Chapter 986 - The cost of freedom (1)

~ 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.

"I know that Harriet was in contact with you when she was in Los Angeles last time. I need to know where she is."

Benjamin frowned. Harriet? Is that Penny's real name? "Madam, I'm sure you got the wrong person."

Mrs. Morgan scrutinized Benjamin. He looks genuinely confused. But the texts and calls were made to his number.

Mrs. Morgan took Harriet's phone from her purse and opened the chats. "Are you going to deny that this is from your phone?"

Benjamin took the phone and read the messages. By the third message he confirmed that Harriet is Penny, and this woman is after her… his Penny escaped this woman. Her mother? Just how poorly this woman treated her so that she had to run away and leave everything behind?

Benjamin hoped that his blank expression didn't crack.

"It is possible to fake phone numbers, Madam. With a small chip you can intercept phone traffic for any number.", Benjamin said while returning Harriet's phone to Mrs. Morgan. "Pardon if my assumptions will make you uncomfortable but… based on your appearance I assume that we are about the same age. That means that your daughter is young enough to be my daughter. I am just a software analyst at the small company." He gestured across the street. "Why would a girl half my age be interested in me?"

"Interested in you? My Harriet?", Mrs. Morgan's nostrils expanded from rage. She looked like she is about to breathe fire at the thought of this man touching Harriet. How dares Harriet have an affair without a permission!

"Madam, those messages are suggestive enough for me to make such an assumption. And as I said, I have nothing to offer that a young woman would be attracted to. Now, if you excuse me…"

Mrs. Morgan wanted to get her men to seize Benjamin and get his phone to expose him, but she reminded herself not to cause a scene in a café full of patrons. She pushed her card to Benjamin. "This is not over… when you had enough, give me a call."

Benjamin took the card, shrugged and left.

He went to the parking lot of his office building, looked at the card for few seconds before throwing it in the trash. There is no way he is calling that woman. Penny was petrified, and he will not let her go back.

Benjamin took the long way back, making sure that he is not followed before returning home.

He snorted when he remembered words of Mrs. Morgan: 'This is not over…' Who does she think she is? What can she do?

No one knows where he lives. Benjamin made those arrangements because of his ex-wife who would take the shirt off from his back if she could. Benjamin got his friend to rent the apartment and Benjamin is living in there, paying rent and bills online (on friend's name) and all his regular mail is arriving on a PO Box address.

On rare occasions when he meets with his daughter, he always picks her up and they go to some public place, a park or a museum. He wants to make it special because it's usually not more than once a month. But he makes sure that Becca does not know where he lives, just in case if his ex-wife tries to pry his address from a child.

As long as they don't follow him from office, Penny will be safe.

...

"I thought you will be back by 5:30", Penny said with a big smile on her face when she hooked her arms around Benjamin's neck.

"Something unexpected creeped in at the last moment.", he hugged her waist and kissed her. "How was your day?"

"I've never watched so much television in my life. I'm on the couch the whole day… thinking about you…" She started unbuttoning his shirt and kissing his chest as his skin was revealed.

Benjamin closed his eyes and enjoyed Penny's undressing service.

"Did you eat?", he asked her.

She looked at him playfully. "I am about to…" She bit his neck.

Penny lifted her head and looked at him with slight embarrassment. "Are you hungry? Should we eat… first?"

She is snacking all day and she forgot that he came from work. Hungry probably.

Benjamin let out a low hum of satisfaction. He is looking forward to this since Saturday morning, but he didn't want to push Penny into something she might not be ready for. Now that she gave him the green light, all stops are off.

"Yes, I am hungry…" His hands went under her top. "And we can eat later."

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