Five o'clock, the time read on the silver rectangular alarm clock. Hunter touched the surface of the clock. It immediately sensed the motion and stopped ringing. Rebecca had set his alarm for six o’clock, but he had changed it to an hour earlier. He sat up on his bed and reached down to grab his backpack. He had set everything in line with Rebecca yesterday at his place, now he could start focusing on why he was here. He pulled out his laptop and returned the bag to the floor against his bedside table. It was still attached to the device he had gotten from Four Eyes. He opened his laptop slowly and sections of the mansion came to life. He could see the kitchen. The cooks, chef, cleaners, and people washing dishes all looked like a colony of ants, all up early to have breakfast ready by six for Rob Holland and his wife before they left for work. All these people just for breakfast for three? Hunter looked at the hallways of the mansion. Compared to the busy kitchen, the hallways were li
With his hand on the door handle of Rob Holland's office door, Hunter looked down the corridor and then shut his eyes as he turned the door handle. It was open. Hunter stepped in. He left the door ajar. There was no one in the office. He looked around with his eyes for any cameras. There was none. He then looked over at the safe, it's red light on. He saw the keypad, waiting for a combination. All this he did in less than fifteen seconds and without stepping far from the entrance. He then touched the door handle of the office door and as he was about to step out, he came face to face with one of the bodyguards. “What are you doing in Mister Holland's office?” The man, gruff, asked him. “I came to look for sir and realized that he's not in, that's why I'm leaving.” Hunter answered back as casually as he could. “At five in the morning?” The man took a quick glance at his watch. “What's your name again?” “How long have you worked here?” Hunter asked him. “Hey, I'm asking the ques
Knock, knock! Hunter and Rebecca quickly stumbled to their feet as Hunter's room door opened. “Stay in there.” Hunter whispered quickly as he stepped out of the closet. Chloe was stepping into his room as he was closing the closet doors. She tilted her head curiously to get a look before Hunter closed the doors. “What are you doing in the closet?” Hunter shook his head as he walked towards her to take the tray of food. “Just looking for something to wear.” As he took the tray from her hands, Chloe's eyes lingered at his half-naked body. “Thank you, Chloe.” He said as he placed the tray on his bedside table. “You're welcome.” As soon as he turned back to face her, she looked away, but not in time because Hunter caught her watching him. “You work out?” She asked him as she tucked invisible hair behind her ear. “Uh... Actually, not anymore. But I'm trying to get back at it.” “We have a gym at Pink Haven,” She smiled at him. “I'm not really a gym person but if you want,
Hunter already knew how he'd get the two million dollars. He just had to pray and hope that Chloe wouldn't mess his plan up. He also had to make sure that he executed this precise plan on no other day but Sunday. That would be the only way that it would work out. Otherwise, he would get caught, someway. Today was Friday and he would waste no time, so he'd be executing the plan in two days. He's room door swung open. It was Becca standing at the door. Hunter looked at the time on the alarm clock. It was a minute past midnight. “Yes?” He asked her, looking from her pointy boots to her mini skirt and then the long-sleeved tube top she was wearing. “Let's go.” “Where to?” Hunter asked with a frown. “Are you insane? Look at the time.” She didn't have make up on, that only meant one thing— she was going somewhere she didn't want to be recognized. But this late? “Hey, I'm your boss. If I say, 'let's go' then we let's go.” She sounded nasty. Hunter sighed heavily and looked at the t
It was exactly five in the morning when Hunter's cell phone rang. He twisted in his sleep a few times, choosing to ignore his default ringtone which had come with the phone. He was worn out from last night. He let the phone ring on, hoping it was not her trying to go somewhere so early after coming home past three this morning. The ring tone eventually stopped. With his eyes still shut and him still under the duvet, Hunter cussed and turned. He knew he had to check his phone. He had to return her call. What was he thinking? He wasn't on vacation somewhere; this was a job. A twenty-four-hour job. “Shit...” He moaned, extracting only his hand from under the duvet and trying to feel for his phone on the bedside table. It began ringing again. The tips of his fingers finally found it. He grabbed his phone and brought it under the covers. He had to quickly shut his eyes as the bright light from the phone glared into his sleepy eyes. After a few seconds he opened them again, this time makin
Picture a child's face when you tell them you're taking them to the toy store and that they'll be allowed to choose and take whatever they want to and as much as they want to. Do you see those wide eyes? The raised eyebrows and huge smile? The smile with their mouth open and you can see their moist tongue. Now see their face fall apart slowly when you tell them that you've changed your mind and will no longer be taking them. First, they have that in-between expression, when they are not really sure whether you're just kidding, or you really mean it. And then after a while they finally start to see that you're not budging and is in fact serious. And then the tantrum begins. That was Rebecca's face when she saw what was going on. After a late night out and binge drinking those shots with Rita, Rebecca had thought she could wake up at six and hit the gym like she did four times a week. When she woke up with her head feeling like someone had hit her on the head with a sledgehammer while
