The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife novel Chapter 61

61 An Invitation to Dance

## Liam’s POV

“She’s still not answering my calls,” I muttered, staring at my phone for the hundredth

time that week.

Damian looked up from his laptop with a smirk. “Chloe said to be patient, remember?”

“It’s been two weeks since our dinner with her.” I ran my hand through my hair in frustration. “How much longer am I supposed to wait?”

The massive windows of my office framed the Haven Harbor skyline, but I couldn’t appreciate the view. My thoughts were consumed by Hazel and Leo. Following Chloe’s strategic advice, I’d been sending Hazel weekly tulips – her favorite flowers. I’d been texting her daily messages and dropping off her favorite snacks at Chloe’s house where she was staying.

“The great Liam Sterling, brought to his knees by a five-foot-four secretary,” Damian observed, closing his laptop.

“Executive assistant,” I corrected automatically.

“See? You’re even defending her job title now.” He chuckled. “You’ve got it bad, my

friend.”

I couldn’t deny it. I’d left countless voicemails expressing my regret and my feelings. Each one more desperate than the last.

“Did she listen to any of them?” I asked.

“According to Chloe, she’s listened to every single one.” Damian’s phone pinged with a text. “Multiple times.”

Hope flickered inside me. “That’s good, right?”

“It means she cares enough to listen.” He glanced at his phone and smiled. “Speaking of Chloe, she says phase two is complete.”

My head snapped up. “What does that mean?”

“I had lunch with Hazel today,” he explained. “Chloe arranged it. I apologized for my

part in the background check fiasco, and Hazel forgave me.”

“She did?” I leaned forward eagerly. “What did she say about me?”

Damian held up his hands. “Whoa there, desperate much? We kept it light. But she did say she appreciates the flowers and texts.”

I grabbed my phone again, hope surging through me. “So I should call her now?”

“No!” Damian snatched my phone away. “Stick to the plan. Chloe knows what she’s doing. Hazel needs time.”

“I don’t have time,” I growled, getting up to pace. “I miss them both so damn much.”

My office felt empty and cold without Hazel’s warmth. I missed Leo’s drawings taped to my refrigerator and his toy dinosaurs scattered across my living room floor. I missed the sound of their laughter filling my home.

“Look at the bright side,” Damian said. “Hazel forgiving me is progress. I was the first domino that needed to fall.”

I stopped pacing and faced him. “How did she seem?”

“Hurt,” he admitted. “But not bitter. That’s a good sign.”

I collapsed back into my chair. “Chloe said Hazel wants to see me suffer.”

“Can you blame her?” Damian raised an eyebrow. “You investigated her past behind her back, confronted her with your findings in the worst possible way, and then ghosted her and Leo for days.”

“Thanks for the reminder,” I muttered. “I’m well aware of how badly I screwed up.”

Damian’s phone rang, and he answered it immediately. “Adrian! What’s up?”

I tried not to eavesdrop on their conversation, but Adrian Cole was Chloe’s cousin and one of my newest business partners. Any call from him might contain news about

Hazel.

“Really? This Saturday?” Damian’s tone sparked my interest. “Yeah, he’s right here.”

Damian held out the phone to me. “It’s Adrian. He wants to talk to you.”

I practically snatched the phone. “Adrian. What’s going on?”

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V

“Hey, Liam,” Adrian’s v

be interested in.”

My heart raced. “Is it about Hazel?”

“She and Chloe are going to Fuego Caliente this Saturday night. It’s a Latin dance bar downtown.”

I sat up straighter. “They’re going dancing?”

“Yep. Hazel loves to dance.” Adrian sounded amused. “Thought you might want to

know.”

“Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?” I asked, already mentally rearranging my weekend schedule.

“Chloe didn’t tell me to call you,” he said carefully. “But she didn’t tell me not to,

either.”

I shared a look with Damian, who was watching me with interest.

“What time will they be there?” I asked.

“Around nine. I’ll be there with my girlfriend too. We could all meet up, make it seem

coincidental.”

A plan was forming in my mind. “Tell Damian and me where to meet you. We’ll be

there.”

After hanging up, I relayed the conversation to Damian, who looked both impressed and concerned.

“You sure you’re ready for this?” he asked. “Hazel in her natural element might be more than you can handle.”

“I need to see her,” I said firmly. “It’s been too long.”

Damian’s expression turned serious. “Just remember, this is only a chance to talk to her. Don’t expect her to fall back into your arms immediately.”

“I know.” I nodded, feeling both nervous and excited. “But it’s finally something.”

“There’s just one problem,” Damian pointed out. “It’s a dance club. Can you dance?”

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Trust me, I can dance.”

“Latin dances?” Damian looked skeptical.

“Especially Latin dances.” My confidence was growing by the second. “This could be perfect, actually. I can show her a side of me she hasn’t seen before.”

Damian still looked dubious. “Just don’t come on too strong. Take it slow.”

“I will,” I promised, already mentally selecting what to wear. “But this is my chance, Damian. I’m not going to waste it.”

The next two days dragged painfully slow. I threw myself into work to distract myself, but my thoughts kept returning to Saturday night. Would Hazel be happy to see me? Would she dance with me? Or would she turn away in anger?

By Saturday evening, I was a bundle of nerves. I stood in front of my closet, discarding one shirt after another.

“Too formal… too casual… too boring…”

Finally, I settled on a crisp black button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to my elbows, dark jeans, and dress shoes. Simple but elegant. I hoped Hazel would approve.

My phone buzzed with a text from Damian: “On my way to pick you up. Try not to have a heart attack before we get there.”

I smiled despite my anxiety. Damian knew me too well.

When we arrived at Fuego Caliente, the place was already crowded. The pulsing Latin music vibrated through the floor, and colorful lights swept across the dance floor where couples moved with fluid grace.

Adrian spotted us immediately and waved us over to their table. His girlfriend, Elena, greeted us warmly.

“They’re not here yet,” Adrian told us, gesturing for us to sit. “Chloe texted that they’re running about twenty minutes late.”

“Perfect,” Damian said. “That gives Liam time to calm his nerves.”

“I’m perfectly calm,” I lied, ordering a whiskey from a passing server.

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61 An Invitation to Dance

Elena laughed. “Your leg hasn’t stopped bouncing since you sat down.”

I forced my leg still, taking a deep breath. “I just want this to go well.”

“It will,” Adrian assured me. “Just be yourself. The real you, not CEO you.”

Twenty minutes felt like twenty hours, but finally, Adrian nudged me and nodded toward the entrance. “They’re here.”

I turned and instantly forgot how to breathe.

Hazel stood in the doorway, scanning the crowded room. She wore a flowing red dress that hugged her curves and flared slightly at her knees – perfect for dancing. Her long black hair cascaded down her back in loose waves, and her green eyes sparkled even

from across the room.

She was breathtaking.

Chloe spotted us first and whispered something to Hazel. I watched as Hazel’s eyes found me, widening in surprise. For a moment, I thought she might turn and leave. Instead, after a long pause, she allowed Chloe to lead her toward our table.

Damian leaned in quickly. “Remember, play it cool. Don’t push.”

I nodded, unable to take my eyes off Hazel as she approached. This was my chance to win her back, and I wasn’t going to blow it. All I needed was one dance – one opportunity to hold her in my arms again and tell her everything in my heart.

The music changed to a sultry bachata as Hazel reached our table, her expression guarded but curious. I stood up, my heart pounding, and extended my hand toward

her.

“Hazel,” I said, surprised by how steady my voice sounded despite my racing heart. “Would you honor me with a dance?”

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