Six months had passed in a blur of long workdays and quiet, stolen moments. Ryan and Hazel had grown more comfortable in their routines as software engineers at SkyTech Solutions. Despite the high-pressure projects and late-night debugging sessions, their bond had only deepened.
But in the background, something darker had festered. Adrian Cole.
Adrian had managed to stay just within the bounds of professional behavior. His gestures remained subtle—compliments disguised as work praise, meetings he conveniently scheduled when Hazel was free, little favors she never asked for. Ryan noticed it all. He never voiced every concern, but he saw the tension Hazel carried, the way her smile tightened whenever Adrian entered the room.
Now, Adrian was preparing to leave.
After two years at the firm, his family's deadline had arrived. Word had spread that he would soon return to oversee one of the family resorts in Europe. As a farewell, Adrian threw a private party at an upscale rooftop lounge downtown, inviting the entire office.
Ryan was reluctant to attend, but Hazel insisted. "It's not about him. It's about showing up for the team. We'll stay for an hour, tops."
The venue gleamed with soft lighting and high-end furnishings. Laughter and music filled the air, and colleagues mingled over flutes of champagne and cocktails.
Adrian was dressed to impress, as always. Charcoal blazer, gold cufflinks, a smirk that never quite reached his eyes. He welcomed everyone like a host playing the perfect part.
Hazel kept close to Ryan, their fingers brushing as they moved between conversations. She didn't miss Adrian's eyes lingering on her.
Midway through the evening, Adrian approached with a drink in hand.
"Hazel," he said, smile practiced, voice smooth. "Thought you might enjoy this. It's one of the house specials."
Hazel hesitated, but before she could respond, their coworker Priya, laughing with another colleague, reached over.
"Ooh, is that the lychee martini? I've been wanting to try it. Thanks, Adrian!" she said, grabbing the glass without waiting.
Adrian's expression faltered for a second.
Hazel frowned slightly. "You okay with that, Adrian?"
He chuckled, recovering quickly. "Of course. I'll grab another."
But something in his tone didn't sit right. Minutes later, Priya began to stumble, slurring her words. She clutched her head and collapsed into a chair, breathing heavily. The music kept playing, but a few coworkers gathered around her with concern.
Hazel's pulse raced.
Ryan noticed immediately and rushed over. "What happened?"
Someone called for help as Priya mumbled incoherently. One of the staff suggested she might be too drunk, but Hazel's instincts screamed otherwise.
Then she saw it—Adrian, across the room, stiff, his jaw tight. He wasn't looking at Priya. He was watching Hazel.
The pieces fell into place.
Hazel's eyes widened. She stormed across the floor, her heels clicking like a war drum.
"You bastard," she hissed
As the party unraveled and the tension burst into confrontation, Hazel's slap echoed through the garden like a whipcrack.
"You're disgusting!" she shouted, her voice shaking with a mix of rage and betrayal. "You actually tried to drug me?"
The crowd went silent. All eyes turned to Adrian.
Adrian didn't flinch. He straightened his jacket, face cold and eerily composed—almost amused. "I didn't think you'd catch on, Hazel. You're smarter than I thought."
Ryan stepped forward, fists clenched. "You've got five seconds to back the hell off."
Adrian's eyes flicked to him, and something darker passed through his expression. "Still playing hero, Ashworth?" he said with a venomous sneer. "You think just because she chose you, she's safe from men like me?"
Ryan moved closer, but Adrian's next words froze him in place.
"She belongs to no one. But if I wanted, I could take everything from you—your job, your life. Hazel would be just another broken toy in the end. A slut with no choice but to come crawling back."
Hazel gasped, recoiling as if physically struck. Ryan's rage snapped.
With a flash of movement, Ryan's fist connected with Adrian's jaw. Adrian stumbled back, crashing into a table of drinks. Glass shattered as he hit the ground, groaning.
Someone in the crowd yelled, and others rushed forward to restrain Adrian as he spat blood, still sneering. "You'll regret this," he growled, staring up at Ryan. "You both will. This isn't over."
Ryan stood over him, breathing hard, fists trembling at his sides. "Yes. It is."
Security was called. Adrian didn't resist when they arrived—he simply laughed, a hollow, broken sound that lingered as they led him away.
Security moved in, and someone yelled for a manager. Adrian didn't fight back—he just stood, dazed and humiliated.
The police were called.
Later that night, after giving their statements, Ryan and Hazel sat in her apartment, wrapped in a blanket on the couch. The warmth from their shared silence was a comfort, but the weight of the evening still hung in the air.
Hazel rubbed her temple. "I should've listened to you sooner."
"No," Ryan said gently. "You trusted people. That's not a weakness. That's who you are."
She leaned into him. "It scares me, though. Knowing someone could've hurt me that way. I've never felt... targeted like that before."
He kissed the top of her head. "You weren't alone. You'll never be."
Hazel looked up. "When did you know?"
Ryan's eyes darkened. "When he started finding excuses to be around you. And the way he looked at you like you were something he could win."
They sat in silence for a moment, then Hazel laughed softly.
"I think I scared the whole party. I've never slapped anyone in my life."
Ryan chuckled. "It was impressive. And kind of hot."
She nudged him. "Stop."
"What matters is—you saw it. You stood up for yourself. And now, he's gone."
Hazel nodded, then grew quiet. "Do you think this will change things at work?"
"Maybe for a while. But Priya's okay. And people saw what happened. You're not the one who should be ashamed."
Hazel reached for his hand. "You've always believed in me, Ryan. Even when I didn't see it myself."
"Always."
They sat together, the chaos of the night fading behind the steady beat of their hearts.
In the distance, city lights flickered.
Whatever came next, they would face it together.