HUNTER

“As you were.”

Hunter, you're an idiot. I think.

My pencil hovers around the bedroom space I'm struggling to design on my drawing sheet inside my office.

Just like how you damn near got yourself drowned despite being a former top swimmer in college.

“Why did I say that?” I whisper to myself, shaking my head.

Through the window, I glance at the office door across from mine; a gold plate reads: Senior Design Artist, Julie Demetri.

In the two days since Julie Demetri moved into that office, the window blinds have always been down.

I haven't been able to get her out of my mind since that fateful day, nor the kiss. CEOs should not share that kind of intimacy with their employees...but here we are.

Just then, my secretary buzzes me through the intercom.

“Yes, Myra,” I answer.

“Sir, I've just finished sending the invitations out for the company's anniversary party this weekend. Is there anyone else you'd like me to send to?” She asks.

I think for a moment while twisting the pencil.

I reply. “Leave it to me.”

Finally, the weekend arrives, and the party is in full swing, while I'm hiding in the hallway.

My heart keeps racing, and my underarms are sweaty, and there seems to be an invisible hand clutching my neck.

I've always hated crowds and public attention, but my PR agent, Neil, insists that I show up for the good of the company. I have to be a symbol for everyone.

The second I step into the ballroom, a young engineer and influencer who advertises my work on her social media bumps into me to take a selfie with her and suggests I start a podcast.

“No, Katie, I'm not starting a podcast channel,” I say after the selfie, while Katie moves on to blend with the crowd.

Unlike other company formal parties, I encourage my employees to have fun; instead of a bow tie event, I went for a beach theme.

Actually, I'm starting to think it's a terrible idea, because I see flashes of myself drowning again. But it all melts away when a man with white, wavy hair approaches me while Myra struggles to pull a lei over his head.

I quickly snatch two champagne flutes from a passing server.

“Will you quit that?” He snaps at her. “I'm not wearing that shrub.”

I shoot my poor secretary a sympathetic look before she walks away.

He looks around, grimacing at one of my board members doing a limbo, and finally glances at me with a sharp stare.

“Is this a corporate party or a college fraternity gathering?” He asks before reaching for a slightly awkward hug and gently patting my back.

We haven't done that in years, until my recent near-escape from death.

“Hi Dad,” I greet, while handing him a glass. “Yes, it's definitely corporate.”

“I hope you don't plan to cover that guy's medical bills when he wakes up with scoliosis,” Ted McKnight says.

I shut my eyes. “I didn't know you were a doctor and a health insurance broker.”

Ted's green eyes remain stern. “Are you happy, Hunter? Considering what's happened. You know, when people ask if I have kids in the field, they don't usually expect to hear me say that my daughter's Head of Surgery, while my only son helps couples pick which side of the living room to place their couch.”

My stomach churns, and I quickly drain the last of my champagne.

“You know there's more to my job than that,” I say defensively. “You shouldn't be talking about Alyssa like she didn't work hard for her degree.”

Ted waves a dismissive hand. “Aw, Alyssa will be fine. She's got more balls than you.”

I'm beginning to regret inviting my dad over; every time we meet, we always have the same discussion about my choice of career.

“So, the company's four years old,” I say, switching the subject. “We've remodeled a thousand homes in the last quarter.”

But Ted looks remarkably bored as he stares at his drink. “Are you dating anyone lately?”

I grimace. “What?”

He stares at me.

My mind races; if I say no, he might launch into another reason why I'm still a loser to him.

“Because one of the gynecology doctors recently broke up with her boyfriend, I mentioned you...”

Ted's voice trails away as I catch a glimpse of Julie across the room, in a red floral sundress, all by herself, nursing a glass of a cocktail. My beach shorts begin to grow tighter.

“I'm seeing someone,” I say to Dad.

He raises a brow. “I'm not done yet; she also went to Harvard.”

I roll my eyes. “No, really, I'm seeing someone.”

“Who?”

“A woman.”

“No shit.”

“Okay, she's quite brilliant and successful. She went to Duke University. We work together, and she's one of my biggest supporters. I don't know where I'd be without her.”

Even though Dad nods, he still doesn't look impressed.

“I need to use the men's room,” Ted announces.

I groan and point in the direction of the bathroom.

Julie approaches me with a concerned expression and her mouth in a tight frown.

“Hi Angel,” I say casually.

“Angel?” She mutters. “Anyway, there's some girl from TikTok asking me to join her podcast to talk about work and you.”

“Just ignore Katie,” I say. “Enjoying the party?”

She glances around skeptically, shaking her head. “Uh, not really. It's a little weird.”

I reply. “I couldn't make late changes; we planned this months ago.”

She stares at me curiously. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” I shrug.

“So, I have some ideas about the new neighborhood we're going to work on,” Julie says.

She launches into a brief talk about it, but I couldn't help staring at her moving lips.

“That doesn't sound bad, but you need to talk it out with your team first,” I say when she's done.

Julie smiles. “Okay, I'm glad you like it. I'm actually kind of nervous for my first team's meeting. How did your first meeting go when you started the company?” she inquires.

I take a deep breath. “Don't laugh because I farted. The entire room went silent. I didn't say it was me; no one admitted they did either.”

The rumble in her giggle causes a warm swell in my heart, then it turns to lead when Dad suddenly appears at our side.

For the first time in years, I see my father smile genuinely...but not at me.

Julie.

“Oh, it all makes perfect sense now,” Ted exclaims. “You're dating her.”