On Her Daddy's Bed (Adeline and Luciano) novel Chapter 28

Author’s POV.

Axel walked into the office, his sharp eyes scanning the room, completely ignoring the greetings that floated his way from colleagues and acquaintances. The noise of the office seemed distant to him, as if it were muffled by some invisible wall.

He took his usual spot at the desk, closing himself off from the world with an air of icy indifference.

“Are you not even going to respond to anyone’s greetings?” Alex, his close friend, stepped up beside him, his voice laced with mild concern.

Axel glanced at him, his expression unreadable. “Your greetings won’t help me kill my enemies, so keep them.”

His voice was cold, clipped, and Alex couldn’t help but scoff at it. The tension between them was palpable, but Alex had long since learned to let Axel be.

Without another word, Axel turned to his laptop, arranging his headset carefully before he went live, as if the world outside his immediate space didn’t exist.

“I’m going live for this fashion contest, and I don’t want any interruptions. If you all need to talk, use the next office.” His command was firm, leaving no room for argument.

The room went quiet. His colleagues exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to respond to Axel’s sudden coldness. The live contest, after all, was a significant money-making venture, and they were all surprised by his lack of enthusiasm.

Riyyan, after a few moments of stunned silence, broke the stillness. “I’m going live too,” she said, her voice calm but resolute.

In the fashion world, they had a game where designers wore different outfits and rated them, then created their own versions for the company. The higher their rating, the greater the payout.

For more than an hour, Axel was engrossed in the contest, channeling all his frustrations and inner turmoil into the game. But while the others saw it as a way to make money, Axel felt no satisfaction from it.

To him, the money was meaningless. He didn’t need it, and it wasn’t the reason he was there. No, this was just a way to keep his mind off the nagging emptiness that had begun to gnaw at him. He couldn’t shake the overwhelming need to be with her. Hazel.

Every minute away from her was excruciating.

Hours passed, the game dragging on, and Axel lost himself further in the competitive battle. His friends were still working on their own tasks, but Axel’s mind was elsewhere, wandering in a world of hazy memories of Hazel. The warmth of her body, the softness of her skin, the way she smelled, the way she felt when she was close—everything about her consumed him.

Even as the hours ticked by, Axel lost track of time, immersed in a world that was completely disconnected from reality.

Finally, after three long hours, Alex stood up and walked over to Axel’s desk, his patience worn thin. With a swift motion, he turned off Axel’s computer.

Axel shot him a dagger-like stare, his mood turning quickly. “What the hell, Alex?”

“Are you okay?” Alex asked, genuinely concerned.

Axel let out a soft breath, tension radiating off him. He shrugged and reached for his glass of juice, trying to settle the storm brewing inside of him.

“I’m fine,” he muttered, sinking into his chair and sinking into his thoughts.

But his thoughts weren’t on work, they weren’t even on his friends. His mind was consumed with Hazel. That sweet, soft smile she always wore, the sound of her voice, the way she made him feel like he could conquer anything when she was around.

He closed his eyes briefly, trying to clear his mind, but the image of her lingered, growing stronger.

“You haven’t said a word since you walked in, Axel,” Riyyan spoke up, her tone a mixture of teasing and concern. She stood beside him, her soft lips pouting. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Axel sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I’m always like this, Riyyan.”

She nodded, a small frown appearing on her face as she handed him a glass of juice. He took it, his fingers brushing against hers for a brief moment before he took a sip. His mind, however, was still far from the present.

As his eyes skimmed over Riyyan’s exposed thighs, his thoughts wandered again, this time to Hazel. Her soft, smooth skin, the way she smelled like sweet flowers and something more intoxicating. The way her body felt against his, every curve, every dip… He couldn’t help but imagine how she felt in his arms.

‘Fuck,’ Axel cursed internally. He hadn’t been able to get Hazel out of his head since the moment he met her. She was perfect—too perfect for him, and that thought only made his obsession with her deeper.

“Are you okay?” Alex asked again, breaking Axel from his thoughts. His voice was softer now, tinged with something like sympathy.

“I’m fine,” Axel snapped again, perhaps a little too sharply. He wasn’t sure what was happening to him. He had never been this affected by anyone before, but Hazel had somehow broken through every wall he had built around himself.

The rest of the office chatter continued around him, but Axel couldn’t focus on anything. He had to get out of there.

The break period arrived, and while everyone else was excited about the chance to relax, Axel felt no desire to join in. He had been distant for hours now, and he wasn’t sure how much longer he could pretend to be fine.

“Cut the crap, lady. I’m not hiding anything.”

“Uh-huh,” Tracy said skeptically. “Did Armstrong reach out to you?”

Hazel froze for a moment, memories of Armstrong briefly flooding her mind. But they were distant now, like a bad dream she had long forgotten. She didn’t care about him anymore. “I think he did, but honestly, I don’t care,” Hazel shrugged.

Tracy raised her eyebrows in disbelief. “Really? You loved him so much, and now you don’t care?”

“It was just infatuation, Tracy. It was intense, but it didn’t last.”

Tracy leaned in closer, her eyes narrowing. “Is this about Axel?”

Hazel shook her head, a soft laugh escaping her lips. “I’m done with this conversation.”

With that, she stood up and walked toward the gate, her legs halting as she spotted Axel stepping out of the car. Tracy stood behind her, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips.

“Is he here for you?” Tracy whispered into her ear.

“Obviously,” Hazel replied, her voice soft but tinged with affection.

“I guess you two are going on a date,” Tracy said, grinning. “Go ahead. I’ll be waiting to hear all the details tomorrow.”

“Good night, dramatic Tracy,” Hazel said, rolling her eyes as she walked toward Axel.

“Hey, momma,” Axel greeted her with that familiar, warm smile.

“Hey,” Hazel mumbled, her heart fluttering as he reached for her hand, pulling her into the warmth of his embrace.

“Come with me,” Axel said softly. “I’ve got something for you.”

Hazel smiled cozily as they both slid into the car, Tracy watching them go with a knowing grin.