"Sure, go ahead".
Penelope took a deep breath and her cheerful face now turned gloomy. "Mommy works for you right?" She asked, her small eyes fixed intently on Axel, waiting for him to say something.
"Yes, she does". Axel replied, not sure where this conversation was heading to.
"Please tell her to stay home for a few days". Penelope pleaded. "You see, uncle Raymond says she is so busy with work that's why I don't get to spend time with her so please let her stay for a few days".
Hannah almost fainted when Penelope finished talking. Was she trying to get her into trouble?
Axel was not surprised by what Penelope had said. Every child would love to spend time with their parents and he knew that. He never knew that Hannah was telling the truth when she said that she had a daughter and a cute one at that.
Penelope was scared that Axel was going to refuse her and she didn't want that. She thought hard about what to do to make him say yes and finally, she got an idea. She ran out of the living room, and into the house, leaving both Hannah and Axel surprised.
Axel stood up from his crouching position and looked at Hannah who flinched immediately his eyes met hers. She stood still when Penelope ran out of the living room, leaving her in an awkward situation. Should she just leave?
She was about to take a step when Penelope came running back, holding two juice boxes in her hands. Hannah looked at Penelope in shock as she ran past her and went to Axel.
"Here". Penelope stretched her hands, holding out the juice boxes to Axel. "These are my favorites, you can have them. Please let mommy stay".
Axel was as shocked as Hannah was at the little girl's action. He was already going to tell Hannah to take some time off because he thought she needed rest after what happened yesterday. But this little girl was already standing in front of him with two juice boxes in her hands.
"Are these not enough? Should I get more?" Penelope was beginning to worry because axel had not taken the juice boxes from her so she thought he wanted more. Axel quickly grabbed the juice boxes from Penelope because from the look in her eyes, he was sure that she was really going to bring more juice boxes if he hesitate for another second.
Penelope's gloomy expression was now replaced by a happy one as she smiled brightly at axel. "Does this mean my mommy can stay home with me?"
"Of course, she can, but only for two days. She has a lot of work to do". Penelope's smile fell when she heard what axel said. Two days?! Just two days?! That was not enough for her!
"Just two days? But that's not enough". She looked at axel pleadingly and he sighed.
"Okay, how about three days?" Penelope shook her head. "Not enough? Okay four days". He said but envelope shook her head again.
Hannah just stood there, watching Penelope and Axel talk in front of her. She didn't say anything and didn't stop Penelope. In fact, she wanted to see how much time Penelope would be able to buy for her.
They kept bickering for a while until axel finally settled on a week. "One week! That's it. Nothing more!" Axel said with a tone of finality and Penelope could only agree. Though she was not pleased with the result, that was the least she could do.
Suddenly, she had a brilliant idea. What if she gives him something else? He may agree to let Hannah stay home longer than a week.
With that thought, Penelope ran back into the house and came back with two stuffed toys in her hands.
Axel's eyes widened when he saw Penelope coming in with two stuffed toys. Was she going to keep giving him things till he agreed to let Hannah stay home longer? He looked at Hannah who had her eyes fixed on Penelope in shock.
"Take these also". Penelope pushed the stuffed toys into axels hands. "Will you let mommy stay longer now?"
Axel smiled at Penelope. He thought she was really adorable as she kept giving him things so that she gets to spend more time with her mother.
He crouched again and ruffled Penelope's hair. "Okay, two weeks. Your mommy can stay for two weeks that's all". Axel was still smiling as he rubbed Penelope's hair. Her smile had gotten so much wider than before.
Penelope was so happy that Axel agreed to let Hannah stay home longer. Does that mean if she kept on giving things to him, he would extend Hannah's stay? She ran back into the house much to the surprise of the two people in the room.
Axel's lips were parted in surprise. That was his cue to leave. If he stays here any longer, Penelope was going to keep bringing things to bribe him into extending Hannah's leave. "I better get going now". He said to Hannah. "Come back to work in three weeks.
Three weeks?! Were her ears playing tricks on her or did he really say three weeks? "Three weeks?" She asked in surprise. He and Penelope had agreed on letting her stay home for two weeks so why did he say three weeks?
"Yes, three weeks, or is that not enough?" His eyebrows were raised in question and Hannah quickly shook her head.
"No, no. That's enough". She hurriedly said. Honestly, if she had a choice, she wouldn't go back to thanightmarere of a company she works in as Axel's secretary but since she didn't have a choice….
"I'm leaving". Axel's words snapped her out of her thoughts and she nodded.
"Okay. Let me take those". She stretched her hand to take back the stuffed toys and juice boxes from Axel but he stepped back.
"What are you doing?" He asked her. "These are mine". He said and started walking to the door.
Hannah looked at Axel in surprise as he walked out of the house holding two stuffed toys and two juice boxes. 'These are mine?' What was he going to do with them?
Hannah shook her head and walked into the house. She stopped when she saw Penelope bringing out all her stuffed toys. Was she really going to give Axel all of it?
"What are you doing Penny?" Hannah knelt in front of her and placed her hands on her shoulder.
"Mommy, I want to give him all of these. He may let you stay for a year if he sees all these". Penelope said with a smile, confident that she had just come up with the most brilliant idea.
Hannah: "..."