Chapter 986 - The cost of freedom (1) (1/2)
~ Los Angeles ~
December 2, 4:32 PM
Benjamin is excited. He can leave office in 28 minutes and head home. His manager makes a fuss and demands an explanation from anyone who leaves before 5PM.
At 5:00 PM he is out of here because… his Penny is waiting for him.
She arrived on Saturday morning, and he almost didn't open the door for her, thinking that it's one of those door-to-door salespeople. But he opened the door and he could not believe his eyes. His Penny is back!
That morning, Penny cried herself to sleep. He carried her to the bed and covered her up, and she slept until late afternoon. She was cute when she woke up. Slightly embarrassed, partially because she showed up unannounced, and partially because she cried. But he assured her that he has no problems with her staying at his place, or with her crying. He is not sure why she made such a big deal about that, don't all girls cry? It's a female thing. God knows that his ex-wife is cried a lot, and she still triggers easily.
The rest of the weekend was amazing, for him at least, and he hopes for her as well. Penny was with him! She helped keep the place tidy, and he was amused with her failed attempt to cook on Sunday. He made sure not to tease her about it because she looked miserable. Her mood improved when he told her that he does not mind, and that he will teach her how much he knows (which is not much). It made him wonder, how can she mess up boiling the frozen mushroom ravioli? The way she fumbled while opening the package told him that she never handled a frozen meal before.
Last two nights were amazing. They didn't go beyond cuddles but being able to sleep off and wake up next to Penny is the best feeling ever.
”What's up with you today?”, his desk-mate, Keegan, asked playfully.
Keegan is a very nosy person in his early thirties and if you manage to look beyond his gossipy side, he is a good friend.
”Why do you think that something is up?”, Benjamin asked, unable to suppress his smile.
”Because you are spacing out with a creepy grin on your face… the whole day.”, Keegan explained.
Benjamin laughed. ”Yeah… I am in a good mood. Do you remember the girl I mentioned?”
”The one who looks like a fairy and makes you feel like a teenager and the one behind a reason why you stopped going out with us to have guy-fun?”
Benjamin nodded. ”She is back.”
Keegan made a 'really?' face. ”When do I get to meet her?”
”I can ask her if she wants to meet the biggest gossiper in Los Angeles.”
”If you say it like that, she will not want to meet me.”, Keegan protested.
”Exactly.” Benjamin grinned and glanced at his phone. Just over ten minutes to go and he can head out…
There is an unread message, from 15 minutes ago, to meet in the café across the street, sent from… Penny's phone? Didn't she say that she lost her phone? That is why they went to buy a new phone on Sunday... Just what is going on?
…
Benjamin entered the café and looked around. Penny is not in sight. Benjamin took a seat at one table and decided to wait a bit. Maybe she is in the restroom or maybe she is running late… Or if the message is not from her, whoever sent it will approach him. Knowing that Penny has a secretive past and that she is running from someone, that is a possibility. That is why he decided to come here. If someone found him, they might follow him, and he does not want to risk that he is the one to lead them to Penny. It's better to face them head-on.
He didn't wait long. A minute maybe…
Two burly men approached him. One gestured to the corner of the shop: ”Madam wants to talk to you.”
”Madam?”, Benjamin stood up and spotted a posh lady seated at the corner table of the coffee shop.
”I don't think I know you.”, Benjamin said when he approached the table.
”But I think you know my daughter.”, Mrs. Morgan said.
”Your daughter?”
”Sit, Mr. Casano.”, Mrs. Morgan said impatiently while gesturing to the chair opposite of hers.
Benjamin sat and observed the woman. Professionally done hair and makeup, stern expression, expensive clothes. He would remember her.