Loved

Hunter’s P. O. V.

———————

” Then I told her how big her nose is!” The voice of Iris’s daughter preceeds their presence into the house.

” I thought you said her nose is tiny?” Iris asked as her form surfaces from the door.

She’s carrying the little girl in her right hand over the corresponding hip while her other hand is holding a bag of what I believe is groceries.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

” So you get my point then” Louisa states and her current expression almost resembles a smirk.

That’s new for a kid.

Iris stood still by the door and after a moment bursts out laughing.

I guess she just understood what the girl said.

They still haven’t noticed that I’m in the room with them.

” Goodness me Louie! That’s harsh” She managed to say between a choking laughter.

” Then next time she shouldn’t call me little ” The little girl huffed and folded her arms.

At least one trait is highly visible between mother and daughter.

Iris shook her head in an ‘SMH’ manner and continues moving after shutting the door behind her, ensuring it’s locked.

It was only after they were done did she notice me.

” Louie go to the room ” She keeps her child on her two feet the girl platters her way down the hall.

Leaving me and her mom.

And her mom being who she is glared at me then walked straight passed me into the kitchen.

Courtesy should really be buried someday.

She emerges from the kitchen with two apples, one I presume is for Louisa and she’s about to head for her room.

But not so fast.

I jump up quickly from my position and obstruct her path. She tries swerving in other directions but she found it a waste.

So she settles on glaring straight into my eyes and crossing her arms.

I mimic her action as a simple way of saying she better hear me out or it’s her loss.

” Move” She says even before I have the chance to get a good stance.

” Seriously?, the least you owe me is a little good evening for living in my home ” I retort at her childish character.

” Your dad’s home ”

Smooth.

” You can’t actually be angry at me about the Mr Reid issue. It wasn’t my place to tell and you obviously forgave Mason who’s far more guilty than I am ”

” And who says I forgave Mason?” Her brow quirks upward.

She’s trying to play dumb and dumber right?

” Don’t fake ignorance with me, you left your office door open ” I saw it all.

Though a majority I found disturbing.

” So you were spying ?”

” It’s my building ”

” It’s my personal workplace ”

” If you wanted privacy do the world a favor and shut your door then”

” And since when has a closed door been a barrier for you?”

True talk.

But this isn’t my problem.

” Whatever, my point is you and Mason can never happen ” I told her squarely.

She just rolls her eyes and tries to bypass me again but I’m quicker than she expected.

” Who are you to tell me what can happen in my life?” Resting her both arms on her hips.

” I’m not telling you what can happen, I’m telling you what should happen ” And if she can just keep shut I’ll be done with my explanation.

” You disgust me ”

” It not like that started today, now shut up and listen. I’m keeping my relationship with Michelle lowkey because of her Dad, but I can’t have you and Mason brewing something else. This one relationship is already enough secrets for Mr Reid and I want this deal. So you better get yourself together and drop this before it grows ”

” You don’t control me” Her both brows lifting like she’s saying a word for the wise.

” Yes, I don’t. But my dad does and my dad also wants this deal. Fortunately he is aware of my relationship with one of the Reid’s daughter and is still skeptical about it, imagine what he’ll do to you if we lose this opportunity because you’re letting feelings get in the way.”

She said nothing, but I did find a look across her features.

Disappointment and something else.

Something else I can’t place a finger on.

When I finished my statement I realized I had gone a few steps forward.

I didn’t even know I was backing her up.

Since she wasn’t going to say a word, I stepped out of her way and she scrambled out of the living room.

℅℅℅℅℅℅℅℅℅℅℅℅℅℅℅℅℅

Iris P. O. V.

I can’t believe what just happened !

Did I actually become scared as he was approaching me?? Or was it a tinge of disappointment about my relationship with Mason?

I wasn’t looking forward to anything more with him, but thanks captain obvious for making it clear.

After walking into the room, I meet Louie finishing up a drawing she started yesterday.

” Are you almost done with it?” I ask her and give her an apple in my hand.

