𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐘 (+𝟏𝟖)

CH. 13: THE SHIFT

M A L L O R Y

“God, I miss you so fucking much, niña,” Celina's petulant whines flood through my laptop screen.

“We just saw each other yesterday,” I say, rolling my eyes at her dramatics as I type the second paragraph of my term paper, with her ranting away in the small Skype window in the bottom left corner of my screen.

“Bitch, it's not the same. We hung out every other day. Now, we barely see each other twice a week.”

She wasn't wrong; since I started working for Hunter two weeks ago, my schedule has shifted dramatically. Balancing schoolwork with being Luca's full-time nanny just left little time for anything else, not that I didn't enjoy spending time with my little goofball.

Because Hunter values his privacy and his son's protection, he doesn't allow visitors. While it added to the mild feeling of isolation, it was an understandable rule, given I’m looking after a billionaire’s child.

“You're so dramatic. Need I remind you that you're the one who told me to take the job in the first place?”

“Yeah, but that was before I realized I’d be waiting tables alone without my voice of reason to stop me from going off on these pinches cabrónes while you're living the high life at Chateau De Sionis,” she snaps. “I’m telling you, Mal, the next asshole who disrespects me is getting a fork in the jugular,” she declares and I knew her well enough to know she wasn't bluffing for my amusement. She would do it.

“Cee, you can’t stab the customers,” I retort, pausing to think of a better suggestion. “Spit in their drinks instead; you’re less likely to get arrested that way.”

She scoffs through the monitor at my advice. “You don't think I did that already?” Of course she did. “It's so lonely that I had to call-up Javier to fill the gaping hole your departure left — among other holes.”

Cringe overtakes my features as I register the obvious dirty double meaning. “I'm ending this call now.”

That makes her burst in a fit of laughter. “Alright, alright. I let it have its five minutes; I'm done.”

“Thank you.” I say, speaking too soon.

“Next topic.” She starts and I already don't like the tone in her voice. “So, what's up with Daddy Hunter?”

And there it is...

“He's fine...” I reply, settling for a simple response but based on the bored look she sends through the computer screen, she isn't satisfied with my answer.

“I've seen his pictures on Google, I'm well aware he's fine. Come on, Mal. I'm bored. I need details, woman.”

I scoff out a laugh. “There's nothing to tell.”

“Bullshit. You're into him and he's obviously into you. I saw him delivering those beautiful roses to you.”

“I was literally in the hospital with a concussion. He was just being nice. Did that ever occur to you?”

“Being nice is buying plastic bouquets, two balloons and a ‘Get Well Soon’ card. The man paid your entire $8,500 hospital bill and gave you a job on top of that. No man is that nice unless they want something.”