My words seemed to evoke emotions in Penelope, and tears began to stream down her face."Jen, I'm so grateful that you're here," Penelope said softly through her sobs."I feel the same way about you!" I replied.Over the years, Penelope had moved from one city to another, without any friends or family. The constant loneliness had taken its toll on her, making life almost unbearable.I tried to comfort her, saying, "Everyone faces setbacks and hardships. Once we overcome these challenges, we'll realize that the troubles of the past weren't as significant as they seemed!""I often try to encourage myself in the same way, but sometimes, it's hard not to feel down and see life as meaningless," she admitted."How can life be meaningless? The world is so full of color; we just need to learn to appreciate it," I said, speaking not only to Penelope but also to myself."You're right, Jen. For a while, I was obsessed with travel bloggers. They visit breathtaking places all over the world.
"At first, I didn't know how he was connected to Joey. He's a bit intellectually slow, but after getting to know me, he could sense my moods. Today, when he saw me, he could tell I was feeling down, so he quietly followed me without disturbing me.""He saw someone bullying me at the bar and intervened. He ended up getting beaten, and we were taken to the police station. It wasn't until the police contacted Joey that I realized they were siblings.""Is that why Joey has been targeting you all along?" I asked. It would make sense if that were the case."I'm not sure," Penelope shook her head slightly. "He's very different from her.”"He's like a child, innocent and kind without understanding social norms. He's the complete opposite of Joey," I remarked. Despite his low IQ, he stood up for Penelope when she was being bullied, which already put him above many men!"Was he badly hurt?" I asked."I'm not sure. When he was being beaten, I tried to intervene, but he pushed me against the
That night, Penelope and I talked for hoursand eventually fell asleep around 3 AM.When I woke up the next morning, the smell of food filled the air. Rubbing my slightly red eyes from lack of sleep, I got out of bed.Penelope had tidied up the living room and left a note for me:"Jen, I've left. I made you breakfast, it's in the thermal box. Don't forget to eat!"How considerate of her!After freshening up, I called Marianne to let her know that I wouldn't be joining her for breakfast. She didn't ask any questions. I hung up, had breakfast, and headed to work.Just as I was leaving the yard, I saw Luke appear in my view. He stopped when he noticed me.I rolled down the car window. "Your driver didn't come?""He's not finished with his business.""Where's your car?""It's at the dealership for maintenance. The driver forgot to mention it."Luke's driver had been with him for years and was usually reliable. There must have been an emergency for him to leave things unattended.
I woke up late this morning and forgot to put on the band-aids. A painful mistake!I had a pair of flat shoes in my car for driving. I tried to put my foot back in the shoe and stand up, but the pain forced me to sit back down.The pain was unbearable!With my foot in this condition, every step in high heels would be torture.I checked the time, grimacing. It was 8:30 PM, and many people in the building were still working. Walking out barefoot would reflect poorly on JL Capital's image.Just as I was wondering what to do, there was a knock on the executive office door.I quickly composed myself and sat up straight. "Come in."Luke opened the office door. "Ready to go home?""Yes, Mr. Walker."Out of habit, I stood up to greet my boss, but the pain in my foot made me cry out. I quickly grabbed the desk to steady myself."Are you hurt?" Luke crossed the room in two quick strides, suddenly at my side."No, I'm fine." I sat back down, trying to hide my foot under the desk.My f
"Mr. Walker..." Luke interrupted me, opening the iodine and grabbing a cotton swab. "It's getting late. The sooner we apply the medicine, the sooner we can go home." Luke just wanted to save time and get home quickly."You're giving me a ride home, and I'm helping with your medicine. We're helping each other, so there's no need to be shy.""I just don't want to trouble you."I wasn't being shy; I was just trying to maintain an appropriate distance!Despite my reluctance, Luke insisted, and I turned the chair. He gently grasped my ankle.His palm was warm, and the area he touched started to heat up. The warmth slowly traveled up my leg and settled on my face.I briefly glanced at him before quickly looking back down at his hand on my ankle.Luke had long, elegant fingers with defined knuckles. Together with my ankle, it resembled a close-up shot from a romantic drama.Romantic leads...If life were a drama, Luke would be the male lead, and Joey the female lead!At best, I'
"Luke, put me down! I can walk on my own!"If anyone saw Luke carrying me out, who knows what rumors would circulate tomorrow!"Are you taking a day off tomorrow?""Why would I take a day off?" I pulled at Luke's arm. "Put me down."Luke tightened his grip slightly. "If you keep walking on that foot, you won't be able to come to work tomorrow. We've been busy at the company lately. Who would I find to replace you if you took time off?""My foot isn't as badly hurt as you think."As we talked, Luke had already brought me out of the executive office. The hallway was well-lit but quiet. I could hear Luke's footsteps and my own increasingly rapid heartbeat.Luke's princess carry wasn't exactly romantic, but others might interpret it differently!He couldn't just focus on work and make me the subject of gossip!"You can barely stand. Should I report a workplace injury for you tomorrow?"Luke kept walking. From my position, his jawline looked even sharper and more defined, like a p
Unable to tell the truth, I hesitated before speaking, "The person you like is going to be my future boss's wife. It's closely tied to my career, so how could I not be concerned?""Put that way, it certainly deserves attention," Luke replied, a hint of amusement in his eyes.He guided me out of the elevator toward the parking area.Worried about being recognized, I covered my face with my hands.Luke gently held the back of my head, pressing my face against his chest. Suddenly, his faint, cool scent enveloped me.I could clearly feel the firmness of his chest through his shirt, the result of years of working out. It felt like a rush of hormones for a moment.My romantic history was simple; I had never been intimate with anyone other than Max. My face uncontrollably flushed with heat.I pushed against his chest, saying, "Luke, let go.""This way you'll be better covered.""..." Was he serious?!Judging by Luke's attitude towards Joey and his current actions, he was the epitome
"I shouldn't accept rewards without merit. Mr. Walker has already given me plenty. How about this... I'll get an estimate from a repair shop tomorrow and transfer you the amount they quote.""Do as you say."Little did I know that Luke had already spoken to the repair shops I approached. Their estimates were far below the actual cost!...The next day, after dropping off my Samoyed at Luke's for Marianne to look after, I happily drove to work in my newly revamped car.My good mood greatly improved my work efficiency.At lunchtime, on my way to the cafeteria, I received a call from Joey."I'm at the Starbucks in Greenfield Building. Come over."Her commanding tone made me uncomfortable. "I'm busy. If you have something to say, you can tell me over the phone."Joey and I weren't close enough to have a coffee together."Penelope is still in Johnsonville. Your uncle and aunt are on their way here. If you don't want them to find Penelope so quickly, I suggest you come over!""Ms.