Chapter 25 #2
We talked casually about the Yankees for a few minutes.
I noticed Morgan continued to stay out of the conversation, keeping his eyes on his plate or around the surroundings.
I suspected that this was one of the few times Morgan could escape his father’s presence, even with him physically no more than four feet away, and he wanted to take full advantage of the opportunity.
Mr. Hunt kept the charm up, suggesting I go to games with him in his press box and promising the world.
Our steaks came without us even ordering, and somehow, Mr. Hunt had ordered my favorite—medium-rare ribeye.
I chomped into my steak, savoring the juiciness and the fat that came with it.
I couldn’t remember when, if ever, I had had ribeye this fucking delicious, but for how good it was, it almost made this whole encounter with Edwin Hunt worthwhile.
Finally, as the waiter acknowledged it was time for dessert—something which, again, I had no say in but suspected Edwin Hunt had somehow found out—we got to what seemed to be the point of the dinner.
“Now, Chance, I understand you had an unfortunate incident at Burnson Investments.”
Something you had a part in, you prick. I wouldn’t have gotten fired if you and Craig or whoever hadn’t fucked me over.
“I understand that at your age, things can get a little out of control, and you can have difficulty handling your emotions.”
You motherfucker. Just get to the point.
“Truth be told, when John told me what had happened, I just laughed. Too many of our associates don’t have the balls to say what they are really thinking—they’d rather kiss my ass than give it the kick that it needs. That you did that to John made me a happy man.”
I refused to believe almost everything that Mr. Hunt had just said.
Pretty much the only thing I believed was that almost all of his associates brown-nosed instead of speaking the truth.
But the idea that he laughed… OK, maybe he did laugh.
But he wasn’t laughing at John so much as he was laughing at the ridiculousness of his adopted son.
And he certainly wasn’t made a happy man by that.
“I know what happened with the Taylors was a little rough, but I think that your failure can actually make you a better businessman.”
Oh, you have no idea.
“I know it’s embarrassing. But I had failures like that, too, and I got chewed out and reamed all the same. It’s not fun, oh no, but it makes you better. I believe, Chance, that you are better than when I got you the job at Burnson’s company.”
Yeah, no shit, I’m the one that would have procured a great deal if not for my big mouth with Layla.
If not for her…
“So, this is why I have called you here, Chance. A few weeks ago, I gave you this opportunity and you declined, which, given what you were working on, is completely understandable.”
I could hear the strain in Mr. Hunt’s voice. He didn’t actually believe that it was acceptable. It was almost funny if it wasn’t so serious to see Mr. Hunt fake it—and if I didn’t fear what lengths Mr. Hunt would go to to enact revenge or “right” something that was wrong.
“However, now that your circumstances have shifted and it would only be right for a boy in your position to push to receive a job, I would like to present you with the same opportunity again.”
I gulped. I should have known. I did my damn hardest not to look at Morgan, but I could see the nerves out of the corner of my eye.
“Not only that, I would like to make you a director,” Mr. Hunt said. “Your time at Burnson Investments, for as unfortunate as it ended, prove that you listened to the lessons I gave you two when you were young.”
You mean lessons you gave Morgan that I was allowed to eavesdrop on.
“You would prove invaluable to our company. I trust that you will make the right decision.”
“I very much appreciate it, sir,” I said, putting a facade of a smile on my face. “And when do you need a decision by?”
“Oh, Chance, it’s almost like you don’t know me,” Mr. Hunt said. “Before you leave here.”
The truth was, there was no debate.
I was never going to work for Edwin Hunt as long as I lived.
I had a better chance of never working again and going homeless than working for Edwin Hunt.
I had sworn to not rely on the last name Hunt, and while that had shifted some to not relying on Edwin Hunt, the result of these thoughts was the same for this case.
But I could not reveal why, at least not the real reason why. I had to keep Morgan out of this.
“I appreciate the offer,” I said, and already, I could see Mr. Hunt’s eyes narrowing. “But I want to make a name for myself. You’ve done so much for me and I am forever grateful, but I want to prove I can accomplish things on my own. So thank you, but I decline.”
“I see,” Mr. Hunt said, gritting his teeth. “Morgan, would you please tell your brother how silly he is being?”
Morgan grimaced, cleared his throat, and looked at me. He didn’t wink, he didn’t kick me under the table, he didn’t drop any hints—but he didn’t need to. I knew from his eyes, from how he had greeted me before dinner, and how hard he worked on MCH that what he said was insincere.
“Father will get you anything you need and everything you need, Morgan,” he said. “You would be foolish to pass up this great opportunity. I highly recommend you think about it.”
“I know,” I said. “But when Mr. Hunt offered me the job back when, I didn’t decline it because of anything to do with the deal at the time or Mr. Burnson. I declined it because, in the end, I don’t want to be known as the second coming of Edwin Hunt. I want to be known as Chance Hunt, my own man.”
“Enough,” Edwin said with a huff. “Chance, I will leave the offer for you for the next 24 hours. Perhaps some part of you will come to your senses and realize what a mistake you have made. You know what happens to people who choose not to associate themselves with me?”
Is this… is this a threat? Edwin Hunt is threatening me?
Is this really happening?
“They wind up failing, that’s what,” Mr. Hunt said. “They end up begging to come back to me. They are losers. And I reject them laughing, because if they wanted to be with me, they would have gone with me in the first place.”
“I’ve seen the meetings, I know.”
I had not meant to speak so boldly and directly, but I didn’t regret that I had. Seeing Mr. Hunt’s wide eyes and stunned expression gave me everything I could have ever wanted.
Only by the grace of the arriving dessert did things get semi-comfortable. Now, it was Mr. Hunt’s turn to sit silently and stew while Morgan and I discussed sports. We didn’t even come close to spilling our secret, and why would we?
As we headed out, Mr. Hunt placed a firm, unnecessarily strong grip on my shoulder.
“Twenty four hours, Chance,” Mr. Hunt said. “I shouldn’t be allowing you to make a choice like this, but Melanie has persuaded me to. Don’t disappoint me.”
Without another word, he got into a limo that pulled up. The limo drove off, and both Morgan and I stared until it had turned the corner.
“You have to be careful now,” Morgan said.
“No shit, ya think?” I said. “I would think that goes doubly for you, since you’re under his eye twenty-four seven.”
“Yeah, but he thinks I’m the angel of the family.”
It wasn’t even said sarcastically, more like bitterly matter of fact.
“He’s going to be watching you closely to see what you’re doing,” Morgan said. “And don’t think he won’t do whatever it takes. Don’t do work on public networks or in public, period. He will have people following you.”
“I know.”
“Do you, Chance?” Morgan said. “I’m not trying to scare you. But my father doesn’t take no for an answer well. He will do whatever it takes. We cannot be found out until I resign. And even then, that is going to be a nightmare.”
“I know.”
“So, please, Chance, promise me you’ll be careful.”
I almost dismissively waved him off, except I had already gone to a coffee shop to do work once already.
I had gotten away with it then because Mr. Hunt had not had me on his “hit list” but he sure as hell would now.
I didn’t even plan on calling him to reject the job a second time—partly out of ego, partly to piss him off, and partly just because I’d said enough.
But that would only infuriate the old bear even more. I had to cover my tracks. I had to be careful.
Otherwise, the name Hunt wouldn’t just be attached to me, it would stalk more forever.
“Promise.”