The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife

Hazel's POV

When I pushed open Liam's office door, our tight-knit group of friends spilled into the room like water through a dam.

"Oh my god, I need to hold my precious nephew! Is he sleeping?" Chloe's face crumpled with disappointment as she gazed at Leo nestled in Liam's arms.

"Hazel, for the love of all that's holy, shut that door." Noah burst through the entrance, his usual confidence replaced by something bordering on panic.

"Noah, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost." I couldn't hide my confusion as he twisted the lock behind him with the desperation of someone barricading against a zombie apocalypse.

"The ghost would be preferable to what's actually out there. We're talking about my parents, your parents, Chl's parents, Liam's foster parents, Damian's parents, Adrian's mother, and even George, Miranda, and little Fiona." Noah's face had drained of all color, like he'd witnessed some unspeakable horror.

"Liam's foster parents are here?" My eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Evelyn and Allen flew in this morning." Noah's explanation made warmth spread through my chest.

"Your parents made the trip too, Damian? And your mother came, Adrian?" Liam's curiosity was tinged with genuine affection.

"Yeah, man, they got wind of everything from Noah's old man and booked the first flight they could find. They wanted to be here for you during all this chaos. But I'm not gonna sugarcoat it, they're driving me to the edge of insanity!" Damian ran his hands through his hair in exasperation.

"My mother pulled the same stunt. She was at some fancy spa retreat with her lady friends in God knows where, and she abandoned her mud baths to race back here. But she's also dead set on meeting Stella, and I'm not sure that's going to end well for anyone involved." Adrian paced the room like a caged animal.

"What's your problem, Adrian? You might be a complete disaster, but your mother is lovely and I genuinely enjoyed her company." Stella's voice carried a sharp edge of irritation.

"The problem is my mother doesn't exactly have my back when it comes to my lifestyle choices." Adrian met her glare head-on.

"You don't help your own cause, you absolute man-whore!" Chloe's correction sent ripples of laughter through the room.

"Alright, but why are you all hiding from what sounds like a perfectly normal parent gathering?" Liam's question was reasonable enough.

"Normal? Liam, this isn't just a parent gathering. These people are the four horsemen of the apocalypse in human form! They've formed some kind of terrorist organization with a master plan to whip each and every one of us into shape." Noah's terror was so genuine it was almost endearing.

"Jasper might be laying it on a bit thick, but I'll be honest with you, even I was feeling the pressure from their coordinated attack." Felix's admission painted a clear picture of the chaos waiting outside.

"Felix, my mother tried to hand-feed me lunch because she thinks I'm wasting away! Look at me, do I look like I'm starving?" Noah gestured wildly at his clearly athletic build, his muscles evident even through his shirt.

"So how did you manage to break free from their clutches?" Liam leaned forward with genuine interest.

"Ah, my friend, I orchestrated a magnificent lunch spread in the main conference room." Owen revealed their escape strategy with the pride of a military tactician. "Thank whatever higher power exists that my parents and Thea's parents are safe in Houston and completely in the dark about this situation, or we'd have an even bigger invasion on our hands."

"Well, since the parent brigade is temporarily occupied with their feast, let's make the most of this brief window of freedom. Because I have a feeling they're going to be breathing down our necks for the rest of the week." My words triggered a chorus of horrified protests.

"Not a chance, Hazel. I'm already having the jet fueled up to ship the entire Crestwood delegation back where they came from." Damian's voice held the desperation of a man at his breaking point.

"And I've already booked my mother on a luxury senior cruise that'll keep her occupied and away from my personal life for at least a month." Adrian's complaint carried equal weight.

"Unfortunately for all of you, those plans are going to have to wait. We need every single one of them to stay put until Sunday, minimum." My serious tone cut through their protests.

"Have you completely lost your mind, Hazel! It took months of strategic planning to get my transfer approved specifically so my mother couldn't monitor my every breathing pattern. And now you want her camping out in my business until Sunday?" Noah's eyes were wide with disbelief.

"Listen, Hazel, I never thought I'd have to say this to you of all people, but it's going to be them or me! I can't survive much more of this!" Chloe's declaration was so dramatic I couldn't suppress my laughter.

