Flashback (2) - Rescuing Peony

~~ Flashback ~~

~* TrizPlanet Restaurant & Bar *~

Peony gracefully accepted the cherished heirloom, basking in the applause and cheers of the Gonzalez family. Meanwhile, Benedict lingered in the shadows, his eyes locked onto Peony, attempting to unveil the emotions concealed beneath her composed facade.

His grip on the glass tightened, a silent echo of inner turmoil, his eyes locked onto her with a blend of regret and anger.

"May I inquire, sir, have you concluded your meal?" the attentive waiter asked, ready to assist with any additional needs.

Benedict looked at him and replied with a definite response, "Yes!"

"Could you kindly vacate the table, sir? It's peak time, and there are others waiting," the waiter requested with politeness.

As Benedict departed, the table witnessed a delayed consequence. A mere minute after his departure, the glass succumbed to the strain and cracked.

Benedict exited the establishment, feeling a heartache, stepping outside to await the arrival of his car behind the restaurant.

While waiting, a soft, cautious voice seized his attention. A figure absorbed in a call questioned, "Did you plant it inside?" Benedict inadvertently overheard her words.

She continued, "Very well, great job. Now all we need is to wait for tomorrow. Peony and Garret must die."

Intrigued by the mention of Peony's name, Benedict walked over to catch a glimpse, only to find that she had already left.

"Peony's life in danger? Is someone plotting her murder?" Benedict questioned in his mind. "Why are you getting worked up, Benedict? She never listens to you; she'll do as she pleases and get into trouble. Why this concern?" Benedict mused to himself.

Contemplating, he mused, "Should I call her?"

Agitation flaring, he questioned again, "Why should I call her? She won't trust me anyway." Then, with a sense of defeat, he drooped and softly admitted, "There's no reason for her to trust me. I don't deserve her trust anyway."

Reasoning with himself, he concluded, "Even if she's stubborn, she's my muse. I won't let her life slip away so easily. I should investigate."

The secretary arrived, steering the car, and beckoned Benedict, "Boss, come in."

"Boss, VP asked me to give this to you. It might help with the alcohol in your system," the secretary said, handing Benedict a bottle as he got into the car.

Benedict accepted the bottle, clutching it tightly, his thoughts drifting to the person on the call plotting murder.

"Why couldn't I see her face? Damn it!" Benedict exclaimed, frustration lacing his words.

The Secretary says, "Boss you're still drunk."

"Am I?", Benedict frowns.

The Secretary out of fear says, "No, no you're the perfect boss."

"Seeking a salary deduction for buttering up to me?" Benedict asked, his serious stare sending a chill down the poor secretary's spine.

"No, no sir, nothing.", The Secretary continues to drive.

Benedict fixates on Peony's number displayed on his phone screen, a moment of contemplation lingering in his gaze.

"Should I just inform her?" Benedict wondered, his mind shrouded in uncertainty. He stared deeply into his phone until everything blurred, the effects of soju casting a haze over his thoughts.

"Boss, we have arrived."

As Benedict walks out the car he tumbles. The Secretary helps him to the door where his butler takes the charge.

The butler helps him with a relieving soup. Benedict, feeling a little better and with minimum consciousness, immediately dials Mr. Smith.

"Mr. Smith, please have your team ready. We need to follow a car tomorrow."

"Boss, after a long time!" Mr. Smith exclaims. "Leave it to me. Which car?"

"The one leaving the Gonzalez family tomorrow for honeymoon to the international airport," Benedict replies.

"What is the mission this time?", Mr. Smith asks.

"I don't know. I just want her to be safe. My muse is in danger," Benedict declares.

Mr. Smith inquires, "Is she your lover, Boss?" He quickly corrects himself, "Oh, sorry, Boss. Don't worry; you'll find better girls."

"Mr. Smith, it's not the time for gossip. She is my muse, not my lover," Benedict asserts.

"Also, track everyone in the Gonzalez family. Don't spare anyone. Investigate everything again, and this time, don't leave out any details," Benedict orders with determination.

"Don't worry Boss, we are honoured to do something for you. Let us handle it.", Mr. Smith assures.

After the conversation, Benedict was still sitting in the living room.

Murmuring to himself, Benedict contemplates, "Should I try calling her? And what will I tell her? 'Someone is trying to kill you, so stay safe.' But will she avoid the honeymoon? No, then the killer might find other ways to harm her. It's useless alerting the perpetrator."

"If I want to save her, I need to think like a killer. What are the ways in which I as a killer can get to her?"

