Hunter's POV

When I wake up, it's 9 a.m. I grab my phone and look at it, seeing a number of calls from Matteo.

Why is he calling me?

I climb out of bed, leave my room, and head to the office. When I walk through the door, I call Matteo.

The phone rings a couple of times before he answers.

Matteo: Hi, Hunter. Someone has been sharing private information about the company, and I'm in the middle of damage control.

Me: What type of Information?

Matteo: Information about some of the companies you've acquired. How much and why did you buy the company for that amount?

Me: Who wrote all that? I never permitted the company names to be written or explained why I bought it, and for how much. Do you have any leads on who did it?

Matteo: No, it looks like this person knows their way around the company's system.

Peter Wynn knows his way through the company files. However, those things released had nothing to do with him. So, how does he know about that?

Matteo: I have to go. Your Grandfather walked through the door.

Matteo hangs up on me.

Damn it. I must find out what's happening
in my company while I'm away. I hope that Vance can help.

I go through my phone and look for Vance's number. I click on it and wait for him to answer. It rings a couple of times before I hear.

Vance: This is Vance.

Me: It's Hunter. Can you help me with something?

Vance: It depends on what it is. Also, before the job, I want half payment now and the rest after the job.

Me: Okay,

Vance: What do you need done?

Me: Somebody released some private documents, and I want to know who is trying to ruin my company.

Vance: I bet it's the man you left in charge. A little power can go to somebody's head, and it might have done it with your person.

I hope not.

Me: Is there a way to find out who was released and what else is happening at the company?

Vance: $5,000 now and $5,000 when the job is done. I'll message you my account details.

Vance: ... account details below.

Me: I'll do that right now.

Pulling the phone away from my ear, I copied and pasted the details and transferred the cash. I also sent a copy of the receipt to Vance.

Vance: Thanks, Hunter. I will get onto it right away.

Me: Thanks, Vance.

After hanging up the phone, I jumped behind my desk and started working on damage control.

I can't have people know all of my secrets.

Going through some files on my computer, I begin to lock them and add codes to individual files. No one will know these codes except for me. I won't allow anyone to take everything I've worked so hard for.

Suri opens the door to my office, and she sticks her head inside. "Is everything okay, brother?"

"No, I look up at her. "Things are getting leaked out of the company, and I must ensure nothing else gets out. I have huge contracts that could pull out because of the scandal."

Suri wraps her arms around me. "I will help you find out who's behind this shitstorm."

"Thanks, Sis. I appreciate the help." Standing up, I move toward the door. "I'm going to check on Melody." Walking out of the office, I head towards Melody's room and grab some clothes for her.

When I walk back into my room, Melody is still asleep. I put the clothes over a chair and then grabbed a pen and wrote a message for her.

Keegan,
         I got you some clean clothes. Have a shower and then join me on the decking for brunch. I know my sister is going to make something for us to eat. I had a great night, and that's all thanks to you. I hope you enjoyed it too. See you soon.

Love

Hunter

I watch Melody sleep for a bit before walking out of the room. My phone starts to ring, and I look at the caller ID. 'Mom' flashes across the screen.

Taking a deep breath, I let it out before answering the phone.

Me: Hello, Mom.

Mom: Are you okay?

Me: Yes, why?

Mom: I heard about the accident last night. Why didn't you tell us?

Me: I didn't want to worry you.

Mom: I will worry about my son for the rest of my life. I also heard there was a girl with you.

Me: That girl is my girlfriend.

Mom: She won't be if I disapprove.

Me: Mom...

Mom: I don't want you dating someone who will take all your money from you.

Me: The girl isn't like that, Mom. She has her own money.

Mom: I'll see that for myself.

Me: Okay, I can't wait for you to come here for Christmas.

Mom: I'm looking forward to seeing all of you when I come there for Christmas.

Me: I don't know why everything is happening right now.

Mom: I'm not sure, Hunter. We will get through the scandal like we do everything else. Your family has your back, and we will look more into what's going on. 

Me: Thank you. The more people on this case, the better. I want an outcome by the end of the week. I will contact all my close contacts and let them know what is happening.

Mom: I want you to tell them the truth.

Me: I will.

Mom: I'll let you know when I have more. Bye, Hunter.

Me: Bye, Mom.

After hanging up the phone, I went back to my office and started working on the email that I would send to my clients.

From: [email protected]
To: [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected], [email protected]

Dear (Client's name)
It's Hunter Westbrook. I want to inform you about the information that has been leaked, as I don't want this to hinder the projects that we are working on. The information that was released was about some companies that I took over after they were losing a lot of money.

I didn't like the idea of people losing their jobs, so I bought out the companies from the owners and turned them around for them. If they wanted their company back, I would give it to them, and they would pay me back once they made a profit from my hard work.

If the owners didn't want the company anymore, I would keep it and put someone in charge of it. I was kept up-to-date about the running of the companies. The information that was released should never have been recorded.

I'm in the middle of looking for the person who is releasing private information. I hope that this won't affect our working relationship.

Yours kindly

Hunter Westbrook

Suri sticks her head into the room and looks at me. "Breakfast is ready.

