Hunter reawakened series, p.2
Hunter: Reawakened Series, page 2
His father is now red in the face and looking at his son as though it pains him. I have to admit, I’d be giving him much the same look if he were my kid.
“The trouble is, Trent,” Theo tries to open dialogue with the man himself, “you’re not considered the trendy, young kid-man anymore. You are now in the age bracket where you need to play more serious roles if you want to make the kind of money you’ve been used to. You and I are the same age and yet I dress in a suit for a meeting; you wear some fucked up outfit that would look ridiculous on anyone.” Trent frowns at my business partner, but pretty much continues to look like he’s at home watching Netflix. “Now, you take me, and you take you; which of us looks more befitting for a male lead in say, a rom-com? A thriller? Or a period drama?”
Trent pauses, as if trying to make sense of what has so obviously been put before him, then sighs and throws his sunglasses across the table. I can’t keep the grimace from off my face when I see the state of his eyes, which are dark and hollow from a late night out. He runs his hands down his face before he eventually removes his boot from the table and slides upward in his seat. With no words of understanding forthcoming, Theo eventually decides to continue.
“Put that together with the headlines you get on a weekly basis, and you don’t seem all that attractive to directors anymore,” Theo says bluntly. “But you are known for your acting talents, and you do have the potential for leading roles because of how you look.”
“You hitting on me?” Trent finally manages to utter something, not that it is at all useful. He smiles over his own bad attempt at humor at the same time as his father slaps his hand on top of my mother’s antique table in a fit of frustration.
“Trent, for the love of God, grow the fuck up!”
“Fine,” Trent sighs in such a way, you can tell he’s used to these outbursts. “What would you have me do? I’ve just been through rehab so I’m not doing that any time soon.”
“Daniel?” Theo turns to me and offers a smile I’d like to punch. He knows this is going to be a headache and a half, so of course he’s handing it over to me.
Shaking my head, I slowly turn to face Trent so I can properly size him up. I remain silent while thinking over the options. He widens his eyes, trying to prompt me to say something, but I say nothing. I can act just as bored as he can. In fact, I look him over like I’m trying to work out if he’s worth my time at all, which eventually makes him squirm a little. I guess this is why Theo likes to put me with turds like him. I can turn my impatience into a source of intimidation for my weak-willed clients.
“Well? You gonna say anything?” Trent eventually snaps.
I take my time to reply, leaning back in my chair and steepling my fingers together before I eventually look at his father. I choose to address him instead of the guy who couldn’t be bothered to behave at all professionally at a business meeting.
“I’m thinking…an engagement?” I turn to Theo who raises his brow while Trent scoffs over my suggestion. Of course, I ignore Trent’s reaction and address the grownups in the room instead. “With the right girl, he can tidy up his reputation, and portray the serious, romantic gentleman that directors want, as well as charm the female population back into lusting after him. Of course, there will need to be a complete style overhaul,” I add as I gesture to his ridiculous outfit.
“Fuck you!” Trent laughs. “I get enough pussy without you getting involved with what I wear and shit. And I don’t need you fixing me up with some virgin!”
“Trent, I swear to God if you don’t cut this crap out, your mother and I are cutting you off,” his father threatens. “We have your last few million tied up in trust. If you don’t pull your head out of your ass and at least make some sort of effort here, then it stays tied up. Do you understand me, boy?”
“That’s my fucking money!” Trent shouts, all the while Theo and I sit back and let the show unfold. Even RIP rolls his eyes, which can only mean this argument is a common occurrence.
“That it is, Trent, but unless your mother and I sign for it, there is little you can do, so pipe down and do as you’re fucking told!”
Trent slams his hands on top of the table in anger before glaring at me like I just pissed on his punk boots.
“Fine, I’ll find one of my regulars and get engaged, happy?” he concedes through clenched teeth.
“No,” I reply matter of factly, “leave the girl to us. I can’t imagine anyone who agrees to sleep with you in your current state, being the type of woman we’re looking for.”
“Who are you thinking of?” Theo asks me, bypassing Trent and his father. The truth is I don’t know yet, but give me time and I’m sure I can find someone to have a fake engagement with an A-list celebrity.
“Mr Chase, Mr Hunter, I’m so sorry I’m late. What would you like me to do?” Louisa enters the meeting room as quiet as a mouse. Bingo!
Chapter 2
Daniel
Louisa Flynn is an enigma.
A girl in her early to mid-twenties who dresses every day for work like she’s about to attend a retired lady’s tea afternoon. She always, without fail, tucks her hair into a tight bun; I couldn’t even tell you if her hair is short, long, or a clip-on. Her glasses look like a pair she borrowed from her grandmother. They’re huge, square, and decorated in a nice chintzy pattern to go with her long, floral skirts and oversized shirts. And if that ensemble wasn’t ugly enough, her cardigans look like something my grandfather used to wear. If she dressed her age, I’m sure she’d have a line of men following her to the office, however, the way she presents herself screams, ‘Keep far away!’
