The Mid-America Club Collection Hotel, Chicago IL,
December 6, 2023
"Derek..look..isn't that Penelope?" Savannah Morgan discreetly pointed out the blonde lady to her husband, coming down the wide, red carpeted stairs of the busy hotel lobby. Her sturdy, toned body was displayed by a black sheet dress, her hair braided to show off the diamond hoops adorning her ears.
The tux clad, handsome gentlemen holding her around the waist said something to her and she laughed delightedly. She looked radiant and carefree.
"Oh, it is her. Shall we go say hello?" Savannah continued and only then noticed the look of utter disgust on her husband's face.
"That's not necessary", he answered through clenched teeth and turned towards the corridor leading to the ballrooms. They were supposed to be checking those out for his 50th birthday which would come up in six months.
His wife shrugged and followed him. He didn't like to be reminded of his old job. Penelope had been a good friend but after Derek had quit, their connection had naturally faded. No common ground, busy schedules, different cities. That's how life went. She just hoped Derek's nightmares wouldn't start again. He had finally ceased mumbling her name, tossing and turning, apologizing and making tortured sounds in his sleep for the last few years.
Derek seethed, his stomach was in knots and he needed to pay attention and be polite instead of marching over to the table in the corner of the ball room, full with crystal ware to swipe everything down in one go. Damn her and her ability to reduce him to a quivering mess by just laying eyes on her.
That evening, for the first time ever, he went on the internet to stalk her.
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Quantico, May 3, 2018, incoming call for Penelope Garcia
"Welcome to the board of all technical knowledge, state your business!"
"Why are my phone number and e-mail blocked, babygirl?" In the past the hurt tinged tone of his voice would have melted her. Now it just made her want to puke.
"Your phone number and e-mail have been blocked for more than six months. Too bad you only found out, isn't it? Please don't contact me again, Morgan. Have a nice life."
She'd dropped the call and quickly blocked his number on this unit as well. Everything inside her crawled with rage, with a pain so strong it made her sick. It had taken her silly dumb self a long time to understand that once Mr. Hot and Studly left the bureau their friendship had been dwindling down from daily calls, texts and hanging out to maybe bi annual calls if that. Out of sight out of mind. Ciao!
She needed to leave the FBI, she told herself in that moment. One part of this decision was her unwillingness to ever lay eyes on Derek Morgan again, the other that she wanted a true change. Him visiting for the odd case had messed her up every time.
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Packing up all her stuff she had moved back to Cali. Barely there, she'd met Mitchell Conrad, 6'2, dark blonde wavy hair and mesmerizing blue eyes, built like a linebacker. He was one of the non-profit organisations most affluent contributors where she worked.
Mitchell, a widower of 42, father of eight year old Stacy had swept her off her feet. At first she hadn't even known who he was. She had let him into the building with his daughter Stacy, on her second day at the foundation. He accompanied Stacy to her class room and coming back towards the entrance had found Penelope learning to work the huge coffee machine.
She had offered to make one for him too and they started talking. He began to come in every day with his daughter, just so he could engage with the new Technical Manager of the foundation, whose offices were integrated in the large community school.
"Chummy with the big bucks, newbie?" her colleague Andrea had teased her after Mitch had left with a happy "See you tomorrow, P."
"What are you talking about? That's Mitch. He brings his daughter to school and then we have coffee. He's super cute and super nice and I'll probably say yes to a date if he asks me again."
"Uhm..Never heard of the Conrad Real Estate and Hotel Group?"
Penelope had looked at Andrea with a big question mark on her pretty face.
"I worked for the FBI, I have no idea about this business, corporate stuff, bores me to death to be honest. What's Mitch got to do with it?"
"Google him", had been the answer.
They were married one year later, living happily with their daughter and soon welcomed a second girl they named Helen.
Mitchell was a very nice version of Donald Trump. He was successful and smart, very down to earth and the best father and husband she could have wished for.
She lifted him up with her bubbly self, getting them to do all kinds of fun things together, making his and Stacy's life colorful again.
Little Helen was a true bonus and they doted on the 3 year old who was her mother's spitting image.
Penelope rarely thought about Derek. Those memories were locked away. She just knew that without Mitch and Stacy it would have been much harder for her to heal. She'd been dependent on him for her mental well being.
While she was his source of comfort and solace too, they balanced each other. Losing him so drastically had nearly driven her insane with longing, her heart breaking over and over again, knowing she'd stopped meaning anything to him.
Cutting all ties had been the only way out.
Today she allowed herself to light a candle for him in church at Christmas.
