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“No.” He steps behind me and wraps both arms around my chest. His chin presses against the top of my head. We both stare out to the slither of skyline between the buildings, and I’m oblivious to the horns and sirens below. “I bought it for you.”
21
FRANKLIN
Penny jumpsout of my arms. “You what?”
“It’s yours, Pen. Jobe has kept an eye on the market, and this place ticks all the boxes.” Her fists dig into her hips, and by her frown, it hasn’t had the effect I hoped for. “It’s close to your work, although a better location than your old apartment, with great security and space for you to do as you please.”
Penny jabs a finger toward me. “I don’t understand why you think I need all this from you. I don’t need rescuing. For years, I had to prove to my parents how capable and independent I am, and now you’re treating me like a kept woman.”
“No,” I say firmly. “I’m keeping you safe.”
“Argh.” She throws her arms in the air. “First, it’s the ridiculous contract, and now this.”
My cell buzzes in my pocket.
Penny stares at me.
It rings out and immediately buzzes again.
It’s not going to stop until I answer it.
The expression on Penny’s face screams,don’t you dare.
I check the screen.
It’s Paul, and he only calls out of business hours if the world of HCM is about to be hit with a monetary hurricane. “I’m sorry, I have to take this.” Penny holds my gaze, her eyes narrowed. “Paul, it’s not a good time.”
“It’s never a good time to tell you that one of your biggest investments has turned sour, and you could end up in court.”
“What?” I growl.
“Organize your jet now. I’ll travel with you to New York and give you the rundown on the plane.”
Paul knows to be careful what he communicates in emails, so we need to discuss this face-to-face.
“Penny. I’m so sorry, but I have to go.” Thoughts of a fallout of a court case cloud my mind. “It’s the worst timing, but we can discuss this lat—”
“Are you serious? You need to gonowwhenweneed to discuss what has happened here tonight?”
“Unfortunately, the matter I need to attend to is very serious.”
“And what is happening between us isn’t?”
I can’t do this with her now. “Pen, I’m sorry. We will talk about it. It just has to wait—”
“Because your work has to come first. I get it.” She storms toward the elevator glass doors. Penny stares straight ahead and doesn’t give me another look.
We stand apart and in silence in the elevator. During the time it takes to drive to her apartment, I am on my cell organizing the jet to be ready to leave in two hours.
When we pull up out front, I get out of the car and walk her to the door. “The timing is bad, and I apologize, but please understand how much you mean to me.” We kiss. It’s brief as Penny pulls away. “Good night, Franklin.” She turns and walks through the doors.
Is she walking away from me?
* * *
Midflight to New York,I write several emails to Penny.
