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16

BEN

“What’s this?” My hands take the plain white box from Jenson cautiously. The smirk on his face is giving me ample reason for my concerns. My apprehension makes the smirk bloom into a full on smile, and I place the box a little further away from my chest.

“It’s just a peace offering you can give Buttercup.” He places his hands in his pockets and winks. “You’ll thank me later.” And without another word, he strides down the hallway and out of sight.

After the loss we had last night, we should both be fuming, but we’re standing in the hallways talking about peace offerings. My world is so skewed right now.

Hesitating over whether to open the box or not, I blow out a breath and carefully peel back the lid. Huh, a doughnut. This could work for me. It may help to soothe over the anger I caused.

I can’t blame her for her reaction yesterday. I acted like a fucking idiot. Spitting words out at her because she spoke to a colleague. I’m surprised she didn’t quit on the spot and punch me in the face at the same time.

Still clutching the box, I head back to my office, breathing a sigh of relief when she’s not at her desk. Once inside the confines of my own office, I let my shoulders relax a little. My focus lands on some documents on my desk, and when I open the manilla file, I’m pleased to see the NDA form Penelope requested. I grab a pen, sign on the dotted line, scribble “I’m sorry” on a Post-it note, and stick it to the top of the doughnut box.

I pick both up and head out to her desk, which is gratefully still empty. Placing them side by side, I head back into my office and close the door with a smile. That should make up for me being an absolute tool yesterday.

A gentle knocking at my office door brings me out of my spreadsheet stupor. “Come in.” The door opens slowly, and before I can see who’s on the other side, I know it’s her.

“Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Elias.” Her voice is soft, slightly unsure, and I hate not hearing my first name from her.

With a frown and a wave of my hand, she enters the room and closes the door behind her. This is it. She’s going to quit. She’s going to tell me she can’t work with me and to find someone else.

“Thank you.”

What the fuck? My jaw gapes open slightly and my head tilts in confusion.

“For the doughnut and the Post-it. You did leave them on my desk this morning, right?”

“I did. I forgot. You’re welcome. And please call me Ben. I told you, I like hearing my name on your lips.” A blush rushes over her cheeks and down her neck as she shifts on her feet.

“You signed the NDA.” It’s not a question, but I answer her anyway.

“I did. You don’t have to tell me, though. I just wanted you to have the option.”

Her eyes meet mine, surprise and intrigue written all over them, which brings a smile to my lips. I like surprising her.

“I don’t get you. You’re so confusing. One minute you’re all innuendos and sexy flirting and the next you’re shouting at me for talking to people. You’re making my head spin?—”

“Knock knock. How we doing in here? I thought I’d make an appearance and make sure my girl’s doing a good job.” Hank walks in, a smile on his face that crinkles his kind eyes. “Am I interrupting something?”

As if an electric shock has coursed through her veins, Penelope jumps from her spot and dives into her dad’s arms.

“Hey, Dad. Deemed to grace us with your presence today seeing as you were MIA yesterday.” Her teasing tone takes away all the tension as Hank grins back at her.

“Pops needed me yesterday. Plus, I know how you work. You do better without me under your feet all day.” He tips his head in my direction. “And I know he would have defaulted everything to me instead of giving you a fair shot. I was helping you both by not being here.” He pointedly looks at me to challenge him, but I’m still running over Penelope calling me out for my weird behaviour.

“Besides, I’ve got a week before my surgery and only a few days till Thanksgiving. Mama needs me to help out with everything, and you know no one can say no to Mama. Oh that reminds me—” He turns to face me and a dread fills my stomach. “Mama told me to tell you to be there at ten. No arguments.”

I’m about to argue when he tilts his head at me and shoots a ‘really?’ look at me, and I shut my damn mouth.

“Can I bring anything?” Gritting my teeth together, I spit the words out and sigh when he shakes his head and laughs.

A quick look at Penelope and I notice her lip is between her teeth again, nervously nibbling away at it. Obviously she isn’t looking forward to this family get-together either. Being an honorary Brady is becoming a pain in my arse.