Hazel, armed with the obtained pen drive, swiftly unlocked the door and stepped out of Francisco's mansion. Her eyes quickly scanned the surroundings, noting the presence of bodyguards both at the entrance and near the main gate. As the designated personal assistant to Francisco, she encountered no interference while leaving the mansion.
Navigating her way toward the gate, Hazel's progress was halted by vigilant guards. Their inquisitive gazes fixed upon her as one of them questioned, "Ms., where are you going?"
With a confident yet purposeful demeanor, Hazel responded, "I am going out for official work."
"I'll be back in one hour."
The guards exchanged glances, seemingly uncertain about the abrupt departure.
Sensing potential scrutiny, Hazel offered an explanation, "Mr. Francisco can't go right now. I need to handle this on his behalf. He's resting as he has a flight."
The guards, though still cautious, seemed to accept Hazel's explanation. However, one of them raised another concern, "Okay, Ms., but aren't you taking the car?"
Hazel's mind raced to find a plausible response.
"The car is being prepared for Mr. Francisco's departure. No, I can manage, and I'll be back in around 1 hour," she replied, hoping to dispel any further inquiries.
The guards, though still skeptical, eventually allowed her passage.
Hazel, determined to keep her disguise, looked at the guards.
Without waiting for any further scrutiny, she briskly walked away, putting distance between herself and the vigilant guards.
With each step, Hazel's mind raced. She hailed a taxi, directing it to a discreet location she deemed a secure hideout. As the taxi carried her away from Francisco's mansion, she couldn't shake the urgency that propelled her forward.
Meanwhile, in Georgia, Liam, having landed and eager to connect with Francisco, dialed his number. The phone rang, but Francisco remained unreachable.
Liam, furrowing his brows, stared at the screen, contemplating the potential reasons for the lack of response.
"He must be busy; I'll talk to him later," Liam reasoned, dismissing the momentary concern.
However, his focus shifted when a tall, muscular man approached, calling out, "Mr. Liam."
Turning his attention to the newcomer, Liam engaged in conversation, the exchange becoming more involved as they delved into a discussion. Whatever information the man shared seemed significant, prompting them to depart from the area together.
In the quietude of Francisco's mansion, all the maids lay in a deep slumber, oblivious to the events unfolding beyond their realm. Francisco's phone buzzed persistently, each vibration echoing in the stillness of the night. However, Francisco remained asleep.
Max checked his own phone and remarked, "He is not picking up."
Diana, entwining her arms around Max's neck, offered a plausible explanation, "Maybe he is busy."
Max, however, expressed his concern, "Yeah, but I called him so many times."
"He has a flight tonight."
Diana, her curiosity piqued, narrowed her eyes at Max's revelation.
"Flight?"
Max nodded, providing minimal details.
"It's just for business purposes, Diana."
Despite knowing more about Francisco's engagement, Max chose to withhold certain information from Diana. He had made a commitment to respect her wishes, ensuring not to disclose anything she wasn't comfortable knowing.
Breaking the silence that enveloped them, Diana suddenly inquired, "Max, did you see the details of Francisco's new PA?"
"Yeah, I checked, but I didn't find anything suspicious."
"And you said she saved him."
Max affirmed, "That's what Francisco told me."
Diana remarked, "And I think your brother likes Hazel so much."
Max said, "But it won't be easy for Francisco, I guess."
Curiosity lingering, Diana sought more information.
"Did he tell her his true identity?"
"No, Diana," Max responded.
"But I still don't know how many days or years Francisco will keep her with him. He doesn't have any weaknesses, and as for Emily, it was an eye-wash for everyone."
Diana, aware of the intricacies of Francisco's life, took a deep breath and embraced Max from behind. His slight smile betrayed a myriad of thoughts swirling in his mind.
Is Francisco already gone?
Should I call Hazel?
But I don't think Francisco told her about it.
"But don't you feel that girl is too naive?"
"Who doesn't know about Francisco?"
Diana, well-aware of Francisco's complex nature, responded with a raised eyebrow.
Acknowledging the possibility of Hazel's naivety, Max added, "That's what I thought, but I found out she came from another city. It could be possible she doesn't know him properly."
Diana, considering Max's insights, expressed her hopes, "Ah… I hope it is."
With a shared understanding, Diana concluded, "As long as you check it out, I think there is no mistake."
Their conversation, laced with concern and intrigue, took an affectionate turn as Max and Diana exchanged a passionate kiss.