Chapter 270: That’s scandalous

Hours later...

"This is... what?!" Benjamin’s jaw dropped, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. He darted his gaze between the marriage printouts in his hand and his boss seated behind the desk.

He had asked about this countless times until the clerk couldn’t stop glaring at his stubbornness. But the system says... Zoren Pierson was married to Penelope Bennet!

"Oh, no..." He held his head and staggered back. "How?"

Since Zoren couldn’t see or read the marriage certificate, he had Benjamin do it. He wouldn’t have needed to if he could see, so now Zoren had to accept someone panicking around him.

"Of all people — is this another one of Dean Pierson’s carefully devised plots?!" Benjamin gasped. "That woman and he are connected! She probably approached you just to tell you about this! How dare they taint the name of Prime Group just because she works there as a representative?"

With this story becoming more solid in his head, Benjamin rushed to the desk. "Boss, this doesn’t make any sense at all! She and Dean are probably in it together! Prime Group might have a reputation, but in business, we both know that—"

"Shut up." Zoren closed his eyes and raised a hand, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Please. I need silence."

"But, sir! This is big! You can’t just — oh, my god!"

"Benjamin." Zoren slowly reopened his temporarily ineffective eyes and seriously uttered, "I need time. Also, register Miss Penelope’s contact in my private phone. I want to discuss this properly with her."

Benjamin panicked. "Sir, don’t let her get even a single cent from you if you’re going to divorce her!"

"Who said I’m planning to divorce her?"

"Ah?"

"Go." Zoren didn’t explain himself and waved dismissively. "Just do what I said and go."

Benjamin pressed his lips together, about to weep at his pitiful boss’s situation. Why did his enemies always find a way to give his boss trouble? Wasn’t Zoren’s illness enough? Couldn’t they wait?!

With a heavy heart, Benjamin picked up the calling card and the phone on the desk. When his eyes landed on the calling card, deep lines appeared between his brows.

"Penelope Bennet?" he whispered, his gaze falling on the title underneath the name.

Zoren’s brows rose as a pin-drop silence ensued. "What’s wrong?"

Benjamin opened and closed his mouth. His complexion turned as pale as a sheet as he shifted his shaky gaze to his boss.

"Boss, that woman... is her name Penelope?" he asked, his heart thudding against his chest.

"Yes."

Benjamin almost fell to the floor as his knees weakened.

"Why?" asked Zoren curiously. "Do you know her?"

Penelope Bennet? Benjamin didn’t know her personally, but he had heard of the CEO of Prime Group. The Prime Group’s move to enter this part of the market caused a lot of noise in the business industry—even in different fields.

Although the gender or identity of the CEO of Prime Group was never disclosed, and even though information about the person at the top was kept discreet, that mysterious person earned quite a reputation. Mainly because, when one was selling their products or services, they would convince clients to avail. But Prime Group was different — it was the opposite.

Despite the stressful process, established businessmen, politicians, celebrities, and known personalities would line up and could only hope to hear from one of Prime Group’s representatives. Not just because of their excellent services and products, but also just to make a connection with the company. It was also said that only a few were lucky enough to be acquainted with the person at the helm of the company.

"Benjamin?" Zoren’s call snapped Benjamin from his trance. "Why are you so silent all of a sudden?"

Zoren squinted, hoping it would help him see better. Sadly, he could only see his assistant’s blurry figure standing motionless in the same spot.

"Sir..." Benjamin opened and closed his mouth like a fish. "Penelope Bennet is T. M."

Zoren’s brows rose. "She’s the CEO?"

"That’s what this calling card says." Benjamin panicked, double-checking the calling card to make sure it wasn’t forged. "This must be a mistake — or did she forge this?"

"Stop right there, Ben," Zoren remarked. "You’ve already been rude to her far too many times. Although I understand your reasoning, denying what’s in front of you is foolish. If you’re skeptical, reach out to Prime Group. They would appreciate it and deal with it if she forged the card and is impersonating the CEO. However, if that calling card turns out to be real, then we might as well cancel our agreement. It’s not a disadvantage to her, but it is to us."

Zoren leaned back calmly and continued, "Either way, one fact remains. Miss Penelope is my wife. That is not forged."

"Sir, boss! What’s going to happen now?" Again, Benjamin panicked as he walked closer to the desk. "Did she think you registered this? Or did she?"

"You can’t register a marriage without the other person’s permission."

"Right." Benjamin winced briefly. "Then, how?!"

"That’s what I want to know as well." Zoren jerked his chin slightly. "Go and save her number. I’ll keep in touch with her. Also, enable the voice command and text-to-speech. I want to keep our matters private."

Benjamin pursed his lips but reluctantly did as he was told. When he finished, he placed the phone in front of his boss.

"Sir, I’ll still reach out to Prime Group to confirm," said Benjamin. "I’ll keep this calling card just in case." — for proof.

"Mhm." Zoren nodded. "After that, dig up any information about her."

Benjamin’s brows rose. "About Penelope Bennet?"

"Yes, and if possible, find out her real relationship with Dean."

"Sir, why do you want to find out the real nature of her relationship with Dean Pierson?" Benjamin grumbled. "Although I’m not yet sure if this calling card is authentic, it’s obvious that they were close to each other. Dean Pierson wouldn’t be bold enough to challenge your orders if he knew Penelope Bennet wouldn’t back him up."

That was true, but Zoren hadn’t thought that far.

He propped his knuckles against his jaw and hummed, "It’ll be too complicated if my wife’s lover is my nephew. That’s scandalous."

"Huh?" Benjamin couldn’t help but look at his boss in disbelief. "Sir, why do you sound like you’re getting a little too into character about this absurd marriage?!"

Zoren smirked a little. "Because I don’t want to be involved in a scandalous marriage."