Baby Be Mine(Spinsters & Casanovas Series Book 1)(18)

“Hey, Dori.” Hunter scratched the dog’s ear as he rolled around on the ground. “Long time, no see, little bro.”

In response, the dog just lay near Hunter’s feet, wagging his tail, his tongue lopped out on one side in satisfaction.

“Hunter!” A deep voice sounded from inside the house.

“Crap!” he uttered. When he looked up, he saw his father heading his way. “Hey, Dad. How’s life on this side of the equator?”

“Hunter, I’m going to strangle you,” Clinton Silverton said by way of greeting his only son. “Why did I send you to the States? You wasted my fortune!”

Hunter’s father, Clinton, had wanted him to go to the US to negotiate a deal. But his son had failed him. Not only that, but he had partied each night away and spent all the money meant for the expenditure of the deal on his midnight pleasures. He didn’t report back until Anton told him the news about the deal being off.

“Come on, Dad. People make mistakes. I’m sure we didn’t lose much.”

“We didn’t lose much?” Clinton’s face fumed with madness and he pulled at his hair in frustration with his no-good son.

“We lost a good three hundred grand,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Holy shit! That much?” Hunter asked, surprised. Surely he didn’t spend all that much. He knew the negotiation didn’t go well, so he assumed they would lose the deal anyway. Instead of coming home immediately, he stayed in the States a few days extra for some much needed holiday—the last one over two weeks prior. Plus, it was an extra bonus to see Fern, his best friend from college, too.

“That much,” Clinton confirmed.

“Look, Dad, I’m sorry. How about if I make it up to you somehow?” Hunter asked. He didn’t like to disappoint his father; the old man did fund his living expenses. Anything to make him happy.

“Good. You will go to the meeting today,” Clinton declared.

“No. Not the meeting,” he moaned. “You know how boring it is. The last time I was there, I fell asleep.”

“Well, you’ve got to learn somewhere. You’ll be taking over this empire pretty soon. I’m not going to be here forever,” Clinton said, persuading his son.

Clinton knew his son loved him and would never intentionally disappoint him. Sure, he was a little bit of a rotten egg once in a while, but the boy just needed some responsibility to toughen him up and straighten his path. This time he was sure to make his son take full responsibility, and good practice starts with having a good mentor. He was certain Anton would be his perfect mentor.

“Come now, Dad. Don’t talk like that.” Hunter led his father to the azalea trestle that shaded the roof from the sun, where there were a few outdoor seats. “Here, sit down.” He gestured for his father to take one of the seats and started massaging his father’s arms. “A young man like you will live up to a hundred years.”

“Only a hundred?” Clinton smiled at his son, a sparkle of love in his eyes, no longer angry.

“Okay, a hundred and fifty, then.” Hunter smiled, happy his father was no longer mad at him.

“I don’t need to live that long. I just want to see you and Anton get married, settle down, and have a family.”

“Well, for Anton, there won’t be a problem, but for me, well, let’s just wait and see how the future pans out.” He scratched his nose.

“Can’t you do this much for your old man?” Clinton asked in desperation.

Clinton knew he was getting old. He wanted his son to have a family. More importantly, he wanted a grandchild. He was way over sixty. His first wife, Andrea, conceived Hunter when she was in her early thirties, while Clinton was in his forties. Once Hunter was born, his beautiful wife had passed away, due to cancer, leaving him to look after their baby.