Page 137 of Black Hollow: Awakening

“Where are you going?” He heard a voice from behind him and spun around.

Kubrick was standing in the doorway, watching his actions intently.

“I’m not going with you,” Dan announced, forcing a firm tone.

“So you intend to stay here?”

“Not with your money.”

“From what I heard, you don’t have any of your own.”

Danny felt humiliated, but he couldn’t deny it. That didn’t mean he was going to accept charity, though. And knowing Kubrick, this wasn’t a gesture of goodwill, but a favor that would have to be repaid sooner or later.

“That guy said he isn’t a charity. Are you?” Dan scoffed.

“KC does support similar activities, yes,” Kubrick confirmed calmly, deliberately missing the point of the question.

“Ah.” Danny smiled sourly. “And the CEO personally appears in places where the needy are found to support them?”

“Officially, you are our intern.”

“No. I informed you I was quitting, I haven’t shown up in days, and I don’t recall requesting an intervention.”

“You made the decision to quit in a state of agitation caused, I believe, by my rather ill-considered request, which is why I ignored it,” Kubrick informed him, and Danny grimaced at the memory of that evening. “You have no reason to turn down an internship at my company, Daniel. You know very well it’s a huge opportunity.”

“Not for me. Because you don’t want me, you want Will.”

“Nonsense.”

Dan let out a snort of disbelief.

“I desired information about Will Morgan,” Kubrick clarified. “Information I intended to obtain firsthand, and when that failed, I was counting on your help.”

“I won’t help. I have no idea what you want from him, but I’m not going to be a snitch, okay? Besides, we’re not friends anymore.”

“Every relationship can be repaired.”

“No,” Danny objected firmly. “I know Will. After what I said to him, he’ll never speak to me again.”

That wasn’t true. He suspected that Will would reach out to him sooner or later. Maybe when he got bored of his new company. And even though he hated his guts right now, he hadn’t sunk so low as to stoop to being a common snitch. That’s why he would stay far away from him.

“So I guess I’ve become useless to you, haven’t I?”

“On the contrary,” Kubrick countered gently. “I admit that when I offered you the internship, I was only interested in your close relationship with Morgan. But since I’ve gotten to know you, I’ve discovered you have far greater potential.” Dan let out a furious scoff. Bullshit. He had no potential, certainly not in the eyes of someone like Kubrick. “If you do not wish to cooperate with me regarding Morgan… which is your right, though your loyalty is perplexing, considering you’re spending Christmas alone in a place like this…” A grimace twisted Dan’s lips. “I will respect that. It is not the correct decision, but there are many matters you have no knowledge of, and which I cannot yet present to you, so it must be this way. Nevertheless, I want you on my team.”

Dan smiled mockingly. To think that not long ago he’d had a good opinion of this man. Hell, for a short while, he’d even thought Kubrick cared about him. Not romantically—his assumptions didn’t go that far—but he’d felt the man saw something in him. Now, however, Danny saw the actions for what they were: manipulation, and he was tired of it.

“I refuse.”

“You have that right, of course, but one issue remains unclear. If you don’t stay here, where exactly will you go?”

“What do you care?”

“Without money, it will be difficult for you to find any lodging in this area.”

“And who said it has to be in this area? I’ve had enough of this fucking town. I’m going home.”

“I don’t think you’ll do that.”