’t like the offer, it would be a major loss.

Everyone knew about his strictness and straightforwardness when it came to work. He never wasted a minute on anything that didn’t interest him. There were other investors present, but he was in the dominant position. Whatever the others decided would largely depend on his choice because his instincts were renowned. He only invested in something with real potential, and his judgment had never failed.

She was at her desk, engrossed in her presentation, completely lost in her work.

“It’s not ready yet?” her boss asked, approaching her desk.

“Almost done,” she replied.

“Good. We might need some copies, so print out a few,” he instructed.

“Sure, sir,” she said.

“Nervous?” he asked, noticing her tension.

“Of course,” she admitted.

“Don’t be. I know you’ll do your best,” he reassured her.

“But don’t you think I’m not the right candidate for this? I mean, considering the way everything’s being prepared, shouldn’t someone more experienced handle the presentation?” she asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.

“Are you doubting my decision? I’ve seen the potential in you, and I know only you can present this project well,” he said firmly.

“But still...” she hesitated.

“No ‘buts.’ Just be quick. He’ll be here any minute,” he said.

“Yeah, sure,” she nodded, returning to her work.

“Coffee?” he offered.

She looked up, surprised.

“Take it. Coffee goes well with worry,” he joked, making her laugh.

She took the cup with a smile.

“Good luck,” he said, flashing a warm smile before walking away.

She finished her work and hit the print command. Her coffee was still unfinished, so she decided to take it with her. She headed to collect the copies while reviewing her presentation on paper, too focused on the content to notice her surroundings.

Meanwhile, he walked down the hallway with his assistant and manager, his phone pressed to his ear. His voice was low and authoritative, commanding respect from the other end of the call. His assistant followed closely, jotting down notes as they moved. He was fully immersed in his conversation, too focused to pay attention to anything else.

As she absentmindedly turned the corner, still engrossed in her papers, she collided directly with him. The impact sent her coffee cup flying, and before she could react, the hot liquid splashed onto his suit jacket. The quiet of the office was shattered by the sound of their unexpected collision.

The coffee burned, and he was about to shout, but the moment his eyes landed on her, his anger evaporated.

“Oh no! I—I’m so sorry!” she blurted out, her words rushed and panicked. Her wide eyes darted between the coffee stain and his face. “I wasn’t looking! Oh God, it’s hot—did it burn you?”

Her small hands hovered over the mess, unsure of what to do. She hesitated for a moment before awkwardly reaching out, trying to clean the coffee with her bare hands, only making the stain worse.

His assistant started to snap at her, but his calm voice cut through the tension, silencing the assistant. He looked down at the panicked woman, his expression unreadable at first.

She barely heard him, too flustered by the situation. “I’m really sorry. It’s everywhere...” Her hands trembled as she tried to wipe the stain from his chest, her touch light and unsure. “I didn’t mean to...”

Seeing her struggle, he quietly handed her his handkerchief. She took it automatically, still too lost in her panic to realize the gesture. She wiped at the stain frantically, her breath catching in her throat, her eyes glued to the mess she’d made.

“I’m so, so sorry,” she whispered again, her voice barely audible. Her movements were quick but clumsy, her lips trembling as she worked.

But he wasn’t focused on the stain. His gaze lingered on her every movement—the way her lips parted in worry, the slight quiver in her voice, the soft flush on her cheeks. Her long, dark hair framed her delicate face, and her wide, sparkling black eyes were filled with genuine concern.

The moment he saw her, it felt like the world around him blurred. Everything else faded into the background. She was breathtaking—the kind of beauty that didn’t seem real. Her long, dark hair cascaded in silky waves down her back, each strand catching the light as it swayed with her movements.

Her skin was flawless, glowing with a natural radiance that made her seem almost ethereal. Her soft, pink lips stood out against her pale complexion, and every time they moved, even slightly, he found himself holding his breath, completely captivated.

Her figure was small and delicate, stirring a protective instinct within him. She looked so divine, like a living painting, too perfect for this world.

"They really do hire kids these days," he thought with a smirk, amused by her frantic attempts to fix the situation. Yet, despite her clumsiness, he couldn’t help but admire her.

Finally, after letting her panic for a little longer, he leaned in slightly, his voice soft but steady. “Relax.”

She froze, looking up at him with wide, confused eyes.

He smiled, his tone now gentle. “It’s not a big deal. It’s just coffee.”

