Loved

Iris’s p. o. v.

A week after Hunter got back from the hospital.

Two months since I started working as his secretary. It feels like a lifetime.

I was on my way back from work and decided to stop by a pastry shop to get some cupcakes for the house.

Believe me when I say, they never run out of them.

I have a feeling that they always stack it up for Louie and I’m very grateful for that. The least I could do was buy another with my cash.

I hailed a cab that took me directly to the huge gates of the mansion then paid the man off before furthering.

The Security team at the gate readily let me through having been accustomed to my face and I sent them a smile as I walked through.

It’s entirely sad that I really don’t know them all cause they seem nice enough, I’m only familiar with their names and we’re usually on formal notice as the secretary to their boss.

I swapped my arms contents, the one carrying my briefcase with the other carrying the cupcakes. My briefcase was unusually heavy today because I was bringing most of Hunter’s work home.

Every file, invitation, receipt and cheques were brought up to his bedroom, where he and Guillermo were readily attending to the previously delivered.

Ever since Hunter got back from the hospital, he’s been acting on the edge. I’m not referring to the both of us not speaking. That has persisted over the days, even when his father asked for my help as his physiotherapist. He’d rather pay off a guy fifty thousand a session.

But what I’m talking about is his general behavior and conduct. Like he feels insecure about something.

I still have a hunch that his ‘accident’ had everything to do with his previous drug boss and his current character is confirming it.

But who am I to speak? It’s not like I’ll get an answer even if I tried.

I sighed at the current situation of things. Not only has Hunter been on edge but I also.

I’ve been ignoring Mason’s calls since the photographs, who knows what else could be done? They could have mobbed our cellphone lines for all I know.

The most surprising thing I realized right now is that Hunter finding out about Louisa’s relationship to him, is the least of my worries.

To think that it was what worked me up the most at the start. There weren’t actually any underground drug tales and forbidden relationships then either.

The way my life changed within two months is very funny to be honest. I’ve had the most drama of my life within two months more than the past four years.

I got to the step leading indoors but a letter caught my eye.

Isn’t it meant to be delivered to the mailbox? I’m pretty sure one of the security officials deliver these daily, Thomas I recall.

So a letter by the doorstep was off. I remember seeing Hunter pick an envelope of resemblance to this the day he returned from the hospital and after reading it his expression went cold.

Hmm.. maybe I could go through it just in case.

I picked the slim rectangular brown envelope and softly ripped it off it’s glued edges.

Indeed it was another letter and I opened the paper with unnecessary eagerness biting at my skin.

But the first words was enough to compare to a bucket full of ice pouring down my back.

This one’s for you. IRIS.

Who in this vicinity officially knows me as Iris? Those who do would never send me a post card except my parents but they refer to me as Teddy.

I stopped my over thinking and continued to read to decipher who sent it.

Hunter’s playing games with us, And this is a fair warning. My skills are unlimited but his time is.

Signed.

$oldo××

Soldo!?

Soldo!!?

What in the world did I do to Soldo!?

Hunter’s time is limited? How?

I need to talk with my boss.

I ran inside and not paying attention to anything else, I ran upstairs.

After a knock on his door, I didn’t wait for a response before going in.

I almost regretted my actions.

Keyword: almost.

Because Hunter was actually shirtless and heading for the door but seeing me open it without a consent actually shocked him.

” Oh do come in, no need to waste your time knocking” his sarcasm was not needed at this hour.

I handed him the letter in my hand and at first he looked skeptical but still read it.

Two seconds of reading the paper but no reaction.

Three.

Four..

Fi-

His eyes widened and he continues to read the hardcopy of a horror movie.

All he needed was ten seconds but I’m sure he read that paper over twelve times.

” Where did you see this?” Was the first thing he asked me after snapping out of his daze.

” By the step. What does he mean by limited?”

” Nothing. Forget it. Do you have some more files?” He avoided the topic and reached for my briefcase which I withdrew.

I just realized I left my cupcakes outside.

” Don’t avoid it. What does he mean? And why am I involved? Is this similar to the last one you saw?”

He looked shocked again like he wasn’t expecting anyone to have noticed anything.

” Jules hand me the files. I’ve got work to do”

I was about to speak again when Guillermo emerged from the door at the other end of the room that leads to the balcony.

