Chapter 24

Hunter

Today was the day we'd tell the world about us.

Richard Conway had leaked one of the photos of Morgan and me in the restaurant the night before, although he'd kept the most explicit ones to himself, and it had already sensationalized the media. We were on the morning news, and immediately I knew I had to nip the rumors in the bud right away.

So I called another press conference.

Morgan and I stood side by side at the podium, a bank of microphones in front of us and a sea of reporters with their cameras and notepads ready. She seemed slightly tense and understandably stressed about revealing our relationship to the public, so I reached out and took her hand in mine, squeezing it tight for a moment and then letting it go.

She turned her head towards me, her face relaxing a little, and I smiled in her direction, mouthing that "it will all be okay." She visibly calmed, nodded that she was alright, and I shifted my gaze back to the crowd.

As the room quieted down, I took a deep breath. I had to be strong, for her.

"Thank you all for coming today," I began, my voice steady. "We're here to discuss something personal that has been captured and shared without our consent."

"As you may be aware, photos have been circulating in the media," Morgan continued, "Photos that show me and Hunter in what was a private moment. It's unfortunate that our privacy was invaded in such a way. The photographer wouldn't have captured these moments if they weren't spying on us," she added, her tone firm. "However, instead of letting this incident set the narrative for us, we've decided to address it directly."

I took a deep breath, then spoke with even more conviction. "Morgan and I are in a relationship. It's something we chose not to disclose until we were ready. Unfortunately, that choice was taken from us. But we're here today to own our story. We would appreciate it if our privacy was respected moving forward. This conference is to clarify the situation, and we hope it puts to rest any speculation about our relationship," I concluded.

The first question came from a reporter in the front row. "Mr. Blackwater, Ms. Davis, now that your relationship is public, how do you plan to maintain a professional dynamic at Blackwater?"

Morgan answered confidently, "Our professional responsibilities remain our top priority. We've always had a strong working relationship, and we'll continue to uphold that with clear boundaries and a focus on the company's goals."

Another reporter raised her hand. "Do you have any concerns that your personal relationship might affect business decisions or the perception of Blackwater Technologies in the market?"

I took this one. "We're aware of the importance of maintaining a professional image for Blackwater. Our relationship doesn't change our commitment to the company or our stakeholders. We'll continue to make decisions that are in the best interest of Blackwater and its future."

As the press conference was drawing to a close, I noticed a familiar figure in the back.

It was Richard Conway.

He was partially hidden behind a group of reporters, his camera ever at the ready. A surge of irritation washed over me at his presence, but I maintained my composure, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

After taking a few more questions, I wrapped up the conference, "Thank you all for your questions and for respecting our privacy going forward. We appreciate your understanding."

As the crowd thinned, Richard's gaze met mine, a knowing smirk on his face.

I leaned towards Morgan, keeping my voice low. "Stay here for a moment. I need to handle something."

Without waiting for her response, I headed towards the empty room at the end of the hallway where Richard had retreated. My footsteps were heavy, each step fueled by a mix of determination and anger.

I wanted to kill this man. Badly.

I entered the room to find Richard casually leaning against the wall, camera in hand. He straightened up as I closed the door behind us, the click of the latch sounding unusually loud in the silent room.

"Well, Blackwater, quite the little announcement today," Richard started, his tone dripping with insincerity.

"What do you want, Richard?" I asked, cutting to the chase.

He chuckled, a cold sound that filled the room. "Oh, Hunter, I have way more than just those restaurant and zoo pictures. Remember your little love fest with a belt over your desk? In your office and all the sordid things you did to her after that? I've got it all. And it's quite valuable material, you know. Enough to ruin you and your precious company…"

How the fuck did he know about that?

"That's right, Blackwater. I hid a camera in your office, and I captured everything."

I saw red, the heat rising in my body and the blood pumping in my veins. My fists clenched as I imagined slamming them into Richard's face. How fucking dare he do this?

I stepped closer, seething, my voice low and dangerous. "You're playing a very dangerous game, Richard. I thought we had an agreement."

Richard shrugged, nonchalant. "Agreements change, especially when the stakes are this high. You two make quite the story, Hunter. A story worth a lot to the right people."

I stiffened, fighting the urge to let my anger take over. "You're treading on thin ice. I won't let you exploit us."

Richard scoffed, a malicious smile on his face. "There's nothing you can do to stop me. If you try, well… let's just say I've got plenty of leverage. The world will find out everything about you two, and it won't be pretty."

My threat hung heavy in the air, but Richard only laughed, his demeanor infuriatingly calm and collected.

"Oh, Hunter, such dramatics. You do have a flair for theatrics, don't you? Just like in the movies. But let's not pretend we're in one. Murder? That's a bit… messy, isn't it?"

I struggled to keep my composure. I knew he was goading me, but it was difficult not to let him get to me.

"You think you're untouchable, Richard?" I asked, my voice steely. "You're playing with fire."

Richard sauntered to the door, turning to give me a final, sleazy smile. "The thing about fire, Hunter, is that it can be quite illuminating. Or it can burn everything to the ground. Let's see which way this one goes, shall we? Ta-ta for now."

With that, I watched him as he slipped out of the room, leaving me seething with a mix of anger and concern.

I had to protect Morgan and myself from this parasite, but the way forward was murky. I needed a plan, one that wouldn't put us in more jeopardy. As I headed back to Morgan, I knew the next steps required careful thought and a cool head.

I had neither right now.