UNTIL DAWN

Chapter Eleven

Song for this chapter: Zoe Wees - Control

He plopped down on the worn out couch stretching his long legs and sighed but sipped on the coffee mug in front of him. There was frustration visible in his gray eyes but he was trying to be patient with me for the reason I did not know.

"Look, I am not saying that you were supposed to stay but if you have said something I should have arranged..."

"Why did you do that?"

"Excuse me?!"

"Why are you finding a new place for me?"

He looked puzzled at first but then realization dawned on him and he was even more confused.

"Is that why you left? Wait, is Jace the one who told you?"

"It doesn't matter how I found out. I just want you to know that I am not going anywhere. I don't owe you anything."

"That's not because you owe me anything, I only wanted to be of a little help."

"Now, that's even worse. You are not obliged to help me with anything. Just that I lost the last family member I had left doesn't mean that I need anyone's charity."

"Even though your dad is a little involved, apart from that, I don't see any problem in getting a little help if you really need it."

"What do you mean that he is involved?" Now I was the one puzzled.

"I talked with your dad the day he was transferred to Dr. Miller's hospital. I kind of promised him that you will be safe with me whether he was around or not. "He looked embarrassed to have talked to him and hid it from me and he was kind of funny but I was not going to fall for it.

"So, now that he is gone I don't want to be the one to break it, I always keep my word and I don't want you to keep living in this kind of place with no sign of security. People are smoking here and there, no surveillance cameras and street lamps... I just want your safety Hazel. I am not the bad guy here."

It was sweet how he noticed everything which could be a danger to me but I was not going to leave my place. Everything which was dad's were still there, the room he used to sleep in, his clothes, everything... Just being in that house made me feel closer to him.

If I agreed to leave it could mean that I already accepted that Dad was really gone. And that would hurt so that was a way of protecting myself.

"If that is what you are worried about you do not have to worry. He is not going to come back from his grave and accuse you of not keeping your word. And don't forget that I have lived here for a long time and nothing ever happened to me, I know how to take care of myself."

He rubbed his hands in his thick dark hair in frustration making it messy and he suddenly looked like a college player boy. He should have broken many hearts with only...

God, I was out of my mind. Hazel, get your shit together.

"Why are you making this difficult, Hazel? Of course I know that he won't come back but I will feel at ease when I know that you are somewhere safe."

I almost asked him why he cared.

"I don't care about any of that, I am not leaving. That's final. Now if you will excuse me, i have work tomorrow and i don't want my boss to fire me for being late.

He appeared as if he was about to argue but I did not let him.

"I know i have days left for the leave of absence i got but i would rather be doing something than sitting here all day doing nothing."

Seeing how stubborn I was being about the whole thing, he sighed and sat up, ready to leave.

"I know you are not ready to leave everything with your lovely memories behind and move to a strange place."

I kept quiet so he kept talking.

"But sometimes it is better to change the environment and start anew. You don't have to decide now. And sometimes it is not being weak when you accept help especially when it involves safety, you know where to find me when you ever change your mind."

He thrusted his slender fingers in his pockets and slowly approached where I had been standing. The thought of staying in the house alone and at night made my blood run cold.

"And if you are worried about this whole thing, I will hurry to clear up the mess at work and cancel the contract. You don't have to stay tied to me when I did not do anything stated for the end of the bargain. Another thing, no work tomorrow, not negotiable."

I don't know if he was aware of how his words froze me to the spot instead of comforting me or if he pretended not to see. He placed a longer kiss on my forehead and watched him disappear from my apartment.

My other worst nightmare was finally coming true.

Another person who seemed to care about me was leaving.

Ace didn't want anything to do with me anymore. That was why he was compensating me with a secure place. No one will ever know that he once proposed to me even though it was fake. Another faceless ex fiancé.

Ooh Hazel, you are so naive.

Was I really bound to stay alone?

Something wet fell on my arm and I realized that I was crying.

Fool!

ACE'S POV

I sighed for the umpteenth time since I sat in the office. I kept thinking about what Hazel said to me on my way home. Was I really being an asshole to think that I could take a decision on her behalf? Did it appear like I was showing off? Maybe I could have consulted with her first but it was really for her own well being.

Jace knocked and I sent him a quizzical look wondering why he was in my office. earlier he was going to confirm with the brands which wanted to work with our artists for the upcoming fashion week. It was only finding out the names of actors and artists to attend and models for the runaway so that was not necessarily for me to decide about those stuff.

"Do you need anything? Something wrong with the list?" he rolled his eyes at the questions.

"Are you done, you want me to sign?" he shook his head sideways, his lips pulled in a thin line.

"Then why the hell are you here?" I am not sure why I was in a strange mood.

"I think I glimpsed Miss. Black here, that's what I came to tell you."

"What do you mean that you glimpsed her?"

"I thought that she had days left for her personal leave but she is working."

The hell! That girl was going to be the death of me. Last night I saw how stubborn she could be. I thought that we agreed at least on this one.

"Call her department and tell her to come to my office immediately."

"Are you sure?"

"Everyone who has sense can not find it weird. Tell them to hurry."

Jace left and in a few minutes I heard a soft knock.

"Come in."

The door was pushed open then my breath caught.