” Miss Jules, how are you doing?” The chirpy elderly man asked and I sighed knowing Hunter had won this.

” I’m fine Guillermo. Thank you”

The man nodded at my reply and stood still at his spot like he was waiting for Hunter.

” Am I doing your treatment for you today or is he coming?” I asked Hunter bearing in mind that his father had pleaded with me to persuade him.

” He’ll be coming.” He said and I know it was the end of our discussion.

I gave him the briefcase, sent Guillermo a nod and walked away.

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Hunters p. o. v.

It wasn’t up to a second after Iris left Guillermo spoke up.

” Why are you being so harsh to her? She’s only trying to help” he scolded but maintained his position.

” I don’t want her help” I grumbled and walked to my bed to open up the briefcase and gather what’s mine.

” I really don’t know what relationship you guys had when acquainted in the past, but she’s willing to let it go and you’re not”

I scoffed at his speech and Guillermo scoffed in mockery.

” Honestly if I were Jules, I would have given up on you long ago”

I was still selecting my necessary documents when I responded.

” And what makes you think she hasn’t?”

” It’s because it’s obvious. Look what she does for you!”

” My secretary would have done that too”

” Jules cares more”

” I see” I closed the briefcase and moved to my drawer to grab a stapler.

” Remember that night you came home on your own drunk? I don’t know what happened between you both, but Jules cried so bad that day. She even had Louisa excuse her”

” What makes you think it’s cause of me?” I found the stapler and started to shuffle for pins.

I do remember seeing her cry, but I didn’t think it was before the time I saw her.

” When you demanded to see her immediately you got home gave it away”

” That doesn’t explain a thing”

” Hunter, Jules cares for you, are you so blind to see?”

” She doesn’t and she shouldn’t Guillermo”

” What is with the childish rivalry? Why not grow up? Aren’t you bigger than the past?”

” That’s the problem!” I took a deep breath.

” You can’t let go?” Guillermo asked looking confused.

” No. I’m bigger than my past Guillermo but sometimes your past can be bigger than you”

“That’s not-” the man started but I stopped him.

” You’re aware that Jules and I had met before but did you even know what our relationship was?”

Guillermo kept silent for me to explain.

” Guillermo, I was the reason Jules cried. I was the reason for her scars. I was the reason for her burns and pains. I was the reason she hated coming to school. I was the reason she hated waking up to see the next day. I was the reason she was lonely. I was the reason people detested her. I was the reason Jules never finished school”

I halted and caught my breath slowly as Guillermo watched me with a strange emotion in his eyes.

” I was her bully Guillermo. Not her enemy. Not her rival. If Jules even dared to compete with me then, I’d possibly kill her. I caused her so much hurt and pain. That was my relationship with her. And to top it all off, I was the one who raped her and got her pregnant. I was also the same person who caused the death of the kid. Guillermo I was a beast!”

” Death?” He questions my words.

” Yes. He died” remembering when Iris had told me it was a boy.

” Hunter, why did you-” Guillermo actually looked disappointed in me. Could I blame him? I’m disappointed inmyself too.

” I don’t know” I huffed and ran my hand through my hair.

Or maybe I do know.

” This is-” I interrupt him again.

” Terrible? Horrible? Disastrous?, I know and that’s it. There’s no fucking way I’d let that girl help me. After everything I’ve done to her you think I’d let her help me? I never had a heart then, but I do now and I will never let her do it”

” She wants to let go”

” She can. But I can’t. Guillermo all I did then was make her cry. I was her worst nightmare. Year’s passed and now all she’s giving back to me are smiles and assistance. If guilt doesn’t kill me, I’ll do it myself”

” You’ll do no such thing! Have you apologized to her?”

” Of course I have. I had to.”

” So why were you so mean to her when all you wanted was for her to be happy. Just not with you”

” When I saw Jules, I saw a girl who had forgiven me and was willing to work with me. I couldn’t let her forgive me, so I was giving her a reason to hate me”

” Hunter listen to me. If Jules has let it go then you should let yourself go too”

” It wouldn’t be easy”

” I know. It won’t but try. Let her help you. If you know you wanna make her happy then let her help you. You need to grow Hunter. She has”

I let his words drive deep into my soul.

Maybe it’s the truth. I can’t forgive myself.

I need to grow.