Hazel woke up that morning thinking it would be an amazing day but there she was, sitting down, head in her palms and deep in thought. She was totally confused. Why did the world have to be so cruel? It seemed life threw rock after rock every corner she went. 

She had been overseeing some accounts in her office earlier when Mark, one of the accounting employees, had called her saying she was needed at her Dad’s office. While wondering what this was about, she stood up and made her way to the office just in time to see her mother walk in. She stopped, hesitating just long enough for her mother to get in. Very confused as to why her mom was there, since she didn’t handle anything at the company, she walked into the office. 

Hazel showed a confused expression when her parents shot her concerned and solemn looks.  Her mother, Annika, stood behind her father with her hands on his shoulders as if to comfort him. That was not a good sign. Whenever they stood like that, there was always bad news. The air in the room felt heavy with the weight of their worries. She took a deep breath, trying to prepare herself for whatever news awaited her, and then took a seat across from the couple. 

“Dad. Mom. Is everything all right?” She asked, feeling uneasy. 

"Hazel, my dear." her father began, his voice filled with a mixture of resignation and sadness, "I'm afraid I'm not feeling well. The doctor says it's serious." 

Hazel's eyes widened with concern. She leaned in. It wasn’t the first time that her father had fallen sick, but he had always recovered and, with the look in her parents' eyes, she was sure that this recent fallback would be worse than the last ones. 

"What is it?” 

Her question was met with no answer. She straightened her back and asked more authoritatively. 

“What did the doctor say, mom?” 

Her mother was silent. Gerard managed a faint smile, grateful that he had a daughter who cared about him.  

“I’ve been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy.” 

“What?” She said as tears began to well up in her eyes. 

“Your father is sick, Hazel, and this time we aren’t sure if he is going to come back from this one.” 

“No! How could you tell me? How long?” Hazel screamed out at her mother before getting up and rushing to her father’s side. 

“Hazel.” 

“How long?” 

“Three months ago.” Gerard said, not looking Hazel in the face. 

“No. I refuse to accept that. We have the money. We’ll get you the best doctors, pharmacists, anyone money can buy. You’ll live na very long life.” 

“Hazel,” Annika began, but was cut short again. 

“I refuse to allow this to be the end mom.” Hazel declared as tears ran down her face, but her eyes held resolve. 

"I know, sweetheart. It's hard, but there's something else I need to talk to you about. Just listen, please.” Gerard mentioned as he glanced at his wife, who nodded in agreement. 

"The company," he continued, "it's been struggling lately. We haven't been able to attract enough clients, and our debts are piling up." He hesitated for a moment, as if trying to find the right words. 

Hazel's mind raced with worry. What was he talking about? The business shouldn’t be on the verge of ruin. They were fine. They were more than good even. She had personally reviewed their financial statements and they were spectacular. She was about to speak out when her father raised his hand to stop her. 

“We hid it from you. Your mother and I knew that you loved it here and wouldn’t let it go without a fight, but we were tapped out. There was no place that we could get a loan from and even if we did, we still owe someone a lot of money.” 

"We can find a way to turn things around, Dad. We'll come up with a plan. We always do." Hazel pointed out optimistically, trying to share her hope with her parents. 

"We appreciate your enthusiasm, Hazel, but it's not as simple as that. Your father owes a substantial amount of money to an old associate. Elijah Moore." 

Hazel furrowed her brow, trying to understand the gravity of the situation. Her Dad almost never took loans, more or less from deranged business men. He instilled that discipline in her also, so how did this happen? 

"How much do we owe, Mom?" 

Her father sighed heavily before answering. 

"It's a large sum, darling. Almost three million dollars.” 

“Two million, nine thousand and thirty-three dollars, to be exact.” Annika added. 

Hazel’s eyes twitched in slight anger. What were they thinking about taking such a sum of money from a man like Elijah Moore? 

“I had a period of a year to pay him back, but it's not enough. The deadline is in a week. I tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen.” 

“How would he? We all know he has a reputation for disrupting the lives of those who become his enemies. Dad, how could you? You should have come to me first. We could have found another way.” 

Her father's face turned grave, and he looked down, seemingly burdened by guilt. Annika, Hazel’s mother, gave her a warning glance. Hazel knew she was in the wrong for the way she lashed out, but she couldn’t help it. She sighed and apologized. 

“I’m sorry dad. I didn’t mean to lash out at you.” 

"I made some bad decisions, Hazel. Investments didn't pan out, and I took some risks that didn't pay off. I thought I could turn things around, but it only made matters worse. Elijah seemed like the best way out.” 

