CHAPTER 18: The Weekend Air

The weekend arrived slowly to Penny, but quite quickly for Demetria.

To Penny, because she couldn't bear being in the proximity of Calvin and couldn't wait to run, and for Demetria because she enjoyed her work.

Penelope stared at her reflection one last time before Demetria dragged her out of the apartment like a determined storm wrapped in lipstick and noise.

Today, they were going out.

“You’re not staying inside to overthink a man,” Demetria declared, already halfway into her heels. “Christ, Penny! All you do is daydream about him all day.”

“I don't daydream about him,” Penelope muttered, with her face flaming red.

“You were staring at the ceiling like it was your long lost lover."

“…I was resting.”

“Resting my foot. Let’s go.”

And just like that, Penelope was ushered into the outside world.

The restaurant Demetria chose sat tucked between a busy street with glowing signage and warm lights refecting across the floors.

It wasn’t too loud, nor too quiet. It was just…great in its own way.

They settled into a corner booth and Demetria immediately claimed the menu like it owed her money.

Penelope, on the other hand, sat more cautiously, with her fingers lightly wrapped around her glass of water.

Demetria squinted at her, “Why are you looking that way?”

Penelope blinked, “What way?”

“Like you’re about to testify in court.”

“I just don’t like crowded places,” Penny sighed, sipping her glass of water.

“This is two tables and mild pop music.”

Penelope exhaled, “…I don’t like emotional crowds either.”

That earned a grin from Demetria, “Ah. So we’re talking about him already.”

Penelope stiffened, “I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to,” Demetria giggled, then leaned forward, with her brown eyes already sparkling with anticipation.

“Okay. Start talking.”

Penelope hesitated. She stirred her drink slowly as she pondered.

Where would she even begin? The elevator? The office? His stares? Or his voice…

That voice that seemed to wrap around her thoughts even when she wasn’t near him.

She exhaled, “He’s… strange in summary.”

Demetria gasped dramatically, “Strange? That’s it? That man is not strange, Penny. That man is a walking danger aesthetic.”

“Demetria—”

“No, no, let me process this properly,” she interrupted, waving a hand. “You’re telling me Calvin Dawson – the emotionally unavailable, professionally intimidating, billionaire iceberg – has now personally assigned you to work under him?”

Penelope nodded slowly and Demetria dropped her fork with her jaw falling. Then picked it back up like nothing happened.

“Ouu gurl!! You have clicked his attention.”

Penelope nearly choked on her water, “I have not clicked anything.”

“You have clicked EVERYTHING,” Demetria insisted. “That man doesn’t seem like someone to assign people personally. Damn, he's fire.”

“That is not comforting. Fire burns.”

“And you're so willing to be burned by him,” Demetria sent her a wink and Penelope sighed, sinking slightly into her seat.

Demetria wasn't helping at this moment. And she knew it.

“But you know that wasn’t the plan, Demi.”

Demetria paused. For once, her teasing softened.

“…What was the plan then?”

Penelope stared at her glass, “To stay invisible,” she admitted quietly. “Do my job, leave quietly. With no complications whatsoever.”

Demetria blinked. Then leaned back.

“Well…” her voice trailed and Penelope looked up.

“Well what?”

Demetria smiled slowly, “You’ve already failed that plan spectacularly. Congratulations, Penny! Woo-hoo!”

Penelope groaned. “Demi!! You should be on my side!”

“I am on your side!” Demetria said amidst laughter.

“You know I didn’t choose to be near him.”

“Did Calvin Dawson choose you?”

Penelope’s fingers tightened around her glass, “Well…yeah?”

Demetria tilted her head, “So you just have to deal with it.”

Penelope exhaled slowly, “Another thing is…how he watches me.”

That made Demetria pause mid-sip on her glass of lemonade, “…Excuse me?”

Penelope frowned, “It’s not normal watching. It’s like—” she struggled for words, “like he’s trying to understand something I didn’t agree to explain.”

Demetria slowly lowered her glass, “Oh.”

Then a grin returned on her face, “Ohhhh.”

Penelope narrowed her eyes., “Don’t ‘oh’ me like that.”

Demetria leaned forward again, eyes bright with mischief, “Penny… that is not corporate supervision.”

