Page 34 of Hacking His Code
“I’m a quick learner. I’m sure it will only take a couple of minutes.”
She scoots over until she’s next to me, taking her place with the pillow to her back. After clicking through various screens to show me the files, I take the laptop from her, slowly going through them, knowing that if I can keep her on the bed long enough, she’ll eventually doze off.
The whole ordeal is painfully boring, but after twelve long minutes of mindless perusing, she’s out.
Looking at Arinessa as she sleeps, you’d never realize she’s so full of chaos, working odd jobs to get her life in order, caring so attentively for her mother. I admire her greatly, which only enhances how strongly I feel for her.
I let her get deeper into sleep before sliding her down a bit, positioning a pillow under her. She’s so exhausted, she doesn’t even rouse.
I have to hand it to her, she’s doing great work, almost too good. I’d hate for her to inadvertently dig up dirt on my family.
Not that I have much to worry about. I picked Arinessa for a reason, that reason being that she’s terrified of landing herself in trouble. No matter what family secrets she manages to dig up, going to the authorities will not be an option for her. That is unless she doesn’t mind spending decades in federal prison.
Her hair is back to its unruly mess, scattered across the pillow she’s resting on. I pull the blanket up to cover her body and afford her some privacy.
In the short time I’ve known her, she’s proven to be smart, funny, and breathtakingly beautiful. It’s easy to find a woman with one of those traits, but all three is like finding a unicorn. I wish we had met under different circumstances, and we could be something other than what we are. I’ve never ‘pined’ for a woman before, and I have to say, I rather mislike it. Thinking about someone constantly, the inability to focus, the nervous worry of how they are feeling and if they like you…except I no longer have that worry. She made her thoughts on me perfectly clear.
My phone vibrates, and I check to see a text from Sabrina, a girl I hook up with every week or so. Lately, I’ve been so busy with my work, she’s been the only thing keeping me sane.
To her, my name is Chase, and I’m a successful real estate investor. She knows we’ll never be something serious, but she enjoys it when I take her out for nice meals, and she’s always eager to get underneath my clothes.
Sabrina:I’m flying to Greece tomorrow. Wanna see me off?
I inhale deeply, reminiscing the soft curves of her body. I could easily rendezvous with her in an hour and get back before Arinessa wakes. Lord knows I need the stress relief.
But for some reason, I don’t want to.
Hunter:Sorry, but I’m otherwise occupied.
Within thirty seconds, a picture pops into the text box of Sabrina standing on a balcony in only her bikini bottoms.
She’s a beautiful woman, and most men would feel lucky to have her on his arm. Any other day, I’d be thrilled to have her in my bed, which is why I can’t quite figure out why I’m not pinging my driver to come pick me up.
Hunter:Definitely call me when you return.
Sabrina:Ciao!
After getting a cup of coffee, I pull out my personal laptop and open up the email that has been haunting me.
The one that could change everything.
For twenty-four years, everyone assumed my aunt was dead. Seventeen years ago, she was legally pronounced dead, based on there being no evidence of life.
Then, just last week, I received an email:
Hunter,
It’s been a while. I’m going to need some things from you, and you’re not going to want to tell me no…lest you want unfortunate family secrets coming to light.
Tell no one of our communications. You’ll be hearing from me again.
Aunt Lucy.
P.S. In case you’re in doubt, I’ve attached code from one of the programs I worked on dating back twenty-five years.
It doesn’t take much critical thinking to realize that whoever sent the letter is up to no good. My first instinct was to take it to my father, but he’s had to deal with the stress of Aunt Lucy’s disappearance for nearly a quarter of a century. It’s time I shoulder some of the burden.
It’s hard to imagine what she has on my family, but I’d rather not take any chances, which is why I’ve enlisted Arinessa to investigate.
