Chapter 988 - The cost of freedom (3)

~ Los Angeles, White corp. HQ ~

Wednesday, 11:17 AM

JoAnna and Sarah walked to the tenth floor where reception is via the skybridge from the building in the back (where JoAnna works at).

JoAnna wants to understand why Beatriz dislikes her. There must be a reason, and only by understanding her motive JoAnna can devise an effective strategy against that woman. That is why Sarah was setting up cameras inside office and lab space where JoAnna is working (pretty much to spy on Beatriz).

Now that cameras are in place, they decided to go and have coffee and some pastries.

"Are sure your hand is OK?", JoAnna asked Sarah.

"Yeah." Sarah flexed her fingers and formed a fist in front of JoAnna's face. "My fingers are fine, and I don't feel pain."

JoAnna snorted. "You don't feel pain due to medications."

"And due to your superbly miraculous medical skills."

"Don't try to butter me up. If that bullet didn't hit your new bone, you would be seriously hurt."

Sarah looked at her left arm. Other than the bandage around the area where bullet wound is, everything looks normal. Stitching from her surgery is almost invisible. The strength powerup in her hand due to replacing bones in three fingers is mind-blowing. She still needs to work on her control, but just for crushing and busting things, it's perfect.

"I like it. Can we do the same for my right one?"

JoAnna frowned. "Don't joke about it. Do you know that the risk of anything going wrong was high? I am surprised that you are doing so well."

Sarah looked away and rolled her eyes. JoAnna always worries about everything.  Why can't she have more confidence in herself? Charlie is doing great, she is doing great... because JoAnna's skills are great. It has nothing to do with luck.

Sarah's eyes landed on a young lady who is at the reception.

"Can you, please check again if I can see CEO White?", Harriet asked the receptionist.

"Miss, I told you more than dozen times already: his schedule is full. And even if it's not, to get an appointment with CEO White, you need to get in touch with his secretary or assistant. I can't let you in."

"Can you put me in touch with his secretary?", Harriet asked.

"Isn't she familiar?", Sarah asked JoAnna.

JoAnna paused and looked toward the reception. It took her a second to remember who Harriet is. For the wedding, they created profiles of women who are interested in Jeff.

"A bed climber.", JoAnna said through her teeth, looked away and increased the pace of her steps. She has no interest in talking to that woman. "Let's go and get those pastries."

"She looks in distress.", Sarah commented.

JoAnna looked at Harriet again. Based on her casual outfit, Harriet is not here to seduce anyone, and she seems to be desperate.

Sarah saw that JoAnna is hesitating. "Let's go and check what is going on."

…

"I just need a minute of his time…", Harriet pleaded.

"Don't we all?", the receptionist said condescendingly. She is losing her patience with this woman who is pestering her since this morning.

"Let's go, Penny… we will find another way.", Benjamin told Harriet (aka Penny).

"There is no other way.", Harriet sighed.

"Why are you looking for my husband?"

JoAnna's voice made both Harriet and Benjamin turn around.

Harriet's eyes widened when she recognized JoAnna. She stumbled over her words. "I have something for him... Can you help me to see him?"

JoAnna raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "Really? Why would I help a woman who covets my husband get close to him?"

"I don't covet your husband. And this is important."

"I don't believe you.", JoAnna sneered.

"But it's the truth. It was my parents, and I disobeyed them, and I need help… please, can we talk in private? I need few minutes of your time and then you can decide if you believe me or not?"

They went to the café on the second floor.

Four of them sat at the table.

Harriet looked at Sarah apprehensively.

"That is my sister, Sarah. She can hear whatever you have to say. And this is…?" JoAnna looked at Benjamin.

"Benjamin Casano, Mrs. White.", Benjamin introduced himself.

JoAnna nodded in greeting and looked at Penny. "You have five minutes."

Penny repeated that it was her parents who were forcing her to get close to Jeff, but she disobeyed them, and they locked her up. "I thought that they forgave me, but then I found out that they are setting me up with Lukas White…" She told how she avoided Lukas the first time and ended up locked up again…

Benjamin had difficulty listening to her story. He held her hand under the table and he was happy that she managed to escape and find him. If he knew what awaits for her at home, he would not let her leave the first time.

"Assuming that I believe you. Why would I help you?", JoAnna asked.

"I took photos of some documents that might be of help to your husband. They prove that Marcus is after his position." Harriet placed the Micro SD card on the table.

JoAnna glanced at the card. "We already know that Marcus is after Jeffrey's position."

Harriet's face fell. "Please… just look at the files. There might be something that you can use. Without your help my only option is to go back."

"You can't go back.", Benjamin said.

"It took them only two days to find you and you lost your job the next day. It's only a matter of time before they find me. And they are after me. I would rather go back, before they take away everything you hold dear."

"How do I know that this is not some scheme for you to get close to my husband?", JoAnna asked.

"I already told you that I'm not interested in Jeffrey." Harriet turned to Benjamin. "I have my Ben."

JoAnna lifted her eyebrows, unable to hide her surprise. She can see that Ben is helping Harriet, but… a couple? That was unexpected.

JoAnna and Sarah exchanged glances.

JoAnna sighed. "OK. First, I need to verify that your story is legit. If you lied to me, you can forget about any help. We will check the files you have and see if they can be of any help. Based on those, we will decide what to do."

"Do you have a safe place to stay?", Sarah asked Harriet.

"His apartment is safe.", Harriet confidently responded.

Sarah shook her head. "If your story is correct, your mother followed you here and found him. If they found his work, they can track his friends, family, hangouts… finding an apartment is only a matter of manpower and time. Do you want to risk being caught?"

"What do you suggest?", JoAnna asked.

Sarah thought for a second before responding. "Let's all go to Jeff's office. Two of them can stay there until we confirm their story and check the data she has. And then we will talk to Jeff and decide…"

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