She didn’t fancy the way she was being told about both her father’s health issues and their ever-looming debt, but at least now she knew, and now she could find a solution to both problems. 

“That’s in the past now, dad. We need to think of a way to pay Elijah back and also get you a competent doctor.” 

Her mother smiled warmly, pride shining through her eyes.  

"You've always been so strong, Hazel, just like your father, but what do we do? Your father and I have decided that it would be best if we closed down the company or let Elijah have it as collateral for what we owe. We would be flat broke, but we would be out of debt.” 

"And leave no money to treat dad. No mom, there has got to be another way. I’ll come up with some ideas. I’ll do anything." Hazel said, her mind already racing with possibilities.  

Her father squeezed her hand, grateful for her unwavering support.  

"Thank you, my dear. You really did grow up to be a strong woman.” 

Gerard’s hand cupped Hazel’s cheek, and she leaned into it, relishing her father’s touch.  

“I’ll save you dad. You and the company, even if it’s the last thing I do.” With that that Hazel walked to the door, held the handle and looked back at her parents. Her father looked at her with joy and whispered the words ‘I love you’ to her before she opened the door and walked out to avoid being thrown into a torrent of her own tears. 

She wiped her eyes as she moved through the hallways of the company, her breathing becoming erratic. Nevertheless, she had gotten to her office and collapsed on her chair. As the tears began to fully fall without any hindrance, the tears soaked the documents on her desk. Hazel found herself deep in thought as she sat there in the silence, she knew she had to step up and take charge. Her father was out of the race and her mother had never had any experience with the company as she was meant to take control when her father retired. 

Paying off Elijah Moore was the foremost thing to do. If she could pay him off somehow and then ask for another loan, she could be able to help her father recover. After that, then she could find a way to pay off the new loan. The only problem was how to get almost three million dollars in a week.  

What was she supposed to do now? Just then, a light bulb went off in her head and she wiped the tears from her face. She had an idea. It was a long shot, but it was better than sitting on her thumbs and doing nothing. 

Hazel picked up her phone and dialed a number. The line rang three times before the call was answered. Hazel took a deep breath and spoke. 

“Hello.” 

Hazel Fox stood before the huge glass doors of the Moore Conglomerate headquarters, her heart pounding in her chest. Her father's debts and condition had brought her to this moment, a meeting with the enigmatic CEO, Elijah Moore. It hadn't been easy securing a meeting with him, but after hours of being put off by his secretary and forwarded to different numbers, she was able to speak to him. When she finally got to him, told him who she was and explained that she urgently needed to speak to him, the man himself scheduled a meeting for the next day at noon. 

She had woken up that morning with a great feeling of nervousness and anxiety. She didn't know how the meeting would go, but she hoped everything would work out just fine. 

The building loomed before her, so high as if its sole intention was to make whoever was looking at it feel small. Its sleek, modern design stood in stark contrast to the struggling company she ran with her father on the other side of town. Even though Fox and Co Corporate had once been excellent, it was nothing compared to Moore Conglomerate.  Hazel frowned. She couldn't help but feel small and insignificant in the face of such grandeur, even if it was for a man whom she disliked. 

As she entered the lobby, the air seemed to crackle with a charge, you could hear the low vibrating hum of the people as they went about their daily business.  The polished marble floors reflected the glow of the overhead lights, and busy executives hurried past in their expensive suits with an air of confidence and success. Hazel's heart raced as she approached the reception desk. 

"Good day. I have a meeting with Elijah Moore." She spoke bluntly, not showing her nervousness. 

The receptionist looked up with a well-rehearsed smile.  

"Welcome to Moore Conglomerate. Could I have your name please?" 

"Hazel Fox ." 

After a moment of tapping on her keyboard, the receptionist nodded and gave her another star-studded smile. 

"You may proceed to the 27th floor, Miss Fox. Mr. Elijah is expecting you." 

Hazel's stomach churned as she stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the 27th floor. The ascent felt too slow, each floor passing like an eternity. She took a deep breath and her mind filled up with thoughts of her father’s health and his debts and, just like that, her anxiousness dissipated and she was ready to face Elijah head on. After all, her father’s life was involved. 

The elevator doors opened to reveal a sleek, minimalist corridor. Hazel took a deep breath and walked towards the towering double doors at the end. The gold plaque showing the CEO’s name in big bold letters screamed out money at her. With a shaky hand, she knocked softly. 

"Come in." A commanding voice called from within. 