"You're all being incredibly theatrical. But they're staying, and so are all of you." I paused for maximum effect.

"Come on, Hazel, you better have one hell of a convincing argument or I'm boarding that seniors cruise myself." Adrian's threat lacked conviction.

"You'd get thrown overboard for trying to seduce the grandmothers," Stella's jab at Adrian made him wince visibly. "So, Hazel, quit torturing us and spill. Why do they all have to stick around?"

"Because Liam and I are getting married this Saturday!" My announcement exploded through the room, followed immediately by cheers and applause that could probably be heard three floors down.

"Fantastic, you just startled my son awake. Easy there, Leo, it's just your completely insane godmother making noise." Liam's voice was gentle as he soothed our baby, who had jerked awake at the sudden commotion.

"Oh, sweet boy, godmommy is so sorry!" Chloe immediately swooped in to lift Leo from Liam's arms. "Back off, you overgrown child," she commanded Liam firmly when he attempted to protest losing his son.

"Finally! Welcome to the married club!" Thea practically bounced with excitement. "I was seriously considering asking Owen for a divorce just so I could experience being a girlfriend again."

"But why Saturday specifically?" Rachel's practical question cut through the celebration.

"Now there's someone who gets it!" Liam's grin was infectious. "I lobbied hard for today, but Hazel insists she needs a few days to pull everything together and find the perfect dress."

"My mind is already spinning with a thousand ideas!" Scarlett's eyes lit up with the fervor of someone who lived for event planning. "You're officially off work for the rest of the week, my friend. We're going to create a wedding that belongs in fairy tales. Right, ladies?" The chorus of agreement was immediate and enthusiastic.

"Perfect timing, because I already cleared your entire schedule." Stella's efficiency never ceased to amaze me.

"If you're looking for honeymoon suggestions, that seniors cruise is still available," Adrian's joke sent everyone into fresh peals of laughter.

These people were everything to me. They were the kind of friends who would drop everything at a moment's notice, who had become the family we had chosen to build together, bound by love rather than blood.

"But I need you all to keep this under wraps for now. I want to do this properly and ask Hazel's parents for their blessing. Owen, could you arrange a dinner?" Liam's traditional approach touched something deep in my heart.

"Liam, you don't have to go through all that formality." I reached for his hand.

"I absolutely do. I want to do right by your parents. Everything about this needs to be done the traditional way." His explanation was filled with conviction.

"Dinner tomorrow then, because today has already worn us all thin. And we'll all be there because I wouldn't miss this for the world." Owen's enthusiasm was contagious.

"We'll host it at my place," Damian immediately volunteered.

"Actually, no." I interrupted gently. "Let's have it at our house. What do you think, love?"

"I think it sounds absolutely perfect!" Liam's smile could have powered the entire building.

"But Hazel, that's a massive crowd. I know your apartment is spacious, but..." Owen's practical concern was valid.

"I'm not talking about the apartment. I mean the house that belonged to Liam's parents." My words created a moment of tension as everyone's eyes shifted to Liam with concern.

"We visited there Monday morning. That's where I want to build our life together and watch our children take their first steps." Liam's voice carried deep emotion.

"You actually went inside?" Damian's question acknowledged what everyone knew, that Liam had avoided that house for years. Liam's nod was firm.

"Then it's settled. You're going to have an engagement dinner worthy of royalty." Damian's declaration was final.

"But let us handle the dinner arrangements, boys." Thea's suggestion was met with immediate resistance.

"Absolutely not! You ladies get the entire wedding to orchestrate. The engagement dinner belongs to us men!" Owen's competitive spirit wouldn't accept any negotiation.

"Ladies, consider yourselves officially on vacation for the rest of the week." Adrian addressed Chloe, Scarlett, and Felix. "And clear my schedule too, Chl."

"Already handled that, you shameless player." Chloe had clearly embraced her new favorite nickname for Adrian.

Our peaceful moment was short-lived as the door burst open and the parent coalition streamed in, their worried faces scanning the room before they herded us toward the conference room where lunch was waiting. The brief respite was over, but somehow, with our wedding announcement still fresh in the air, even the prospect of managing our well-meaning but overwhelming parents seemed entirely manageable.