Chapter 9

9

Hunter stared at her last message with cold eyes. 

'Playing stubborn? I like it.' He mumbled while putting a hand under his head. 

He was in the penthouse on the sofa in the living room, staring at the door of the room Zara was in. Although he insisted on sleeping in bed with her and cuddling her, she refused him without blinking an eye. 

Zara claimed that she was a widow and Hunter was a married man. A married man with a loving and dedicated wife. It would not be appropriate to sleep with him while his wife was waiting for him in their house. 

Though the flames of need to be held tight were evident in her eyes, she suggested maintaining space. This was one of the qualities in Zara that Hunter was crazy about.

She sacrificed her life and love for others. She prioritized others' feelings over hers. She didn't give herself the attention and praise she deserved. 

All her life, she thought about others. Then why shouldn't Hunter thrive to give her a deserving happy life? She deserved to be Mrs. MacIntyre and be the woman cooking food for him in their house. 

Nevertheless, Claire has developed thick skin. It was going to take time to get under her skin and force her to leave him

His jaw clenched as he glared at his phone. 

'Let's see how long can you persist with your charade of being a patient wife.' 

Hunter didn't go to their house the following afternoon for lunch. In fact, he didn't even think about going there for five days straight. And whatever messages and calls he received from Claire were ignored. 

On the sixth day, he finally decided to not look at the messages either. They piled up to hundred plus unread messages from Claire. By the time it was the eighth day, there were about two hundred and fifty missed calls and two hundred plus messages. 

The strange thing was that Claire never left him a voicemail. 

Hunter would go to work from the penthouse, and return back to penthouse from work... Where he would revel in helping Zara in the kitchen. 

Although she insisted on going back to her in-laws daily, one or the other way he deflected her mind. 

On the tenth day, he was amazed to see that the messages had stopped coming from Claire. No missed calls either. 

'Perhaps she realized it's a waste of time.' He smirked to himself. 

Hunter was in the elevator of his office building on his way to the lobby, to call it a day. He scrolled through his social media carelessly while going down. He was reading a certain post when his screen lit up with Thea's name flashing on it. 

Furrowing his brows he thought, 'Not so smart, Claire. You really think I will answer Thea's call. I know it's you on the other side.'

He ignored it and went back to wasting his time on the internet. Thea called again. And again and again. When he noticed that she was typing something to him on W******p, he immediately put his phone on flight mode and pocketed it.

His driver took him to the hotel where Zara was waiting for him in his penthouse. She looked a little off. 

"Hey, baby," He kissed her on the lips much to her hesitation. 

"How many times have I told you not to do that, Hunter? Do you realize how immoral it is? You're cheating on your wife." He ignored her words and pulled her in his lap as he fell on the sofa. 

Their eyes were locked together and breathing in sync. Hunter was about to kiss her again when his phone interfered. 

It was his second phone where he got business related calls from his PA and managers. Sometimes from his friends who had his second number. 

"Son of a bitch," He growled as he saw the caller ID. 

It was Cole. 

Hunter's expressions changed into a one full of bewilderment. 

This is because since he decided to worship Zara and consider his lawfully wedded wife non-existent, Cole was the first of the few people to condemn him. He refused to speak to him properly. 

And although they were partners in a non-profit organisation they started together for the welfare of the people and faced each other on a daily basis during meetings, Cole treated him with indignation and negligence.

"To what does this heartless dickhead owe the pleasure of receiving this call from you, Sir Wordsmith?” Hunter taunted using harsh words that Cole hissed at him ten days ago in the office.

"You're still a heartless dickhead, Hunter MacIntyre." Cole seethed.

His voice was hoarse. 

Hunter heaved angrily, "Then disconnect the call. I am certain you don't want to waste your time on this heartless dickhead." 

Just then Cole growled deep from his chest. A laughter was heard on the phone before Hunter heard.

"I honestly think I should steal your wife and take her away with me." 

Irritation flashed in Hunter's dark gaze. He tightened his hold on the phone as an unknown feeling consumed him after listening to that. 

"Because it's clear as day light that you don't give a fuck about her." 

"What I do with my wife is none of your business." 

"Sure it is not but it's me who is approached every time she gets into trouble. So yeah, to some extent, what you do with your wife is my fucking business." 

The word trouble blared a warning bell in his head. Suddenly Hunter was wary. He slipped Zara on the couch beside him as he leaned forward with forehead creasing. 

"Since you contacted my private number you better come to the point. If you don't have any valid reason then I'm hanging up." Hunter ambled to the window overlooking the beautiful night view of Bloomcrest while loosening his tie.

"You did not go home for ten days, Hunter. Do you know what that has led your wife to do?"

Hunter remained silent. However, when Cole's next words came in, he felt his heart dropping to the floor as his dark orbs twinkled with slight apprehension. 

"She starved herself. Claire is admitted to hospital." Cole paused. 

"I know it's not important for you so you can just stay where you are. But as your best friend I'll take care of your wife for you." He hung up, leaving Hunter with sweat beading his forehead.

"What was it, darling?" Zara hugged him from the back.

In the last ten days, her closeness with Hunter increased. They have not slept together yet. But they were in that phase of their life where physical touch was not considered cheating even if he was still married to another woman.

Although Zara kept saying words like… ‘It's not appropriate!’ ‘You are a married and committed man.’ ‘I recently lost my husband. I shouldn't do this.’, and she anyway ended up in his arms. 

Hunter took a look at Zara's face. What stunned him was the fact that he could see Claire's teary face in place of hers. It made him thrust himself away.

"Zara, I will be right back."

"Hunter, wai... Damn it!" Zara slapped the couch frustratedly.

She wondered what was the case before she decided to follow after him stealthily. She was rendered motionless when Hunter's car stopped in front of the biggest and most expensive hospital in Bloomcrest.

Watching him exit his car quite disturbed, Zara curled her fingers around her skirt, fisting the cloth in an angry hold. She paid the cab and entered the hospital to make inquiries. 

It didn't take her long to comprehend what was happening.

'Playing cleverly to make Hunter notice you, Claire, huh? Nice try. But he's my puppet and I'm the unbeatable player. These acts are childish. Just wait and watch what I do.' Zara spoke to herself and quietly slipped out of the hospital without getting noticed. 

Tbc...

What trick zara will play now?

Looks like Hunter has some soft corner (maybe feelings for his wife!) will he notice is soon?