Ludus’ Chaebol
As Hunter coughed violently, his eyes watering, Delilah watched with a mix of amusement and confusion as Jessica rushed to his side, patting his back in an attempt to help him recover.
"You okay?" Jessica asked, her concern evident.
Hunter nodded, still coughing but managing to get his breath back. "Yeah... I'm fine," he croaked out, his voice hoarse as his mind raced with thoughts of what could be going on.
He had no idea who Chloe was, and he couldn't understand how or why he would be engaged to someone he didn't even know.
"You mean Chloe is engaged to Hunter Quinn?" Delilah asked Jessica with interest.
"Yes. Who is he anyway? Kate sounded like he was a big deal," Jessica said and before Delilah could respond Hunter spoke.
"Isn't Hunter Quinn your next target?" Hunter asked, looking directly at Delilah.
Jessica turned to Delilah, confusion etched on her face. "Who is Hunter Quinn? And how do you know he's her next victim?" She asked, looking back at Hunter.
"She told me so when we met at the club. I didn't know he was such a big deal either," Hunter said and both he and Jessica turned to Delilah once again so she would tell them who Hunter Quinn was.
Delilah shook her head as she pushed back from the table rose from her seat, "Do you both live under the rock? Why do you sound so ignorant? Never mind, I will spare some minutes to school you," she said as though she was talking to slowwitted kids.
"Where do I start from," she mumbled to herself thoughtfully.
A slow smirk spread across Hunter Quinn's face as Delilah puffed out her chest, clearly enjoying the opportunity to play the role of the knowledgeable one.
He leaned back in his chair, suppressing a cough, and took a moment to appreciate the irony of the situation. Here he was, Hunter Quinn, CEO of Quinn Enterprises, a sprawling conglomerate built by generations of his family – being schooled by a woman who was planning to swindle him.
"Alright, Professor Delilah," Hunter said, his voice still a touch raspy, "enlighten us simple folk." He couldn't resist a playful jab, enjoying her inflated sense of superiority.
Delilah shot him a withering look before turning back to Jessica, who wore a mix of sheepishness and curiosity.
Delilah cleared her throat dramatically. "Hunter Quinn," she began, "is practically royalty in the business world. His family has been titans of industry for over a century. They built Quinn Enterprises from the ground up, starting with a single shipping company in the early 1900s." She paused for effect, glancing between Jessica and Hunter.
"You mean they are like Korean Chaebols?" Jessica asked with interest.
Delilah smiled, "Exactly! They are the Chaebol of Ludus."
"What's that?" Hunter asked, lost.
Jessica saw the confused look on his face and elaborated, "Chaebols are these massive family-run conglomerates in South Korea. They control huge chunks of the economy," she explained.
Delilah continued, "Now, Quinn Enterprises owns everything from international shipping lines and luxury hotels to cutting-edge tech companies and a major film studio. The Quinns have their hands in everything that makes this city tick." She waved a hand dismissively.
"Basically, they have their fingers in everything from tech and pharmaceuticals to luxury goods and shipping. Steel mills, vineyards, you name it, the Quinn family probably owns a piece of it. And if you own anything nice, chances are the Quinns had a hand in making it."
Hunter couldn't help but chuckle under his breath. Delilah wasn't entirely wrong, but her tone was so self-important it was almost comical. "That has to be an exaggeration. There is no way they can have a hand in everything nice," he corrected mildly.
Delilah shot him a look that said he was ignorant. "They are major shareholders in most of the big companies you know, including I-Global," she told him before turning to Jessica again.
"As I was saying, Hunter is at the helm of this vast empire now. He's the CEO, the golden boy, the..." She hesitated, searching for the right word.
"Target?" Hunter supplied helpfully, a playful smile tugging at his lips.
Delilah's jaw clenched for a moment before she forced a smile. "Exactly," she said, though that wasn't the word she had been going for. "Hunter is the most eligible bachelor in the country. He is the ultimate prize for any... ambitious woman."
Jessica's eyes widened as she pieced the information together. "Wait, you mean this Hunter Quinn you just talked about is the one who just got engaged to Chloe?" She asked in disbelief.
Delilah nodded, her expression sour. "Unfortunately, he must not be very bright if he fell for someone like Chloe."
Hunter felt a flash of insult but ignored it as he watched her with newfound interest, wondering who Chloe was and why she seemed to harbor some resentment.
"Who is Chloe?" He asked curiously.
Before Jessica could respond, Delilah cut in, her tone sharp. "It's none of your business. Stay out of our private affairs."
Delilah looked at Jessica. "Jess, let's speak privately for a moment. I need to leave."
Just as Jessica pushed away from the table, Hunter's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and saw it was Damon calling. "Excuse me, I need to take this," he said, standing up and heading to his bedroom.
Delilah waited until she heard Blake's bedroom door open and close before focusing on Jessica, her expression serious. "What exactly did Kate say?"
Jessica took a deep breath, clearly hesitant. "She said Dad is trying to find us. He reached out to Kate to help him. He wants us to be present for Chloe's engagement party."
Delilah's eyes darkened with anger and something else—perhaps a touch of curiosity. "He hasn't seen us for years and all of a sudden he wants to see us because his precious daughter got engaged? Did Kate say why he wants us there?"
Jessica shook her head. "No, but I will ask Kate to tell him we are not interested."
Delilah shook her head. "No, I am interested."
Jessica looked at her sister, puzzled. "Why do you want to go back there all of a sudden?"
A calculating look crossed Delilah's face. "I would love to meet Chloe's fiancé. If Hunter Quinn is involved with our family, I need to know more about him," she said with a sweet smile.
Jessica hesitated. "Do you still plan to go after him now that he is involved with Chloe?"
Delilah smirked, "He's even more appealing to me now. As long as Chloe wants him, I'm going to have him."
"Are you sure you want to do that, D?" Jessica asked, worried.
Delilah's eyes hardened with determination. "I'm sure."
"I really don't want to see any of them though," Jessica said and Delilah nodded.
"You don't have to come with me, Jess," she said, and Jessica nodded, although she still looked uncertain.
"Alright, I will let Kate inform Dad that you will be present at the engagement party so they can send the details to you. Just be careful. Don't give Chloe or her mother any reason to ridicule you," Jessica advised.
Delilah placed a reassuring hand on Jessica's shoulder. "Trust me, Jess. I will be fine."