He Remembered, She Didn't

Penelope forced a polite smile as she faced the man seated behind the desk with his head bent over his laptop.

"Good morning, Mr. Banks," she greeted, her tone a blend of pleasant and polite.

Carlton raised his head when he heard the familiar female voice he couldn't quite place. He was completely surprised when he met her gaze. Those brown eyes were unmistakable. He had never forgotten them. The one who had run away from him after their passionate night together.

How could he not remember? 

He had been with numerous women, most of whom he did not remember, but she was one he couldn't forget.

He remembered how her eyes which had been brimming with tears of sadness had burned with passion.

Who would have thought he would cross paths with her again? Or that she would walk into his office this way? He mused as he gazed at her.

She looked different compared to the last time he saw her. Her chestnut hair, which had been long and curly years ago, was now a pixie cut,

giving her a more sharp and professional look. 

Penelope's smile faltered when she noticed the way he was staring at her wordlessly. Why was he looking at her so intensely? She mused, unsure

whether to approach his desk or just stand there.

Deciding that perhaps he was staring because he didn't know who she was or maybe he was expecting her to say something, she cleared her

throat, "My name is Penelope Will, and I'm from Clarkesworld Magazine," she explained as

she moved closer to his desk.

So, that was her name? Penelope Will. He found it funny how a name he had desperately wanted and would have given anything to know

all those years was mentioned so casually to him now.

He had only agreed to meet with the person from Clarkesworld Magazine because he wanted to honor them, but seeing her here now, he was

glad that he had agreed to meet with her.

When he still did not say anything or offer her a seat, she looked around the office. “Thank you for agreeing to see me, Mr. Banks,” Penelope said, steadying herself, still trying to get him to talk since he had yet to say a word to her.

Although Carlton could tell that he was making her uncomfortable by staring at her that way, he didn't care. Not when she was acting like she didn't remember him. Not knowing what else to do. Pen instinctively stretched out her hand. 

"It's nice to finally meet you, Mr Banks," she said, still smiling at him.

Carlton looked down at her hand, and then he rose and took it in his own, "Have we met before?" He asked, studying her face and trying

to see if she was acting like she didn't know him because she was trying to be professional.

Penelope blinked back her confusion, wondering why he was holding onto her hand, "I don't

think so," she said with a shake of her head.

“So you truly don’t remember me?” Carlton asked, causing her to quickly withdraw her hand, puzzled. "What do you mean, Mr Banks?" she asked and Carlton raised a brow, wondering if she was pretending or probably really didn't recognize him. How could she not?

How could she not remember him after all that had transpired between them? How could she forget him when she had lived rent-free in his

head for the last seven years? 

Carlton mused as memories of her soft lips flooded his mind.

Seven years had passed, yet the memory of her still lingered—unwanted, vivid, unresolved. Her touch is an intense memory.

"You don't recognize me?" He asked, and she frowned. "Am I supposed to? I think you have the wrong

person. I've never been here before and was only sent from my company, to convince you to feature in our next project," she clarified.

Carlton narrowed his eyes as he studied her intently, looking for a hint of recognition, or probably a glint of mischief in her eyes. Any sign at all to see if she was pretending since he

knew very well that he wasn't mistaken.

Unfortunately, there was nothing. Her wide brown eyes shone with innocence as they stared back at him, bruising his ego.

"I see that you really do not remember me," he remarked, his eyes shimmering with a flicker of

hurt in them, Penelope's mind raced with questions about who he

could be since she had never really been good with placing faces, or who she was being mistaken for.

She felt concerned that a mistaken identity might jeopardize her chances of getting him to agree to an interview.

A wave of disbelief washed over Carlton as he continued to watch her. There was no way he was going to let her forget him so easily.

Driven by desperate hope, he went around his desk, and Penelope watched in confusion as she

waited to see what he wanted to do.

As he closed the distance between them he could tell that he was making her nervous but he didn't care.

"Perhaps I should leave," Penelope said as he walked closer to her with deliberate and determined steps.

Standing in front of her now, Carlton leaned forward so he was at the same eye level with her.

"Do you remember me now?" He asked, and she shook her head.

"I'm sorry."

"Are you married?" Carlton asked, cutting her off as his eyes went to her ring finger. "No," she said with a frown, wondering why he

was asking her such a personal question.

"Do you find me attractive?” He asked, hoping that would jog her memory since those were the exact questions she had asked him too.

Penelope shook her head as her brows pulled together in a frown, "No. Why are you..."

“Good,” he murmured, decision flashing in his eyes—then he leaned in, lowering his lips to hers.