Hairpin

Out of all the moments for Denzel to go on the vacation he had been planning for, it had to be the moment I got dragged into a legal battle. 

Lena was getting ready to sue me and all I had to think about was the right color of bathing suit that would match my polished nails as I took a swim at the large pool behind the house. I was insane. But I'd blame Denzel who prepared all this. 

We were in his aunt's house. Another paradise on its own. Funny enough, his aunt wasn't related to the family. She was his high school teacher who he grew fond of. The way his eyes glowed whenever she wanted to have a conversation with him, confirmed how much he valued her. The teacher had retired and had her ten-year-old granddaughter running around the house whenever she visited. This side of the world was peaceful. I saw life in its purest form every morning I woke up from my bedroom. I saw a lot of smiles, received a lot of care, and of course, the amazing French accent I heard all around me. 

I didn't want to go home. I wanted to hide here some more like a coward. That was my latest nickname on social media platforms. We eventually had to leave after six days. Denzel had been summoned a million times by his precious mother, Mrs. Raven whom I guess must be thinking I ran away with his son.

Denzel decided to return to our lives but I knew he wasn't going because of his mother. He must have lost his peace of mind just sitting here and receiving calls from his company and friends. 

We were back at Denzel's house the next day. He got dressed and left for a meeting right before lunch was ready. I had a lot to say but my throat hitched when he grabbed his car keys and walked out of the door after assuring me he wouldn't take long. 

I confirmed that the paparazzi were gone snooping around the house before I could be prepared to leave the house as well. I had to partner with someone — an informant who won't throw money around thinking it has completely solved the problem like Denzel does. I needed someone who would know the ropes around such a situation without being asked twice. 

And like a sheep who enjoys being fooled, I went to speak to the wolf unguarded and without a calculated motive.

Hunter was that wolf. A smart wolf who has kept quiet all this while like he is the mastermind waiting for my downfall. 

I had to ask lots of questions before finding him a his friend's tattoo shop. I was told he was there but I was reluctant to go in. I stood outside remembering what happened the last time I saw him. 

When the door finally opened and a couple of teenagers walked out with murmuring noises here and there, I stole the opportunity and went in right after them.

"Next!" I heard Hunter yell as he took off the gloves he was wearing. He turned around almost immediately and a proud smile stretched on his lips. I gulped. 

"Hey, future sister-in-law. What design would you like for today? Has France inspired you this season?" He asked standing in front of me.

Great. He knows we were in France. I can't tell if he wished he had come with us or if he's just happy I wasn't here.

I looked around. 

"This isn't your shop. Where is the owner? I mean your friends." I quipped still searching with my eyes.

"Oh, you stalked me. You keep surprising me, Sheldon." 

I rolled my eyes before sitting on one of the chairs.  

"I don't have time for this. I'll go straight to the point. I need your assistance—" 

"Does Denzel know you are here?" 

"What? Why does that matter? I can do whatever I want as a mature adult." I blurted. 

"Ah, so he doesn't know. Why did you keep your beloved in the dark, if I may ask?" He queried, deriving joy in my pain.

"Enough of the tease, Hunter. I am here for serious business. Acting all smart won't help." 

He exhaled with an impact that my nostrils felt the warmth. I drew my head up to stare at his eyes. 

"Before you go on, I want you to remember you came here on your own. Without me coercing you or anything like that." That statement felt strange coming from him. He usually wouldn't care to clarify the situation.

"Don't tell me you're scared of helping me. It's not like I'm asking you to do something really bad. I just want you to help me get the source of this mess I am in. You must know something." 

He shuddered, flexing his muscles in the process. 

"I don't know anything about what happened. I've been too busy spending my aunt's money." He hissed.

"Hunter..." I shrieked, rising from the chair. I placed my hands on his shoulders. "Please, help me. I don't want this issue to drag on for much longer. I don't know what else to do." 

"What else can I help with when Denzel has you covered?" 

"I want to pull down all the photos and blog posts. Anything that has to do with Lena and me." 

He gave me a bored gaze. I immediately had the feeling that it couldn't be done. 

"It's too late for that. Besides, Denzel already tried. He can't afford to erase people's minds, can he?" He replied.

"Then, we have to find the truth. I need you to identify the person who dragged Lena's dress on purpose. I have one thing that belongs to that person. I saw it on the ground." I replied and brought out the hairpin. "We can trace where it is from, which store sold it, and how old it is." 

"No need for that long process. This is familiar—" 

The doors to the shop opened and shut within a second. He followed me. Well, that makes my mission a lot easier to fulfill.

"Time to go, Sheldon." A cold voice followed. I slowly looked toward my right to see Denzel glaring daggers at us. 

"Like I said, you first came to me. Remember that while you go home with him, it'll make your explanation easier." Hunter muttered only to my hearing. I couldn't stop the smile on my lips from blooming. 

"Denzel, my love! Guess what I found out?" 

"Sheldon, this is the last place I expected to find you in. We have a difficult situation at hand and you think meeting Hunter behind my back is a good idea?" Denzel said when I stood before him.

"He knows something," I whispered, and holding his right hand, I led him to Hunter. I was expecting him to act reluctant but he was stiff. "On the night of the incident, I found this hairpin on the floor right after the suspect escaped. Hunter says it looks familiar. He might know the owner." 

"Yeah, right..." Denzel breathed out. 

"You can go on..." I gestured to Hunter. 

"I saw it on one of the new house cleaner's hair. She was the only one without a black band on their ponytail." He replied. 

"We have a dozen staff around the house. How are you so attentive that you note this detail?" Denzel questioned with a lack of belief in his voice.

"Well, if you must know, we spent several nights together before the party—" 

"Ew! You didn't have to tell us that part, you man whore." I shrieked out. 

Denzel made the disgusted look on his face very clear. 

"So, you know the woman who exposed Lena. That's great, where has she been all this time? In your apartment?" 

"Haven't seen her since," Hunter replied, reaching for his phone on a table. "I'll make calls and find out where she is. We have a lot to talk about anyway..." 

I felt like throwing up. Hunter was insane. 

Denzel wrapped an arm across my shoulders and pulled me toward the extreme, away from the third party.

"You have a lot of apology to render for being alone with that human." He whispered in my ear.

"I had a good intention." I defended.

"It wouldn't kill you to consult me first." 

"The both of you don't get along. I knew you would turn down my idea." 

"Actually, you're right." 

Hunter's voice overshadowed my soft laugh. 

"I got it. She's in Tokyo." 

"Tokyo?!" 

"Yes. She sneaked off without dropping a resignation letter. Her things are still in her room as we speak." He added, putting the hairpin in his pocket. 

Denzel slowly shifted as he answered a phone call. 

"I have a meeting to attend. What do we do about this?" He said returning to us.

"I'm going to Tokyo. I want to meet her." I confidently replied.

"I'm going with you, in case there's any danger." Hunter chipped in. I felt myself being glad he wanted to come along.

"Danger? Well, then I'll come along too. I'll keep you safe." Denzel stated holding my hand.

"No, Denzel. You have tons of work to do. Let me do this. I promise we'll be back soon and I'll be fine." I said, hoping to convince him.

"Alright, then. If that's what you want." He threw it from the corner of his lips.

"Nothing will go wrong, I promise," Hunter assured him.

Denzel rolled his eyes and holding onto me, he led us out of the building.