Bryan went after Penelope begrudgingly. Curiously, Bethany took another route to join the party.Penelope was frantic and wanted to quickly reach where Killian was. Her gaze swept the room till she saw him in what seemed to be a deep conversation with Mr. Takahashi.Immediately, she pulled up the skirt of her dress and ran towards him. She bumped into some people along the way but she quickly muttered an apology to them. "I am sorry!""Killian!" She called urgently.Killian didn't hear her. His back was turned to her."Killian!" She called again. Her breath became haggard.Crap! She should have gone to the gym more. She was running out of breath from running on heels.She held her hip and struggled to breath. Her vision was blurry for a couple of seconds before it refocused."Kill-" She tried to call again but a shot rang out, silencing her in an instant.Everyone screamed and tried to run to save their lives. The doors to the entrance were suddenly shot."No one moves!" A voice boome
Everyone gasped at the device blinking on him. Some people tried to scamper and seek solace near the walls.Pete shot up again. Everyone freeze in their position, afraid of having a bullet brutally pierce through them."Now, where was I?" Pete inquired. He sauntered but kept a tight hold on the switch.Bryan kept himself out of Pete's view. The man was predictable. For what he had done, no one must know his involvement with him. Or it would backfire on him and send him to jail faster than the speed of light."Hey..." He cooed to Penelope quietly.Her breath had returned to normal. "Feel better?"Penelope gave a nod and exhaled.She felt better magically. It was one of the reasons he loved having her brother around. She always had attacks from six. The event that triggered it, she had no memory of it.All she knew that whenever she had strange flashes, her head ached to no end. But Bryan always found a way to make it all go away.She sat up next to her brother and tried to look for Kil
Sixteen years agoPenelope found herself transported to a time where a headset was put on her to block her ears at the dining table. It was very early on a Friday morning. But she had pressed the stop button."Enough, John! We vowed to never return to him for anything. Let's figure this out together. Please." Evelyn's voice broke as she pleaded with her husband."They owe it to us, my love. Look, this will be the last time. I promise." John vowed to assure her, wrapping an arm around her. "No... I have a bad feeling about this. We already took enough." Evelyn expressed her ill concerns. He kissed her temple, "Nothing will happen to me, okay? I just... I can't lose you to this disease. This is the best fighting shot that I have and I will be dammed if I don't take it." His voice became soft and soothing. He was in pain seeing Evelyn battle for her life every day. The bills were pulling up and she was late on her chemo treatments. He had to do something quickly. Penelope looked for
"Daddy!" Penelope screamed out of her sleep. She just had a nightmare that was dreadful and felt so real, almost like she relived the experience.She climbed out of her bed and poured herself some water to calm her breathes.It must have been the incident at the party. She made an excuse for her nightmare.That is all it is. She said, trying to convince herself.Then, she grabbed her phone. The number of missed calls on her screen scared her. Fifty eight missed calls. She thought to dial the number back but she was beat to it. A call came in. "Shhhh... She has answered. Penny! Where the hell have you been?" Francine exclaimed over the phone. "We were so worried about you. Are you okay? Is the baby okay? You know, I'm taking the first flight right now. I need to see for myself."Francine was talking a mile per hour that she was unable to even get a word in."No... I am fine. I would have gone to the hospital if I wasn't. The night took a toll on me so I slept in as soon as we returned
The day passed by in a blur. Penelope had spent the entire day in the kitchen with Ms. B. Hailey hadn’t come around from school. She went on a class trip. Occasionally, she would feel someone watching her intensely from behind.When the feeling became overbearing, she snapped her neck back to catch the person unaware. She frowned when she saw it was Pamela who looked like a deer caught in headlights.“Erhm…Do you need anything Ms. Winters?” Pamela quickly asked.Penelope shook her head.“Oh… I will take my leave.” She squirmed out of the kitchen. Penelope fixed her gaze on her till she left.To Penelope, Pamela had a weird aura around her- one that keep her on her toes. Her affiliation with Bethany was enough reason to be wary of her. She shook off the weird feeling and concentrate on the recipe she was making.Her hand raised to catch a sweat on her forehead with her forearm. “That is it. Get out of my kitchen. You have been in here all day. Take a breather, will you?” Ms. B walked i
Penelope turned to look at Killian but caught him momentarily staring her way before diverting his gaze to the horizon.She was curious but she dismissed asking, “Thank you. For last night.”“What? I didn’t do anything.” Killian said.Penelope shook her head. “You saved me.” She clarified. “If it weren’t for you… I don’t know.” She became emotional.Killian’s gaze held longing and desire. He remembered clearly. Shielding her with his body had been on instinct. He had lunged himself over her without a thought. But he had no regrets. “I am just glad you are safe.”“Are you okay?” She inquired.Killian turned his gaze back at her, confused. “A gun was pointed at you. That situation could have done completely down south.” She explained.“Oh… It is not the first time.” He said vaguely. Penelope frowned. It was an unusual answer.Killian wasn’t the least bothered about being held at the gunpoint. His father, Jared had pointed a gun at him once when he threatened to expose his deeds.What bo
