Chap. 19 Heart to heart
Penelope wasn't surprised to find Alex in her apartment when she came back from work. He usually comes and cooks for her. But that day she was a bit annoyed about it.
"Hey you!" she said cheerfully.
"Hey, I hope you're hungry, I bought some fresh vegetables and chocolate mousse."
"Alex you're a sweetheart but Derek invited me to dinner tonight."
"Hmm so you have another date with lover boy."
"This is not a date… just a dinner. He knows about James, I'm sure he wants to talk about it."
"Oh and are you comfortable with speaking about it…with him?"
"I don't know why but I trust him."
"I noticed but don't forget about your old buddy Lex princess."
"Never. Derek will leave in a few days."
"Oh it's sad, I appreciate him."
"He has his own life…"
"Well princess, would you do me a favour?"
"What?"
"You have to wear that skirt I found in your closet."
"No way… my legs are too slim comparing to my frame."
"Your legs are nice, all creamy and soft. He will have a heart attack."
"Lex, I love you very much but stop these crazy comments."
"The man invited you twice for dinner, he spent the day with you yesterday… it's just reality."
"He's just a fighter for justice. I feel that he wants to help me. He will soon be back at DC period."
"Pen, Pen, Pen you're unbelievable."
"Lex, stop now. I don't and can't think about him like that. My hoped have been crushed by J… this sick man; I prefer staying alone and I'm really aware about not being the best catch for a man…" she said tears in her eyes.
"I will leave you alone for now but believe me you are a delicious woman…"
"Said the man interested in men." She sighed.
"Ok I surrender… but the skirt please." He said pouting.
Penelope rolled her eyes and followed him in the bedroom.
Derek's eyes immediately went to Penelope's bare legs when she opened the door.
"Nice legs" he thought but quickly put that thought away.
"Hi Penelope."
"Hi."
He entered and was greeted by McKey.
"Hey young boy."
"He will miss you when you'll leave Chicago." She said smiling.
"I'll miss him too but hopefully, I'll be back soon."
"Yeah."
"Hey Pen, don't worry I'll have a walk with McKey." Alex said rushing out of the bedroom.
"Oh Hi Derek." He said smiling.
"Hi. You're ready Penelope?"
"Yeah let's go, thanks Lex… see you later?"
"You bet." He said kissing her forehead.
"Have a nice dinner and no bad behaviour mmh?"
Penelope rolled her eyes and followed Derek outside.
They went in a Chinese restaurant. After that, the night was still young so they had a walk in the park. Derek stopped near a bench and sat.
"Penelope, how did you know that I knew about…?"
"I noticed you staring at me and your little talks with your mother… and I noticed a page of newspaper in your pocket."
"You would do a great profiler."
"Come on me in the FBI with my wheelchair?" she chuckled.
"I'm certain that you'll walk again."
"Maybe."
"My mother didn't mean to tell me but she lit slip…"
"That's ok, I don't blame her." She said softly.
"Do you mind telling me what happened? In the newspapers they said so many things."
"I know… well James is one of my elder brother's best friends. It's true I had a crush on him but I never imagined that he would be interested in me. One day I was all alone at home. My parents died some years ago but my brothers and I kept living in the house. James came; he wanted to see Eddie who was still at work. James said he would wait; I left him on the living room and went in the kitchen to cook the dinner. That's where he began to make some comments about my body, my lips. He began to kiss me and I pushed him. He went mad and ripped my clothes… then he…"
Derek put a comforting hand above hers.
"What happened next?"
"He told me to stay silent or he would hurt me. I should have gone to the police, to the hospital but Eddie came back. He noticed my state but never said anything. I cooked the dinner and left, then I took a long shower…"
"When did you go to the police?"
"The next day, I went to the hospital… I was a virgin before that, they noticed something. There were so many things against him but he won. He only did some months in jail and now he's free."
"Why do your brother don't support you?"
"They never believed me. James told them that we were secretly involved that was wrong… they chose to believe their friends. While James was in jail as a warning; I decided to leave. I was a wreck, I obtained an appointment for a job but I had this accident… and now I'm here.
I needed money for the rehabilitation but with no job it was hard… maybe now if I have enough money I can pay for it."
"You're a very strong person Penelope. Do you want to know my secret?"
"If you want to share it with me…"
"I've been abused when I was a child…" he said and sighed when he noticed tears in her eyes.
Then he went on with his story…
This heart to heart made them some good and brought them closer.