Note: I've decided to split this chapter into two. Hunter's secrets are way too big for one chapter only. I'm just giving a heads up since I don't want to give off the vibe that everything will be revealed in a single chapter.

Chapter 31 - KMCF

Everywhere was neat, though a few papers hung around, but overall it was tidy.

"Sorry about the new system, there were a lot of people sneaking in," Hunter said as he walked into the kitchen.

"It's fine," I set my bag on the kitchen counter.

It didn't take long for Hunter to get out a glass of pink lemonade and a glass of water. He walked towards the living space and placed them on the glass coffee table.

The palpable stress and tension in the air started to work its effects on me. I didn't consider I would be nervous. Honestly, I thought I would just show up, listen to his secrets, and everything would work out. But, my three step plan didn't include how it would feel. My heart was producing enormous and irregular heartbeats, when it should be Hunter's heart doing that. Hunter looked calm, though by the dark hue of his emerald eyes, it exposed his nervousness.

Hunter made his way to the sofa facing the city landscape. "It's not rocket science, you know why you're here."

I nodded. A minuscule part of me wanted to leave and run away from the truth, while the rest knew it was necessary to stay and listen.

He patted the empty sofa space beside him, "come sit. It's going to be a long story. "

I sat myself on the spot he chose, but much closer to the sofa arm.

"Where do you want me to start?" He stared at me, I couldn't interpret his expression. It wasn't sadness, not anguish, nor was it guilt.

"The beginning. It'd be easier to understand if it went in order." I voiced.

He let out a sigh, it wasn't deliberate. I didn't think he intended to do it or knew that he did. "Okay."

**Third Person POV**

Hunter began to recall the previous events that led to where he was today. From the women to his first encounter with business.

"During college I focused all my attention on being the top. I hardly had contact with anyone from home besides my parents, I wanted to come back to town and surprise everyone with high achievements above my head. So, I made sure my parents didn't say anything to anyone. My dreams of becoming the top came true, but I believed it wasn't enough. When I graduated college, I was stuck between two choices. Strive for my masters or attempt to start a business. I was leaning towards building an enterprise and that was exactly what I decided. But, I was young and eager, industries didn't like that. I was no more different than all the other amateur entrepreneurs."

He paused to place every experience and memory in order while getting a glimpse of the attentively listening, blue eyed brunette. He took another deep breath, still unconscious of his actions.

"Just when I was about to admit defeat, I found myself as the subject of interest to a lot of rich and powerful women after showing up to a few high class parties. I had captivated their attention, though it wasn't them I was targeting to get my ideas across. But, they were willing to introduce me to their husbands, who could invest in my business propositions." A smile appeared on his lips, a painful one. Just thinking about how one conversation turned his life into one he was ashamed of.

Jennifer didn't say anything, all the advice she had gotten and clues were starting to fit together. She wasn't dumb, she could tell his smile wasn't expressing happiness.

"I met each husband, all loved my concept of a hotel chain. While I was working out deals with every one of them, I was as well-" there was another silence. He cut himself off, the memory was terrible to even think of, imagine talking about it.

The deep color of his eyes was sufficiently persuasive for her to get a terrible feeling in her stomach. She wanted to tell him to stop, that it was enough, only she couldn't. They both knew it was important for them to do this.

"I was sleeping with their wives. In return for introducing me to their husbands, I had to give them pleasurable nights. It was horrifying, sickening, altogether it was against my morals. After so long, it became such a natural thing that I gradually accepted it. Of course deep down I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I thought I would never get an opportunity like this again. And every day, I would ask myself if the costs outweighed the benefits. And some days it did."

Hunter looked at Jennifer, whose icy blue eyes partially replicated his. "I'm going to fast forward a little, is that okay with you?" He inquired.

She couldn't voice her answer, in fear of the possible chance that her voice would crack. So she nodded instead.

"Cacciatore Albergo had just been born and it was ranked as one of the biggest things to hit Nevada. It was also one of the best things to have ever happened to me, but I couldn't even share my happiness with the people I loved. My parents knew I was growing financially, but didn't have a clue about everything else. It wasn't until they flew out to Vegas that I told them everything. Were they disappointed? Yes, who wouldn't be. I was having affairs with married women."

He took a sip of water and just closed his eyes. It was like he was bathing in the calming affect the liquid had. The next chapter of his story was regrettable and it was going to be shared with the woman it affected the most.

"They promised to keep my secret from everyone else, you included. It's why you never got detailed answers when you asked a question about me. My selfishness got the best of me, I cared more about not distorting the image you had of me. I chose my self-esteem over the truth and that was what I regretted the most. My family obligated themselves to sharing my secret with your parents and it made me plead with them to not tell you or anyone else. That I would be the one to tell you myself instead. Now that I look back on it, I was stalling for more time and I was extremely afraid."

You'd think she'd be mad, that the feeling of anger was bubbling inside. He'd went as far as to beg her parents into lying to their daughter. But, she wasn't feeling anything other than sadness, it protected her from the other negative emotions.

"After I opened a few more hotels, it was then where I felt like I was losing myself. I had enough money and power to get rid of the guilt I had been feeling since I entered the world of commerce. I blackmailed all the women I was sleeping with. I hired a photographer to capture pictures of each woman when they were either having sex with me or any other men. I also had him send them a letter about terminating all their sexual relationships otherwise I would release every single photograph." Hunter stopped for a bit, it was difficult to explain actions that could change the way people looked at you. A new grin formed on his lips, one Jennifer hadn't seen. A sheepish grin. "It didn't matter what their decision were, I released them anyway. In just a matter of days, I destroyed marriages and lives. Not only did it release me from the chains I was on, the entire scandal affected all my supporters financially and allowed me to take advantage. I left them penniless, single, and hurt."

"I don't think I ever stopped to consider why these married, wealthy women would glue themselves to people that were hardly on the same playing field as them, they had everything. This is one of the moments where the saying, I wish I knew what I know now comes into action. If I took their feelings into consideration, then maybe I-"

Hunter threw his head back and shut his eyes like he was trying to reverse the tears that were making his vision blurry. His plan was just as similar as Jennifer's: Invite her, tell her everything, and everything would work out. And just like her, he didn't account for feelings. He didn't open his eyes until he felt a warm touch on his hand.

Jennifer's mind wasn't focused on whether she was allowed to touch him or not. She knew that someone couldn't finish talking because of the memory is too painful needs some sort of comfort. She slipped her hand in his, in hopes that it'd boost his strength, even if it was just a little bit.

** **

Oh, gosh, what's to come? Looks like the deeper the story is, the harder it is for him to talk about it.
Also, sorry for any spelling mistakes, I just kept writing without looking back.

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