A week later, Penelope was required to go to the hospital for her second trimester check-up.It was solely Penelope and Mas. Ms. Flores was preoccupied to accompany her for her appointment with Doctor Humphrey. Killian had to travel to Japan to ensure the partnership with Mr. Takahashi was still on and valid. He had been gone for about the entire week.His return flight was in the evening so he wouldn’t be able to meet up with the appointment. The atmosphere at the manor had been intense ever since she went on that ride with Killian. She felt watchful eyes on her but whenever she turned, she saw no one close-by. It unnerved her to no end and made her feel unsafe in the manor.Penelope looked towards the driver’s side. She could see perspiration formed from the side of his neck down to his neck. Constantly, he would fiddle with the collar of his shirt as if it was too tight around the neck.“Max? Are you okay?” She asked out of concern.“W-what?” Max stuttered and tried to compose hims
Firemen, swift response teams arrived at the scene. So, did the medic teams. They pried apart the car to pull the passengers in the car out.“Help him first.” Penelope pointed to the driver’s seat where Max’s eyes were shut. “Please! I am fine.”The medic team quickly pulled him out, placed him on a gurney and rushed him to the hospital while administering some first aid. Thankfully, they found a weak pulse much to Penelope’s relief. She was transported in another ambulance to the hospital where they monitored her for any sign of injuries.Over two hours later, Penelope woke up from her induced sleep. Loud voices from outside woke her up.“I have to see her right now. I am her guardian.” A voice boomed.“No, sir. She can’t receive visitors now.”“I want to see my friend now!” Another voice said but softer.“Look, we just want to see that out friend is okay. We promised not to be loud or bother her.” A third voice pleaded.“Fine. I will have all three of you escorted out if you break y
“Congratulations, Ms. Penelope Fords.” The board members erupted in a series of congratulations. She had been voted as the new CEO for Ford Company and all affiliate companies.The new reached Stanley Ford and he was beyond livid. The woman took the one thing that he hoped would still be his if he was granted bail. But his court judgement had been life sentence till death without any chance of parole.It was at that moment that a foreign substance rolled down his cheeks. He didn’t bother catching it because he deserved all that had happened to him. He allowed himself to be driven with so much power, molesting women, blackmailing them and killing simply because he thought he could get away with it.In the end, Penelope Ford won. She provided the DNA evidence, sending Delilah and her daughters away. She didn’t take the house from them because she had no use for it. She, more than most people, understood what it felt like to have no roof over your heads.She wished she could be steel hea
“Max! Fran! Come out!” Penelope screamed at the top of her lungs, wondering where they had hidden. It was their moving day. The boxes had been tapped, packed and waiting for the moving truck.She tried again and went to the back exit to look for them. The kids were testing her patience lately. They had ben rebelling against her since she mentioned that they would be moving to the city. But Max had given her a condition- to move in with Killian.They wanted to spend as much time with her and Killian as well. The thought stressed her out because it further added more pressure on her decision making.“Come on, Max! Fran!” She called outside and was on the verge of giving up when she heard some movement nearby. There was a store room where she kept the supplies.“Max? Come out here!” She ordered sternly. He came out in slow steps with Fran in tow.“Really? Both of you are unbelievable. I am the parent here! As much as I allow you some freedom doesn’t mean you should undermine my authoriti
Revenge never felt this sweet and bittersweet.It had been a couple of days since Jared King trended for the fraud he was. His doctor who forged a report of his ailment had his license revoked as well. So, yeah… Revenge tour was bittersweet as many people lost their jobs, sources of income all to rebuild a system that had fallen into the hands of power-drunk men.Penelope took it upon herself to visit some people before she returned to the countryside. One of those people was Nathan Hoffman.“You have a visitor.” She heard his PA relay to him.“Was there an appointment?” She heard him ask in a tired voice. Her heart bled for him. She imagined the PA shook her head when she heard no response. “Let them in.” He gave his permission.Penelope waited for the PA to come out to accompany her in.“Nathan.” She called as soon as she set foot into his office. He raised his head slowly. A glimmer of light shined in his eyes at the appearance of Penelope.“Penny.” He whispered, almost disbelievi
