Chapter 312: Mistress

"When did you get married?"

Penny looked up at him, her mouth falling open. "What?"

"Penny," Hugo’s face darkened, "did you get married without telling us? Or without introducing your husband to us?"

"What? No!" Penny gasped. "I didn’t get married!"

Hugo studied her face with prying eyes before the darkness on his face disappeared. "Oh."

"Second Brother, what’s going on?" she asked, making him take a step back as she stepped out of the car.

"Well... this shameless guy last night said he’s your husband," he summed it up while scratching the back of his head. "So, who is he? And why didn’t you come home last night?"

Penny pursed her lips and asked subtly, "He said he’s my husband?"

"Who’s that shameless guy, Penny? How dare he claim to be your husband?"

’Gosh... I should’ve known this is something Renren would say,’ she thought, realizing that Renren’s honesty was sometimes troublesome. Not that he was lying, though.

"Brother Hugo, that guy last night is just a friend," she explained helplessly. "Something came up yesterday, and I ended up giving my word to someone. The visit ended late, and I was too sleepy, so I booked a hotel to sleep. I didn’t want to fall asleep while driving."

Hugo raised an eyebrow. "I see... but why did he answer your call? You two were together?"

"I dropped my phone in his car. I only got it back because he left it at the reception."

"Oh..."

"Brother Hugo, that friend is really kind and considerate. He was probably just thinking of me and thought that you were bothering me. After all, it was already late."

"But Brother Atlas was calling you using his private phone," Hugo pointed out. "He could’ve seen it was your brother."

Penny chuckled awkwardly. "The thing is, that friend is legally blind. His phone is even on vision-impaired mode just so he can read his messages."

Hearing this, the lingering anger in Hugo’s heart diminished.

"Oh," he nodded. "He was just trying to help?"

"Yes." Penny sighed. "So, he didn’t know and simply assumed someone was bothering me last night."

"Poor guy." Hugo sighed, now feeling a little remorseful for cursing at this man all night. ’I even tortured him in my head about a thousand times. May the Lord forgive my sinful thoughts.’

Seeing that Hugo seemed regretful, Penny didn’t know whether to console him or not. ’He probably thinks Zoren is pitiful. Well, he is pitiful, but at the same time, he doesn’t look like it.’

"Don’t be sad, Second Brother. You were just acting as my brother, and he was just acting like a good friend," she said with a smile. "Anyway, I’m headed to see First Brother. Should we go see him together?"

Penny knew she needed protection from her second brother, after all.

"Uh... sure." Hugo nodded. "But you should go first."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because I forgot to make a phone call," he said. "I’ll follow you in a bit."

Deep lines appeared between her brows, but she didn’t think much of it. Penny simply nodded and took her things from the car.

As Penny walked toward the elevator in the parking space, Hugo watched her from near his car. Once she got in, he quickly took out his phone and made a hurried call.

"Yes, Lieu—"

"Change of plans, my sister’s back — retreat."

***

[Global Prime Logistics: CEO’s Department]

When Penny reached the CEO’s department, she happily approached the small reception desk.

"Hi, I’m looking for Atlas Bennet," she said with a smile, making the person behind the desk look up at her. The man blinked a few times before wordlessly nodding and reaching for the telephone to contact someone.

As he went through the process, Penny pushed herself away and looked around. ’I think the last time I was here was when Papa was still in the office,’ she thought. ’A lot has changed since First Brother took over.’

"Uh, Miss?" the assistant called, making Penny look back at him. "The CEO’s assistant is asking for your name."

Penny smiled and was about to say her name when a silly thought crossed her mind. "His mistress."

The moment she said those words, the assistant’s expression changed to one of shock. He waited for Penny to say "just kidding" at the end, but she didn’t.

"Uh..." the assistant cleared his throat and quietly relayed the message over the phone. "Sir, she says she is... she is CEO Bennet’s mistress."

***

In the CEO’s assistant office, right next to Atlas’s office, Allen gasped in horror. His eyes widened at what he’d just heard on the other end of the line.

"No," he whispered before telling the receptionist, "I have to confirm this with the boss."

As soon as he said this, Allen rushed to the door connecting his office to Atlas’s. "Sir!"

Atlas flinched at the sudden sound that interrupted the gloomy silence in the office.

"Sir!" Allen hurried to the desk, his expression aghast, making Atlas frown.

"Allen, what is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost or as if the company has declared bankruptcy." Atlas’s frown deepened, knowing it wasn’t the latter. "Just say it. I’m not in the mood right now."

Allen opened and closed his mouth, unsure if he was delivering bad news or horrible news. "Your mistress is here!"

"Huh?"

"The one who called weeks ago!" Allen exclaimed in panic. "I thought she’d forgotten about it and wouldn’t come, but she’s here!"

Atlas tilted his head to the side, raising an eyebrow. "My mistress from weeks ago?"

"Yes!"

"Did she bring her child with her?"

"Huh?"

"The mistress is supposed to be the third person in a relationship. But it seems I’m the mistress here since her husband was so daunting last night," Atlas said meaningfully, his eyes blazing with anger for reasons Allen couldn’t understand. "Tell her to come in. I’d love to hear what she’s up to now."

"Boss?!" Allen gasped even more, sensing the invisible flames engulfing his boss. ’Are you saying... you’re the mistress now?! And what do you mean, husband?! Did you confront her husband when you’re in the wrong?!’