Ian employs Hunter to impress Mel
HE WANTS TO REMARRY HIS EX-WIFE, AND EMPLOYS HER SON TO IMPRESS HER – BUT WHO’S MANIPULATING WHO?
Smitten Ian Beale is determined to remarry his ex-wife Mel – and this week he comes up with a new plan to win her over. But is the poor chap totally deluded, or does he really stand a chance?
Mel, meanwhile, is irritated when her fella Jack tries to give her some parenting tips about her son, Hunter. He points out that the teenager should be starting to make his own way in life, rather than relying on hand-outs all the time. However, once she’s given it a bit of thought, Mel agrees that perhaps her son should be looking for a job.
“Hunter is a mummy’s boy,” reckons our Walford insider. “He’s never had to do much to earn his keep, and he’s the apple of Mel’s eye. So when Mel suggests he look for some proper work, he bluffs his way out of the conversation, telling her he’s already searching. But he’s rumbled when his mum and Jack spot him loitering around the Square instead!”
It’s at this point that Ian spots a chance to worm his way into Mel’s affections, by offering Hunter a job at his new restaurant. Feeling the mounting pressure from his mum and Jack, the surly teen is forced to accept.
Hunter starts his new job the following day, and soon finds himself on the receiving end of Ian’s probing questions about the details of Mel and Jack’s relationship. However, Hunter is intrigued when he hears his boss telling Masood how he’s planning to remarry Mel within a year!
“Hunter doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry,” groans our sneak. “The idea of having Ian as a stepfather is horrific. It’s hardly a realistic prospect, though, as the lad knows that his mum thinks Ian is a total prat. And if Hunter plays his cards right, he reckons he can turn this situation to his advantage.”
When Hunter calls in sick for his next shift, Ian is sceptical – and his suspicions are
The idea of having Ian as a stepfather is horrific for Hunter!”
confirmed once he spots his lazy employee out and about, in perfect health. Determined to lay down the law, Ian frog marches the boy to Mel, but that’s when Hunter decides to play his trump card, and makes Ian an offer…
“Ian is desperate to win Mel’s heart, so he’ll happily use her son to get to it,” says our mole. “That said, Hunter is happy to manipulate Ian too! He carries on being late for work, but when his tardiness ruins a pricey delivery, Ian decides he’s had enough. He tells Mel that he’ll have to let Hunter go – yet he soon changes his mind when his ex-wife starts flirting with him!”
Has Mel genuinely developed an interest in Ian? Or is she just using Ian to get her troublesome son out of her own hair?