The Enemy Contract (Westbrook #2)

3. Hunter

Chapter 3

Hunter

T he Whitakers had gone all out for the evening’s charity event.

Being Betsy’s son, I was no stranger to formal, lavish, outrageously expensive affairs, but it was nice to attend one as a guest without all the pressure Mother added when she hosted.

As I waited in the limousine, tapping my foot impatiently, I surveyed the grounds from afar while no one could see me. I was near the main gates of the Whitakers’ home, waiting for Avery to arrive, hoping he’d be on time.

Mother was going to drop him off before she drove down the winding driveway. That way, Avery could slip into the backseat of my limo undetected.

Like we were James Bond in a retelling I wanted no part of.

When I asked Mother why I couldn’t simply swing by and pick Avery up before the event, she muttered something about the necessity of dramatic flair.

Finally, the car door opened and in climbed Avery.

Mother winked and waved from the driver’s seat of her shiny, sporty Cadillac before speedily driving toward the Whitakers’ house.

Avery nudged me with his elbow. His hair was neatly styled, and his suit was impeccable.

He had obviously gone all out for the affair.

Or maybe Mother had chosen his outfit.

Either way, he cut a nice figure in his suit.

Almost dashing, if not annoyingly frustrating.

This entire affair was ridiculous.

But, judging from the exasperated yet slightly amused expression on Avery’s face, he at least commiserated.

Then again, there was something in his eyes that hinted he might be enjoying this.

How the hell did I get roped into this?

Avery adjusted his tie. “Is this always what it’s like for Hunter Westbrook?”

Confusion flashed across my face. “Meaning?”

“The grand theatrics,” he said, gesturing toward Mother as she drove away, “the flashing lights, the spectacle of it all.”

I leaned back in my seat, resigned. “Welcome to the Westbrook way. You’ll get used to it pretty quickly.”

The limo driver slowly started driving down the long winding path toward the Whitakers’ house. I noticed crowds standing around, eagerly awaiting the next arrival. It felt like debuting a film at a movie premier.

Avery’s loud sigh filled the car as his posture stiffened. “This feels like an ambush.”

“It feels that way because it is. Don’t forget, you agreed to this.”

I hoped I didn’t come across cocky or aloof, but I was trying to keep things straightforward between us. After my initial reaction to Mother showing me his photograph, I knew I needed to watch myself.

Avery was clearly gorgeous, and I couldn’t let that get in the way.

Avery scoffed. “I agreed because I didn’t have a choice. Let’s not pretend this arrangement isn’t mostly for your family’s benefit.”

I turned and looked at him directly in the eye, just as we pulled up to the motor court. “This arrangement, if you can call it that, benefits both of us and you know it. Twenty million dollars isn’t exactly pocket change, Avery.”

Avery’s eyes narrowed. He clearly hadn’t expected me to call a spade a spade.

Hell, even I hadn’t expected it of myself.

“That’s what this is to you, right?” he asked as the limo came to a stop. “A neat little transaction to clean up your family’s mess?”

Heads turned and looked at us as we sat in the back of the car. The grand estate house glowed against the night sky.

Apparently, Avery could dish it back to me.

But this wasn’t the place for us to hash this out.

“Isn’t that what this is for you, too?” I asked, my voice low, almost growling. “Don’t get sanctimonious on me now. We’re both here because we need something—right?”

He exhaled sharply, leaning back in his seat. “All right. Fine. But don’t expect me to be good at… whatever you’d call this.”

“You’ll do fine,” I said, reaching for the door handle. “Just follow my lead. Smile when you’re supposed to, laugh when it’s appropriate to do so, and don’t contradict me when we’re in front of a crowd.”

His lips pressed together as he studied me. “And what if I don’t feel like smiling?”

I cleared my throat. “You will. Because you need this just as much as I do.”

Avery scowled, appearing resigned.

I hoped I hadn’t been too harsh.

But the truth was that we needed to treat this like a business transaction if we had any chance of making it work.

“Let’s just get this over with,” he mumbled.

I tapped on the partition and the driver hopped out to open the door for Avery.

“Ready?” I asked, reaching out to open my door.

He hesitated for a moment, his face set in a mask of calm.

Finally, he nodded. “Let’s do this.”

It was nice to see him project confidence, even though he was obviously uncomfortable.

And with those final words, we stepped into the lion’s den.