Seeing the girl nodding, Axel face palms mentally. How could she accept the job just because any normal person would? He wouldn't blame her though. She seems really desperate to live a normal life, whatever it means to her.
Shaking his head again, he looked at Alan and his secretary who were still waiting for them to leave, then he picked up his phone. Honestly, he was tired of dealing with these people. If not because of Camden's persuasion and the fact that they have not done anything wrong up till now, he would have ended everything with them a long time ago.
And what better time is there to do it if not now?
He dialed Alan's number and the man picked on the first ring. Watching Alan's face closely, Axel spoke, "Are you trying to steal my employee M.r Willow?" Axel asked as he peered at the man's face. It was obvious that Alan was nervous. "The deal is off". Axel hung up after that and kept his phone aside.
Hannah heard what Axel said to someone over the phone and she assumed that someone was Alan as he seemed to be on the phone as well. Even though the windows were tinted and she was far from him, Hannah saw Alan's face whiten, like blood had been drained out from him and Hannah didn't need anyone to tell her that it was Axel's doing.
"What did you say to him?" She asked.
"Normal people wouldn't ask that question". Of course, he was just bullshitting but Hannah looked like she was absorbing some wise words that were spoken to her.
He smiled unknowingly at her expression. "You really are not the smartest are you?" Hannah only turned to him without saying anything. It seems she didn't hear him as she looked confused. Axel shook his head again before turning on the engine and driving away.
# # # # #
Hannah thought that they would go back to the company so she was surprised when she saw the huge black gate of the estate. Axel drove into the estate and stopped in front of her building. Again, she thought that he was going to leave but the man came down along with her. Ignoring his presence, she walked to the door and opened it. The first thing she saw was Penelope's small frame on the cold marble tiles with her eyes closed. It seems the child was waiting for her to come back.
Hannah's heart broke into several tiny pieces as she looked at the curled up child in her living room. She could imagine how Penelope must have felt when she woke up and saw no one in the house. After all, she had gone through the same thing. She stood frozen at the door and didn't even realize when she started crying.
Axel paused at the door when he saw Hannah's daughter sleeping on the floor. From how quiet the house was, he could tell that there was no adult at home with the child. He was prepared to talk some sense into Hannah for leaving her child home alone but he paused when he saw tears on her face.
He found himself feeling bad after seeing her cry and God knows how much he had to restrain his restless fingers from wiping her tears. Sighing, he walked into the house and sat down on the floor beside the sleeping child. He gently rubbed her hair, fully aware that the child would wake up if he did that. That was what he wanted after all.
As expected, Penelope opened her eyes slowly and winced at the amount of light pouring into the house. She looked up, expecting to see her mommy but she saw someone else instead.
"Do you remember me?" Of course, she remembered him! The last time he came here, Axel had told her to go inside and shut her eyes tightly while counting to a hundred and when she came out, there would be a surprise gift for her but he lied.
When Penelope came out, there was no gift, not even one. She pouts cutely and Axel smiled at her antics. Penelope looked away from Axel and saw her mommy standing at the door.
As if the sight of Hannah alone was enough to replenish her lost energy, Penelope stood up and ran as fast as she could with a piece of paper in her hand. "Mommy look! I drew this!" Penelope waved the paper in front of Hannah happily and the latter bent down after wiping her tears.
"Hmmm, it's very pretty". Hannah looked at the drawing which was mainly lines and curves with a few dots on each set. Seeing the child beaming happily, Hannah pats her hair not knowing what to do or say.
"Are you hungry?" Hannah's head shot up to see Axel inside her house. How did he even get in?
In response to Axel's question, Penelope's stomach growled loudly and Hannah felt guilty once again. Penelope has not had anything since she woke up as there was nobody at home to prepare a meal for her. Hannah as well hasn't eaten anything but it doesn't matter since she was already used to it.
But Penelope wasn't.
"Let's go out to eat". Axel suggested and Penelope smiles again but her smile changes to a frown the next second. She was finding it difficult to trust Axel after what he did to her last time.
Hannah looked at axel again and Axel felt her worries. He didn't know why but he smiled at her, as if to reassure her, then Hannah sighed and stood up.
Penelope smiled once again when hannah stood up. This means they were going out. It had been so long since the child went out so it was normal for her to be happy at this moment.
Hannah went into the house, to her room and came back a little later, holding her handbag. Axel knew what was in her bag but he said nothing. If she was going to carry weapons along, he had no problem with it as long as he is not affected in any way