LOVED

13

" Louie honey, you've been quiet all morning are you okay?"

 It's the truth. Louisa was always very cheerful and jumpy in the morning, so to my assumptions she was a morning person.

But sadly not today.

And I'm beginning to get worried.

" Maybe she's sick or something " Cheryn who was the shortest and most plump lady who came to greet me with a hug on my first day suggested.

" Are you sick? Any belly pains?" I asked her to confirm Cheryn's suspicion but she just shook her head in a negative response.

" Louie? Should I make your banana smoothie?" Cheryn asked her but she just shook her head in a no again.

Louisa is declining her favorite snack.

Something is definitely wrong.

" Okay, should I cook something else?" Cheryn was in charge of cooking around here, so trying to win Louie over with a meal wasn't surprising.

What surprised me was she still declined.

Cheryn was a mother of two kids who were boys, they lived in Louisiana and they're all grown up. One has a job in Louisiana while the other is in college. She lost her husband slightly over a year ago so she may understand the perks of single parenting a little.

" You should talk to her" Cheryn whispers to me then goes back to preparing another meal after dropping a plate of pancakes for us.

I nodded to her and turned my attention back to Louisa.

" Baby, tell me what's wrong. I can help you " I cooed in her ear while rubbing her back in a circular motion.

 What scared the crap out of me was when I noticed her eyes glistening.

She's about to cry.

Louie doesn't cry.

" Baby please say something " I placed my forehead on hers to reassure her that I'm still here.

 She sniffed before nodding and mouthing an okay.

 I stayed put and braced myself for what she was about to say.

" I...I... I was-"

" Good morning Mr Hunter " Cheryn's voice rang across the kitchen and I turned to see Hunter entering the kitchen with a scowl on his face.

Clearly someone didn't have enough sleep.

 I looked back to Louisa for her to continue with what she wanted to say but she wasn't looking at me anymore.

 Her demeanor changed like she was looking at a viper.

Fear was written all over her face and goosebumps spread across her entire skin.

 I followed her eyes to know what she was looking at and then it hit me.

 She was looking at Hunter.

She's scared of Hunter!!

 What the f**k did he do to her.

" Louie, did he touch you?" Venom very clear in my speech.

I swear if he touched her, I will most definitely have him choked on his d**k before signing for an arrest.

" No, no he.. He didn't "

" You're stammering. What did he do to you?" I whispered in her ear.

" It was my fault " She looked to the ground and what I saw broke my heart.

 I saw a fragile girl, a timid little angel. She wasn't my fighter at this point. She was just my baby.

 I pulled her in for a hug and kissed her hair.

" Don't worry honey "

We maintained that position for a while, but I had something else in mind.

Mr McConnell and I are going to have a chat.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Hunter's P.O.V

———————

  I arrived at work by Ten am.

Yeah not so early but I couldn't cheat my sleep.

  After signing the attendance booklet that closed it up for the day, I went to my office.

 I took a seat and expected to have at least five minutes to gather my scattered thoughts before having to deal with work.

 But someone had other plans.

 She barged into my office and slammed the door behind her like she owned the place.

And for your info. I own this place.

" May I ask why this uncanny attitude, or are you going to give me a reason yourself?" I was in no mood for her games.

" What a way to show up on time to work " She folds her hands across her chest again and it pushes her breasts up slightly.

She really has to stop doing that.

"Is that your reason for barging into my office?"

" What did you do to Louisa?"

That's what this is about? Last night?.

" I did nothing to her " The answer is as simple as that so I shrugged.

" That's a lie, this morning she looked at you like you were some kind of beast"

" Well then, I think that's an attribute she got from her mother "

" She cried "

" Kids always cry"

" Louie doesn't cry "

" Then we can both agree that she's a strange kid"

 She dropped her hands and sighed in defeat.

" Hunter please, I'm serious. What did you do to her? She's been acting all down and sad since morning and, and I don't like it. It's unlike her. She even cried. Just please.. Tell me what you did to her. I just want to know "

 Apparently this kid means a lot to her to make her beg me twice in one sentence.

 She really cares about this baby girl and that has me wondering who her dad is.

 I mean, the man clearly abandoned them but yet she still loves his child.

 I looked at her and her crestfallen face. Her child's reaction really brings out another side to her.

 And that same girl almost made me feel sad for scolding her last night.

" When I got back home, I saw her in my room " I started.

Her eyes widened at first and I just hope her mind isn't thinking what I think it is.

" Now, before you go there. No I didn't harass her. Pedophile isn't my thing, but I asked her why she was in there and she told me it's cause you were sleeping and she was bored and bullshit stuff I really didn't care to listen to. So I scolded her on snooping around then poof... She started crying " At least that's all that happened from what I know.

" Did you, you know. Hit her perhaps?"

 That question was a low blow.

I know I hit her back when we were in high school but I don't do that anymore.

 And I certainly do not hit children.

" No. I didn't "

She nodded and turned around to leave.

" Is that all?" I asked her. I was actually looking forward to a little bickering.

" I'm sorry she was in your room "

If your eyes could literally leave it's sockets after a shock, then mine would have been rolling like pool balls all over the floor.

Iris just apologized to me. Not something I thought I would have ever heard again.

" I actually bear nothing in mind to that, but I wanted to ask"

 She turned around and lifted her brows as she waited for my question.

 Now she's here I can seize the opportunity to ask her the question before she leaves.

" What you did yesterday with Bellevue. Why did you act that way?"

" What way?"

" You know, act all silent till the last minute "

 She shrugged and explained herself.

" The best way to make someone lose is to let them think their winning. They'll exhaust all their points and to an extent expose their weakness. All you have to do is be patient then counter all their points and use their weakness against them"

 Smart move, but that's not enough explanation.

" How did you know their weakness?" We were elusive only on our business.

" When they threatened to take you to court, they proved that they saw the court as a higher authority than they had, And they expected you to be afraid of the court just like they were. So telling them that the court could sue them for something else is enough for them to withdraw their plans"

 Wow. Dad was right, she really does see things I can't.

 Then there's another question.

" Nice brains. But was flirting with that Hayes guy part of the plan?"

"Flirting?" She fake gasped " Mr McConnell I was only being friendly with an associate"

 f*****g lies!

" Save that bullshit act for a guy who's still a virgin "

And her reaction shocked me, because she chuckled.

 I can swear that this was the first time in my entire life I had heard Iris laugh.

 And the sound wasn't repulsive.

" You have a meeting with the owner of Cadbury hotels in an hour Mr McConnell, try not to be late for this one "

 She walked out of the office and I saw she still had her hair in a bun. Wearing black female suit pants that was fitted to her body in so many illegal places and a loose fitting sky blue chiffon top, she looked sort of okay for a chance.

When she was out I just laughed to myself.

She had really changed.