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4.52% Unexpected Romance: Love $ Hustle / Chapter 13: Last Target

Chương 13: Last Target

Hunter resumed unpacking, organizing his clothes and meticulously placing them in the guest room's closet which was nothing like his walk-in closet.

Looking around the bedroom, he chuckled seeing that the whole of the bedroom was the size of his walk-in closet at his house.

Thinking about how she had suggested that he was a gold digger made him even more amused.

As he folded the last of his trousers, his phone rang. Seeing Damon's name flash on the screen, he answered with a smile.

"Hey, man."

"Hey, you! How's your new home? Have you moved in yet? Or did she throw you out?" Damon's amused voice boomed through the phone.

Hunter chuckled, appreciating his friend's humor. "I've moved in. Still organizing my clothes," he replied, placing a neatly folded turtleneck sweater on the shelf.

Damon's laughter echoed through the line. "I still can't believe you're actually doing this."

Hunter chuckled. "Neither can I. But I'm committed now."

"I wish you good luck with that! Let's hope she doesn't murder you in your sleep," Damon said and they both laughed.

"She wouldn't. Besides, her sister is cool. I'm sure she won't let her murder me," Hunter said and Damon raised a brow.

"She has a sister? Is she a gold digger too? Perhaps it's a family business," Damon asked jokingly.

"Nah. I don't think so. She's a widow."

"That's too bad. By the way, how about going home for dinner as your grandmother requested?" Damon asked curiously.

"I can't go home. I will find time to go, but it can't be today," Hunter said, knowing his grandmother was just going to nag him some more about getting married.

As they chatted, Hunter heard a familiar voice in the background. "Daddy, can I have the pink juice?"

Hunter's smile widened, and his heart softened. "Is that Em I hear?"

"Yeah, it is," Damon said, a smile evident in his voice. "She's been a handful this morning. She's waiting for Sharon to pick her up," Damon said, the affection clear in his voice.

"Sharon's turn to pick her up, huh?" Hunter asked.

"Yeah," Damon confirmed. "She should be here any minute now."

"Can I say hello?" Hunter asked, leaning back against the bedpost, his organizing temporarily forgotten.

"Of course," Damon replied, "Em, guess who wants to say hello to you?" Damon called out to his six years old daughter.

"Mummy?" Hunter heard her ask.

"Who's your favorite person apart from mummy and daddy?" he asked and Hunter laughed when he heard her screech.

"Uncle Hunter!"

A moment later, Emily's cheerful voice came through.

"Hello, Uncle Hunter!"

"Hey, Sugarpie! How are you?" Hunter asked, his tone warm and friendly.

"I'm fine! I'm waiting for mummy to come get me," she said, her excitement palpable.

"Sounds like you're going to have a fun week. Make sure you give your mummy a big kiss from me when she gets there, okay?"

"I will!" Emily promised, giggling. "Will you get me a doll when you come?"

"I'd buy you an entire doll shop, darling…"

"No, you won't. She has too many dolls already. And you should stop spoiling someone else' daughter and get your own," Damon said and Hunter chuckled.

"Your daughter is mine too," Hunter called back.

"Bye, Uncle Hunter! Mummy is here!" Emily called out.

Hunter smiled, his mood lifted by the brief interaction. "Bye, Emily." He heard the phone shuffle back to Damon.

There was a brief pause, then the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. Damon said. "I've got to go. Take care of yourself, okay?"

"You too, Damon. Thanks for checking in," Hunter replied.

"Anytime," Damon said before hanging up.

Hunter placed his phone on the nightstand and returned to his task. As he was hanging the last of his shirts, there was a soft knock at the door.

"Come in," he called, and Jessica poked her head through the doorway.

"Breakfast is ready," she announced with a smile. "You should join us."

Hunter nodded, feeling a pang of hunger. "Thanks, Jessica. I will be right there."

Jessica flashed him a quick smile before disappearing back down the hallway. Hunter took a moment to smooth out the last of his shirts, then made his way out of the guest room and down the hall.

The dining room was bright and welcoming, the table was set with an array of breakfast foods – scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, fresh fruit, and a pot of steaming coffee. Jessica was already seated, pouring herself a cup.

"Smells great," Hunter remarked as he took a seat across from her.