Her breath hitched, and her cheeks flushed even deeper. She stared up at him, clutching the handkerchief, trying to process his words. Slowly, the panic began to fade from her face. He kept smiling, his eyes locked on hers, taking in every detail of her presence.

End of flashback

“Oh gosh, I’m missing you badly, love. I want to talk to you, hear your voice so badly,” he muttered, leaning back in his chair, a hint of desperation in his words.

As if the universe had heard him, his laptop pinged with an email notification. When his eyes landed on the sender, excitement surged through him.

He opened it immediately, grinning. “That saying is true... where they say, when you really want something, the whole universe starts  working in your favor to give it to you,” he murmured to himself.

The email was from the company where Hazel works. It was an investment offer for a new product launch.

There was no doubt he was going to reject it. But a sly idea formed in his mind. He replied to the email with, “I’ll consider it... but I have one condition…”

.......

Hazel’s Office

Her boss had called her into his office.

“May I come in, sir?” she asked, peeking in through the door.

“Come in,” he said, smiling warmly at her.

“Thank you, sir,” she replied as she stepped inside.

“You're looking pretty today,” he complimented.

“Only today?” she teased with a playful smile.

“You're right! I should’ve said, ‘You look pretty every day, but today you’ve outdone yourself!’” He grinned, his eyes lighting up. “It’s like you took a beauty potion or something.”

It made her laugh.

Most employees tend to dread their bosses—constant work pressure, unreasonable shouting, and all that—but Hazel’s situation was different. Here, her boss was smitten with her. How could he possibly yell at someone he was so close to?

Thanks to her easygoing personality, she got along well with everyone, even her boss. He had a crush on her, but she, of course, remained blissfully unaware.

“So, why did you call me?” she asked, taking a seat across from him.

“Oh, I forgot,” he muttered, clearly flustered. “When you come in, I forget everything else,” he whispered under his breath.

“Did you say something?” she asked, catching a hint of his murmur.

“Nothing,” he quickly recovered, pulling out a file. “Here,” he said, handing it to her.

“What’s this?” she asked, eyeing the file suspiciously.

“A new project,” he replied.

“New?” She glanced at her boss and shook her head. “No,” she said firmly, refusing to open it.

“Yes,” he said with a chuckle, enjoying her defiance.

“But why me again?” she sighed, placing the file back on the table without even looking at it.

“They requested you specifically,” he explained.

“Why do they always do this? We have a whole team of graphic designers, but it’s always me!” she groaned.

“Because no one can match your skills—your designs, your presentations... and your way of making everyone fall in love,” he added, his last words whispered so softly that she didn’t hear.

“I can’t take this on,” she said, pushing the file back toward him.

“Why not?” he asked.

“You know I’ve already got too much on my plate,” she said, lowering her voice.

“Make some space, my girl. This one’s important,” he insisted.

“Then ask a senior to do it,” she protested, folding her arms.

“Are you forgetting something? I’m your boss, and I’m ordering you to do it,” he said with a mock-serious tone, hoping to convince her.

“Should I say the same thing? I’m just a junior—this is way too much work for me,” she countered.

“The more you do, the more you learn,” he replied, leaning forward.

“I don’t want to learn this much, this quickly,” she muttered, dropping her head as the weight of the workload settled in.

“I’ll give you a week off,” he said, his tone shifting to something more persuasive. She looked up, eyes narrowing. “If you work on this and it’s a success, I’ll give you a full week off,” he offered.

“As if that’s possible,” she said with a sigh. “It’s not like I have much of a choice anyway. Thank you for asking... and then ordering,” she added dryly, taking the file and finally flipping it open.

“Pleasure is mine,” he said, watching her intently, his gaze lingering longer than necessary. He couldn’t help but admire her once again.

“Chris Scott,” she read aloud, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the investor list.

Author note:Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. If you’ve already read the prologue and introduction from the day I posted them, I recommend going back and checking them out again because I’ve made some changes. The prologue has been completely rewritten, and I’ve introduced a new character in the introduction.

I know I write long, long chapters, but that’s just how I am! I love writing in detail, and until I not do, I don’t feel satisfied with the story. I hope all the details and length don’t make it boring for you—it’s just my way of immersing you in the world I’ve created.

This story is going to pick up the pace quickly since I’m really excited to dive into the main scenes. I hope you're as eager as I am to see where it goes!

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. I’d love to hear your feedback, whether it’s good or bad. Don’t forget to vote if you enjoyed it and comment even if it wasn’t quite what you expected—your thoughts mean a lot to me!

Thanks for reading! 😊