Chapter 4 -HUNTER- Three years away , and now I was back home . Back to the very place I had sworn never to return . 38 It's strange how , despite everything that happened between my father and me , he never failed to remind me why I was able to enjoy the life I was living . " Everything I own is yours ," he had once said . Well , now I planned to leave my mark everywhere until my father's name became nothing but a memory . A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts . I didn't bother turning away from the floor - to - ceiling window in front of me , my gaze fixed on the New York skyline . The sun was setting , its orange hues flooding the room in a warm glow . It was beautiful , almost peaceful . " Come in , " I said , my voice sharp but low . The door creaked open , and Mr. Tallace , the manager of this hotel branch , stepped in cautiously . " Yes ? " I asked coldly , not moving from my spot . He stammered , clearly nervous . " I ... I've carried out your instructions , sir . Miss Brown has been fired . " At the mention of the name , I arched a brow . " Miss Brown ? " I asked , finally turning to face him . I walked to my chair and sat down , my eyes never leaving the trembling man before me . " The young woman with a child , " he explained , his voice faltering . " The one you asked me to get rid of . " Ah , yes . Her . How could I forget ? Those eyes of hers - tired , hopeless , and scared - were carved into my memory . But it wasn't her that stayed in my mind the most . It was the boy . His face was a mirror of my own as a child , and I hated it . Hated being reminded of the broken boy I used to be . I should have been furious at the hotel staff for hiring her in the first place - a young mother with a child in tow . " The Aurelia " and its staff were supposed to symbolize perfection . I had worked too hard to secure our spot among the top ten globally for them to hire just anyone . " Who authorized her employment ? " I asked , my tone icy . " A mother and her child in my hotel ? Imagine what the guests would say if they found out . Some might even call it abuse . " Mr. Tallace visibly flinched under my gaze , his knees buckling as he fell to the floor . His head bowed low , his voice trembling . " I'm so sorry , sir . It was a mistake on my part . I didn't know she would bring her child to work , " he stammered . " So , you're saying she outsmarted you ? " I asked , scoffing in disbelief . The girl I'd seen earlier was weak , fragile , and terrified . Those were traits I hated , but watching her scramble in fear had given me a perverse sense of satisfaction . 1/4 9:06 pm BB BB Chapter 4 It wasn't enough . I wanted to see her break even more . I hadn't felt anything since I arrived back here - not anger , not pain , not even joy . Just a hollow , numbing void . +38 1 Dr. Logan , my therapist , had once told me it was due to my unresolved childhood traumas . He had advised me to open up to people , try dating , find hobbies , or at least stop burying myself in work . But I wasn't the type to listen . " That weak thing outsmarted you ? " I repeated , the corner of my mouth twitching into a cold smirk . " It seems I need to start cleaning the house . Incompetent workers have no place here . You're fired . " " What ? " Mr. Tallace gasped , his voice filled with disbelief . " But ... but , sir , I did nothing wrong ! " " Nothing wrong ? " I echoed , standing as I moved back to the window . " You allowed a liability into my hotel . That , in itself , is wrong . See yourself out , Mr. Tallace , or I'll call security to drag you out . " Silence hung in the air for a moment before the sound of scrambling footsteps filled the room . Mr. Tallace had no choice but to leave , the soft click of the door signaling his exit . Once again , I was alone . The sun had almost disappeared now , the room growing darker as the skyline sparkled with city lights . hed my fists , staring into the glass until my reflection blurred . that boy . The one who had stared back at me through the child's innocent eyes . nated them both . And I wouldn't stop until everything in this place - everything my father once held dear - was mine to destroy . -CELINE- A week had passed since I was fired from " Aurelia . " Seven days of dragging Caesar from one hotel to another , filling out applications , and hoping for even the smallest chance of employment . The answer was always the same : " We'll get back to you . " Some of them did . Only to tell me I didn't get the job . I sat in a small café near Caroline's workplace , fingers wrapped tightly around a lukewarm cup of coffee . It wasn't much , but it was all I could afford . The last thing I needed was for Caesar to notice how close we were to being out of money . At least Caroline was thriving . Her family's wealth and connections had paved the way for her to live her dream life . She'd called me earlier to meet her for lunch . Not like I had anything else to do . " What can I get for you and this little prince charming ? " A cheerful voice broke through my thoughts . I looked up to see a brunette waitress smiling warmly at me , her notepad suspended in her hand . " Oh , hello , " I said softly , managing a faint smile in return . I picked up the menu , but the words blurred together . Nothing on it seemed affordable . 2/4 INTERROS 3/4 9:06 pm G BGB Chapter 4 " Your son is adorable , " the waitress said , her voice tinged with genuine admiration . +39 I lowered the menu slightly , glancing at Caesar . He was happily engrossed in his toy truck , humming a little tune to himself . For a moment , my heart eased . " Thank you ," I said , my voice quieter now . " He has such striking features , " the waitress added , glancing toward something behind me . " He reminds me of him . Is he the father ? " Her words froze me mid - breath . Slowly , I lowered the menu completely and turned to follow her gaze . It landed on a billboard across the street . Hunter Reid . His face dominated above the city , larger than life , as though he owned every corner of it . My chest tightened , anger bubbling beneath the surface . That smug , arrogant face haunted me even when I wasn't looking for it . He was the reason I'd been fired . The reason I was here now , sitting in this café with no job and decreasing hope . I scoffed internally . Caesar didn't look like him , not even close . And even if he did , the thought of Hunter being his father made my stomach churn . " I don't know him , " I said bluntly , my voice sharper than intended . The waitress blinked , clearly caught off guard . " Oh ... I just thought , with the resemblance- " " He is not the father , " I cut her off , my tone rising before I could stop myself . My voice carried across the café , drawing curious stares from nearby tables . " A man like him could never be a father , " I added , bitterness dripping from every word . The waitress shifted uncomfortably , her earlier smile faltering . " I'm sorry , " she murmured , taking a small step back as though sensing she'd overstepped . I clenched my jaw , heat rising to my face as I realized how loud I'd been . My fingers trembled as they gripped the edge of the table . This was his fault . Even when he wasn't here , Hunter Reid still had the power to ruin my day. I looked at Caesar , who was playing with his truck . He seemed happy and didn't notice the tension around us . Taking a deep breath , I forced myself to calm down . " It's fine , " I said quietly , though my voice was tired . The waitress nodded quickly and hurried away , leaving me alone with my thoughts . I stared down at my coffee , the lukewarm liquid mirroring the pit in my stomach . No matter how much I tried to move forward , his shadow loomed over every step I took . Hunter Reid . The man who had destroyed my life with a single , careless decision - and walked away smiling . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!