Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19 Benjamin was weaving through the city streets to deliver the parcels in time. Except for the woman who complained about the prices being too high and wasting his time, his day at work went smoothly. He earned 71 dollars on the day, which was pretty average.

He was heading back to Rye’s Pizza because it was almost 4:30. However, everyone began looking at the sky as balloons that were stitched together began to rise high not from just one spot but from multiple places in the city.

And all these balloons at various places read the same message, making the citizens wonder in awe.

Looking at the message, Benjamin bit his lower lip and smiled. “Alfred, you sneaky old bastard.”

Somewhere else in the city, Rebecca’s Porsche stopped. She stepped out and peered at the balloon message that read:

BENJAMIN FOUND HIS LOVE.

She just didn’t know how to take it. Seconds later, she shook his head. “Nah, it can’t be him. There are hundreds if not thousands of Benjamins in the city.” She got back in her car and drove off, but to her bewilderment, she saw more of these messages spread across the city.“ You’ve gotta be kidding me.” Her tongue poked out through her cheek. Though she didn’t admit it with her tongue, her eyes confessed that it was romantic. However, it couldn’t possibly have been the Benjamin whom she married, the one who toils hard everyday as a pizza delivery guy.. At the same time, near the Sterling family’s villa, another set of the same balloon message was floating in the air with almost-invisible strings attached to the building tops. Selena who was chilling by the pool noticed the message. “What the hell is this?” “How cool,” Veronica was sitting next to her mother and looked thrilled.

“Is it Brother-in law’s doing?”

“There’s just no way that good-for-nothing son-in-law could have afforded this,” Selena couldn’t sit by anymore. She personally left to find out who exactly raised those balloons up there.

After Selena left, Veronica was still chilling, sipping on orange juice. “The love he’s talking about, it’s my sister only, right? Or did he suddenly recognize my worth? Even if he does, he can’t afford me. Besides, I already have a boyfriend.” At Rye’s Pizzas.

Benjamin was waiting outside when Rebecca arrived. She briefly looked at him with her inspecting eyes, He looked the same.

The back door opened, and he got in. She drove off. They barely spoke along the way. The balloons were no longer visible as they had risen up and above the clouds. However, when they were almost home, there was still a set of balloons floating over an apartment.

Benjamin, who was in the back seat, didn’t notice that, but Rebecca did. She wanted to ask him if it was him, but then again, why should she care? Her pride also didn’t allow her to ask When the car stopped in front of the main door, she calmly asked, “When are you going to get a car for yourself?

“When I become a seven-star deliverer,” he replied. “The company freely gives cars to its top members.”

“And when are you going to become a seven-star or whatever delivery guy?” “I don’t know,” Benjamin said, when in truth, he had received the promotion letter after his work that day. However, he didn’t want his wife to know that as he wouldn’t be able to ride in his wife’s car if he were to get a car for himself. So, he was thinking of asking the company to give him a cool bike instead.

“Why? You don’t like me getting in your car?”

She got out without replying. “Again, she leaves without answering,” he sighed. “I can’t understand what she’s thinking. If she wanted me to have a car, it wouldn’t take her a second to buy me one, but she doesn’t. It’s because she wants me to travel in her car, right? That means she wants me to be around him. So how can I get a new car and disappoint her?” 1 He then parked the car and expected two people to come, and they did. Both Anous and Devon. He gave the cheese chicken pizza to Anous and a small packet of weed to Devon.

What he didn’t expect; however, was seeing Louis’ children coming up to him and asking for pizza. Luckily, he brought another parcel, so he handed them all of it. They both began eating it as they walked away, though they only plucked the chicken pieces and tossed the rest of the pizza away, causing Benjamin to regret giving them the whole pizza. Louis and Bella’s children, Vlad and Mercie, the boy and the girl, were non-identical twins. Like their parents, they didn’t speak much even when others asked them questions. It wasn’t that they were shy, but there was just something odd as well as cute about them.

Before Benjamin entered the villa, he could hear Selena’s voice. “What’s she cooking now?” he felt a bit anxious.

When he stepped into the hall, Selena’s voice grew louder. “There he is. The bastard who stole my eldest daughter’s happiness.”

There were a couple of men sitting on the sofa before her. One was young, and the other was old. Did she bring another potential husband for Rebecca? Whoever they were, they definitely didn’t spare any positive looks toward him.

“Mother-in-law,” Benjamin politely said, “it was your daughter who asked me to marry here. Still, I apologized to you many times for that already, and I’ll say sorry again and again if you want, so please show me some respect.”

“Hmph, your sorry will not bring back the days my daughter has lost and continues to lose,” Selena barked at him, then came closer and said in a low voice, “and don’t forget about her virginity.”

“Yeah, I know,” Benjamin sounded a little guilty as he kep his voice just as low, “but I won’t be able to steal her virginity again, either, so, isn’t that a plus?”.

Selena ground her teeth and waved her hand toward the stairs, telling him to go. After Benjamin left, she came back to her seat and spoke to the guests. “What do you think?” she was looking at the young man who had a fashionable hairstyle and a clean mustache. “Can you pull my daughter away from him, Edward? If you succeed, I’ll persuade Rebecca to marry you, and then I’ll bring you into the movie industry.”

“Physically, the only good thing I can see on him is that he’s got a manly butt. One month. That’s all I need,” Edward said confidently. “I will make your daughter kick his butt and throw him out on her own.” His words were like music to Selena’s ears.

“Who are these fellows?” Jacob came down the stairs, fixing his suit. His smoking pipe wasn’t working, so he looked a bit on edge. “One of your time-pass troupes?” “No, no, dear,” Selena stood and lovingly put her hand on Jacob’s chest before introducing the two men. “He’s Francis, a professional lawyer and my collegemate. And this is his only son, Edward.” Jacob shook his hands with them so-so and looked at his wife. “Where is Kathy? I can’t find her right when my damn pipe isn’t working.” “Ah, I sent her out on work. Give that to me. I’ll get it cleaned by other maids.” “Nah,” Jacob turned around and walked back upstairs. “He’s making two big-budget movies,” Selena whispered to the guests, “and has a lot going through his head, so please don’t mind his lack of etiquette.” “It’s totally alright,” Francis beamed a professional smile. “I can understand that. But why do you guys only stay in this 18-acre villa when you can afford to buy houses in many places?”

“My husband believes it’s a waste to buy properties that he doesn’t live in, so... that’s that. I had to sell away my yacht because of that.”

“I see,” Francis slightly squinted his eyes, “he’s really lucky to have such an understanding wife.”

Selena was a famous movie star, and others like her generally spent lavishly buying things left and right, but Selena was different. She was the type to set the trend rather than follow one. This was what attracted Francis toward her back in their college days. In his eyes, there was nothing sexier than a smart woman.

Francis then shook his hand with Selena. “Leave your son-in-law to us. Even if my son fails, I’ll frame him in some crime and get him thrown in jail for at least a decade.”

“Haha, I’ll be waiting for that day to arrive as fast as possible,” Selena excitedly said, and they kept shaking their hands for long enough to make Edward wonder if there was something happening behind the scenes,