Chapter 408: Help Ray

After Zoren’s usual routine and as he made his way back to his office, he spoke. "Benjamin, clear my lunch schedule."

"Huh?" Benjamin furrowed his brows but didn’t ask further questions until they reached the CEO’s office. Once the door was closed, he finally spoke. "Sir, you have a lunch meeting with Sir Ray today."

"That’s why you need to cancel it," Zoren said as he sat behind his desk. "Tell Ray I’m having lunch with my wife. He’ll understand for sure."

Benjamin’s brows shot up as he hurried over to his boss’s desk. "Sir, are you going on a lunch date with Miss Penelope?"

"Lunch date?" Zoren slowly raised his brows, lifting his gaze to his assistant. "And you’re happy about that? That’s strange."

"Of course not!" Benjamin gasped in disbelief.

Until now, Benjamin had no idea that Penny and Zoren were already in a relationship, nor did he know that Zoren was aware of it. Penny seemed to not want Benjamin to know, while Zoren simply enjoyed keeping it from his assistant as petty revenge for Benjamin hiding the truth from him earlier.

It was childish on Zoren’s part, but Benjamin deserved it. When it wasn’t needed, Benjamin had a big mouth, but when it came to important matters, he seemed to lack that same energy.

"Sir, why are you canceling your lunch appointment with Sir Ray for Miss Penelope?!" Benjamin continued, his voice pitching. "I know Miss Penelope has been a great help, but isn’t Mark coming back soon? You won’t need her services anymore!"

Zoren smiled with satisfaction as Benjamin began his antics. "I don’t want to burn bridges," he explained. "I still have to treat Miss Penelope with high regard for the future."

"But you already gave her brother a golden invitation!" Benjamin’s face flushed as he pretended to get upset. This whole situation was giving him premature hypertension because he needed to act really upset to be believable. "Sir, you’re giving Miss Penelope too much attention! I know you two are dating, but this is too much!"

"You think so?"

Benjamin’s breath hitched, unsure of what Zoren would do if he believed him. "Ahem! I mean, I understand that you want to maintain a good relationship with her, but canceling an important appointment with Sir Ray is a bit... excessive."

"My lunch appointment with Ray isn’t important, though," Zoren argued innocently. "He just wants to drag me along to help him pick out a better ring."

To be fair, Zoren found it tedious to be bothered with something like that. He’d rather sleep than help Ray choose a ring for someone who had already rejected his proposal. The only reason Zoren had agreed was to show support for Ray. After all, Ray had been a good pillar of support to Zoren over the years. Even though Zoren knew his cousin was heading for heartbreak, he still wanted to console him.

"But sir, Sir Ray would appreciate having his cousin there for moral support," Benjamin added, hoping his boss wouldn’t follow his earlier nonsense. Just to ensure it, he added, "Even if you’re not the best at consoling people, Sir Ray would appreciate your presence."

"Ah." Zoren nodded, reconsidering. "Then don’t cancel my appointment with him."

"Huh?" Benjamin was stunned. "Why?"

Zoren tilted his head. "Didn’t you just convince me to meet him?"

’No, sir! Why do you only listen to my nonsense and not when I’m being professional?!’ Benjamin mentally wept, already planning to apologize to Penny for ruining their lunch date.

"Go now," Zoren said, jerking his chin toward the door.

"Yes, sir," Benjamin mumbled, dejectedly dragging his feet as he left the office with his head hanging low.

Even without seeing him clearly, Zoren could imagine the dark clouds looming over Benjamin’s head. He shook his own head as Benjamin closed the door behind him.

"I don’t feel sorry for him at all," Zoren whispered to himself as he pulled out his phone. "Send a message to Miss Penelope."

---

DING!

[From: Mr. Pierson

I forgot I have a lunch appointment with my cousin.]

Penny tilted her head, her eyebrow arched.

[To: Mr. Pierson

It’s alright, I understand. Is he a harmless one?]

[From: Mr. Pierson

Yes, he’s harmless. I want to introduce you to him... if you don’t mind.]

Penny paused as she read his message. "He must really like this cousin of his to want to introduce me."

[To: Mr. Pierson

I don’t mind, as long as you trust him.]

DING!

[From: Mr. Pierson

I trust him. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare introduce you to him. I told you about him before, didn’t I? He’s the one I visit every Thursday.]

Her lips formed an "O" as she remembered who this cousin was. Although they had never delved too deeply into Zoren’s relationship with this particular cousin, Penny knew they had a good bond.

[From: Mr. Pierson

He’s asking for my help in choosing a ring for the woman he likes. Honestly, I don’t know what to tell him, but maybe you could help?]

[To: Mr. Pierson

I don’t know if I’ll be much help, but I’ll try.]

[From: Mr. Pierson

I’ll see you?]

The corners of her mouth lifted into a smile, and her cheeks took on a slight pink hue. "I’ll see you later."

---

"I’ll see you later."

Zoren smiled in satisfaction as he listened to her last message. He nodded and carefully set his phone aside, ready to finish his tasks before his lunch appointment with Penny and Ray.

"He’s been eager to meet her," he murmured, thinking of how Ray had been nagging him to tell him more about his "wife." While Zoren was happy to share a few things about Penny, he didn’t want to divulge too much.

After all, Zoren felt the need to protect Penny from someone like Ray.

Little did they all know, that while Penny and Zoren were willing to help Ray, they would soon wonder one thing: Who was going to break the news to him?