He plays several scenarios in his mind brainstorming ideas. He thinks calmly, his mind focused, "According to what I heard, in the car a bomb must be planted. To kill Peony and that scoundrel. Then what will I do? I would instruct the driver to drive the car through an isolated area to reach the airport, so that no one could blame the driver for altering the direction. Then in the middle of nowhere, he would park the car. He would leave them in the car alone. A married couple in a car alone,Damn it! I won't leave them alone at all", He stops thinking, his mind frustrated.

Benedict starts thinking again, "No, I have to think the other way, what if only Peony is inside the car. The driver will park the car. The timer will take 15-20 minutes to reduce the suspicion away from the driver. Yes, I should only focus on her. If Peony is alone inside the car, I would instruct him to lock the car doors and windows so she would be trapped and silently wait for the timer to come to its conclusion. The windows and doors will be locked around 5-10 minutes before the timer ends. So when she tries to reach for the driver she would realise she is trapped. And within 5-10 minutes it's impossible for safety forces to arrive. Then, I would instruct the driver to destroy the sim and better throw the phone in the fire. The locals will think everyone died. That's it! This is the simplest way to kill someone in dramas."

He further recalled, "But Peony has asthma, if she doesn't have her kit ready, the situation might be adverse. I need to keep everything ready."

"Young Master, you should rest.", The Butler advises.

Benedict couldn't feel the sleep, it was already late into the night. He couldn't even think of informing Peony to keep her inhaler ready at that time.

Benedict's eyes shut so late that it passed his alarm time in the morning.

"Ben! Wake up. Wake up fast!" Timmy urgently calls out.

Benedict jolts up. "What's the time?"

"It's only 7:20 a.m.," Timmy says. "Mr. Smith called you several times, saying the car left at around 7:10 a.m. . Since you didn't pick up, he called me. Bro, is Peony in danger?" Timmy asks anxiously.

"Yes, wait for me. Let me be ready and also inform the secretary to keep an inhaler ready. If possible keep everything handy. And also inform Mr. Smith that if the car parks somewhere, inform me immediately and tell him to follow the driver if he ever leaves the car. No need to catch him, just follow him and see if he contacts someone and transfer that information to me. It's in the nature of an amateur killer to boast before the work is done.", Benedict instructs.

Soon they get inside the car and start following the directions Mr. Smith gives.

On the way, Timmy suggests, "Ben, why don't you call her?"

"She won't pick up my call," Benedict replies.

"Don't chicken out, dude. Just call her," Timmy encourages.

Amidst the conversation, a notification sounds. Mr. Smith updates, "The car is parked now. I'm following the driver until he calls his boss. Others are keeping an eye on the car."

"How many minutes to reach?" Benedict asks.

"It will take a maximum of 10 minutes," the secretary answers.

"Drive fast! I will call her."

Benedict calls Peony. After one ring, she picks up the call. Timmy whispers, "put the phone on the loudspeaker."

Benedict glares at him.

A loud shrill voice sounds, loud enough for them without a speaker to listen to, "Hello Mom, I'm on my way to the airport."

Timmy bursts out laughing. The Secretary stifles his laughter.

Before he could respond she cuts the call. He contacts Mr. Smith, "Did you inspect the car model? Does it have a locking feature with a device? Also keep a proof. Capture everything, and update it in the case database."

He responds, "Yes Boss, I'm afraid. And I have sent K-7 to follow Mr. Garret. He stepped out of the car. I will inform others and update everything."

Benedict dials Peony's phone number again. But Peony upsets him by telling him not to interfere in their matters. In anger he hangs up.

"Ben, you should tell her to move out now! Why did you cancel her call?", Timmy asks.

Benedict tries calling but the call never reaches.

"Timmy, contact the local police and inform them. A case should be opened. It's my fault, why did I hang up!", He contemplates.

Timmy contacts the police giving them the lead for the blast.

A few minutes after that Mr. Smith updates, "The driver called, 5 minutes left. And the car is locked. While procuring the key, that driver destroyed it."

With limited time constraints, they reach there. Benedict immediately checks on Peony while Timmy checks on Garret, the other side of the road. He couldn't believe that he left Peony for Shyla in the car and captured their photo. A proof which might play a role in Peony's divorce. Benedict on the other hand rescues Peony. With one hard kick on the car door, the door snaps open saving Peony in the morning.

~* Flashback Ends *~

~~~~~~

~* At the City Hospital *~

As the operation continues for another hour, Timmy brings a cup of coffee for Peony.

"Peony, have this," he says, handing her the cup.

Peony gratefully accepts, "Thank you. Did you hear from Benedict?"

Timmy's expression tightened slightly as he shook his head in response, indicating the silence on Benedict's end. The unspoken concern lingered, adding to the gravity of the situation in the hospital room.