Chapter 156: A Monday Reckoning

Monday morning arrived with the usual hustle and bustle of the city, the weekend passing in a blur for Hazel. The time spent with Siobhan had been exactly what she needed—shopping, pampering, and letting loose. It was the perfect way to reset her mind and refocus her energies on what really mattered: her goals. But Sunday had brought her back to reality, and she spent the day carefully going over the report she needed to submit to Alexander, ensuring every detail was flawless. As she buttoned her crisp white shirt in front of the mirror, Hazel’s lips curled into a smile. "A step towards you, Alexander, sweetie," she whispered to herself. She smoothed the fabric down, applied a layer of gloss to her lips, grabbed her bag and purse, and headed out the door, ready to face the day. Sliding into the driver’s seat of her car, she took a deep breath. The city was already alive with the morning rush, but Hazel felt like she was on top of the world. Today was going to be a good day; she could