Chapter 22

I had three big boxes ready on the counter, filled with cupcakes. I had been antsy since the meeting with Aksakov the evening before. When I’m nervous I bake. And I knew I was going to Hunter’s office today. It inspired me as I could say thank you for all the work they had put into my safety. The baking also distracted me from the fact that after today Aksakov wouldn’t be an issue in my life. That would mean that Hunter wouldn’t be a regular part of my life, if any. I told myself I was okay with that, just to have that little voice in my head laugh so hard it would have pulled a muscle if it had a physical body. Okay, so what if I hated the idea of never seeing Hunter again? It wasn’t like he was interested in me. He had made it clear I was of interest because of my connection to Simon and, as an obligation, Hunter had to make things right. I had to live with that. It didn’t change the fact that I had tried on most of my outfits in my wardrobe that would be okay to wear, and some that wouldn’t. I was briefly thinking about wearing a fitted black dress with a modest slit in the back and a square neckline that balanced on what was appropriate for the office. But then I chickened out and changed into black dress pants and a white blouse. Classic but safe, maybe boring. I was getting my feet into my sneakers when there was a knock at my door. I looked and saw that it was Hunter.

“Hi,” I said with a smile as I unlocked the door.

“Hi, ready to go?” he asked.

“Sure, let me just tie my shoes and grab my things,” I told him.

“How are your feet?”

“Better, thanks. Still a little sore, but okay.” I stood up and walked into the kitchen to grab the boxes of cupcakes.

“What’s that?” Hunter asked as he saw what I was carrying.

“You have been so nice to me that I thought I would treat you with cupcakes,” I told him. He held out his hands and I carefully transferred the boxes to him.

“Are you planning to drown me in baked goods?” he joked. I was locking the door and giggled.

“They’re not all for you. They are for everyone that has helped me,” I told him.

“You didn’t have to do this,” he said.

“I know. But I wanted to do something nice for you.”

“Everyone will be exited, they all still talk about your doughnuts,” he told me as he loaded the boxes into his trunk.

“Well I’m happy to hear it. Then they are doing what they should.”

“I thought we would stop for lunch on the way to the office. I haven’t had the time to eat. My treat, as a celebration of getting rid of the mafia,” Hunter said.

“Really?”

“Yeah. I hope you haven’t eaten yet,” he added.

“No,” I told him honestly. My nerves had made it impossible to eat.

“Good, good. Do you like sushi?” he then asked me.

“I like any seafood,” I told him. He smiled and nodded. We headed towards the city centre. The big building we drove up to had a giant sign on its facade reading ‘HopGar Security’.

“Your business takes up the entire building?” I asked, astonished. Hunter chuckled.

“It does. When Jason and I started we rented an office that was a shed in the harbour. We couldn’t cram two desks and a file cabinet into it so we shared a desk. But we have been lucky and it didn’t take more than a year before we could move into better offices. And about ten years ago we bought this place. It gives us a place to gather all our work in one location instead of spreading out. It has made us more efficient and saved costs,” he told me as he drove into the underground parking facilities. “Will the cupcakes be okay in the car while we eat lunch?” he asked.

“Sure, the filling doesn’t need refrigerating and I don’t think it gets hot enough down here to melt the frosting,” I said.

“Good. We’ll pick them up on our way to the office,” he told me as he held open my door and guided me to an elevator. The elevator required an access card to enter it and when the doors opened again, they led us directly out on the street. Hunter took me to a small sushi bar two blocks from the office. The chefs greeted him with more familiarity than the usual polite greeting.

“Come here often?” I asked as we set down at the bar.

“Yeah, I like the food and the people working here. And most of our clients don’t know about it so I rarely need to talk shop,” he told me as we looked at the menu. “I’m on the clock so I will have to skip the sake, but if you want we can order some for you,” he offered.

“No, thank you. I don’t usually drink and if I do, it’s not in the middle of the day,” I said with a smile. We both ordered the eight piece mixed plate and watched as the chefs worked. “This is amazing,” I told him as I had eaten my first piece. I wasn’t exaggerating, it was by far the best sushi I had ever eaten. He looked pleased at my reaction and nodded.

“Told you they had good food,” he said. As we ate we talked about anything that didn’t touch why we were there, or about work, or Simon. We stayed clear on all subjects that could dampen the mood and just enjoyed ourselves. I was grateful as it allowed me to enjoy one of the last moments I would have with Hunter. I would miss him and I was doing my best to preserve any memories I got. Far too soon for my liking, the lunch was over and we were walking back to Hunter’s office. We took the elevator down to the car. We picked up the three boxes, which Hunter refused to let me help him with, and took another elevator. This ride lasted longer and when we stepped out of the elevator I was met by a wall of windows showing the cityscape. We had to be pretty high up judging by the view. “This way,” Hunter told me and we walked into a waiting area. There were comfortable looking chairs and coffee tables with magazines arranged on them. There was also a desk and a woman sitting behind it. “Clair, this is Hana Bishop. Hana, this is Clair, my assistant,” Hunter introduced us.

“Hello, Miss Bishop. It’s nice to meet you,” Clair said with a smile and a nod. She was maybe ten years older than me, had a friendly face and I liked her at once.

“Hi, the same,” I said. Hunter walked into his office and I got stuck in the door. The office was enormous with a sitting group in one corner to the side of the door, a gigantic desk on the other end of the room in front of the floor to ceiling windows that showed the city. There were bookcases and a mini bar alongside four leather armchairs along one wall.

“Come on in and close the door,” Hunter called to me as he put the boxes on his desk. I walked into his office that felt like an extension of Hunter with all the dark brown leather, rich pops of colours and hardwood floors. He looked at home in this place, it was his natural environment. “May I?” he asked, gesturing towards the boxes. I smiled.

“Of course, help yourself. It’s one box with raspberry filled ones, one with lemon curd and the last one is dark chocolate and orange,” I told him. I wasn’t surprised that he went for one of the chocolate cupcakes. He hummed happily as he did his best to eat it without getting frosting on his nose or in his beard. I tried to hide my smile, he looked adorable.

“I’ll place them in the lunch room so everyone can have a go at them,” he told me. “After I have my fill,” he added. “Are you ready for this?” he then asked. I felt myself switching mindsets, it was time to get down to business. I nodded. He hit his intercom. “Clair, can you ask Maria to come up,” Hunter said.

“Yes, Boss,” Clair replied.

“Maria is our tech expert. She will help us set things up so you can transfer the money,” Hunter explained. “Come, sit,” he then said and showed me not to the visitor’s chairs on the opposite side of his desk, but to the couch. I sat down on the leather couch and Hunter sat down next to me. “Are you okay?” he asked. I had lost track on how many times he had asked me that since we met. I would miss it.

“I am. A little nervous, but mostly relieved that this will all be over soon. I am looking forward to being able to move freely without having to look over my shoulder,” I said.

“It will soon be over,” he said, placing a hand on my shoulder. I smiled and nodded.