Hazel pushed open the doors and entered the office. She bit her tongue. The design of the large space was peppered with art of various designs, no doubt rare and collectibles. The high ceilings of the room complimented the sunlight that filtered into the room and clothed it with its warmth. Then last of all, the view from the 27th floor overlooking the ceiling was breathtaking. She could have stared at it for hours but, alas, Hazel was snapped out of her trance by a deep masculine voice. 

“Miss Fox, I presume.” Elijah Moore spoke with an air of authority, watching her with his piercing blue eyes.  His presence was just as the rumors said. Imposing. Hazel smiled his way and gave him a nod, still standing rooted in place. 

"Hazel, please have a seat." he said, gesturing to a chair in front of his desk. 

Hazel nervously took the offered seat, her hands trembling slightly. She could feel the man’s calculating gaze studying her. Of course, he knew why she was there already. He could smell the desperation in her, but regardless, she steeled her mind and looked at him with an aura of confidence. 

“Champayne or bourbon?” He asked as he gestured to the mini bar that Hazel hadn’t noticed when she entered the office.  

She shook her head. 

“No, thank you. I don’t drink.” 

Elijah shrugged and continued, his voice cool and composed. 

"From what you said earlier, I understand you're here on behalf of your father, who owes a considerable debt to me."  

“Yes sir. The reason I came to see you is to plead for an extension on the loan. You see, my father is not well, but I was hoping we could get a little more time to arrange the payment." Hazel explained, trying her best to maintain composure and convince the man. 

Elijah leaned back in his chair, his expression unchanged.  

"I'm well aware of the situation your father's company is in, it is no secret. However, I'm afraid I cannot offer an extension. Business is business, and debts must be settled." 

Hazel's heart sank and desperation crawled up her throat. She racked her brain about what she could say to him to change his mind. He was known for being shrewd and decisive, and his reputation loomed large in the corporate world. At this point, she was willing to go on her knees and beg. 

“But Mr. Elijah.” She began but was cut off by the imposing man. 

“I respect your father. I really do, but he of all people should know that an extension will only prolong the inevitable.” 

“You will still get your money. I’m not saying that I won’t pay you. I.” 

“Look, I prefer to deal with matters swiftly and efficiently. I don’t believe in slacking off and doing nothing. Plus, this isn’t the first time that I've given your father an extension. If he couldn’t pay up then, what makes you think that he would do so anytime soon?” 

“Because I’m here. I promise you that I personally will bring all that we owe you. Not a dime will be missing.” 

Elijah stared at her for a second more and sighed.  

“Like I said, I don’t like slackers. You have about a week to bring the money back or else legal actions will be taken against your father and his company. So if you have nothing else to discuss, I would like to get on with my work.” 

“You cannot do this to me! My father is sick. He might die with all this stress. Please, I need an extension to pay you back and also put him in a hospital.” Hazel shouted, her anger seeping through her words. 

Elijah shot her a look. Arrogance and foolishness, he thought to himself. Hazel recovered from her small mistake and composed herself. 

"I apologize for that. What I meant to say was, is there any other solution? Some other way to settle the debts?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper. 

Elijah pursed his lips and groaned at nothing in particular. 

"Actually, there is an alternative I'd be willing to offer. You see, I've been impressed with your tenacity in seeking a solution and I know that anyone related to Gerard Fox is a hard worker. I could use someone like you here. I can offer you a position in my company. That way, you can pay off his debts with your salaries and maybe be able to put him in a hospital.” 

Hazel's brow furrowed in confusion. Was this man saying what she thought he was? 

"You mean a job?" She mumbled back at him. 

Elijah nodded.  

"Precisely. For someone like you to summon the courage to come here today, it means there’s more to you than bark. You could work for me, help manage some of my affairs. Consider it a chance to repay your father's debt through service." 

Hazel eyed the man and bit her lip, torn at the offer. On one hand, the job could help her sort out all her problems, but on the other, the idea of working for a man who seemed to live and breathe business intimidated her. Not to mention all the horrid rumors she had heard about him and his family. 

"I understand this is a lot to take in. You can give me an answer in a day’s time. Think it over carefully, instead of repaying the debt in money, you'll work for me without pay until the debt is settled. It's a win-win situation.” 

Hazel paused at his tone. It sounded like he knew something that she didn’t, but she let it slide. She couldn't deny the appeal of the opportunity, as uncertain as it was. The idea of working without pay was scary, but apart from that, what was she going to tell her parents? She knew that she had to make up her mind and in the end she did so. She extended her hand to Elijah with an unwavering look in her eyes. 

"I accept your proposition, sir. I'll work for you." She said, her voice steady. 

