MIDNIGHT Bride The CEO's TEMPTATION

Hazel looked at Hanson coldly. "I'm sorry, but I don't think a shallow woman like me is good enough to have coffee with you."

Hanson didn't hear any of the sarcasm in Hazel's remark, he was too caught up in the idea that she was trying to get his attention.

"Babe, are you trying to defend Hazel Crowe? Since you can walk into the office of Denmark Group so easily, you must know something about her, don't you?" He chuckled and said, "She is an ugly girl who came out of nowhere, only to be the lost daughter of Denmark's!"

He didn't even stop to take a breath, he just continued on, "If Denmark Group is put into the hands of someone who is brainless, has no looks, and no sense of business, won't Denmark Group be in jeopardy? I am trying to save Denmark Group, and then I can find my true love, right?"

Hazel was really shocked by his audacity, she couldn't comprehend how highly he thought of himself and how lowly he thought of her. 

The elevator door opened, Hazel tried to move past him, but he put his arm out in front of her. He smiled and tried to be charming, "Babe, you haven't answered me yet…." 

"The answer is no! Now, get lost!" She pushed his arm away and walked past him.

Hanson looked furious, "Which department do you work in? I will have you fired from Denmark Group by the end of the day, I promise you!"

He grabbed his assistant, and both managed to get on to the elevator before it closed. Before Hazel had time to react, Crystal had already stepped forward and grabbed Hanson by the collar of his shirt.

"Let go!" Hanson was livid, he had never been treated like that by a woman. He shouted angrily, "Do you know who I am? Let me go! Or I will…."

Hazel waved her hand, and Crystal let go of him. Hanson had never been so humiliated, he was infuriated and started to rush toward Hazel. His assistant saw what he was going to do, he knocked him to the ground, "Mr. Bryant, you need to calm down."

"What is wrong with you?! Do you want to be fired?" Hanson asked his assistant as he got up, brushing off his suit.

"You may want to listen to him," Hazel cocked her eyebrows and looked at Hanson. "I am assuming you don't know who I am. So, let me tell you…I am the shallow, ugly Hazel Crowe who is brainless, has no looks, and no sense of business."

Instantly, Hanson froze, his face became pale. He couldn't comprehend the fact that he actually degraded the woman he was trying to win over, right in front of her.

"I... This, this is all a misunderstanding," Hanson stammered. However, even with all his excuses, he knew there was no chance of convincing Hazel.

"A misunderstanding?" Hazel sneered coldly.

"Are you stupid, or do you just think I'm stupid? Do you actually think I'm going to give you a chance to 'save' Denmark Group?" she asked.

"I..." Hanson's mouth was so dry that he couldn't speak. He didn't know what to say, and the attitude that Hazel was giving him made him feel like he was facing off against Joshua Denmark himself.

"You still want me to kneel in front of you?" Hazel smirked, and her face got even colder. "What happens if I tell your father, Director Bryant, all of this?"

Crystal stretched out her leg so that she could kick Hanson and make him kneel before Hazel, but before she had the chance, he fell to his knees with a thud.

"I am begging you! Please, don't tell my father," he said, alarmed.

Hazel was speechless. The arrogant man that thought he could win her over was a coward, one word made him drop to his knees.

"I am giving you one warning," Hazel said coldly. "Do not show your face around here again! If you do, drastic measures will be taken. You need to leave the building now!"

As the elevator reached the floor of the President's office, Hazel walked off the elevator. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the assistant helping Hanson to his feet, he looked even more terrified when he realized what floor they were on. He stared for a moment and then quickly hit the button to go to the main lobby.

Hazel wasn't worried about the encounter. After all, Hanson was just an arrogant coward who thought he was better than her. She pushed open the door to the office and walked in, leaving Crystal standing on guard outside.

"You're back?" Joshua smiled as he looked up at her.

"Yes, I am!" Hazel nodded and walked toward him.

Joshua reached out and held her tightly against him. She felt her body tense for a moment when she felt something hard against her leg, her heart skipped a beat. She could not understand how he could still be so excited, even after he had made love to her all night long.

"Good girl..." He smiled and kissed her ear. "What did you do?"

"Aunt Katherine took me to meet one of her friends, but that was it," she said. It was the truth with a bit of detail left out.

"Your mother got a call from Katherine asking her to go shopping." His eyes became deeper.

"Is that so? That's great news." She was trying to play dumb.

A sharp light flashed across his eyes. "Honey, great news? She isn't doing it just because she wants to. People don't do things for anything, you have to give if you want something. What did you give?"

"What are you talking about?" She chuckled and pushed him on the chest. "She just wants to help me deal with my parents. It's not a big deal. She is helping because she likes me."

Hazel had no intention of telling Joshua about her promise to Katherine. After all, he had always been very resistant when they talked about his biological parents, she wanted to warm him up to the idea. She also knew that if she had mentioned it immediately after being out with Katherine, he would overthink the situation, she needed to wait until the time was right. 

Suddenly, her eyes fell on Joshua's ring finger, and then her eyes lit up. "A ring?"

"Yes," He nodded as he held his hand up so Hazel could see it better. "It matches yours."

She held out her finger, she was wearing the ring Joshua gave her when he proposed. His wasn't as detailed as hers, but the two rings still looked perfect together.

"You're so well prepared?" She chuckled.

"Of course, I have to be well prepared when it comes to getting married." He smiled and kissed her on the forehead. "In fact, there is a little secret inside the ring."

"What kind of secret?" she asked curiously.

"Guess." He smiled mysteriously.

She took her ring off without hesitating; she didn't want to waste any time finding out what the secret was.