Hitting send, I stand and look at my sister. "Is Melody awake?"

"Yeah, she's having a shower."

Perfect. I'll surprise her.

***

Over breakfast, I tell Melody about what's happening. She listens to everything that I have to say. She's quiet for a moment before asking, "Do you have a picture of Matteo?"

"Why?" I ask her.

"Show me, Hunter." Standing Melody moves to my side and waits for me to show her a picture of the man I put in charge of my company.

"Do you know Matteo's last name?"

Shaking my head, I say. "I recently learned that Matteo's papers don't have a last name or home address. Do you think the man I put in charge of my company wants to harm me?"

"Probably," Melody doesn't hold back with her answer. She scrolls through her phone and shows me a picture of Peter Wynn and Matteo standing together with the caption 'Big Brother'.

"Fuck," I place my head in my hands. "They are both working together, but why?"

"Wynn," Melody says. "I've heard about that company before." She scrolls through her phone and comes across an article.

Wynn Group Bankrupt

The Wynn Group went bankrupt after making a few errors with building contracts. Some of the high rises weren't stable when they were completed, which caused some parts of the buildings to collapse.

Several people were injured due to the collapse, and a class action is in progress.

There are articles after articles about the family, and one of the last articles is linked to my family. I stop reading that article and look at Melody. I point at it and say, "I think this is why Peter and Matteo are after me."

"Why wait until now to destroy your career and family?"

Looking at Melody, I say. "Pop is dying. What better way to get back at him than through me? The person who's now in charge of the company."

"Do you still have the Wynn Group?"

"Yes," pushing the chair back, I stand. I need to call Frankie. He's in charge of that business. If there's anything going on, he'd be able to tell me."

Melody goes through her phone, while I walk away, leaving her to finish breakfast alone.

Suri is cleaning the kitchen. She looks up as I enter the room. "Hunter, why are you leaving Keegan alone?"

"I have business to attend. Keegan helped me with a few things, and now I need to get the answers from an inside source."

"I'm not surprised that Keegan could help you. What did you find out?"

"Peter Wynn and Matteo are brothers. They are behind what's happening at the company. I have to call Frankie and find out what's happening within the Wynn Group."

"I thought you got rid of that company?"

"No," I shake my head. "I put it in the back burner category, because I didn't want to deal with the everyday stuff of that company."

I pull up Frankie's contact info and call him. It rings a couple of times before he answers.

Frankie: Hello, it's Frankie.

Me: It's Hunter. How is everything going at the Wynn Group?

Frankie? Why? What do you know?

Me: Matteo is related to the Wynns and wants to destroy everything I have accomplished. Now, what do you know?

Frankie: Peter Wynn came here last week. He told everyone that he was the CEO and wanted to see private information, and somebody gave him access to a computer. He used that information for a smear campaign against you.

Of course, Peter did.

Me: Did Peter find the private information?

Frankie: No, the two people who can defile that information are you and me. I will never give anything to the Wynns.

Me: What happened between the Wynns and you? I know something happened before they fell.

Frankie: The Wynns hit me after I released information about their corruption. It's the reason they fell. I never wanted people to get hurt because a building wasn't up to code. Some people in the company got extra money because they looked the other way. I wasn't going to do that.

Me: I'm glad you became a whistleblower. People like the Wynns shouldn't get away with it.

Frankie: When your Grandfather bought the company, I was happy because I knew he would keep us safe. When you took over, I thought you were a rich brat who would enjoy watching this company suffer. You surprised me when you told me to take over the running of the company and left me in charge. You don't ask much about this company. Why?"

Me: Wynn Group landed in my lap. It was a project that I wasn't interested in running, so I let you be in charge. You've done an exceptional job.

Frankie: Thank you.

Me: I'll have some papers drawn up for you to sign.

Frankie: What kind of paper's?

Me: You will find out when we meet in March.

Frankie: Okay,

Me: Have a good day, Frankie.

Frankie: I will. You, too.

After the call, I sent a message to Tomas.

Me: Can you draw up some papers for the company's release?

Tomas: Which company are you giving away and to whom?

Me: The company is the Wynn Group, and I want it given to Frankie Whitmore.

Tomas: I'll have it drawn up before March.

Me: Thanks, Tomas. How is the case with Toby going?

Tomas: The evidence we have will exonerate Toby. However, the kid has been spending time with the people his car crashed into. When the mother found out what happened, she forgave him, and since then, Toby has helped her.

Me: That's great. Tell Toby I said, "Hi,"

Tomas: I will.

Melody walks into the living room and wraps her arms around me. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes," A smile spreads across my face. "I am getting rid of The Wynn Group. It will be going to someone who wants the company. I should have gotten rid of it a long time ago."

"I have to get ready for the spa. I'll cook dinner when I get back. Can you get some candles and put them on the table while I'm gone?"

"Okay," I hold on to her before touching her neck. I suck it for a couple of minutes before pulling away. "I want everyone to know that you're taken."

Melody hits my shoulder. "Hunter," she shares her head. "You don't need to mark your territory."

"When it comes to you, I do."