The Path to Love

Chapter 61 - Hunter's POV

I got off the plane and took a deep breath. "Ah, Toronto, how I've missed this city so much." I descended the stairs and walked into the airport. "I would like to go home, Angelica, I have many guest rooms for you to stay in, but I would like to go to my childhood home."

"Are you sure, Mr. Thomas? You do have a hotel room booked."

"Yes, and please call me Hunter, you've more than earned the right to call me by my first name. Mr. Thomas is my father."

"Okay, sir," I gave her a look. "Sorry, um, Hunter." She stuttered.

"Call and cancel the hotel. I would just like to sleep in my own bed." I wasn't worried about Sam being there, the last I heard she was living with Xavier, who for some reason has avoided answering my calls or who is just ignoring me. "Oh, and book me some free time this week where there are no meetings for Dawson Enterprises, there is a personal matter I have to attend to."

She scribbled in that stupid notebook of hers and looked at me. "I'll let you know when you have your free time after I plan your week, is that okay?"

"It'll have to do, Angelica. Just don't make me wait long. I want to go check out Dawson Enterprises first thing tomorrow morning, especially since I'll be running it for a month and then training my replacement."

"Yes, sir. I'll have a car waiting for us outside your house tomorrow morning."

"Thank-you Angelica, now let's get to my house. I would like to see it again. It feels like forever since I've seen my house." I walked out of the airport, where to my complete surprise, paparazzi were waiting for me.

"Hunter Thomas, what do you plan on fixing in Toronto?"

"Have you developed a personal relationship with your assistant?"

"Why are you in your hometown?"

"Do you have anyone special in your life?"

"What is a young kid like you doing running a company?"

"Why did you terminate all your business deals with your business partners?"

What the hell is that many reporters doing, following me? I had the damndest trouble getting away from them. It wasn't just me I had to worry about, I had to worry about Angelica, also. "Grab my hand! I'll push through them!"

She grabbed onto my hand and I pushed through the crowd of paparazzi who were taking pictures of us and rushed into the car. "Angelica, make a note to hire bodyguards as soon as possible," I said to her when I was finally settled into the car.

"Good idea, Hunter," she replied.

"That was horrible. I've never encountered something like that before."

"You're becoming famous now, Hunter. You're becoming known for being a ruthless businessman. Best get used to all this attention."

"I'm not going to like this." I replied.

The rest of the ride home was silent. Once I got home, I walked into the house and plopped down on the couch in the living room. I started to go through my phone. I stared at the news article in front of me, in shock. "What the hell is this?!" I roared.

Angelica looked over my shoulder. "Um, Hunter, the paparazzi will spin anything out of context." Angelica replied.

I looked down at the article with disgust. I was staring at Angelica and I, with our hands linked. That wasn't the worst part. The caption below it read, "Hunter Thomas and Assistant Angelica Rose Rumours have been Confirmed, when Thomas arrived with her to his Hometown."

"This is bullshit!" I screamed. "I'm here for business, that's it! What the hell is going through these psychos' heads? What the hell is wrong with them to jeopardize my private life like that?"

"It's paparazzi, that's what their job is," Angelica replied quietly.

"How old are you anyways, I don't even know your age and they're already assuming something as bogus as this?!"

"I'm twenty, Hunter. I'm only two years older than you."

"That's not the point here! The point is, they're assuming something that isn't true! I was just trying to be a good guy by helping you get away from them!"

"This might not be such a bad thing."

"How is it not? They have invaded my private life, when they had no right to. I did not give them permission for this!"

"The girl you are still upset over will see this and think you moved on. You won't have to worry about her anymore."

Sam. My face paled at the thought of Sam seeing this. "No, no, no. Call the media department now! I want this off the press right now! I do not want her to think that I've moved on! Are you crazy? That's the last thing I want! Get me those damn bodyguards, get the media department to get this taken down, and then you're dismissed for the day. I can't put up with this right now."

She rushed out of the room, clearly upset, but it didn't matter to me right now. I was only thinking of one person's feelings that would be hurt when she saw this picture. My phone rang, interrupting me from my thoughts. "What?" I barked into the phone.

"I see the paparazzi have finally got wind of you," the person on the other end spoke.

"I had no idea they could be this invasive. That is not what happened at the airport. I was trying to help Angelica get through them, that's why she has my hand held." I replied to my father.

"The paparazzi are vultures, son. They will spin anything to make it look like something it isn't. Have you hired bodyguards?"

"I groaned into the phone. "My assistant is on it now. This is all wrong, dad. I didn't want this to happen. What happens if Sam sees this?"

"I think she already has, son. You have one big mess to clean up, now. You have a lot of explaining to do."

"This isn't my fault! I didn't do this. The paparazzi spun some story that isn't there. I don't even like my assistant like that, she's my assistant, that's it. I can't believe my private life was invaded like that."

"It can get worse, son. Trust me. I have personal experience with it. Don't give them anything to talk about and they'll leave you alone and move onto their next target."

"That isn't right, dad. They shouldn't be after anyone like that."

"Well, get used to it, son. You have now become the centre of their attention. Especially since you are now marked as dating your assistant."

"I'll fix it. I will."

"I haven't had a chance to talk to you in a while. How did the fixing up and renovating go everywhere?"

"Good, actually. You now have successful businesses again, I terminated all the partnerships, I fired some people and redecorated some businesses. Now they're successful and making money."

"Glad to hear it, I bet you're making quite the reputation for yourself," he replied.

"Oh, you have no idea," I replied.

"While I love talking to you, I have a meeting to get to. See you later, Hunter."

"Bye, dad." I replied.

I hung up the phone and groaned into my palms. The paparazzi have caused one hell of a mess and now I was responsible for cleaning it up.

I have no idea how much those stupid paparazzi members have fucked up my life. I don't know if I was prepared to undo the damage. "Get me those damn bodyguards now!" I hollered.

Fuck, I shouldn't need to protect myself from some stupid people from trying to invade my life like that. They clearly show no mercy either. It's disgusting.