Hazel leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold from the hallway.
Vanessa.
Even the name sounded like trouble.
The woman radiated the kind of polished danger Hazel had only seen in the movies — sleek black dress, flawless makeup, a sharpness in her eyes that made it clear she didn't play fair.
And judging by the stiff line of Michael's shoulders, this wasn't a casual reunion.
"I asked you a question," Michael said, his voice cool as glass. "Why are you here?"
Vanessa stepped inside uninvited, her stilettos clicking against the marble floor. "Relax, darling. No need for hostility. I'm only in town for business."
Hazel's brow lifted. Darling? Oh, hell no.
Michael blocked her path. "You don't do business in my city without clearing it through me."
Vanessa smirked, brushing past him. "Since when did you get so territorial?"
Michael's eyes darkened. "Since now."
Hazel cleared her throat. Both heads turned toward her, and Hazel offered a bright, lethal smile. "Hi. Hazel Graze. Michael's wife."
The word wife landed like a bomb in the room.
Vanessa's smile faltered for a split second before she composed herself. "Ah. The infamous arranged marriage girl. You're even cuter than the tabloids made you out to be."
Hazel's smile sharpened. "And you're exactly as fake as I imagined."
Michael coughed, barely disguising his smirk.
Vanessa tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "Bold. I like her."
"I don't care," Hazel shot back, crossing her arms. "Why are you really here?"
Vanessa sighed, perching gracefully on the edge of the couch like she owned the place. "Fine. If you must know, my company just secured a merger deal with one of your father's old associates. It's a big one, Michael. Multi-billion. And it involves Nexus' competitor."
Michael's jaw clenched. "You're aligning with them."
Vanessa gave a lazy shrug. "It's just business, darling."
Hazel could practically see the fury simmering beneath Michael's carefully controlled expression. She stepped closer to him, placing a hand on his chest — a silent, possessive claim.
"Whatever you're planning, it won't work," Hazel said calmly. "You're wasting your time."
Vanessa's gaze lingered on her, a smirk playing at her lips. "We'll see. Business is unpredictable, Mrs. Graze. And so are people."
Hazel didn't flinch. "I'm not."
"I'll remember that."
With one last glance at Michael, Vanessa rose and headed for the door. "I'll be seeing you both around."
And then she was gone, the click of the door shutting behind her like a gunshot.
Hazel let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "Who the hell was that?"
Michael rubbed a hand over his face. "My ex. And a corporate vulture. She doesn't show up without a plan."
Hazel arched a brow. "You dated that?"
"It was a mistake."
"You have a type, apparently — gorgeous, terrifying women."
Michael grinned, pulling her against him. "Correction: I have one type. And she just threatened to claw Vanessa's face off."
Hazel smirked. "Damn right."
But as he kissed her, both of them knew this wasn't over.
Not even close.....