"Thanks. Help yourself," Jessica said, gesturing to the spread.

Hunter filled his plate, grateful for the semblance of normalcy. As he took his first bite of scrambled eggs, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of belonging.

Despite the circumstances, there was something comforting about sharing a meal in this house, with Jessica's easygoing presence providing a balance to Delilah's icy demeanor.

"Isn't Lila joining us?" he asked, glancing around.

Jessica shrugged. "She will join us when she's ready. She's probably still trying to wrap her head around everything," Jessica said with a grin.

Hunter nodded, understanding. He couldn't blame Delilah for her reaction. It wasn't every day someone found themselves in a sudden, unexpected marriage.

"You really like her, don't you?" Jessica asked as they ate and Hunter met her gaze.

"Yes, I do," he said simply.

"And you are not here to cause any trouble for her, are you?" She asked again, her concern for her sister evident in her tone and eyes.

"Only good trouble," he said, and Jessica smiled.

"What sort of trouble is good?" She asked amused.

"I might make her fall for me and I trust she would consider that as trouble," he said, and she nodded.

"I approve of that sort of trouble as long as your intentions are good," Jessica said simply.

She was leaving in a week's time, and she really wanted to be sure that she wasn't leaving her sister alone with a psychopath or something close to it.

"So, what's your plan now that you're here?" Jessica asked, and Hunter shrugged.

"Get a job, win her heart, and live happily ever after," he said, and Jessica nodded.

"I can't help you with the getting a job part, but if you need my help in winning her heart, I'd be happy to render it," she said and Hunter looked at her with interest.

"You don't mind that I'd get in the way of her other business?" Hunter asked, and Jessica raised a brow.

"What other business?" She asked in confusion, and when Hunter cocked his head to the side as though he was waiting for her to figure it out, her eyes widened.

"You know about that?" She asked and he nodded.

"Yeah. She told me when we met."

"She told you that? She must have been pretty drunk. And you too. How drunk were you to have gone ahead to marry her?" Jessica asked, and he shrugged.

"I told you I like her. I meant it," he said, and Jessica smiled at him.

"I will definitely help you win her heart then. I'm on your side. And you don't have to worry about her job, she promised me that she will stop after this last one," Jessica said and he raised a brow.

"She said that?" Hunter asked with interest.

"Yes. And I believe her," Jessica said and Hunter grinned.

So, he was her last target? Interesting. He was very flattered.


Chương 14: Chloe’s Engagement

While Hunter had breakfast with Jessica, Delilah remained secluded in her bedroom, determined to limit her interactions with him to the barest necessity.

She paced back and forth, her mind churning with thoughts about the absurd situation she found herself in.

After a while, she heard the sound of Jessica's footsteps approaching. Jessica entered the room, a faint smile on her face, clearly in good spirits after the meal.

Delilah raised an eyebrow. "Where's my breakfast?"

Jessica flopped onto the bed, her smile widening. "You know the way to the kitchen, D. Go fix yourself something."

Delilah's curiosity got the better of her. "Where is he?"

Jessica's eyes twinkled with mischief. "By 'he,' I suppose you mean your husband? He's in his room. The coast is clear."

Relieved, Delilah headed for the door, her stomach growling. She hesitated, though, when Jessica's voice called after her.

"Your husband left your breakfast in the oven," Jessica informed her, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Without bothering to respond to her, Delilah made her way down the hall, her steps slowing as she passed Hunter's bedroom.

She stopped and pressed her ear against the door, straining to hear any sign of activity. A part of her hoped she would hear him on the phone plotting against her so she would know what he was up to.

Silence met her inquisitive efforts. With a soft sigh of resignation, she continued to the kitchen.

She retrieved her breakfast from the oven and returned to her bedroom with it, determined to maintain her distance from Hunter.

She spent the rest of the day holed up in her room, avoiding any chance of running into him. Her mind raced with plans and counterplans, all focused on regaining control of her life.

As she prepared for bed that night, she made a mental note to contact Mark to research the legalities of the marriage document Blake had shown her.

She also made a mental note to find a way to get Hunter's picture so she could send it to Mark. Despite agreeing to let him stay for six months, she knew she needed to explore her options and secure her future. One drunken night wouldn't define her life.