Elijah stared at her hand but took it anyway in his. 

“Excellent. Welcome to Moore Conglomerate. You start tomorrow." 

Before Hazel could respond, the door swung open.  

“Dad, I need to talk to you.” An arousing voice filled the room. A voice Hazel paid no attention to. 

Elijah gave her a curt nod, giving the go ahead to leave the room. With the deal struck, Hazel's nerves tingled with excitement and a tinge of fear. She didn’t like the idea of working for a man, but this was better than nothing. As she strode confidently towards the door of the office, she didn't notice the man coming her way. She only realized it when she bumped into him, causing the documents in his hands to fall to the ground. 

“Are you blind?”  

The growl reached her ears before the voice of irritation did. F*ck. She was in trouble. 

Klaus Moore gazed out of the sleek office window, lost in thought. Today was the day he had planned to confront his father, Elijah Moore, about the future of the family business. He had always dreamed of leading the company one day, just like his father. The man had never taken him seriously, but now he was finally going to make the man listen. Klaus gathered the documents and plans for the company that he had drawn up and left his personnel office. 

He went to his father’s office and knocked on the door. His father’s voice beckoned him to come in and he did so, but only after taking a deep breath. He marched into his father's office, a determined look in his eye and a speech in his head when his stride was interrupted by a clumsy figure.  

“Are you blind?” 

An auburn-haired lady started to pick up his fallen documents from the ground. Was this a new intern? Tch. They really need to pick up on their training these days. 

“I was speaking to you, intern. Can't you see where you’re going?” 

Still, the lady didn’t give him a reply. Oh, this must be one of his father’s new playthings. His father was fond of having some of them every now and again, much to the detriment of his unknowing wife at home.  It was well known while growing up that their father’s business with women, as crude as they could be, didn’t need to involve him, but now this clumsy woman had basically dragged him into it.  

“I’m so sorry, are you okay?” Hazel finally replied to him as she stood straight and handed him his papers. Dark gray and p*ss*d off eyes stared back at her. 

“Don’t ask me such a  meaningless question. Do I look okay? You almost knocked me down, you bimbo.” 

He was in no mood for this. He was already nervous about speaking to his father about running the company himself someday about his favored younger brother and here this woman was, making a fool out of him.  

Hazel raised a perfectly carved brow at him and frowned. 

“Maybe it's you who shouldn't stand in the way like you own it, Corporate boy.” 

If Klaus was an onlooker his mouth would have dropped with the way she spoke to him. Did she not know who he was? Who was this girl, and why did she think she could talk to him that way? 

At that moment, the tension was thick as they stared each other down. Klaus watched as she turned back to see his father and apologize. 

“Sorry about that, Mr. Elijah. I’ll see you, bright and early tomorrow morning.” A second later, Hazel faced Klaus once more, s*ck*d her teeth, stepped beside him and walked out of the office. 

Klaus frowned as he watched her walk away. He berated himself for even engaging with her when his father still sat in the office, watching the encounter. He turned his attention to his father. 

“I’m sorry for that. Who was she anyway?” He said as he walked closer to Elijah’s desk and took a seat.  

“A new employee. Hazel Fox.” 

“Oh, so she isn’t.” 

“A bimbo who you thought I was sleeping with? No. Is that how low you think of me, son?” 

Klaus opened his mouth to apologize for the mix-up, but he was halted when the door to his father’s office opened and the irritating voice of his sibling filtered into his ears. 

“Good morning dad. How’s it going?” Klaus’ younger brother, Lionel, asked as he plopped down on the seat beside him. 

The gaze of the brothers met, and an unspoken tension filled the air. The sibling rivalry between them was no secret, and each believed he was the rightful successor to their father's empire. Klaus was a workaholic and strong-headed one. He did everything to his best ability, always wanting to make his parents proud. Lionel, on the other hand, was a smart one, but he had a history of indulging in a carefree and frivolous lifestyle, which had earned him a reputation which his father hated but overlooked due to his love for the boy. 

"What are you doing here, Klaus?" Lionel sneered in disdain.  

“Most likely something better than what you came here to do, brother.” Klaus retorted, trying not to sound so condescending. 

“Huh. Aren’t you supposed to be in the muck trying to get his approval? You seem to clean here on the high horse.” 

Ignoring the taunt, Klaus reined back his words. He was not going to stoop down to his brother’s level. 

"Well, as for me, I'm here to speak with Dad about the future of the company. It's time he considers handing over the reins to someone more mature. Someone with fresh ideas and a clear vision," Lionel said, with a grin on his face. 