Without touching it, he could tell that the scrambled egg was now cold. Don't even talk about the coffee. Then again, his tray of food had been sitting there for nearly two hours. He didn't feel like eating. He's mind was too troubled. Growing up, he was used to eating no matter what he was feeling because he wouldn't know if he'd get the next meal. He couldn't remember the exact words he said to her. How bad they were, but he just felt it deep down that he might have crossed the line. He wasn't even mad about the slap anymore, he just wanted to ask for forgiveness for the things he said. He wanted to, but he couldn't. Apologizing had never really sat well with him. He always felt that apologizing was for the weak. He believed that if you do something, own it to the end even if you feel bad about it later. When you said it, you meant it. But this was about Rebecca... not some random person, the only thing that felt right was to apologise. He's room phone began ringing. He picked up,
“Joe, I've been waiting here for ten minutes already.” “Bro, you sent me an address and when I was halfway there, you sent a new address.” Joe answered. “Not my fault.” “Not my fault either. Things changed.” Hunter answered. “How far are you?” “I'm pulling into the parking now.” “I'm parked fifth left from the hotel doors.” “Alright, now now.” “Cool. Hurry.” Hunter cut the call and then wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. It was so hot in the car. He couldn't believe that he was really sitting here while Rebecca was in there having breakfast with this guy. He shook his head and bit his bottom lip. He was trying very hard not to think about Allen's flirtatious conversations and cocky smile, but he kept finding himself playing out the possible scenarios that were happening in there. Obviously, Rebecca was laughing hard at all Allen's boring jokes and just to really get back at him for Chloe she was probably throwing in physical contact too. And obviously Allen was enjoy
"Rebecca?" Elizabeth asked. "Are you okay?" Hunter asked her. She looked mortified but managed to nodd her head. Sylvester took a few steps back and then was caught before he fell backwards. "Sir, are you okay?" One of his men asked him. Sylvester grunted. "I... am shot." He dropped the gun to the floor. The wound was on his left upper arm and was bleeding profusely. Rebecca's palms flung to cover her mouth as she watched the guards rush to provide Sylvester with medical attention. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..." Rebecca was shaking. Hunter came to hug her. "It's okay, you didn't pull the trigger, he did." "But still—" "Let's get out of here." Hunter placed an arm around her and they quickely made for the gate. "Rebecca!" Elizabeth was crying behind them. "Get in, get in." Hunter opened the car door for her and then shut it. He could see cars approaching in high speed. "Shit..." There was only one way out of here, and it was the same way the cars were coming, the othe
Sylvester took out his phone and phoned Angelo. It rang and rang. Sylvester thought it would go to voicemail but then he picked up."Hello?" It was a female."Who is this?""You called me, who are you?""I got this number from the card at the reception. Is this not Angelo's gym?""This is Better Life Gym." She responded."Exactly." Sylvester said. "Can you get Angelo on the phone.""I don't know who that is, sir.""Cut the crap lady. I was there yesterday with Rob Holland, the billionaire. Remember me? And then we went down to basement to Angelo. Can you just pass him the phone.""Would you like to know about our membership packages?""Tell Angelo it's about Hunter King."The lady stayed quiet for a while and then sighed. "Hold on."Music started playing on the other side of the line."Shit..." Sylvester said in annoyance. He watched the guards dragging Hunter to the side building."Hello?" At last it was Angelo."It's Sylvester, head of security for Rob Holland and—""Get to the poin
"I guess there's no talking you out of this?" Joe asked. "Like she said, you're so damn stubborn. Really. Gosh!"They were sitting on the edge of bonnet of Fred's car.Hunter looked off into the pitch dark forest. "I don't have a choice, Joe." He whispered. "Look how we're living. Doing this gets all of you immunity.""Maybe there's another way." He placed a hand on Hunter's shoulder."What way?"Joe stared back at him desperately, the desperation was reflected back. "Uh... I don't know."Hunter's face fell and he looked the other way."But we can work something out together. Let's just tell your dad and I am sure he will work something out.""If he had a sollution, we wouldn't have spent almost a week in this cabin. The guy's been in hiding himself for how many years? From the very same person. It's hopeless Joe.""No—""This is the only way.""Getting yourself killed, really? That's the best you could come up with?" Joe scracthed his head roughly. "Maybe we can get money. Like milli
