PAMPERED

292 Peonies

Walking out of a building to the underground parking space after a long meeting, Penny slowed down when her phone buzzed. She instinctively checked it, knowing it was her personal phone and that only important messages came through it.

[From: Mr. Vittamin Deficient

Miss Penelope, my boss is asking what flowers you like. He wants to give you a bouquet-!]

Her steps halted in front of her car as she stared at the message in disbelief.

“I told him to contact me if it’s important–not this!” Penny briefly pinched the bridge of her nose and grunted. “Having Slater know this number is already enough to handle”

Slater, after all, would always send her messages no matter how busy he was. He’d even send pictures of everything he found amusing… including his selfies. That’s why she had to put him

on mute.

“Seriously, Penny sighed. “But I can’t mute him.”

After all, Benjamin might send her important information, and she wouldn’t see it in time if he

were restricted.

“Whatever” Penny shrugged and ignored the message, hopping into the driver’s seat to get to her next appointment.

Her office wasn’t finished yet because they were still waiting for materials and pieces to be delivered. However, that didn’t mean Penny could stop moving around. Branching out was a lot of work, even though Yugi had been in the country for a year preparing.

Penny drove herself to her next destination, knowing she had to finish everything before dinner.

Ding!

She instinctively checked her phone while slowing down.

[From: Mr. Vittamin Deficient

Miss Penny, this is important! I told my boss I’d find out what flowers you like! Or at least, tell me if you have any allergles!]

“Tss.” Penny clicked her tongue and shook her head, keeping the phone in her hand while propping that same hand on the steering wheel.

She continued driving until she heard another ‘ding!”

“Oh, this guy!” she roared, abruptly twisting the steering wheel and pulling over to the side of the road. She thought if she ignored Benjamin, he would stop and pick up the hint. But alas, it seemed Benjamin was even more annoying when trying to please someone than when he was wary of her.

Now, Penny couldn’t help but have second thoughts about letting Benjamin know she was

202 Peonies

Zoren’s Thursday Girl!

“At least when he hated me for no damn reason, he wouldn’t bother me like this!” she ground her teeth, impatience finally getting the better of her.

Her anger, however, was quickly replaced with dismay when she read Benjamin’s next message.

[From: Mr. Vittamin Deficient

Miss Penny, this is bad! I told my boss I might not find out your preferences, and now he’s planning to buy the entire flower shop! He’s going to buy all of the flowers! Sending SOS!]

Her face contorted as she imagined Benjamin panicking while Zoren coolly bought everything in the flower shop.

“Oh… my god…” Penny briefly wept, lowering her head until her forehead touched the steering wheel. When she recovered, she straightened her back and replied.

[To: Mr. Vittamin Deficient

I don’t like flowers.]

That was the truth. Although she found them pretty, she couldn’t appreciate them for more than

three minutes.

Ding!

[From: Mr. Vittamin Deficient

What!? Then what do you like?]

“He doesn’t even sound formal anymore,” she muttered, shaking her head. “They won’t leave me alone until I give them an answer, will they?”

Penny ran her tongue across her inner cheeks.

[To: Mr. Vittamin Deficient

I like this chocolate from Germany. You can buy it at the convenience store.]

Penny casually added the name of the chocolate brand and stared at her phone intently. If she received another complaint from Benjamin, she might just see red.

Ding!

[From: Mr. Vittamin Deficient

Got it. Thank you, Miss Penny~! May you have a wonderful day! Please take care today and don’t forget to drink plenty of water… that is what my boss sald.]

Seeing that Benjamin seemed to have calmed down, Penny heaved a heavy sigh. She pushed herself away from the steering wheel until her back was fused to the seat. Her eyes closed as she cocked her head back.

“These guys…” she breathed out, shaking her head as she reopened her eyes. She gazed at the phone in disbelief. “Penny, just what sort of trouble are you getting yourself into?”

202 Peonies

Another deep breath escaped her as she snapped her eyes back to the phone. She shook her head once and then moved on to continue her day.

“I’m so sorry,” Benjamin apologized to the florist for the umpteenth time for the shock she had. received from his boss. “My boss didn’t mean to startle you. He just had to impress his wife –

that’s all.

The florist smiled wryly before shifting her eyes to Zoren, who was standing in the corner near

the flower shelves.

“It’s alright,” she said. “We understand… the Pierson Corporation wouldn’t usually take an

interest in such a small business.”

“Hehe. Benjamin awkwardly chuckled and apologized again. As compensation, he pointed at a random flower to buy so they wouldn’t leave without making a purchase.

Fortunately, Penny told him what she wanted. Otherwise, this entire business might have ended. up under the Pierson Corporation or gone out of business. Yes, Zoren could be like that sometimes, but Benjamin was certain “going out of business” wasn’t as bad as it sounded.

“Sir, here are the flowers for your grandma,” the florist handed Benjamin the bouquet he ordered, and he returned the smile with a friendly one of his own.

He then walked over to Zoren and said, “Sir, everything’s settled. Our contact in Germany said they have distributors here, and they’ve already reached out to them?

“Good: Zoren nodded

“Huh?”

before pointing at a flower. “Pack this up

“I’ll be waiting in the car.” With that, Zoren walked off without another word.

Confused, Benjamin instinctively looked in the direction Zoren had pointed. Deep lines appeared between his brows as he tilted his head slightly.

“Peonies?”