Page 45

45

BEN

It always strikes me as odd to have a full office the day after Christmas. Spending years in England, recognising Boxing Day as a public holiday, it still takes some getting used to now I’m over here. A message pops onto the screen of my phone and I swipe it away without even looking at it. I know it’s from one of the Bradys, and I don’t have time to deal with them. I’ve neglected my business a little, and right now I’m all in with that and not anything else.

Anything else, meaning Penelope. The woman you declared your love to and then walked away from, you mean.

The little voice in my head likes to remind me exactly why I’m holed up in my office in a mood that could rival a raging bull, but I like to ignore that voice as often as I can. I mean, yes, I told her not to say anything back, but I didn’t tell her to not follow me and spend the night. To not try and speak to me. To not give what we had going a real go. And it doesn’t stop the foul mood from taking over me.

“Knock, knock. You okay?” Angie’s poker straight blonde hair comes into view before the rest of her, and I sigh a little. I’d hoped the first person to breach my peace would’ve been my Little One, but it looks like I’m getting my fellow Brit.

“I’m fine, Angie. What can I do for you?” My tone is curt, but it doesn’t deter her. She steps forward, closes the door, and takes a seat in front of my desk, forcing me to put down the document I’ve been trying to read for the past fifteen minutes without managing to get past the first paragraph before my thoughts meandered to Penelope.

“It’s wild we’re working on Boxing Day, isn’t it? Normally I’d be hitting up the sales on Oxford street with Edie, and yet I’m here instead.”

She’s rambling, which irritates me, but I don’t let it show, just nod my head at her.

“So, you and Pen? I was hoping you’d sort it out last night, but from her grumpy arse this morning and your frowny McFrowny face, I’m assuming you didn’t.”

“We’re fine, Angie. Don’t you have work to do?” The mention of Penenlope’s bad mood and my frown makes everything ten times worse, but she just smirks and leans back in her chair.

“I do, but I think this is more important. It was either me or Jenson, and I thought you deserved a break, so here I am.” Relief floods through me, and she must be able to see it written on my face, as she smiles and dips her head to me. “You’re welcome. Now talk.”

Even though I don’t want to spill my guts to Angie, there’s a small part of me that does. She’s her best friend. Maybe she can offer an insight I’ve not seen.

“There’s nothing to say, except she shouted at me for offering to help her and then let me walk away after I told her I loved her. What else am I meant to do?”

I throw my pen down on the desk and drop my head into my hands. I’m fucked. Truly fucked. Soft laughter breaks me out of my misery.

“You’re so dramatic.” My eyes meet with Angie’s cool blue ones and she raises her brow. “You know Penny has this bee in her bonnet about not needing anyone and refuses all help when she can. It’s not personal. She’s done it with her dad, the boys, even me. But rather than trying to railroad her and fix things for her, we give her the chance to fix them herself. And when she can't, that's when we help.

“Give her time to figure out what her next step is, stop trying to control it. I know she likes certain activities to be controlled…” She pauses and grins at me, and then laughs when I just smirk back. “You’re a legend, Ben. But listen, giving her a job and fixing her financial situation before she’s had a chance to come up with a solution herself isn’t something you can control. Not if you want her to stick around.”

She picks up the miniature football on my desk and starts to toss it in the air. “You told her you loved her, huh?”

Nodding my head, I breathe deeply. I’ve never had a sister, and I’m assuming with being accepted into the Brady clan it makes Angie my surrogate sister. And if I’m right—and what Jenson has told me about having Penelope in his life is accurate—she’s here to irritate, annoy, and help me through everything.

“She would’ve needed time to process that. Explains her grumpy arse.” She rolls her eyes, crosses her legs and continues to play with the football, throwing it between her hands in front of her face. The speed her hands move is exceptional.

“Your coordination skills and reflexes are good. Did you play sports when you were younger?”

She grins and meets my gaze. “Is that your way of telling me I’m good at handling balls?”

She’s caught me off guard, and the laughter barrels out of my chest. This woman is the perfect match for Jenson. “Fuck, Angie. I’m so glad I hired you.” She throws the ball over to me and I fumble it and laugh harder as it tumbles onto my desk.

“Meh, you’re not so good. I guess you’re better at handling other assets .”

As I gather myself, she stands up, heads over to my drinks station, and starts to make herself a coffee.

“Your manners are atrocious. Mama B would be so upset with you. I’ve been here for more than five minutes and you haven’t offered me a beverage. Tut tut, Benny boy.” She clicks her tongue and browses through the coffee selection I have, her eyes lighting up when she finds a particular blend.

“Make me a cup of tea and I’ll get you an endless supply of that particular blend. It’s imported, expensive, and one sip will have you hooked.”

The hesitation is written all over her face. Her hand wavers, and I’m not sure if she’s going to put the coffee back, but after a second of deliberation, she reaches for another cup and starts to fix me a tea as well as her coffee too.

“This better be worth it. I haven’t made a cup of tea since I left England.”

“What?! Are you sure you’re British?”

She laughs as she pours the steaming water into my cup. “Yes.” She sticks her tongue out at me and then carries on. “I never drink tea. I only ever made it for Edie because, like you, she’s addicted to it.”