Hunter laid topless on their bed, facing the ceiling. He and Rebecca had just made love and she was now sleeping on top of his chest. "What are you thinking about?" She asked him. He smiled. "Nothing." "You sure?" She looked up at him. "Not thinking about 'sending me back to the palace'?" He frowned and then looked at her. "You were eavesdropping?" "I didn't intent to, but the walls of this cabin aren't that thick. I can hear George snoring right now." "Sorry if it sounded rough." He responded. "Sorry if it looks like I'm getting tired of always being locked up." Hunter scoffed. "Are you being sarcastic?" "Do you remember what you told me while we were still at the warehouse?" "What?" "You said that when everything was over, we'd live a normal life. That you'd stop that work and we'd be together like normal people." "Yeah..." "Well, you left your work, but I just want to know when we will be able to live like normal people again." Hunter sighed. "As soon as your dad pay
"We're not stabbing that man in the back." Rob said as he entered the passenger side of his all black SUV."You know, I don't get it, sir." Sylvester responded. "You're gonna keep choosing Hunter, even if it's over your daughter?" "I am not choosing him over Rebecca, I am trying to protect them both." Rob stood his ground. "Protecting him is not gonna get us far, sir."Rob thought for a few seconds and then responded. "I am not leaving him out to dry. He doesn't deserve it.""He's the reason we're in this mess in the first place. He kidnapped miss Rebecca." Sylvester started the car. "With all due respect, I think you're forgetting that.""You know, you keep saying 'with all due respect' but don't seem to be giving me any. I said we are not turning on Hunter and you should respect that.""My job is to protect your family. I wake up every morning and devote my life to you and your family, sir."Rob sighed and then pinched the space between his eyes and lowered his head. "I know, I kn
"Don't ever look for me because you will never find me. Take care of yours and I will take care of mine. Bye forever." That was the note that had come with the baby.Although George didn't understand the second sentence, he placed the note on their coffee table and took the wailing baby out of Stella's hands. It was his first time carrying a baby, and he feared holding him too tight or not holding him firm enough and drop him. As he tried to craddle the baby, his heart pounded. The baby had light brown skin and not much head hair. His mouth was pink and his wails were woarse."Shh shhh..." George tried walking around the room trying to sooth it. "Is it a boy or a girl?" He asked his mother."It's a boy." George looked at the baby's face and fell in love. "But how could she just leave you like that, little guy?" He asked."Because she's crazy that's why." Stella responded. "She knows you're studying full time and I am working full time. How are we gonna take care
Nathan had his forearms on the bar. "What can I get for you?" Bella said, bringing her arms to the counter, leaving just a small gap between their faces. "Bring me whatever you gonna have." Nathan gave her a smirk and handed her the money. She gave him a flirtatious smile and went away to get him something. When she came back she passed him their strongest whiskey. "Is that all you got for yourself?" He asked her. She raised the shot she had in her other hand. "Unfortunately, I'm on the clock. Cheers." She then drank up and was about to walk away but he grabbed her arm over the counter. "I just have a question." He said. "The girl that was working here before you, Rhita. Do you know where I can find her?" "Stop flirting with the customers and move on, Bella." Her boss yelled from the other side. She rolled her eyes at him. "I am not flirting with nobody!" She yelled back and then turned to Nathan as he let her hand go. "You just said she worked here before me. Don't
"It's almost 3 days since that little imbecile screwed us over, finding him can't be that fucking hard." Angelo was addressing Nathan and Sean. "The guy is a ghost, man, no social media, no family we can link him to, no girlfriend, well he took his girlfriend with him..." Nathan responded. "And friends..." Sean added. "Exactly. We can't track his phone because it's not on." Nathan shrugged. "What about his friends' phones?" Angelo enquired. "Joe's phone has been off too. They obviously ditched their phones." Sean said. "And the gay one?" Angelo asked. Nathan and Sean exchanged looks. "We don't have her number, bro." Sean replied. "Yeah." Nathan agreed. Angelo's top lip curved upwards. "You don't have her number? So that's why we don't find Hunter, that's why we just let it go and move on?" "How else are we gonna track her without knowing her number?" Sean asked. Angelo flung the back of his hand against Sean's jaw. Sean tumbled backwards and fell on top of Angelo's glass t
After sitting in silence, Walker began getting up. "You know, you would think that after all these years, talking about this would be easy but..." Hunter watched him slide his hands in his pockets and face away. Hunter didn't pressure him, he sat there waiting for Walker to continue the story. A few seconds later, "My mom convinced me that the best thing to do was to run away. To go live with my aunt in another town until the company considered my request to pay for my accomodation at the student residence." Walker took a long pause. "And I did. I was a scared boy who had just managed to get into his dream school, studying his dream career. "So you did the one thing Delilah said you'd do?" "Although we dated for about 5 years before that, I knew that in the eyes of the law, she was still a minor and I could get locked up if her father reported me. So I left. I didn't tell her anything. I just disappeared. "Living at the student accomodation, was all a 20 year old could ask for.