The Hunt for Summer (NSC Industries)

by Sidebottom, D H

  “One more fucking step and you’re on your arse buster…” Sara hissed behind me and I placed my hand on the shiny mahogany, the luxury of the wood had my pale gaunt face staring back at me.

  “You remember our wedding day, Ry?”

  I smiled then, a huge grin as I pictured our wedding day. It had pissed it down, thoroughly and relentlessly and Ry had thought it hilarious that when I finally got to him in the registry office, I had been so late I hadn’t had chance to fix my make-up. The rain had pelted against me as I ran all the way there and it had also pelted against my face all the way there.

  By the time I had got to him I looked like something from the living dead. Ryan had grinned at me all the way through the service like a lunatic and cupped my face, calling me beautiful and sexy, as my mascara streaked black lines to my lips, my eye shadow had run and given me dark black eyes and my foundation had seeped all the way down my neck, in thick smeared stripes.

  After the service, he had taken my hand and led me into the bathroom and proceeded to wipe my face gently, in front of the many disgusted women that came and went.

  “You were so handsome baby, in your suit, the only suit you ever wore.” I chuckled then a sob erupted from my throat and I gripped the coffin as my knees jerked.

  “Goodnight, baby. I love you so much. Always, Ry.”

  “Always, Kay” His voice said in my head and I nodded to him.

  I kissed my fingers and planted them on the coffin before I turned and went to sit at the back of the church, Sara growling at the many people who glared at me along the way.

  As soon as we exited the church after the service I felt the fist hit the back of my head and I stumbled to the ground, my knees skimming across the gravel pathway as my hands shot out to stop my face hitting the floor and I hissed at the pain.

  Sara launched at Ryan’s brother Todd, her small petite fists furiously pummelling into his face. “You fucking twat. Big man aren’t you, hitting fucking women…”

  I pulled her off him and shook my head at her “He’s not worth it, Sara.”

  She glared at him, pulled in a huge breath and pointed at him “When you know the full story arsehole, then you can cast aspersions, until then keep your fucking fists to yourself. Whatever you think of Kay, Ry loved her and she loved him and all she wanted was to say goodbye to her fucking husband.”

  “Sare, come on.” I tried, pulling at her arm as Todd got to his feet.

  “He’s dead because of you bitch. You cost him his fucking life twice and I’ll personally make sure you’re joining him soon.”

  I spun around and spat at him, right in his fucking smug face “Please make sure you keep your promise Todd, cos’ I would give anything right now to tell your brother I loved him. I fucking loved him… you even know what that is Todd? Love? Nah, cos’ you aint fucking worth anybody’s love. You have the cheek to stand there and blame me for Ry’s death. Where were you for the last seven years? Eh?”

  He took a step towards me as he wiped my spit from his face “Where was I Kay? I was well away from the place where you put him, that’s where!”

  I nodded slowly “Did you ever go and see Ry and ask why he was actually there?”

  He scoffed and I noticed his mother and father watching me carefully. “Well?” I urged but he remained silent. “No you didn’t. So don’t fucking preach when you have no idea. Ryan loved me, Ry loved me to the ends of the earth and I think myself privileged to have been on the receiving end of that love, because he was the most honest, compassionate, caring man I have ever met. Yes, it was my fault he died, and that will haunt me until the day I die, Todd. But I went to visit him every two weeks. I never missed one order, never forgot him in there. I wrote to him every week and every time I left him there it ripped me apart. But I visited Todd. You haven’t seen him since he went in that place, so don’t you dare pretend to even know what your brother went through.”

  I shook my head sadly at his angry face and then turned and left my in-laws behind me, their mouths wide and their eyes even wider.

  “I could’ve taken him down babe” Sara whispered in my ear as we kept our chins high and our spirits higher.

  I smirked at her “I have no doubt, love, but I didn’t want you to damage your nails on that tosser.”

  She shrugged and regarded her fingers “Awww hell. I think I left one in his eyeball.”

  She sighed heavily then eyed me “Pub?”

  “Hell, yes.”

  Chapter 32

  Lucas

  TWO WEEKS LATER

  “For Christ’s sake, how hard is it to e-mail somebody?” I barked at a flustered Fiona “Move you stupid woman, I’ll do it myself.”

  “I’m so sorry, Mr Hunt. The programme just closed down on me then I seemed to have lost the document. Then the phone rang.”

  I glared at my new temp and shook my head. “God forbid! You actually had two things to do? No wonder you couldn’t cope sweetheart.”

  She grinned and started breathing again and I rolled my eyes when I realised the brain dead tart had thought I was genuinely being compassionate.

  Hitting the send button I stood and turned to her. “Can you manage now?” I asked slowly. She narrowed her eyes slightly as she wondered if I was taking the piss.

  Well done!

  I shook my head and ventured back to my office, dragging my tired feet along the plush carpet as I walked in and my gaze swung to the coffee machine as it had for the three millionth time over the past two weeks.

  Nobody could make coffee like Red, it was perfect; not too weak but not over strong; perfect. Just like her.

  “No, Hunt! You are not gonna do this again” I chastised myself and flopped down in my chair.

