Convincing

Self-Worth and Stalkers

Romeo couldn’t stop looking at when he went to her bookstore.

The perfect female attraction, it was all flowers, books, coffee, and peace. Men there too, they were either the gay best friend or a nerdy sort looking for a book, while the other few? Were hunting for lonely women.

Watching a man get turned down by Penelope who seemed completely confident in her rejection, the man frowning and asking why made her chef Timothee Demont give him a glare, “No need for a reason sir. Take the answer and leave now.” Frowning and rolling his eyes and storming off, the attractive reaction to her saying no making Penelope watch him leave and take note of everything about him. Pulling him up on her cameras and keeping a still of him in case he ever became a problem for her or any of the other women who came to her shop, she sighed putting it in the file.

Doing numbers and checking satisfaction overall as waitresses passed by to refill hot chocolate or coffee orders, run food, or clean a table for someone new, her cashier was cashing out books and Penelope looked at her tablet seeing she needed to order a new book that was selling out fast.

Planning to order twenty this time instead of in tens, she was in her work mode when she felt it. Eyes on her.

Looking up and seeing no one looking at her specifically, and yet feeling eyes all over her, she felt unnerved as suddenly her son came in. “Hey mama!” Smiling and kissing his cheek, Penelope gushed, “Hi bebe, how are you?” Gushing how he’d had a great day, the little boy sat behind the register as he drew while Harper’s depressed demeanor caught his mother’s attention.

“What’s wrong?” Seeing the fiery redhead dim making her worry come out, she looked at Jacobe who had been giving his best friend the blues today too. Unable to be cheered up and asking to just be left be, Penelope had taught Mateo to respect someone’s words and listen. So, Jacobe was left feeling glum alone as he stood behind his mom ready to go home.

“Nothing, everything’s fine. We’re just tired. Was up late last night.”

Knowing they didn’t stay up late last night by choice, Penelope tried to not nag, but did feel the worry creeping in like usual. “Sweetie please don’t go down this road with him again. Scotty is never changing. And this is not worth it.”

Hating Penelope for being right, Harper snapped unfairly, “Not all of us were smart like you and adopted okay Penelope? So, f**k off. How about you go and ride a d**k for once instead of worrying about mine.”

Penelope looked at her with a raised eyebrow at the insult and as her friend realized what she said? Harper didn’t take it back out of embarrassment.

Taking her son’s hand and leaving instead, Hannah came over and whispered, “What was that all about?” Shaking her head tired, Penelope washed her hands of it for the time being, “A cycle repeating itself and you know what? Not my washing machine so I don’t care if it breaks this time. Maybe it needs to and its owner won’t be so neglectful.”

Not lost on the analogy, Hannah agreed and let Penelope hide in her office with her son for the rest of the day. Going home at five, Penelope was walking her son to their waiting car when she felt the eyes again.

And when she looked over her shoulder to see brown eyes watching her intentionally. And as the sexy tattooed man staring at her vanished, Penelope stopped the sitting duck motion and got in the car. Driven home, and those eyes on her mind, Penelope was so confused on why they felt familiar.

Only to feel like an i***t later when she woke up and found those same brown eyes, looking into hers patiently for her to wake up as her sweet five-year-old grumbled, “I want hot cocoa and a croissant please.” Nodding in agreement kissing his head, he kissed her cheek and led her from bed to start their day.

All while her email and phone was ignored with more texts and emails that went unseen.

So Vivian was not able to give her the heads up of the presence lurking about and watching her. Too busy with work and now avoiding her phone, it was only because Harper texting and calling to say she was sorry. But Penelope had said she was fine and it was not a fight. It was Harper voicing what she wanted and Penelope wouldn't interfere or get involved.

Only heard her tone and whispered, “Don’t do that P, I wasn’t trying to be a b***h. I just hate it when Scott is involved you treat me like a child or like I’m dumb. I’m not.”

Penelope couldn’t point out how the man and their circumstances made Harper dumb for Scott and how it was why things kept playing out the way they did. Her getting her hopes up and Jacobe’s and then making it worse when he was back disappointing them.

Punishing everyone for what he lacked, Harper didn’t mean to.

But Penelope had been whipped twice before and already remembering the lashing Harper could give when she was riled up? Made her back away, “I’m your friend, not your whipping post, Harper. You are an adult and I find you smart, capable, and strong. So, my apologies if I made you feel like less.”

Harper apologizing for the d**k comment, she knew her friend wasn’t a prude and just because she wasn’t a Tinder swiper, didn’t make her a Virgin Mary. Just more selective and private with her affairs, and Harper knew the rich girl had bodies of movie stars and billionaires that had wined and dined her.

But she’d been wanting more. Love and loyalty.

A foundation to be sturdy on.

Knowing that need and feeling awful for being a b***h to Penelope for at least being strong enough to stick out for a guy to give it to her. Stuck going around in circles with a failed DJ using their son as a meal ticket? Harper felt more and more awful as Jacobe got depressed seeing Scott and not his Aunt Pen.

Not wanting to hang out with the man and his friends again as his mom worked, it was even worse when it was a “female friend” that his “mom didn’t need to know about”. Told to say they were at Felippe’s house all day when it was really a Fiona, Jacobe went to bed sick on the stomach as the man tried to kiss his mother and was told no.

Yelling and fighting about her not letting the past go soon started and soon it got louder and then ended with the slam of a door.

Crying and unable to call the one person she had to vent to, Harper was miserable and Penelope? Was concerned.

Thinking the flowers and notes cute at first, Penelope started to grow more worried when she realized she didn’t know anyone with an R as their first initial. And when asking her mom and sister, both were honest immediately.

“No panda bear,” her mother promised holding her hands up and then picking up her white napkin, “peace, peace remember? I won’t do anymore match making and will let you find your own man to put up with.”

Laughing at her way of putting it, Simone pinched her cheek before she turned to her sister, “And you?” Jezebel threw up her hands, “Last I was told by you darling I was to make another niece for you to adore. I have my full with making that happen and nothing else.”

Scrunching up her nose disgusted, Jezebel giggled at her and said, “Don’t press me to make more if you don’t want to hear the details.”

Rolling her eyes, Simone looked at her youngest confused, “Why are you asking us so intensely if we set you up. Is something wrong?” Penelope rubbed her neck, “I don’t know. I keep getting flowers and little notes in places I’d find them. At first it was cute but now I’m worried-.”

Simone sat up straight, “That it could be a stalker. Should I tell your papa to get you some security? See if we can’t scare this weak nuts man back into his hole and away from innocent little women.”

Jezebel worried too having had her fair share of creeps back in the day, Penelope was hard to read and so was the situation. “I can admit it’s a little confusing because I can think of no one, but everything written in the notes are harmless and the flowers are nice. So, it’s not threatening or intimidating enough to warrant worry. I just feel...on edge. I don’t know.”

Penelope looked at her sister concerned and said, “You should take a break sis. Go to the vacation home for a while, and just have fun on the lake with Mateo.” Actually, considering it with summer in the next week, Penelope nodded as she said, “Definitely needed. I can leave Hannah and Timothee in charge.”

Knowing they were trustworthy and good people; she was careful and would have precautions taken. But for the most part, a week or two getaway from everything was needed and could be provided.