Her personality pretty much matches her exterior. She’s quiet, meek, and mild; nothing is too much for her to do and she is always polite and kind to everyone, even charmless imbeciles like Trent. All our employees like her, but much like me, they can’t really work her out. I don’t know anything about her personal life, but I’d be very surprised if she ever ventured out. Though, in terms of her professionalism, I can’t fault her at all.
All of this makes her the perfect candidate for Trent Matthew’s fake fiancée. If anything, she might need to vamp up a little, but otherwise, she’s our girl. With her tinkering about in the kitchenette, I begin picturing how we can sell this new image of Trent and Louisa to the press, as well as potential directors. She serves our drinks and I smile at Theo; he already knows what’s going through my head, which he shows by shaking his head.
Trent eyes the both of us during this little exchange and turns to study Louisa in more detail. He then glances back at me, and I nod. His eyes burst open over the realization of what I am silently suggesting, and when I turn my head a fraction to the side, which more than confirms my intention, his mouth drops open in horror.
“No fucking way!” he cries out. “I ain’t pretending to be hooked up with that,” he snaps, now gesturing to Louisa.
At his outburst, poor Louisa looks at Trent like he’s some sort of escaped mental patient from a cheesy horror flick.
“Louisa?” I ask politely, completely ignoring Trent’s inability to see past obvious appearances. “Would you mind taking a seat with us? Don’t worry about the drinks.”
Louisa cautiously walks over to take a seat next to me. I notice her tiny frame fold in on itself after she’s made herself somewhat more comfortable inside of the chair. I feel a little guilty for suggesting she goes anywhere near the crassness of Mr Matthews and his gauche attire and untactful mouth. However, not enough to not follow through with my idea. Trent opens his mouth to begin running it off again, so I put up my hand and give him a visual warning with just my eyes. I can look like a murderous son of a bitch if I need to, and right now, I very much need to.
“You will be polite and courteous, Mr Matthews, or you can find representation elsewhere.”
“Trent, zip up that stupid mouth of yours!” his father orders, knowing we’re his last option to keep his son in with a chance of scoring any more roles.
Trent releases a huff of annoyance, much like I would have done when I was thirteen and beginning my torturous journey through puberty. The idiot even folds his arms and throws himself back against the chair.
“Louisa,” I begin, turning to give her my sole attention.
“Yes, Mr Hunter?” She looks at me like I’m her parent about to chastise her, so I try to soften my expression.
“We have a proposition for you,” I begin, trying to sound soothing. “Mr Matthews, here, is one of our newest clients.”
I hold my hand out toward him as some sort of introduction, assuming she’ll have heard of him. Though, when she turns to look at him, there isn’t a trace of recognition on her face. From the look of Trent’s expression, this has dented his ego…considerably. I would revel in such a reaction if it wasn’t for the fact that he has the potential to make us a tidy sum.
“Hello,” she whispers, to which the bastard says nothing. His father, however, introduces himself and smiles kindly.
“Mr Matthews has been a bit…wild recently and we need to do something to neaten up his image…turn his reputation around. We need to make him more appealable to directors, as well as more attractive to women.”
“Right,” she says, drawing the word out as she furrows her brow in confusion. I’m going to have to be more obvious, the fact of which is more than a little amusing to Theo by the smile on his face.
“We need him to be seen to be linked to someone who can make him look more serious. What I’m suggesting is that we put him with someone who will make him appear to be settling down, becoming more sensible, and…romantic. Someone normal, someone like you,” I explain, pausing to give her an encouraging smile. “A fake engagement as it were.”
She looks between me, a scowling Trent, his father, who is now over-the-top smiling, Theo, who is beginning to look unsure and somewhat protective of her, and finally, me.
“What say you, Louisa?”
“No,” she replies without even thinking about it. “No thank you.”
Trent scoffs over the very idea of someone like Louisa not wanting to go out with him; I bet he’s used to girls who would have jumped at the chance without even blinking. I try to keep my expression neutral, even though I must admit, I’m impressed by her dismissal of him.
“I understand, Louisa, but may I ask why not?” I ask, to which she simply shrugs and looks down at her hands. “Actually, let’s talk more privately. Gentlemen, perhaps we can adjourn this meeting until tomorrow? Leave a time that is convenient with our admin staff, and we’ll get back to you to confirm.”
Trent rolls his eyes and clucks his tongue before shuffling out with his ridiculous wall of a bodyguard. His father offers us a smile of apology, focusing longer on Louisa in the hopes that she’ll suddenly accept my offer. I stand to see him out, leaving Theo and Louisa at the meeting table.
Once they are safely out the door, I turn to look at Louisa with my most charming smile, only to realize from her expression that this isn’t going to work on her.
“Daniel, she’s given you her answer, now leave it be,” Theo says, looking irritated on Louisa’s behalf.
“I am more than aware of that, Theo, but I would just like to give Louisa the opportunity to really consider what we’re offering here.”
I walk back over to my chair and turn my body to talk directly to her and her alone.