"Fresh ideas? Vision?" Lionel scoffed.  

"All you ever cared about was frolicking with the next model you saw on the cover of a magazine or maxing out your credit cards for a trip to some godforsaken island to live it up with people who care nothing about you or this family. What ideas could you possibly have that would skyrocket the profits and standing of this company?"  

Klaus always thought of his brother with so much jealousy. In the confines of his house, he’d break down feeling ashamed that everyone thought of his younger brother as the better one. People knew it. They knew he envied the boy for how he got it easy when it came to their father, but he would show them that he was better than the brat. Firstly, by calling him out for his obvious b*llsh*t. 

Lionel couldn't bear Klaus’ overseriousness when it came to the family business, and Klaus was envious of Lionel's undeserving favor with their father. Their ambitions clashed continuously. They both opened their mouths to retort what the other had said, forgetting that they were in their father’s presence. It had always been like this since they were born. As kids, their parents had tried to put a stop to it, but it only reduced the fights and as they grew older, there came a rift between the two siblings. A right that Elijah never cared to fix. 

“We could have a brand-new opening for a new branch. A branch which I can head down to Baltimore. I think that.” 

Klaus let out a mocking laugh. 

"That’s your big idea? A new branch in Baltimore. Do you really not hear yourself spewing nonsense? You've always been dad's favorite, that’s why you have no idea how foolish it would look if you had brought this before the board. I've worked just as hard, but he seems to think you can do no wrong. You've always been the perfect son in his eyes, while I've had to fight for his approval. But I won't let him hand the company over to you. Not unless he wants it to crumble to the ground in a blaze of fire within the next three months." Klaus pointed out, sharing a look with his father as he ended his mini-speech. 

Klaus turned to Lionel, silently daring him to speak up and oppose him on it but Lionel had had enough. He scoffed at Klaus, stood up and stormed out of the room, leaving Klaus alone with their father. 

Elijah Moore sighed, shaking his head at the display he had just witnessed.  

"I’m glad that’s finally over. Next time you want to tear into your brother, do well not to do it in my office.” 

Klaus bit his cheek. As he expected, the man showed no care towards him but in some vague way sided with the younger son. 

"I can't work with Lionel. He's reckless, and he doesn't take the business seriously. Whether you see it or not, that boy is a liability to both the family and the business." Klaus replied, his voice tinged with frustration. 

His father looked at him dead serious. 

“You are not in a position to make that decision. You are not the CEO.” 

Klaus frowned at the rebuttal. When would this man learn that he was only trying to do what was best for them? Lionel included.  

“But I do understand what you mean. I would have liked Lionel to take over, but I know that he isn’t ready yet. So, in the meantime, after I retire and while he learns, you will run the company in his place.” 

Klaus was taken aback by Elijah’s words. Although he wasn’t really being given the reins of the company, that temporary spot might be what he needed to change his father’s mind for good.  

“There is one thing that you have to consider if you are going to be the interim CEO of the company.”  

"What is it, Dad?" Klaus asked, eager to hear his father's advice. 

Elijah’s expression turned somber. 

“Your brother's past mistakes have made it difficult for the board and executives to trust him fully. They see potential in you, but they need reassurance that you're ready for the role, but you need to understand that having an exterior matters in the business world. You're good, but you lack some life experience. Your life is only tied to work and I want you to have something to hold onto when your brother becomes the CEO." 

Klaus’ eye twitched at the mention of Lionel usurping him, but he let it go. After all, when his father saw how good he was at running the place, he wouldn’t want him gone. 

“What do I need to do?” 

"Get yourself a wife." Elijah blatantly said.  

Klaus blinked. 

“What?” 

“A wife. Someone you can go home to when your time is over.”  

“So what you’re saying is that before I can become the CEO, I have to get married?” 

“Interim CEO and yes. You do.” 

Klaus was taken aback by his father's suggestion. He didn’t understand what these people wanted from him. He’d gone to school, gotten his degree and excelled in almost every part of his life and now this? A marriage to secure his own birthright? This was ludicrous.  

“I’m not ready for that.” 

“Well, get ready for it. I will retire in a month or so. You said that you wanted more responsibility. Here it is. Bring me a wife in a month and you can have what you want.”  

Klaus sat there, his jaw in his hands, unable to say a word. 

“If you have nothing else to say, then please leave. I have work to round up on.” 

Klaus stood up on command and walked towards the door, with his papers still in his hands. The idea of finding a partner solely for business reasons was daunting to Klaus. It left him confused and as he walked out of his father’s office, he groaned to himself. 

Who in the world would he marry?