Once Mitchell had asked who the candle was for. She hadn't told him his name, but that he was an old friend she'd lost years ago. Snuggling into her husband's arms she'd lightly added that they hadn't been a couple or lovers but best budds. "I still miss him. You would have liked him too."
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For weeks Derek was tormented by having seen Penelope that evening at the Mid-America Club. He kept hearing her icy voice from that last phone call in his head. It still hurt.
The unnamed beast inside him had roared, finding out the guy with her was her husband. She was married to a fricking real estate mogul! No nerdy boys or techies for Ms. Garcia anymore. She'd snagged a big one this time.
They owned a huge ranch style house in Encino, where they lived with their girls.
He had found her Instagram account and the way she portrayed herself, confident and sensual, fuelled his resentment, but despite it, also filled him with indecent fantasies.
She looked so good, younger than her
47 years by far, her glasses gone, revealing her dark soulful eyes again.
Derek rationally understood that he had no claim or reason to be angry, fully knowing why Penelope had done what she'd done. If only she had asked him, confronted him with his behaviour. But then, would he have had the guts to tell her the truth?
XXXXX
Savannah sighed next to her sleeping husband. He was having nightmares again, like she had predicted, gnashing his teeth and muttering her name.
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The Mid-America Club, June 6th, 2023,
21.25h Rosewood Ballroom
"Mitch, I'm going to freshen up, darling", Penelope whispered to her husband. They were in Chicago for the annual June convention of the Conrad Real Estate and Hotel Group.
She wasn't that keen on either the date nor the location, but it was important and very interesting with all the seminars and workshops. She made the long treck upstairs, finding herself all alone in the luxurious restroom.
She couldn't explain the sudden uneasy feeling inside of her, the same feeling she'd had half a year ago when they'd been here for a meeting. She had scanned the crowd but couldn't find the tall dark man. Later she had asked herself what she would have done if she had.
Today was his 50th birthday and she kept thinking about him. If she was honest with herself, she really missed him right now, his voice, his smile and their friendship. Why had he thrown it all away?
The Mid-America Club, June 6th, 2023,
21.32h
Derek was just a tiny bit buzzed and having a great time. All his family had come, uncles, aunts, cousins, his mom, his sisters and their families. He'd invited customers and business friends equally.
The weather was warm, the wind from the lake whipping through the air.
He'd escaped to one of the many small lounges to breathe a little on the balcony, sipping his cool beer.
Before returning into the fray he quickly used the bathroom. Coming out of it, he passed the ladies room when the door opened.
Penelope jerked back, but it was too late.
His heart started hammering as he took her in, looking as beautiful as the last time, in a dark green evening gown, her hair up in an elegant chignon. He couldn't say a word.
She didn't move either, her face already flushing prettily. They stared at each other for long seconds.
"Babygirl", Derek finally rasped, his voice breaking. He reached for her and she put her hand in his.
"Happy birthday, hot stuff.."
She was in his arms in a heartbeat. "It is now..it is now..god, how I missed you.."
"Me too.."
They were both crying now, holding on to each other as if they were drowning.
"Come on, let's find a place to sit..there're lounges over there..", Derek suggested after a while.
"Can you ever forgive me?"
He sat on the floor in front of the plushy armchair she was sitting in, his expression haunted.
"May I first ask you why? Did I do something?"
It hurt to ask and Derek immediately took her hand again.
"God..no..it was me..but..please..it's not easy to tell you..I've kept it to myself for years now."
"You're scaring me, sugar..what could be so horrible that you don't want me in your life anymore?"
"I love Savannah.." He squeezed his eyes shut.
Penelope felt herself beginning to shake inside.
"Of course you do", she whispered.
Derek buried his head in her lap.
"I didn't understand what happened to me at first..I kept wanting to call you..needing to hear your voice..I looked at your picture on my phone ten times a day..I dreamt of you.."
"Shshshsh..it's okay..I get it..don't think I felt any different.."
"Do you love me, Penelope?" He looked up.
Her hands framed his face.
"I love you. I always have..from the first moment you called me Babygirl..You are my soul.. "
"I loved you too from the moment you turned around..I recognized you..I felt this instant connection.."
"We'll be stronger now..happier..better partners to our spouses. We need our friendship, more than ever. We can make this work, Derek. I forgive you.."
"Thank you." He gave her a short kiss.
She tutted, her cheeks flaming. "None of that..we're good people.."
Later that night a party of four gathered at the nightclub. Penelope sat with Savannah, catching up while the men got to know each other.