She walks over and places my drink in front of me and takes her seat, gripping her coffee so hard her knuckles turn white. She takes a sip and her eyes widen as the flavour hits her taste buds. “This is divine.” She takes another sip. “Does this have crack in it or something?”

Chuckling, I take a sip of my tea. “You make a good cup of tea. And no, all the ingredients are legal, just of a high quality. In the cupboard above the drinks station you’ll find an unopened bag. Take it.”

She squeals in excitement and takes another sip. We sit in silence for a couple of seconds and I take the time to really appreciate Angie. Before she came in here, I was wallowing in misery. And now, everything feels a little lighter. No wonder Jenson is crazy about her.

“Are you still taking Penny to that fancy New Year's eve gala?” She cradles the cup close to her chest like a protective mum does to her baby, and it makes me smile. If anyone is addicted to caffeine it’s her.

“I want to. If she’ll still go with me, that is.” Reluctantly, I let my guard down fully and sigh. “Help me, Angie.”

Her grin is toothier than a shark, and I instantly regret asking her, but she doesn’t give me a chance to take it back as she slams her cup down and places her hands on my desk. “Finally! I thought you’d never ask. I was the catalyst for getting Jaxson and Edie together, you know. I can work my magic here. So here’s what we’re going to do. You’re going to give Penny some space. Send her a message confirming the gala. Skim over what happened last night. Don’t make it a big deal, and let her come to her senses on her own.”

It’s not a bad idea, but the mention of the gala throws up another problem.

“The only thing is, I’ve booked an appointment at a boutique in the city for her to pick out a dress. We couldn’t do it when we were there, so I scheduled for us to go on the weekend. It’s only a forty-five minute flight, but I don’t know if this is just going to further her frustrations with me.”

I grimace with my words. Angie grins in mischief, her eyes dancing back and forth between me and the window, clearly devising a scheme.

“This is perfect. I’ll take her. Jenson ploughed a lot of money into this charity as part of his ‘community outreach project’ and we’re both invited. I need a dress. We can spend the day having girl time and then she can offload all about you. I take it the dress is all paid for?”

“Yep.”

“Okay, we could let her think she can pay you back for it, stop her from getting all butt hurt about it.” She’s pacing the length of my office and jumps when I speak.

“No deal,” I scoff as she frowns back, but this is something I’m not going to back down from. “I told her when I invited her that I’d buy her a gown. It’s non-negotiable. She needs a dress and I know how expensive these things are. I won’t have her out of pocket because of me, especially if she won’t let me help with rent and everything else. She’s already agreed to this, so it’s happening.”

“Fine. If she’s already agreed. I just don’t want her to freak out about going to the city on your dime and getting a dress.”

She places her hands on her hips, and as a smile curves across her lips, a gleam in her eye makes me squirm on the spot. “Jenson’s buying me a dress too. He booked the fittings at the boutique as a romantic gesture and you’re borrowing him your private jet. Really all you’re paying for is the dress. And that was prearranged.” She jumps and claps like she's just saved the bloody world, and all I can do is look at her in bewilderment.

“So, you coming to the gala means she won’t be pissed at getting on my jet and having me pay for a dress? How?”

Her eye roll is epic, as is the sigh that leaves her lips and makes me feel like a fool. “If she thinks Jenson has booked the boutique for both of us, and paid for my dress as well, she won’t feel like you're doing it because she’s broke. She’ll see it as Jenson being romantic for me and you helping him out and getting her a dress at the same time.

“It’s perfect. I’ll tell her we got invited at the last minute. Then I’ll be in a panic saying I have nothing to wear. Jenson will message me saying he’s spoken with you and booked me in at a boutique in the city, and you’ve offered your plane to get me there. Then I’ll demand Penny comes with me. Since you’ve already told her you’re buying her dress, it just makes sense for us to go shopping together. She can’t argue with that logic. She won’t be able to say no.” She shrugs her shoulders and bats her lashes at me.

“Why do I feel like I’m being hustled? You get a free trip to the city, a day off work and what do I get?”

She lets her jaw drop open, her hand flying to her chest in horror. “You get my unending help in fixing this between you and Penny. As the best friend, I’ll be able to talk you up and make her realise how perfect you are for each other.”

“Only one problem with your plan. Jenson can’t go, he has a game on Sunday.” She rolls her eyes again, and this time it irritates me. “Stop rolling your bloody eyes at me. Do I need to have words with Jenson? Tell him what a brat you are.”

“Oh please do. I’ll take my punishment like a good girl.” She cackles as I open my mouth to speak and close it again, the words failing to come out. “I know Jenson has a game, but it's a night game, so he can still attend. Plus, it’s for charity. It’s not like he’ll be drinking anyway. Between the two of us, we’ll have Penny eating out of your hand.”

“Talking to me will suffice.” I run my hand over my face and groan. “Fine. You win. I’ll schedule the jet for the two of you. But I swear, if you don’t do a good job, I’ll have you demoted to jockstrap cleaner.”

She strolls to the door, her laughter following her as she goes and salutes me as the door opens and closes behind her. I feel like I’ve been played, but at this point, I’m prepared to do anything if it helps me with Penelope.