His eyes looked like they had seen a ghost. He was right. Everything he held dearly would soon become a ghost of his imagination. "T-thank you all for spending today with this old man." He concluded his speech and left the center stage. People began laughing, smiling and toasting to him. A clip played in the background for everyone to see. It was a collage of photos with music attached to it. Stanley smiled so much, his cheeks burned. Slowly, the pictures turned from pictures of his to pictures of the bruises he afflicted on Lola. Everyone gasped at the gory pictures, covering their mouths at the sheer horror of those images. Soon after, names from the black lists were called. Several funds of the government that was diverted. Stanley gasped, shaking his head disbelievingly. "No! None of this is true." He tried to plead with his guests who had adored him some minutes ago, now turned their backs on him.No one listened. People started to leave the parties because soon after, siren
"What have we got?" Killian asked.Boyles held a cigar in between his lips as he took a deep long drag."A lot. Depends on where you want us start." He spoke after putting the smoke in the air. His feet casually crossed over each other on her work desk. She had a study in a makeshift basement.It was no news that Boyles knew about where she was, even though she never revealed where she was writing from in any of her letters.He was the one that anonymously tipped Killian about her whereabouts. They knew because he confessed the minute he set foot into her household, right before plumping into the chair in front of her desk.He was always an enigma thag no one could decipher."His offshore accounts. We must look into it. Several events had been hosted, especially art works which we know he couldn't give the middle finger about. Most of them are usually sent to another location." Killian inquired, looking at the spread papers and files before him."I will have my men on it. I got you an
Penelope woke up to the light streaming down softly on her face. She groaned a little due to the sudden intrusion on her vision she opens her eyes.She adjusted her position and met a wall behind her. Her hand darted to the back to feign the object."Careful, love. Unless you want to stir him awake for another round. I don't mind, though." His voice vibrated against her neck, turning on very early in the morning.She bit her lips and retracted her hand. As tempting as his offer was, she couldn't even summon the strength. The previous night was a tryst that left her moaning her lungs out and causing her to be sore down there.If she somehow made it out of her bed, she would claim victory. The night was sweet, slow and rough. Everything she wanted and desired. She clamper he thighs shut while reminiscing."Talk to me. What are you thinking about?" Killian asked, slipping his hand around her waist and pulled her flush to his front, not condoning any space between them. He let out a sigh
Killian didn’t hold back on having fun with Max and Fran, especially not on his Black Gold credit card. But he didn’t mind. Anything to see the joy on their faces, he was willing and ready to do it.Sometime in the evening after having lunch with the kids, Max asked, “Okay, Dad. Why are you sulking? Don’t you like spending time with us?” Max inquired, dumping his fries on the plate and meeting his gaze.He turned away from the view of the buzzling locals outside the window, “Of course, I want to spend all the time I can get with you.” He spoke defensively.The two arched a brow, “Then, why are you sulking?” Max asked again.“I am not sulking.” He answered with a scowl on his face.Max and Fran leaned back at the same time, seemingly choreographed before concluding. “Sulking!”Killian let out a sigh.“Come on. Talk to us.” Fran spoke this time. She pushed her food away, grabbed the napkin to clean her hands and crossed her arms, expectantly.Max leaned back into his seat, waiting as we
“Stay in here and don’t leave the car, Penny.” John warned sternly, debating on whether he should turn back home because of the danger he might be putting his daughter in. Evelyn would have his head if she found out about it.She had warned him against it but didn’t listen to her. How could he? The only opportunity he had to save his dying wife, not taking it would mean losing her to that bastard disease that was eating her up from the inside.All he wanted to do was take his wife’s pain away. The society shouldn’t fault a man for the means he takes.In quiet strides, he went into the building with his hands tucked inside both his pockets. Occasionally, he would look behind him, straining his neck to check the car to see if anyone was near it.After some minutes, gunshot was heard, startling Penelope where she sat. her heart raced as she looked around, wondering where her father was.The kite was in her hold when she poked her head out of the window, looking into the darkness that ove
She looked down at their joined hands and looked back up at Killian. “One step at a time, remember?” She spoke and pulled her hand out of his. “The children are far more important right now.” She added and stood up from the couch. “Goodnight, Killian.” She whispered the last part.“Goodnight, Penelope.” He spoke in a low voice, feeling dejected at her rejection. Although, he half expected it but it didn’t lessen the ache he felt in his heart. He grabbed the comforter nearby and used it to cover himself after taking minimal clothing pieces off. That had been his bed for the past few days.The thought made him chuckle. How could a billionaire squeeze his length into a couch for days? Ms. Flores would have aneurysms if she ever saw him in that uncomfortable position. His bed was much more comfortable than the hard couch. He wondered why Penelope didn’t buy a more comfortable one when she easily could.Think of this as a means to an end, he tried to comfort himself internally.Just when h