“What is it then?”

Demetria tapped the table lightly, “Interest. He's obsessed.”

Penelope shook her head immediately, “No.”

“Yes.”

“No,” Penny pouted.

“Yes!” Demetria giggled and Penelope glared at her.”

“Demetriaaa!”

“I’m serious,” Demetria insisted. “Why would a normal CEO watch a newbie like a puzzle he wants to solve or a gift he wants to unravel?"

“Maybe because he's not normal? And he is not watching me like that!”

“Then how is he watching you?” Demetria tilted her head and Penelope hesitated.

Her voice dropped slightly, “…Like he recognizes something?”

Demetria’s smile dropped and she stopped teasing.

“…Recognizes?”

Penelope nodded slowly, “But I don’t know what.”

A waiter passed by, placing drinks nearby, but neither of them spoke until he left.

Demetria studied her friend carefully, “Penny,” she said gently, “has he said anything weird to you?”

Penelope thought about it. His questions, his actions, the way his gaze sometimes lingered like it was catching bits of a memory that didn’t belong in the present.

She shook her head, “No. Nothing direct.”

Demetria leaned back, “Hmm.”

Penelope frowned, “What? I don’t like ‘hmm.’”

“I’m thinking.”

“About what?”

Demetria ignored her, “Tell me everything he said.”

So Penelope did. By the time she finished, Demetria was no longer smiling.

She was watching her like she was assembling a puzzle with missing pieces.

“…He asked about Wilson?”

Penelope nodded.

“And awesome me?”

Penelope gave her a look, but nodded, “…Yes.”

Demetria’s eyes narrowed slightly, “Why is he so interested?”

Penelope sighed, “I do not know.”

Then Demetria leaned forward again, looking more serious now.

“Penny… be honest with me.”

Penelope straightened slightly, “What?”

“Do you think he suspects something?”

Penelope’s throat tightened and she bit her lip, “I…I don’t know.”

Her voice dropped, “But if he does… he hasn’t said it.”

Demetria tapped her finger against the table slowly, “That’s worse. It's better if he came out with it.”

Penelope blinked, “How is that worse?”

“Silence from powerful men is never empty,” Demetria said simply. “It may mean he's planning something.”

Penelope frowned, “You’re making this sound like a war.”

Demetria smiled faintly, “Isn’t it?”

Penelope looked downwards, “It is creepy.”

Their food arrived finally and for a while, they ate in relative quiet. Or at least tried to.

Demetria kept glancing at her like she was resisting an explosion of thoughts.

Eventually, she couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“So,” she said casually, “what does he smell like?”

Penelope choked again, “Why would you ask that?!”

“I’m gathering data!” Demetria flailed her hands in the air like that was a very undebatable reason.

“That is not data!”

“It is extremely important data.”

Penelope covered her face, “He smells…very expensive and like…bad things.”

Demetria gasped, “I KNEW IT.”

“You knew nothing,” Penny rolled her eyes.

“I knew everything.”

Penelope shook her head, laughing despite herself. Demetria was crazy.

Then Demetria’s expression softened again. “Penny,” she said quietly.

Penelope looked up.

“If he’s paying attention to you like this…”

She hesitated, “…be careful.”

The tone changed the air immediately.

Penelope’s smile faded slightly, “I am careful.”

Demetria shook her head, “No. You’re just trying to ignore the situation. That’s different.”

Penelope lowered her gaze, “I don’t have a choice.”

Demetria reached across the table, squeezing her hand, “You always have choices,” she said gently. “You just don’t always like them.”

Penelope gave a tight smile, popping some chopped meat into her mouth.

Then suddenly, Demetria stood squealing, “MJ!”

Penny brows creased, “What?”

“The king of pop! They're playing his song!” Demetria bounced off to the center of the restaurant where some other customers danced.

Penelope laughed at Demetria's funny dance movements.

Demetria was a huge fan of Michael Jackson and Penelope wasn't really surprised at her outburst.

Leaning back on her seat with her eyes on the dancing Demetria, but her mind far else, she couldn't help the thought that came to her mind.

Did Calvin really not remember or did he already know about everything…and was just waiting for a right opportunity to confront her?