The moment before Gwen said anything was the longest and most nerve-wracking of Hunter's life. She looked at him with piercing blue eyes.
"You used me," she said accusingly.
"No I didn't! I backed out after meeting you a few times because I could tell you hadn't done anything wrong," Hunter replied in earnest. "Look, Victoria wanted me to dig something up on you and create a scandal if I couldn't but that isn't how I do things.
"I report news; I don't create it. She offered me a lot of money so I thought I could change things just once but there was absolutely nothing on you online. So I met you in person and found out you were way too nice to deserve what Victoria wanted to do to you. I gave her deposit back to her and said I couldn't do it.
