Baby Be Mine(Spinsters & Casanovas Series Book 1)(20)

“If you want me to stop calling you master, then go get changed. Your odor is not so becoming here,” Betty said, pushing Hunter even farther up the stairs after they all made it inside the grand foyer.

“All right, all right, enough, woman, enough.” Hunter laughed, then made his way to his suite. “I’ll get back at you for this, Betty.”

Hunter smiled, watching his stepmother wind her little hands around his father’s waist in a loving way, leading his old man to the main lounge. He shook his head, then went inside his room to wash away the stench that was staring to corrode his nostrils.

Life for me right now is beautiful, he thought as he stepped into the glory of the hot jet of water spraying from the showerhead. Good food, good life, and not a worry in the world. He had enough money to last him a lifetime, without having to work. What more could he ask for? He was blessed to have this gifted life, and he appreciated every bit of it.

Once clean and donning new clothes—Armani suit and a black silk tie—gelling back his blond hair, he surveyed himself in the tall closet mirror, identical to the one in his apartment in Central Auckland.

Hunter was dressed to impress, a sweeping image from head to toe. All the girls at the company would swoon at the sheer sight of him. He was completely sure even old Mrs. Crood, the moody cafeteria lady, would compliment him. He was ready to face the death-inducing boredom of the merger meeting at Silverton Enterprises.

An hour later, Hunter’s prediction rang truer than a high-priced clairvoyant, as not fifteen minutes into the meeting, he found his eyes closing of their own accord. Everyone was speaking in jargon that he hadn’t a clue as to its meaning. And then to top it all off, the tone of the speaker was so monotone it literally acted as more of a catalyst to lull him to sleep. A few times Anton had to wedge him in the stomach to jolt him awake.

“You fell asleep during the meeting,” Anton hissed when they went out for their coffee break. “How could you do that? Uncle asked you specifically to attend this meeting so you could learn, and here you were sleeping. Where is this going to put his head now?”

“Where it always is. On his shoulders,” Hunter said, sipping his coffee casually, not realizing it was piping hot until he took in a good gulp and ending up scalding his tongue, spitting the entire contents out, and hanging his tongue out like Dori.

“Serves you right, Hunter,” Anton said, giving him some tissue to wipe the coffee off his face.

After blotting away the remaining liquid, Hunter picked up the cup again and glared at his cousin. “What do you mean serves me right?”

“For sleeping during the meeting,” Anton said. “It’s karma, Hunter, karma.”

“Karma my ass. What am I supposed to do? The meeting was so damn boring. Why can’t they hire a better guy to speak?”

“Hunter, stop being a kid and start acting like an adult,” Anton lectured his cousin. “Boring or not, you’re here to listen to what the other side says. Uncle needs you to carry on the line here.”

“He doesn’t need me. He already has you.” Hunter blew his steaming coffee now.

“I’m only his nephew, not his direct offspring. Plus, I’m not fit for this.” Anton resigned to his fate as only second in charge despite being named the best CEO of Silverton Enterprises in E Magazine twice in a year.

Anton was Hunter’s only cousin. When both of his parents passed away, Clinton became his guardian. He worked hard to repay his debt, thus working nonstop to help gain his uncle’s respect while his little cousin grew up. Now the time was right for Hunter to step forth and take the role of CEO, but looking at his cousin’s behavior now, lying back on the chair like he hadn’t a care in the world, like he was some sort of prince waiting for his next consort, it would be a long way yet before the throne was acceded.