Chapter 32 - KMCF

**Jennifer's POV**

I held his hand regardless of the stubborn behavior I had been showing towards him. It was the least that I could do, Hunter was in pain.

At first, he was a bit startled by my unexpected gesture, but he was quick to squeeze back. He didn't need to thank me, nor did I want him to because I could see the appreciation based on his green eyes.

"Maybe there would've been a different alternative to the problem. It occurred to me that I destroyed the lives of those who brought me up to where I am today. They weren't the best, but without them I wouldn't be anything."

"Because every night I had a woman in my bed, it filled the loneliness I didn't know I had. I mean, I was lonely without the people I cared about, but it wasn't the type of alone loneliness I felt. I had nobody around me, I put an end to their lives just to sink deeper into depression. I mixed myself into these famous actresses and models, toying with every single one. I wasn't lying when I said I had a woman every night, I just couldn't handle the emptiness inside. I was out of control, constantly taking anti-depressants and some days, collapsing out of malnutrition because all I took were pills after pills."

Did it hurt to listen? Yes, my heart was like it was being stabbed. Every time he mentioned all of his relationships and dirty nights, my heart would receive another painful wound. My heart clenched every time he said anything. I couldn't believe that all of it was true, but I had to.

"I wanted to stop and end everything. Sell my hotels. Sell everything and walk away from it all, but I couldn't. I had thousands of people who depended on the things I had. There was a possible chance millions of workers would end up on the unemployment train, I just couldn't do it. I tried therapy and anything counselling related, but none of them fixed my problems. It was then that I realized I could only resolve it myself and that's when it hit me. Coming back here. I was reluctant to travel back home, but the more I surrounded myself with the life I created, it gave twice as many reasons to leave."

"And that's when you showed up in my condo?" I asked unconsciously.

He snickered, but it seemed a bit sad. "I was actually here two weeks prior."

I crunched my eyebrows together with a mixture of confusion and surprise.

"I'm not one to do something without a plan, Jen. I couldn't just appear out of nowhere and expect that your reaction would be pure glee."

"You still did it anyway." I said as my lips automatically formed a grin.

He laughed and for a second, he seemed like his usual self. "I'm getting to it."

He gave my hand a slight press before continuing on with his story.

"I knew if I came to New York, I could never stay for long and that's when I got the idea to construct a second HQ here. I made money all over the country except for in New York, I couldn't touch it. You were here and so was everyone else. It would spread like wildfire if I even built a lemonade stand, I couldn't take the risk. However, this time was different I wasn't building anything, I just had to work out deals. So, that's part of the reason why I couldn't tell you all of what I'm telling you now. It'd create even more of a misunderstanding. I had to wait till I finalized the propositions and was ready."

"Two weeks before I showed up at your place, I had a big discussion with my family and yours. I told them I wanted to hold off on telling you or anyone else anything and they understood. Grace decided that I build a cover story, but I wasn't comfortable with stacking up more lies on a pile of other fabrications. So, we thought of using her wedding and partial truth to explain-"

"Partial truth?" I interrupted. "Oh, sorry," I apologized after acknowledging what I had done.

"It's okay. Partial truth was when I told you I came home to see my family, but now you know that it's not entirely true." Hunter said.

"Oh," I said as I was moving my eyes between the jewelry on my wrist to the handsome, yet sad man who sat next to me.

"After having a meeting like conversation with them and sorting out some things, I came to your condo two weeks later. I forgot you'd be at work, but curiosity still got me. I knew the same girl who called me a pile of fart nuggets for accidentally breaking her favorite doll would always stay the same. So, I guessed you'd put a spare key under your doormat." A smile pressed upon his lips as he finished off his sentence.

"I never called you that," I mumbled to myself.

"Okay, Jen, I'm going to pretend you didn't just tell a lie." Hunter grinned while a ringing noise blasted loudly.

My phone, a disruptive device that's widely known for ruining special moments. I stood to up to decline whoever wanted to talk to me. They had to wait, Hunter was my top priority at the moment.

Call from . . . Miranda.

I didn't think Miranda would be the caller, especially since she knows how private and important my talk with Hunter is. I still forwarded the call to voicemail, despite the fact that she's my best friend. I assumed she most likely accidentally called, even butt dial me; that was until dozens of messages from Miranda popped up, some messages were cut off, but they perceived to be urgent.

"Miranda called, I think there's an emergency. Mind if I call her back?" I asked.

"No, go ahead." Hunter began to take a drink of his water and loosen up his posture. I guessed we both needed a break in between.

After dialing and waiting through three rings, she picked up. "Miranda?"

"Jen, we have a problem. I know you're busy with Hunter and I really didn't want to bother you, but this isn't something I can handle without y-" She was rambling on and she rarely did that unless she felt she was at fault for something.

"Miranda, just tell me," I interrupted.

I could hear her take a deep breath before speaking, "remember those interviews?"

"Don't tell me they're today?" Even though I could feel that they were today, I didn't want to believe it.

"Then, I won't, but there are over twenty applicants." Miranda's voice got smaller towards the end of her sentence, but it didn't stop me from hearing her.

"Twenty?!" I shouted slightly, causing me to look over at Hunter. He seemed more concerned than bothered.

"I could postpone the interviews or do some by myself and then, we can finish the rest when you're done."

I sighed, "no other day would be good besides today. This whole month is entirely dedicated to Grace's wedding. Also, we have to do the interviews together otherwise it'll be hard to choose if we have different perspectives."

There was a short pause on Miranda's side until she spoke again. "So, what do you want to do?"

"I'll head over there in a bit." I didn't want to, but I had to.

"What about-"

"It's okay, don't worry about it. Bye."

"Bye." I hung up and placed my phone back into my purse.

I turned to Hunter, who was already walking my way. "I have t-"

"You have to go, it's okay." Hunter completed and replied to my sentence.

"When will w-"

"When will we meet again?" He gave me a smirk and in return, I gave him a light glare. "Just give me a call when you've settled everything."

I grabbed my bag and we began to walk towards the front door. "I'll see you later then."

"Bye, Jen."

** **

>>S P E C I A L N E W S<<

I've been thinking about doing a character interview. You comment what question you want a character to answer and they'll answer it on a special interview chapter. Good idea? Yes or no?

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Sorry the chapter is late and I sorta rushed the ending, but I'll make up for it in the next chapter.

VOTE & COMMENT! Please and thank you.

Check out my new book, "Preloved Girlfriend."