She was drawing a sunset. Just the sky with birds above a little hut, but what still puts me in awe is the way she shades.

It’s not perfect but from the way she knows where to cross the pencil, I couldn’t be more proud.

” Almost. Just a few tiny lines” She collected the fruit without taking her eyes off the work and munched into it.

” Be quick honey, it’s almost your bedtime ” I plant a kiss on her temple and enter the bathroom to have a shower.

Twenty minutes later and I’m out, to see Louisa sleeping on her artwork with her hand holding the apple to her mouth.

She’s really worn out.

I sighed and took away the apple before securing the art. Or else I’ll pay for it later.

After wearing her a sweater, bed socks and a beanie, I tuck her under the blanket.

Nights these days are chilly.

A ping from my phone indicating a message delivery calls my attention.

Checking the ID I see its Dylan.

A sudden smile breaks across my face that my cheeks begin to hurt.

It’s been long since we had a nice conversation and I miss it.

Dylan and I dated for two years after I left Los Alamos as a long distance with him always dropping by every two weeks.

Louisa even thought he was her Dad and that broke me then.

But things didn’t really work out between us so we decided to end it on friendly terms and that was what resulted in me calling him his generally well known name and not one specific for me.

I open the message he sent just a minute ago to reply his conversation.

Iris?

Are you awake?

I chuckled at his message before sending a response.

Yeah, but you should be

asleep.

Before I could keep the phone it pinged again.

Seems like a night chat.

She’s awake!!

How are you ?

Baby I’ve missed you.

Hope you missed me too ?

Another laughter from me. I actually did miss him.

No I didn’t.

But I’m okay,

What about you?

New York and Los Alamos have a two hours time difference. It’s a few minutes past eleven so I’m thinking it should be nine over there.

?

I’m not okay.

You just hurt me.

Grow up Einstein

??

??

You sound okay too.

What’s cooking?

Anything new?

Oh there are lot’s. Just wait till you hear them.

Well, there are so many

things going on.

Things like what?

Gossip me Mama.

I don’t stay awake

at night for nothing.

Let me start with the

little ones.

??

I’m waiting.

My boss sent me to

New York to work for

an employee of his.

Well that doesn’t seem

so bad.. Is your new

boss mean?

I don’t know the right

answer to that.

What do you mean?

He’s not trying anything

funny right?

It’s Hunter.

My new boss is Hunter.

There was a complete two minutes of no messaging before my phone pinged again.

….

Repeat that.

I mean it.

How did you not see

it coming?

I’m sorry for being

blind, but when I left Los

Alamos Hunter was bearing

Brooks as a surname and

not McConnell.

And your boss didn’t

tell you who you’re

gonna work for?

He only mentioned

A Mr McConnell.

Don’t blame me.

For fuck sake!

Is he touching you!?

No. He’s not.

We hardly speak to each other.

Good!

What of Louisa?

She’s good.

He’s pretty blind.

??

That I can attest to.

Iris I want to tell you

something.

Go on.

What is it?

I’ll say it tomorrow.

Good night buttercup.

I still miss you ❤

?

Fine.

Goodnight Dylan.

And I don’t still miss you.

??

You really insist on Dylan.

Alright then.

? don’t be harsh ??

?

Okay, I might miss you.

❤

☺☺

My greetings to my baby.

Tell Louie I still love her.

And I love you too.

Sure would, she’ll like that.

? I’ll tell your girlfriend you’re cheating.

?

Iris night night!

?

Bye.

Dream of me.

☺

My Girlfriend won’t like that ?

❤

That was the last message before I put off the lights and fell asleep.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Hunter’s P. O. V.

———————

I was climbing up the stairs to my room when a notification sound from my phone in my back pocket halted me.

It was from Dylan.

The betraying cousin of mine.

I heard Iris is working for you.

We need to talk.

P. S. touch her and you’re dead.

So he gets to call her Iris. Hilarious.

Like I want to be associated with that girl.

I slip the phone back into my pocket and continue my journey to bed.