  I opened my own e-mails looking for a diversion and my heart skipped at one from a lay.willow. It had to be her, nobody else would use that name and I opened it immediately.

  From: Layla Summers

  To: Lucas Hunt

  Sent: 19/05/2013 11:15

  Subject: Stuff

  Hi Lucas,

  I was wondering what you wanted me to do with your things.

  I can send them by courier to the office or I could give them to Ava to pass on?

  Which would be best for you?

  Anyway, I hope you’re okay and well, sorry.

  Red x

  The way she’d signed it Red brought a smile to my lips, I thought she’d always hated the nickname I gave her but…

  I closed my eyes as her smiling face erupted onto the back of my eyelids and my heart clenched again.

  “God damn it, you fucking pussy!” I slammed my fist on the desk and I heard Fiona yelp.

  I rubbed my eyes with my palms and clicked reply on the e-mail. My fingers hovered painfully on the keyboard. What the hell did I say?

  I can’t stop thinking about you Red.

  I love you more than I can even type Red.

  Please, I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to turn my back on you.

  You are so fucking beautiful and I miss you so much.

  I need you.

  From: Lucas Hunt

  To: Layla Summers

  Sent 21/05/2013 14.11

  Subject: re: Stuff

  Hi,

  Just give them to Ava.

  Thanks

  Lucas

  Why the hell had I hit send?

  “Jesus Christ Lucas, you arsehole!”

  I sucked air through my teeth and wondered if it would help pull the words back through the bloody phone line.

  I had sounded like a heartless bastard. “You are a heartless bastard, Hunt!”

  “Well, finally we agree” Nate smirked from the doorway and I narrowed my eyes on him.

  He lifted a brow at my mood as he stepped into my office and closed the door behind him. “I see your temp is as efficient as ever.”

  We both scoffed at that statement. Fiona had ballsed up many documen
ts that had been forwarded to Nate and if it wasn’t for Ava, checking and editing them, the whole of NSC would’ve probably gone down the pan due to her adding nine zeroes on a finance payment to a company who supplied us with water fountains. Her excuse had been ‘I’m so sorry; the zero key must have stuck’.

  Nate sat in the chair opposite me and regarded me intently. “What do you want, Nate?”

  He sighed then pursed his lips and looked rather uncomfortable for a while. “Had an e-mail from Sandra.”

  I lifted my eyebrows at him but nodded for him to continue. “She’s not coming back. Married the toy boy and they’ve decided to open a bar out in Mexico.” He informed me and I nodded my head respectfully. “Good for her.”

  Nate smiled and nodded, obviously as impressed with Sandra as I was.

  Good luck to her, she must be going on 60 and lover boy was roughly around 30, and to take a risk like that at her age earned my admiration.

  “So…” Nate smiled a bit too widely and I braced myself. “Well, we need to get rid of the temps and get a permanent P.A for you now.”

  “Don’t tell me you’ve offered it to the thick tart out there?” I closed my eyes in preparation.

  Nate barked out a loud laugh and shook his head in humour. “Lucas, I’d really like my company to stay afloat if possible.”

  I glanced through the glass in the door and squinted at Fiona who was stabbing at a key on the keyboard repeatedly and holding her forehead in the other hand. I dreaded to think what she had done now.

  “No, not Fiona but I have managed to get somebody for you. She’s lovely, you’ll like her. She really needs the money so she couldn’t refuse my offer really. She’s efficient, intelligent and a great looker.” He smiled and I liked the first two but wasn’t so bothered about the latter. Red had been a looker and I couldn’t see anybody being more beautiful than her but I nodded to Nate appreciatively. He didn’t need to know I was still pining for my sassy redheaded dancer.

  “Great, when does she start?”

  “Tomorrow, so you better fire your temp. Enjoy!”

  “Don’t bloody worry; nothing will give me greater pleasure. Where are the files for the new P.A?”

  He stood and rolled his head round his neck as he opened my office door “Already on file. All her info is in your system. Ava updated it earlier.”

  “Oh, thanks, I’ll take a gander” I told him as he stepped out and I logged into the employee files.

  Holy Fuck!

  “NATE!!!!”

  I heard his laughter as he disappeared down the corridor and I closed my eyes in despair.

  “Miss Summers, welcome to NSC.” I said to the empty room.

  ***

  She was fucking efficient, I’ll give her that. As I strolled in at 6 o’clock, Red was already in my office, coffee machine whirring, flowers in a tall vase and my system up and running.

  “Good morning, Mr Hunt” she said chirpily without turning around. I could see the tension in her shoulders but give her credit; she was trying to make it easier for both of us by taking the bull by the horns and getting on with things.

  “Red” I really tried to reciprocate her attitude but the sight of her tight ass in an even tighter cream skirt already had my dick pressing into my zip. Her sheer blouse showing her silk camisole underneath didn’t help matters either.

  Fuck me!

  This was going to be fucking torture and I only just managed to supress the groan.

  She turned then and her eyes lifted to mine. I could see her own torture in them as she gulped upon sight of me but her lips lifted into a tight smile.

  “Your coffee shouldn’t be a moment. Would you like to sync diaries before we start?” her soft voiced wavered and my stomach clenched at her anxiety.

