I told my grandmother I was married to lessen her worries. Now, everyone knows I am married.]
Benjamin held his breath, darting his nervous eyes between Zoren and the phone on the desk. He stood on the side, hugging the document he was reading for Zoren to sign.
They waited for Penny to respond.
’I bet she won’t,’ Benjamin thought, his eyes brimming with pity for his boss. ’Why did he have to tell the chairwoman about his marriage?!’
However, there were some upsides to this, because rumors of Zoren getting better were attributed to his wife’s care. The frequent visits to the hospital and checkups were supposed to ensure he continued to recover.
Benjamin didn’t know how the rumor started, but he was certain the chairwoman’s side had everything to do with it.
’But there are also downsides.’ Benjamin sighed, weeping internally. ’Because everyone was shocked about my boss’s marriage, everyone wants to meet her.’
Of course, that desire to meet Penny wasn’t entirely pure.
Zoren had been refusing these requests, using the excuse that he didn’t want to expose his wife to family affairs. If that didn’t work, he’d claim his wife valued privacy even more than he did.
’However, that excuse won’t last long... against the chairwoman,’ Benjamin teared up, feeling sorry for both his boss and the chairwoman. ’But it’s too late to come clean now.’
"Ben," Zoren’s voice snapped Benjamin out of his inner turmoil. "Find me a wife."
Benjamin’s face soured. "Sir, finding you an actor to play as your wife ... isn’t that hard. However, finding someone who looks like Miss Penelope is hard. Your grandmother checked the marriage license, and even with her old age, she’s good at recognizing faces. Not to mention, Butler Hubert also saw it as well."
’Why did you have to prove it to them by showing your marriage license!?’ That was what Benjamin wanted to shout, but his boss was already too pitiful for him to scold.
"She doesn’t have a twin, does she?" Zoren asked, making Benjamin briefly weep.
’My boss is very desperate now!’
Zoren let out a shallow breath and leaned back, knowing Penny wouldn’t respond to him anymore. "Then there’s only one thing I can do."
"One thing you can do...?" Benjamin’s eyes lit up with hope. "Sir, what is it? Whatever it is, I’ll do it perfectly so we can get out of this!"
Zoren blinked ever so slowly before casually saying, "I’ll wait for Grandma to die," or maybe he would go first.
Benjamin’s heart sank as his expression died completely. If someone had heard his inner thoughts, he hoped they would tell him he heard it wrong. Please.
[Incoming message from Miss Penelope.]
Silence hung in the air after the robotic voice read the message aloud. Both Zoren and Benjamin stared at the phone.
"Ben," Zoren called calmly. "What do you think that question means?"
"Is it a question of disbelief? Or a question of ’now, you’re dead?’"
Benjamin covered his lips and closed his eyes, crying quietly for his boss. After confirming Penny was the CEO of Prime Group, Benjamin had been less slightly suspicious of her. Moreover, Penny wanted to discuss this surprise marriage, and he was aware the discussion would likely be about divorce.
Benjamin was determined to protect Zoren’s property, but he knew Penny would probably want to protect hers. After all, she may not be as rich as the Pierson family’s cumulative wealth, but she had a wide network of connections.
"I guess it’s the latter." Zoren nodded in understanding. His assistant’s lack of response was already a clear reply. "Reply to Miss Penelope: I’m sorry. I’ll fix it. Send."
I’m sorry. I’ll fix it.]
Penny scoffed as she read his reply. "That’s it? Hah!" She pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a slight headache.
If only she had known, she wouldn’t have asked him.
"I want to keep this under wraps and end it as soon as possible. The last thing I want is for everyone in the Pierson family to know I’m a part of it! But there he was, broadcasting it!" She clenched her teeth, torn between rushing to Zoren’s office to start his own funeral or apologizing to the heavens for harboring such an ominous thought.
Initially, Penny was hopeful that once she convinced Zoren Pierson to check the Civil Bureau, things would run smoothly. All she needed from him was a divorce, after all. She didn’t need a penny from him, and she was certain Zoren Pierson wouldn’t want a cent from her either.
"Oh, my god..." Penny peeked at her phone again and read their previous messages.
I told my grandmother I was married to lessen her worries.
Her expression softened as she read that message for the fourth time. "His files said he only had his grandmother growing up, and he even requested more bodyguards for her than for himself."
It was also the reason Zoren, despite being a grandson, was registered under his grandmother’s family name, making him Dean’s uncle and Zoren’s uncle’s brother.
"If I remember correctly, the chairwoman of Pierson Corporation is already old. With everything that’s happening within the family, I’m sure she’s aware of the dangers lurking around her grandson," she whispered, picking up the phone. "I’d probably do the same if I were in his situation."
Being selfish was what Penny excelled at in this lifetime. Therefore, she knew she didn’t need to even try to understand Zoren and just think of herself. However, for some reason, Penny didn’t know why she was extending her patience and understanding to someone she barely knew.
Was it because... he reminded her of that poor kid from the past?
That first friend she cherished and prayed for, so the world would be kind to him?
Penny shook her head and held her phone in her hands, sending Zoren another message.
[Pierson Corporation: CEO’s Office]
[Message incoming from Miss Penelope]
Benjamin stopped reading the document for Zoren when they heard the robotic voice from the phone again.
"Mr. Pierson, sometimes two heads are better than one. Should we meet today so we can talk about this problem and perhaps resolve it as fast as we can? It would be better that way instead of exchanging messages. After all, this matter is now also my problem.