HUNTER

“Uh, Mr. McKnight?” A voice travels into my head, causing me to look up from my phone to the computer screen, where, over a Zoom call, my stockbroker is giving me the stink eye.

Right.

“Yeah?” I say. “Please continue, Barry.”

“As I was saying, the percentage of shares you're giving out to Miss Demetri isn't what I would recommend on a long-term basis,” Barry replies. “You could go for a smaller thank-you gift, like a free car?”

I push my tongue in my cheek. “I own seven cars, and I'm not planning to let even one of them go.”

“You know that's what I meant.” Barry queries.

I rub the tense knot at the back of my neck. The way Barry wants me to hold tight to the money is sort of ironic. What good is any of it if I'd actually drowned at sea?

Barry doesn't have a choice but to approve the transfer while swearing under his breath, before quickly apologizing when I mention he hasn't muted the mic.

While I'm in the middle of eating a chicken sandwich, Dad, of all people, barges into the office, with Myra right behind him.

I nearly choke on a bite and quickly wipe my lips. “Ted?”

Ted shoots Myra a disapproving look. “I've been trying to reach you all day, and your secretary has been very unhelpful.” He says with a condescending tone. “Could you leave?”

Myra glares at him and sweeps out of the office, shutting the door.

“What are you doing here?” I ask in alarm. “Did something happen to Alyssa?”

“I should be asking the same,” Ted murmurs. “Alyssa's fine; she, uh, performed a successful tissue removal today. Thirty strikes in her career. She's so brilliant.”

Casting my eyes away guiltily, I wonder how my father manages to make me feel like a total goof.

“How's Julie?” Ted asks.

“Okay, I guess.”

“You mean after everything that happened last night, you left Julie alone and came to work anyway?”

I return my gaze to Dad, who narrows his eyes in confusion.

Shit.

* * * * * * * *

Sometime later, Dad and I are standing in front of Julie's door. For some reason, my heart races. Dating hasn't been on my agenda in a long time, but this thing with Julie was beginning to stir a lot of emotions inside of me.

The door swings open, and instead of Julie, it's a blonde-haired woman in a pink polka-dot bathrobe.

“Are we at the right door?” Ted asks me.

She sweeps her head back. “Jules,” she calls. “Takeout’s here!”

I shake my head while glancing at the bags in my hands. “Actually—”

“I didn't order food.” Julie says.

I look up; she's before us, her eyes pop wide, and her mouth forms a surprised “Oh.”

She breaks into a smile. “Hi, come in.”

“How are you feeling, Julie?” Ted asks.

“Ah, slightly better.” She replies.

Ted glances from Julie to me, and her friend concentrates on her manicured nails.

“Um,” I lean close to Julie and plant a kiss on her cheek. “Hi babe, we brought you some takeout food for dinner. Who's your friend?”

Her friend presses her hand to her chest and gasps in horror.

“This is Regina Hamada.” Julie introduces. “Gina, my... boyfriend, Hunter, and his dad, Ted McKnight.”

“The billionaire?” Regina purrs.

All the while giving me the same look every other woman does whenever they see me climb out of my Porsche.

“Actually, I see myself as a businessman,” I tell Regina.

Ted clears his throat.

Why does Regina look so familiar?

Regina chuckles in amusement and waves her hand. “You're unbelievable.” She beams. “Please have a seat. Why don't I bring you fellas some wine? Julie? Kitchen? Now?”

Both women wander off into the kitchen side of the apartment.

Ted and I sit down.

I see Regina pull Julie into a corner, whispering. Julie sneaks a peek at me, and a smile automatically slips out from me.

Ted smacks my chest hard with a sharp glare. “Will you quit staring at her friend’s ass?”

I shoot him a grimace. “What the hell? No, I'm definitely not.”

The ladies come back with wine glasses and a bottle. Since there are two couches, Dad moves to sit on the second one with Regina. Julie sits next to me.

I stretch my arm around her shoulders. It feels strange pretending to enjoy this in front of Dad and yet, not entirely unpleasant.

“So, Julie, if you don't mind me asking about your personal health,” Ted speaks up. “How did you get one kidney?”

Under my arm, Julie's shoulders become stiff.

“I actually don't mind,” Julie replies. “I donated one of mine.”

Ted blinks with surprise and smiles. “Wow, that's very noble of you.”

“To my ex,” she continues and raises her soda can in a toast. “Good for him, I guess.”

Dad's eyes flicker with slight surprise while his mouth lowers into a frown, Regina recoils into a cringe, and I shut my eyes with disbelief.

“But not to worry, guys.” Julie whips her head at me and pats my chest. “I actually found this amazing and sweet man of my dreams.”

The pitch of her voice hints at sarcasm, and I pull my arm away and force a smile.

After missing a beat. I manage to mumble. “You make me feel amazing.”

Julie narrows her eyes at me.

That was a little too much.

“Okay,” Regina says dryly.

When I pull Julie aside in the kitchen, I begin to whisper about how cheesy of an actress she was back there, but she speaks before I do, with a stern look.

“What's the big idea coming here with your old man without informing me?” she asks.

Since I'm facing the living room, I form a smile, then shrug. “Sorry, but Ted wanted to know how you were feeling, and as your boyfriend...”

“Ugh,” Julie scoffs and rolls her eyes.

My mouth twitches a little. “I also needed to see how my gumdrop is, too, after our first fight.”

“You're so corny, McKnight.” She replies dryly. “Anyway, your accountant, Barry, called earlier about the shares transfer. Can you believe I have just enough to rent a bigger apartment?”

I've been one to mask my disappointment, and it works well in this situation, so I nod while keeping a neutral expression.

After all, a deal was a deal.

The thought of someone wanting a big home space was kind of humbling.

Julie pauses for a second, lifts a brow, then walks away from me before I can continue.

“Yes,” I say to myself quietly. “I do.”

As much of a cliché as it sounds, you can never have enough money to buy happiness.

A thought clicks to me: flashes of party lights in Madrid. I think I remember how I know Regina.