Page 49

49

BEN

She’s been in the ladies’ for a while now. Angie’s pacing outside the bathrooms, talking on her phone, and my frustration at being away from my Little One for too long is building.

“I’m sorry, Jack, I just need to check on my date.” I excuse myself from the ridiculously boring conversation I was having with one of our table mates and stride off to find Penelope. Maybe she left. Didn’t like the way I was pawing all over her all night long. No, she wouldn’t have just left. She’s probably just gone for some air. It’s stuffy in here.

Mind made up, I head down the hallway from the bathrooms to try to find her. Turning the corner, I stumble slightly from the sight I’m met with. Penelope, pinned against a wall, a hand around her throat, and a man leaning dangerously into her face.

“Get your fucking hands off her.” My voice booms loudly in the almost empty hallway and the man jumps away from her.

Turning to face me, he smirks. “You’re seriously gonna get all bent outta shape for a little whore like this?”

I don’t think, I just react. My fist connects with his nose and the satisfying crunch I feel underneath my knuckles lets me know I’ve broken it. He bellows loudly and my eye catches on Penelope as she steps toward me. Distracted, I miss his counter attack, and when he launches himself at me, we tumble to the ground.

Shouting fills my ears, but I don’t know where it’s coming from. Surely it’s not me? A blow to my cheek has me reeling, but not for long as I manage to overpower him and spring to my feet, anticipating his next move. I lick the blood from my lip, feral and wild, grip his collar, and scream in his face. “What the fucks your problem. You don’t get to force yourself on women. You cunt.”

He reels back from my language, and for a split second it surprises me. He can assault a woman, but not be called a cunt? What world am I in?

“Ben, please stop. He isn’t worth it. This is the reason I didn’t tell the Bradys, I didn’t want this.” Her voice stills my movement, but her words make me see red.

“This is the man who hit on you at the school?” He’s still gripped in my hold, the alcohol he’s consumed dimming his reflexes, as my gaze pierces through Penelope.

“Yes.”

The timidness in that whispered word sends anger surging through me. I’m not aware of my surroundings, don’t care if we have an audience or not, all I care about is righting a wrong for her.

“So let me get this straight…” My voice is loud, my body thrumming with anger. “You came onto her at the school, and when she turned you down, you got your wife to get her fired?”

He smirks so I slam his head against the wall. That wipes the smirk from his face.

“Ben, please?” She whimpers to the side of me, but I can’t take my eyes away from him.

“You couldn’t handle her saying no? Your ego couldn’t take the blow? She didn’t want you. She said no. That should’ve been enough. But you couldn’t cope with it. You got her fired and then decided to pin her against the wall here and take what she wouldn’t give to you freely?”

“I didn’t fire her,” he spits back at me, so I slam his head again. I’m vaguely aware of gasps, a few of them, but I ignore them.

“No, of course not. You left that to her boss, Director Allen, didn’t you? Were you working together?” He shifts his gaze away from mine, confirming what I already knew. “Did you know he hit on her too? Told her if she slept with him she could save her job?”

His eyes are wide and he starts to splutter. “That wasn’t?—”

“Part of the plan? Looks like the predator couldn’t be trusted.” I slam him against the wall again, knocking the breath out of him.

“Ben.” She’s gritting her teeth, but I don’t care. He deserves everything he’s getting and more.

“What’s the big deal?” he snarls. “Director Allen fucked her mom whenever she needed money or liquor. Suppose he thought the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. And look at her now. Fucking a billionaire.”

His laugh makes something in me snap, and an animalistic roar rumbles through my chest. This time I don’t hold back. My fist connects with his jaw and he slumps to the floor. I pounce on top of him, grabbing his collar, blood spilling from his nose and lip as I slam his head against the floor again.

“She’s not her mum. She’s Penelope fucking Richards. She has more strength and morals in her little finger than you do in your whole being. She turned both you and Director Allen down, she didn’t sleep with either of you. She left the job she loves instead of dirtying herself with either of you.”

His eyes are glazed as I step away from him, only now taking in the crowd around us. Shocked faces, eyes wide, some narrowed in disgust. I find Angie and Jameson in the crowd and turn away from them quickly, shock and anger written all over their features. Shit. I didn’t realise they were all here.

I turn my head to the left to find Penelope, but only see her retreating back running from me. Without a second thought, I run after her, finally catching up to her outside the venue. Our coats forgotten inside, the chill of the night instantly taking over, I slide my blazer off and try to offer it to her, but she slaps it to the ground.

“Little One, I’m sorry?—”

“No. Don’t call me that. You’re not sorry.” Her voice is filled with anger as she spits her words through gritted teeth.

“You’re right. I’m not sorry I beat the shit out of him. He had you pinned against the wall. He was going to?—”

“I know! But I had it handled. You didn’t see my fist clenched, ready to pummel the douche in the head, did you? No, you were too focused on ‘saving me’ again.” She scoffs as she turns away, so I grab her arm and force her to look at me once again.

“You have got to get over this aversion to being ‘saved’.”

“No. I don’t have to do anything. You don’t get to tell me what to do ever again. I quit.”

“Penelope.” There’s an edge to my voice, low and dangerous. I want her to listen, and normally this works.

“Don’t even bother. That voice doesn’t have a hold on me anymore. Not now that you’ve broken your promise.”

“What promise?” I throw my arms out to the side in exasperation.

“The one you made to protect me.”

“That’s exactly what I was doing. Protecting you.”

She shakes her head, her eyes are sad, and a small huff of breath escapes her lips. “But you didn’t. What was it you said? ‘I promise I will always protect you and your reputation.’ Everyone knows what happened at the school now because of you. You broke your promise. I never should have expected any differently. Goodbye, Mr. Elias.” She turns and walks away from me, steps onto the curb, and raises her hand to one of the waiting cabs nearby as I stand and watch her go.

My chest clenches, a dull throb where my heart should be. Panic starts to creep up my throat. She’s gone. She’s not mine. I broke my promise. I didn’t protect her, I made everything worse for her. I didn’t think about everyone finding out. Didn’t think about Hank hearing about this for the first time through the fucking tabloids—page six will have a field day with what’s gone on tonight.

Nope, all I thought about was rescuing her, again. I underestimated her, again. And now she’s gone. She’s gone. I was always so concerned about losing my fortune by falling in love, ending up like my dad. Turns out I did it anyway. The irony isn’t lost on me—he was left broke, and I’m left Penniless..

Funny, I’ve always called her Penelope because Penny never seemed adequate for her. But now I’ve lost the right to call her what truly meant the most to me—mine.

I drag my hands through my hair and tug on the ends as a hand lands on my shoulder. Quickly glancing to the side, Jameson’s profile comes into view.

“We need to go.” He motions with his head back toward the venue, and as I turn to look, I see a crowd has gathered on the steps.

“Shit. I screwed up. I fucked everything up.”

“Yeah, you did. But let’s focus on damage control once we’re out of here. Come on.” He tugs my arm and the car we arrived in stops in front of us. The door opens from the inside and Angie motions for us to both get in. She throws my coat at me and shakes her head angrily.

“I take it you're pissed at me too?”

“Yes and no. I’m delighted that motherfluffer got what he deserved, but I’m furious you broke her trust. And gave him the upper hand.” Her eyes burn into mine as I frown my confusion back at her. She rolls her eyes and shakes her head again. “He’s going to sue your arse, Ben.”

I shrug, because I couldn’t care less right now. He can take me to the cleaners. I’ve already lost everything that matters to me. Who would have thought a Penny could be so damn valuable.