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She could see he was startled by her words and hid a grin. “Mike said that I should come to you for advice. I have no family and he wanted me to go to someone he trusted. He trusted you, David.”
“Well, I am flattered he had such a high opinion of me of course and I will help guide you in all ways financial...”
“Thank you, David,” she interrupted. “You have no idea what a relief it is to have someone to lean on at a time like this. I have been so lonely...” She trailed off and dabbed at her eyes again.Am I overdoing it?She peeped at him from under her lashes. He looked both unsure and confused. Good; she wanted him off balance. She rose to her feet.
“I have taken up far too much of your busy time barging in on you like this. I’ll be in touch. Perhaps we could have lunch one day. That is, if your wife won’t mind?”
He rose with her. “I’m not married.”
“Thank goodness!”Oops, wrong thing to say!“I meant thank goodness no one will mind you having lunch with me,” she amended.
“I don’t have a wife, but I do have a very understanding girlfriend. My secretary will be in touch to arrange a business lunch,” he replied smoothly.
He has a girlfriend?Damn!“We’d better share numbers.” She held up her phone.
“You have my business line. Please leave your contact details with Sharne on your way out.”
Oh, no, that wouldn’t do. She cocked her head and pulled a rueful face.
“Can’t an old friend have your phone number? I’d hoped, since I’d always thought of you as a cousin of sorts, that we’d stay in touch out of the office? Mike told me to come to you as the person he most trusted.”
Silence.
Penny let her statement hang. He fell for it, just as she’d hoped, and pulled out his phone. They exchanged numbers, he held out his hand. Slipping around the coffee table, she hugged him. David stood awkwardly in her embrace. She breathed him in.Oh, Daddy, you smell so good. Her eyes closed for a moment.
“Thank you for being such a good friend to Mike, David. You have shown me that true friends can stand the test of time,” she said.
His arms came up and hugged her back awkwardly. “I am pleased to be able to help,” he said, appearing bewildered by his own friendly response.
After an internal struggle, Penny drew away and walked toward the door, and David pulled it open. She stood on tiptoe and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you for seeing an old friend and being so supportive.” She held her head high and walked toward the lift without looking back. As she passed his secretary she flashed a smile at Sharne. The woman nodded.
Stepping out on the ground floor, she noticed the receptionist was fully occupied with a group of people, and took the opportunity to scoot out of the building while still in possession of her lanyard pass.Mission accomplished!
Crossing to the coffee shop across the road, she ordered a hot chocolate with whipped cream and took up her place at the window with a sense of satisfaction. Her initial disappointment that David had not recognised her immediately dissipated as she congratulated herself on having achieved more than she’d hoped today. Now onto phase two of her plan to get Daddy back.
Chapter Five
