The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife novel Chapter 29

28 The Mystery of a Son

Liam’s POV1

Sleep eluded me. The digital clock on my nightstand mocked me with its relentless forward march–3:17 AM, 4:02 AM, 4:43 AM. My mind refused to quiet, replaying images of Hazel cradling her feverish son.

Leo.

My father’s name. Those striking green eyes–like his mother’s, yes, but something else nagged at me. Something familiar I couldn’t place.

I gave up on sleep at 5:15 AM and headed to my home gym. After a punishing workout that did nothing to clear my head, I showered and drove to the office. The Sterling Group building was eerily quiet at 6:30 AM, most employees not due for another two

hours.

I poured myself a strong coffee and settled at my desk, pulling out my phone. I scrolled through my contacts until I found the name I needed: Albert Allen, private investigator.

“This better be important,” Albert growled after the fourth ring.

“It’s Liam Sterling.”

A pause, then a more alert voice. “Liam. You’re calling awfully early. Something

wrong?”

“I need information. Discreetly.”

“That’s what you pay me for,” he replied. “What are we looking at? Corporate espionage again?”

I hesitated. “No. Personal. I need information on my executive assistant, Hazel Vance.”

“Any particular reason?”

“Just standard due diligence.” The lie felt bitter on my tongue. “She has access to sensitive company information.”

Albert chuckled. “Sure, standard due diligence at 6:30 in the morning. I know her,

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actually.”

That caught me off guard. “You do?”

“Ran a background check when you hired her. Remember? Clean as a whistle. Single mother, works hard, pays her bills on time. What more do you want to know?”

Single mother. The words punched me in the gut all over again.

“Her son,” I said, my voice tight. “I want to know about her son. And who his father is.”

A long pause followed.

“I’ll see what I can find,” Albert finally said. “But I gotta say, Liam, she’s a good one. Whatever you’re worried about, I doubt she’s a security risk.”

“Just do the job, Albert.”

“Will do. I’ll be in touch.”

I hung up, immediately regretting my harsh tone. Albert was right–Hazel was “a good one.” That was part of the problem. She was too good, too perfect. And now with this revelation about her son…

The elevator dinged at 7:45 AM, pulling me from my thoughts. Evelyn stepped out, looking surprised to see me.

“You’re early,” she remarked, setting her purse on her desk.

“Couldn’t sleep.”

She studied my face with that maternal scrutiny I’d grown used to. “Worried about the company or something else?”

Before I could answer, Damian strolled in, dressed impeccably as always.

“Morning, people! Why the long face, Sterling?” He dropped into the chair across from my desk.

I glanced between them. “Hazel has a son.”

Damian raised his eyebrows. “And that’s a problem because…?”

“It’s not a problem,” I snapped. “It’s just–why didn’t she mention it?”

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“Maybe because her personal life is none of your business?” Damian suggested.

Evelyn crossed her arms. “Leo is a beautiful boy. I’ve seen pictures.”

I turned to her. “You knew?”

“Of course I knew. Women talk, Liam.”

“Any idea who the father is?” I tried to sound casual.

Evelyn’s expression turned mysterious. “That’s Hazel’s business.”

“So you do know.”

“I didn’t say that.” She busied herself with arranging items on her desk.

Damian leaned forward. “Why do you care so much about Hazel’s kid, anyway?”

“I don’t!” I said too quickly. “I just like knowing who’s working for me.”

“Bullshit,” Damian called me out. “You’ve got a thing for her.”

“It’s not like that,” I insisted. “I just… I respect her, okay? Single mother, working a demanding job, handling everything on her own.”

Damian nodded slowly. “It is impressive.”

“She has the most remarkable eyes,” Evelyn said suddenly. “Leo, I mean.”

Something in her tone made me look sharply at her. “Green like Hazel’s?”

“Oh no,” Evelyn smiled enigmatically. “Not green at all.”

Before I could question her further, the elevator dinged again. Hazel stepped out, looking tired but composed. My heart did a strange little flip.

“Good morning,” she said, surveying our impromptu gathering. “Is everything okay?”

“How’s Leo?” I asked immediately.

A smile softened her face. “Much better. His fever broke overnight. Thank you again for yesterday.”

“It was nothing,” I said, suddenly awkward.

Damian stood, extending his hand to Hazel. “Damian Knight. We haven’t been properly

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28 The Mystery of a Son

introduced, but I’ve heard good things from these two.”

“Hazel Vance.” She shook his hand. “I’ve heard you’re the only one who can keep our

CEO in line.”

Damian laughed. “I try, but it’s a losing battle.”

“I’m standing right here,” I grumbled. .

Hazel smiled, and the room felt brighter somehow. “Leo loved the dinosaur, by the way. He’s carrying it everywhere.”

Pride warmed my chest unreasonably. “I’m glad he likes it.”

“You all should come to lunch at my place sometime,” she offered. “Leo would love to meet his mom’s work friends. Maybe next weekend?”

“I’d be delighted,” Evelyn said.

“Count me in,” Damian agreed.

I nodded, not trusting my voice. The thought of seeing Leo again–healthy, playing in his own environment–created a strange tightness in my throat.

We need to buckle down on this crisis,” I said, changing the subject abruptly. “I want everyone at my place Saturday morning. We’ll work through the reports together.”

“Even me?” Hazel asked, surprising me.

“You should stay with Leo,” I said automatically. “You’ve already missed a day.”

Her expression hardened subtly. “Leo will be with Chloe. I’ll be there.”

“That’s not necessary-”

“With all due respect, Mr. Sterling,” she cut in firmly, “I’ve already arranged everything. This is my job, and I’m good at it. My son is well taken care of, and I won’t be excluded from important meetings because you’ve suddenly decided to be considerate of my personal life.”

The room fell silent. Damian/looked impressed. Evelyn was hiding a smile.

“I… of course,” I managed. “Nine o’clock, then.”

Hazel nodded, satisfied. “Nine o’clock.”

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28 The Mystery of a Son

As she turned to set up her workstation, Damian caught my eye and mouthed “Wow” with an appreciative nod. I couldn’t agree more.

Hazel Vance had just put me in my place, and inexplicably, my admiration for her only grew stronger.

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