More, Please(23)

As she let herself into Hunter’s office, I couldn’t help but reflect on the situation. Hunter was sneaky and extremely intelligent, but Rodge was those things as well as being cunning and malicious. If it came to a battle between father and son, I had a feeling the father would win. Rodge would be holding a grudge, since Hunter had secured the takeover from Bruce. He wouldn’t want Hunter to have another victory.



Two hours later, the door to Hunter’s office opened in a swirl of anger and perfume. Blaire stormed out, heels punching the floor with each step. She paused in front of my desk, beautiful despite her red face and lips pressed together in anger. Her nostrils flared as they stared down at me. “You won’t win. I’ll make sure of it!”

I stared up at her, trying to keep my face blank and composed, as the man with her laid a hand on her shoulder.

She shook him off, staring down at me in rage for another moment, before turning and stomping off toward the elevator.

“Spoiled little brat,” Brenda said when Blaire was out of earshot.

I couldn’t help a small smile. “She didn’t get her way, I take it?”

“Not at all,” she said in a whisper. “It’s exactly as I said earlier. She has not got a leg to stand on. Plus, get this…”

Brenda moved to the front of my desk, glancing at Hunter’s open door for a moment. She lowered her voice even more. “Her dad cut her off. Well, kind of. She gets an allowance, but her trust fund has almost dried up. She needs to marry rich, but word’s gotten around of how crazy she is. Her dad won’t give her another penny, and he doesn’t care about the contract with Hunter because the business with Rodge has also dried up. Not a leg to stand on…”

Brenda turned up her nose with a smile, tapping my desk. “Serves her right.”

“But Hunter still has to go through Rodge.”

Brenda shrugged as she made her way to her desk. “He’ll figure it out.”



At the end of the day, I shut down my computer and lugged myself into Hunter’s office. He was turned toward the large wall of windows behind him, looking out on the sunset.

“You okay?” I asked quietly, stopping by his desk.

“Come here, Olivia.”

I walked around his chair and paused by his knee, looking down on him. He took my hand and pulled gently, placing me on his lap. I leaned against his chest, running my thumb along the stubble of his chin.

“Blaire wear you out today?”

His arm came around my waist. “No. If anything, that was a victory.”

“Brenda said your dad was standing in the way of you getting out of the contract.”

Hunter’s hand rubbed up my back and around to my collar line. Deftly, he undid the first button. “Yes. He is. He’s given his requirements for releasing me from the contract without messy litigation.”

My next button popped open. His hand trailed down my middle.

“What’s that?” I asked as my breath sped up.

Hunter opened another button. Then the last. He pushed my blouse open, exposing my see-through, black, lacy bra. His lips softly met my neck as his hand cupped my breast. It seemed he didn’t plan to answer me.

“Hunter,” I said.

I barely heard his release of breath. His hand fell to my knee. “He wants to take you on a date.”

I stiffened.

“He wants a date, and he wants to take you home and spend the night with you.” Hunter leaned his forehead against my chin. “He wants this because he knows I would never allow it. He wants to tarnish you in my eyes.”

I struggled to find my voice. “What happens if you say no?”

“I fight the contract, of course. In truth, I’ll stand to lose a lot of my wealth. I don’t care about giving my inheritance back, but he worked a lot of damages into the contract. It’s like he knew this would happen. I’m only telling you because I don’t want you hearing it from Blaire or my father.”

“He wanted the upper hand regardless of your decision…”

“Yes. He’s always been one for strategy.”

“How long will you have to be married to Blaire?”

Hunter shook his head, putting his hand to my jaw softly. He looked up at me, his eyes soft. “I won’t marry her. And I won’t give you to my father. I’ll fight it. Fortunes can always be rebuilt.”

Tears came to my eyes. “I can’t let you do that for me, Hunter. I won’t sleep with Rodge, but I won’t be the reason you lose everything, either.”

“Shhh.” Hunter pulled my head down, brushing his lips against mine. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll figure it out. You’re mine—I won’t give you up. And I won’t make a fool out of you by marrying Blaire and keeping you as a mistress. You’re better than that. You’re better than me and my fucked-up life. I’ll fix this somehow, Livy.”