The Path to Love

Chapter 49 - Hunter's POV

Day seven. One week. A week ago, I left Sam. Xavier hasn't been answering my calls, and I have been distracting myself with work. When I wasn't working, missing her was a constant ache that wouldn't go away. I was afraid it would be there forever. She's killing me. I don't know why I decided this was a good idea.

You're protecting her, I constantly reminded myself.

The office looked a lot better. The interior designer came and her and I both came up with a bunch of new designs to make the office look welcoming. The walls were coloured a soft blue, to add some colour. There were some paintings placed on the walls and even though it was hardwood flooring, there were some rugs now. Each floor looked different, but I was impressed with it. Best part, I didn't use all my father's money.

I was distracted from my thoughts, with the phone ringing. "This is Hunter," I picked up.

"Mr. Thomas, your father wanted me to let you know he has a business meeting in an hour he would like you to attend."

"Thank you, Penny, where is it?"

"The fifth floor, in the conference room."

"Great, let him know I'll be there."

I hung up the phone and got back to work. Dad had me looking over our business partners so I could get to know them by the time the charity ball came around next week. I was required to escort one of our business partners daughters and I was unsure how to feel about it. My father said it would make for 'good business' but, it felt wrong and like I was betraying Sam.

You fucking left her you moron; you shouldn't be worried about what she thinks of you. I chuckled. But I did, I would always worry about what she thought of me. After all, she was carrying my kid.

I gathered up my pen and notepad to take notes, I was still working on learning to understand how this company works. All I was sure of now, is my father wanted to open a new hotel franchise in France, he wanted a new office location in Italy, and he wanted to start in the club business. I don't know why he wanted to own a club, but I had a feeling that club would be up to me to design.

I walked to the conference room and nearly dropped all my shit. Mr. and Mrs. Dawson stood there, patiently waiting. Fuck.

I cleared my throat to make my presence known and walked in. I was there before my father. "Hunter!" Katherine exclaimed, walking over to me.

"Hey mom two," I mumbled. She walked over and wrapped her arms around me in a big, suffocating hug. When I stepped back, I turned to look at her. She looked like she aged a lot since the last time I saw her. Her face looked sunken in and she looked like she was suffering. "Are you doing okay?" I asked her.

"I'm fine," she lied. She tried to look like she was happy, but I knew the front she was playing. I chose to shrug it off, if she wanted to talk to me about it, she would.

"Hello, Mr. Dawson." I looked over at him and smirked. He never liked me very much, mostly because I was the one that found out about his brother. I didn't give a fuck then and I don't give a fuck now.

"Hunter," he replied. He nodded his head at me in acknowledgement.

"What are you doing here, sweetie? I thought you had plans to spend the summer with Sam?"

"I'm going to college out here," I lied. It wasn't official yet, but it was being worked on. "Dad had been pressuring me to come and learn to take over the family business and since I just graduated, I thought it would be the perfect time to give it a shot." I lied again.

"Have you talked to Sam much since you've been here?"

I looked at her, trying to see what she did know and what she didn't know. She wasn't showing she knew anything, so I decided to attack cautiously.

"Not in a few days, actually. I've been so busy with learning about this place and redesigning it that I didn't really have time to focus on anything else."

"Oh, well, did you know--"

My dad decided then to finally grace us with his presence, cutting Sam's mom off. Great timing too because she was just going to ask me about the baby and I didn't have the guts to lie to her about that. "Pardon my lateness, Katherine and Samuel. My assistant had to discuss some stuff with me."

We all sat around the conference table, my father and I on one side and the Dawson's on the other. "We're sorry for such the last-minute timing for this meeting, but it was rather important." Mr. Dawson replied.

"Nonsense," my dad replied. "I always have the time for you both. You didn't tell my secretary, so I was wondering what this meeting was about?"

"We'd like too get in business together," Mr. Dawson got right to the point.

"I thought we agreed not to mix business between our families?" My dad asked.

"Yes, well, I'm getting up there in age and I would like to retire in the next few years to start spending more time with my family. I don't have an heir to my company, and I would like someone educated, smart, and younger than me to take it over."

Samuel was well into his fifties. While Sam's mother is only thirty-eight, Samuel is fifty-five. I can understand how he would like to retire now though, he had the funds for it and his company was well off. He was very successful with his restaurant chain. He had restaurants and hotels all over the world. He was mostly well known for his restaurants, but he did have a few hotels over the world.

I looked at my dad, and noticed he was thinking about it. "So, you would like to merge our companies?" My father asked him.

"I'd actually like you to buy my company out." He replied.

I looked at my dad in shock, there had to be some type of catch right? What the hell was going on?

"How much would you like for Dawson Enterprises?"

Original name guys. So original. "Four billion," he replied.

"What's the catch?" He spoke the question that had been on my mind this whole time.

"Two things. One, when my daughter is ready to become CEO of my main location, she can. Two, your son tells me who the father of her baby is."

I looked at him in horror. He knew. The fucker knew she was pregnant. Why didn't she sell me out? Fuck. What game is she playing here?

"Samantha is pregnant?" My dad turned to look at me and asked.

"Yup," I admitted, nervously.

"Who's the father?" He asked me.

Fuck. "Not my place to say," I replied. Yes, it is!! It's your kid!

"Hunter, please." Mrs. Dawson started "It isn't that guy who punched my husband. Clearly, it isn't you because you're here and not with my daughter. She never hung out with guys after that incident, besides you. We need to know."

"Why do you need to know?" I asked her. "If she wanted to tell you, she would've." I replied.

"Hunter," my dad hissed. "Just tell them so we can get this business deal."

I looked at my dad. "I can't," I replied. I looked at Sam's parents. "I'm sorry, but if she wanted to tell you, she would have. If she didn't, clearly, she doesn't want the father in her baby's life. She'll tell you when she is ready, just give her time."

"Oliver," Mr. Dawson stood up. "We'll leave this deal to you for a week. You know our demands, if not, we'll sell to the highest bidder."

My dad quickly stood up to shake his hand. "You'll be hearing from us," he replied.

I nodded my head at both of them and walked out. Before my father could approve my leave, I picked up my jacket and walked down to my car and drove to my hotel.

Why didn't Sam tell them it was me? I should be happy about that, but instead I was feeling even more miserable.