She sighs in such a way, I think this is the first time she’s actually shown anything beyond compliance and politeness in front of me. I can’t help but smile to myself. Perhaps there is more to Louisa Flynn than the façade she likes to portray to the world.
“Do you have a boyfriend? Because we can talk about it with him. This arrangement would be completely for show only.”
“No, I don’t have a boyfriend,” she says matter of factly, but now with her arms crossed in an agitated fashion. “But this wasn’t in the job description.”
“You’re right, Louisa; now, Daniel, drop it!” Theo warns me, but like I said, I’m not one for taking orders.
“There would be a significant bonus in it for you,” I continue, bypassing my partner and best friend altogether.
“Mr Hunter,” she begins, being polite but sounding curt at the same time, “your offer makes me feel like some sort of whore and I am not a whore by any stretch of the imagination.”
At first, I’m stunned by her words, both because it’s the most she’s ever said to me, but also because she said them with such conviction; I’m even more lost over who she really is. However, to my surprise as well as hers, I end up laughing. This is met with unmistakable contempt in her eyes. I know I sound like an asshole, but I can’t help myself; the girl dresses like a nun in training and she thinks I’m trying to whore her up.
“My apologies, Louisa,” I eventually reply, “I did not mean to offend you and I certainly didn’t mean to imply you were a whore. I just meant that as an extra duty, you would be well compensated. But if there is something else that would change your mind, then tell me.”
“There isn’t. Now, is there anything else, Mr Hunter?” she asks as she gets to her feet, her lips set tightly in a rigid line of annoyance.
“Think on it…please. I’ll catch you at the end of the day and talk to you then.”
She gives the slightest movement of a nod before marching out the door and closing it with a small thud behind her. I then take a long inhale before turning toward Theo, bracing myself for his onslaught.
“You fucking asshole!” he snaps.
Ever since he found out about Izzy and her years of abuse, he is particularly sensitive. What he doesn’t realize is that I will protect Louisa with everything I have in me, but she is still the answer to our Trent Matthews situation. The fact she has no clue as to who he is makes her an even better option.
“Theo,” I sigh, “she is perfect, and I will personally make sure she is kept safe and comfortable while in this role. You know I wouldn’t ever put someone in a vulnerable position or leave them unprotected.”
“She doesn’t want to do it,” he positively growls at me. “End of, now leave her alone,”
“If by the end of the day, she still says no, then I will drop it, agreed?”
“Not really, but,” he begins with his own sigh of frustration, “only if you let her come to that decision by herself. In fact, keep clear of her for the rest of the day. I am not going to risk losing Louisa because of some fucked-up prick like Trent Matthews!”
He then strides out the door and slams it. He’s no doubt going to phone Izzy and bitch about me. I can accept that, especially if it means getting my own way.
_____
By the time six o’clock shows on my watch, most of the office has left. I’ve bided my time but also prepared myself to go and coax Louisa into playing fake happy families with Trent. I rise out of my chair and begin pacing toward the door to go and catch her before she leaves. However, Theo grabs me before I’ve even gotten past my desk. He’s been avoiding me as much as I’ve been avoiding him, so clearly, he’s still pissed with me. Theo is all kinds of patient with Izzy but when it comes to mostly everyone else, he can’t bear to not have the last word.
“Don’t do it, Daniel” he says, sounding very much irritated.
“I thought you said he was my client,” I reply casually, “so I can do what I think is right. It’s my decision, is it not?”
“Look, you’re going to end up costing us the one decent PA we do have and then I’ll be fucking pissed with y-”
The sound of a small cough interrupts him mid-rant, for which I’m grateful. When he turns around, he reveals a very small and anxious-looking Louisa. The fact she came to me can only mean things are looking to be in my favor.
“Excuse me, Theo, Mr Hunter,” she says softly, “I’ve made my decision.”
“Please, come in,” I rush out at the same time as I gesture to the seat inside of my office. She eyes it with what looks like suspicion before accepting my invitation to sit down in it.
“Please don’t do anything you’re not comfortable with, Louisa,” Theo says.
I ignore him, even though he remains in the doorway while I sit back down behind my desk. Louisa, however, smiles at him briefly before returning to her neutral expression for me. Something tells me I’m not the favorite here.
“There is something I need,” she begins, automatically looking down at her hands. “If you can help me, I’ll do it. Just for show though.”
“Of course, no one would expect you to do anything more than that,” I reply with complete seriousness; I hope my words and expression convey this to her.
“Ok, then I need one of you to co-sign on an apartment lease for me,” she says, looking at me with an air of confidence I’ve never seen on her before.
“Is that it?” I ask, furrowing my brow as I do so because it’s such a small request. She merely nods her head once. Louisa never says more than is absolutely necessary. She rations her words as though they might run out. It only adds to her mysterious persona.
“You know we would do that for you anyway, Louisa,” Theo and his big mouth say, ignoring my glaring at him.
“I know,” she replies with that same smile she offered him before. “But this way, I will have earned it.”
“Where are you living now?” I can’t help but ask. Is she in an unsafe place? Does she not have any family?
“With my brother,” she replies with no other information to spare.