  I stared at her like a caged bloody lion; my lust, aggression, despair and love all fought for attention, each wanting to overrule the other and take lead.

  She blinked at me and my teeth sank into my lip when it reminded me of how she would look up at me after making her come, her huge eyes blinking at me in her sated posture.

  “Oh, uhh, yes that would be good.”

  She smiled a little easier then, as my softer tone relaxed her a little more and she took the chair opposite mine, crossing her legs like the ever sexy secretary.

  I puffed out a silent breath behind her then went round the desk and settled in my own chair.

  She had already situated her iPad on my desk and it was already logged in to the system. Why couldn’t bloody Fiona have been this competent?

  “I’ve already harmonised each diary but I need updating and anything arranged for today, I also need your personal engagements.”

  I nodded and glanced at my monitor to avert my eyes from the stunning swell of her breasts against her sexy little blouse. Knowing how fucking magnificent her tits actually looked under that blouse had my cock throbbing even more.

  “Uhh, just the usual. Dry cleaning, my car needs a service booking in. Oh, could you get onto that clothing company I use and order me a few shirts, white and black should do.” She nodded and tapped away and I risked a glance at her exquisite face as her gaze was diverted.

  She really was stunning and my breath wheezed a little as my eyes roamed down the length of her elegant neck and onto the patch of pale freckled skin that was exposed at the opening of her shirt.

  She looked up at me expectantly and I quickly averted my eyes, hoping she hadn’t caught me looking.

  “Anything else, Mr Hunt?”

  The way she said ‘Mr Hunt’ had my fists clenching and my teeth gnawing together. What the fuck? I mean, I think we were onto first names by now, but if that’s the way she wanted to play then I would participate in her game and perform as she expected.

  “I need some flowers arranging for Erica…”

  I saw her fingers stutter on her keypad and I wanted to swipe that last statement from the air, take it back but I also didn’t want her to see how much she had hurt me, I didn’t want her to know how much I had been pining for her.

  “No, in fact scratch that, I’ll pick some up on my way home instead.”

  God damn it Lucas! What the hell is wrong with you?

  She swallowed and nodded but kept her eyes trained on her tablet. “Is that all?” she asked and I noticed the tightness in her voice but she swallowed again and looked up at me with a smile plastered to her beautiful face.

  I nodded simply. She nodded in return then scurried out of my office and I knew she was hiding how upset she was from me.

  “You fucking prick, Hunt.”

  I couldn’t seem to stop myself saying stuff to hurt her, but if I was honest, I was doing it in attempt to rid her from my system.

  It had been two weeks since I had last seen her but she had been in my head for every damn second of those two weeks and I was desperate to move on.

  The way she had sobbed over that… that bastard. It was unbelievable. How the hell, after everything, she could mourn a man that had hurt her beyond comprehension was just… damn fucking insane and I had actually wondered how she could even love me after grieving for a man that would have seen me six foot under; along with already putting her husband there.

  I sighed when I realised she hadn’t poured my coffee. “Re… Miss Summers. Coffee.”

  She wasn’t that efficient after all.

  Chapter 33

  Layla

  Why the hell had I said yes to Nate? Because it was a good regular income Lay, that’s why.

  This was torture, utter, utter agony and when he had asked for flowers for Erica, I think the last remaining piece of my heart dropped into my lungs.

  It hadn’t taken him long to move on. I thought I had actually meant more to him than that, but obviously he wasn’t as into me as he’d declared.

  Then again, thinking about it, his loving statements had been professed during our passionate embraces.

  He was just another typical male; whisper words of love and grin whilst the
y open their legs.

  Bloody stupid Lay, bloody stupid.

  Well, you know what Layla Summers, you can do better girl and it’s time to show Mr Lucas fucking Hunt exactly what he’s swapping for Erica bloody Tartness.

  “Re… Miss Summers. Coffee.” he shouted and I stood, inched my skirt a little over my hips and smiled to myself as I swayed into his office.

  I sauntered past him and smirked when I realised I hadn’t taken his little tiny stupid espresso cup from the cupboard. What a shame I had to bend to get in the cupboard.

  So I bent, at the waist, straight over. Oops, my skirt lifted up my thighs and gave him a glimpse of my stocking tops.

  Oh dear, how unprofessional.

  I scrunched up my face as I heard a slight whimper from behind me and stood up, slowly smoothing my skirt over my hips.

  You are one wicked woman Layla Summers.

  I placed the minute, don’t even bother, cup under the spout and pressed the button. Why he couldn’t do this simple task was beyond me, but then again, he was of the male variety so that explained everything.

  As I waited for his coffee to splutter out I approached his window and turned to Lucas. I had to swallow back the laugh at his pale face as he eyed me curiously. “Ooh, it’s really warm in here.”

  I huffed out a breath as I grabbed the front of my blouse and wafted it, making sure my nipples had the full effect of the cool air coming through the window.

  I sank my teeth into my bottom lip when Lucas dropped his gaze to my breasts and I sneakily pulled the material taught against my breasts, showing him just how cool the air was on my sensitive little nipples.