The next morning, Delilah woke early, her mind clearer than it had been since Blake mysteriously showed up in her life.

She glanced at Jessica, who was still soundly asleep beside her, and smiled at the memory of Jessica's laughter the previous day.

It had been too long since Jessica had been so amused, and as much as she hated the situation, she was happy to know that Jessica still had it in her to laugh. Delilah was glad to see her sister's spirits lifted.

She reached out and gently brushed Jessica's hair away from her face, a tender gesture that spoke volumes about their bond.

Delilah had a plan now, and she was ready to face whatever came her way. She would support Jessica in her new job and figure out how to handle Blake.

One step at a time, she would reclaim her life, Delilah told herself as she got out of bed and set out to get ready for work.

After showering, she felt a renewed sense of determination. She was Delilah Sterling, a woman who had built her life from the ground up, and she wouldn't let anyone take that away from her.

By the time she got out of the bathroom, Jessica was no longer in bed. Delilah wasn't exactly surprised by it since Jessica had made a habit of waking up early to fix her breakfast every morning.

On numerous occasions she had asked Jessica to stop bothering herself doing that, but Jessica insisted it was more out of habit than devotion, since she had done that for her husband everyday until he died.

After dressing up, Delilah paused in front of the mirror, inspecting her reflection. She was dressed in a beige colored tailored blazer over a white silk blouse, paired with fitted black trousers and beige colored stiletto.

Her look was stylish and commanding, the perfect armor for the day ahead, she mused as she walked out of the room and headed for the dining.

She scowled when she heard the masculine laughter coming from the dining room before she got there. She had hoped he would still be very much asleep, giving her some more time to avoid him.

Well, it was just as good that he was at the dining. She knew she couldn't avoid him forever, and she needed his picture so she could send it to Mark.

Taking a deep breath, she walked into the dining room. Hunter's eyes met hers, and he greeted her pleasantly. "Good morning, Lila."

"Good morning." Delilah gave him a curt nod as she took her seat beside Jessica and she helped herself to some fruit.

Jessica glanced between them, a mischievous glint in her eye. "So, what's the plan for today?" she asked, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

Hunter shrugged, his demeanor relaxed. "I was thinking of looking for a job. I need to start earning my keep around here."

Delilah's nodded, her voice cool and detached. "Good. You can also start by not getting too comfortable. Remember, this is a temporary arrangement."

Hunter met her eyes and nodded, his tone serious. "Understood."

"So, what kind of job are you looking to get?" Jessica asked, conversationally since she wanted to know him better.

"Anything with decent pay…"

"Is that the name of a title in a company? Anything with decent pay is nothing. Do you even have a degree?" Delilah cut in.

Jessica, ever the peacemaker, shook her head, "C'mon, D. Can you not talk to him in that manner?"

"What manner? I wasn't being rude. I was only stating a fact and asking him a question. Do you have a degree?" Delilah asked, and Hunter nodded.

"Yeah. I do. I studied Business management," Hunter said easily, and before either Delilah or Jessica could comment on that, Jessica's phone rang out.

She glanced at the screen and smiled when she saw it was her best friend. "It's Kate," she told Delilah, quickly answering the call. "Hey! Good morning."

Hunter and Delilah glanced curiously at Jessica as the smile on her face disappeared and she listened intently to her friend on the other end.

Jessica's eyes grew wide, her mouth forming a perfect 'O' of astonishment. "You're kidding me!" she exclaimed. "I can't believe it!"

Delilah couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. "What happened, Jess?" She asked when Jessica finally hung up.

Jessica turned to her. "Dad reached out to…" she stopped abruptly when Delilah shot her a look, reminding her that Hunter was a stranger.

Hunter pretended not to notice what the exchange between them even though it made him wonder who Jessica was referring to as Dad, when they were both supposed to be orphans.

"Chloe got engaged last night," Jessica said, referring to their half-sister.

Delilah rolled her eyes, her tone dripping with disdain. "Who is the idiot that would want to marry a shallow-minded person like Chloe?" She asked Jessica who was busy on her phone scrolling through news updates.

"The idiot's name is Hunter Quinn," Jessica said turning her phone's screen so Delilah would see the headline.

Hunter, in the midst of taking a sip of his coffee, choked, sputtering as the hot liquid went down the wrong way.


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