Killian sat behind his desk at the office while Ms. Flores briefed him about his appointments for the day. Ms. Flores briefed him on his itinery for the day but cut her off. "The arrested employee, how is his family? Is his son recuperating?” Ms. Flores arched her eyebrow at Killian’s questions. Since when did he start worrying about someone else but himself? “Yes, Mr. King.” She answered, nonetheless. He gave a nod, “Hmmm…. Great. Provide his wife and son with whatever they need” He continued, “Keep your eyes on them as well. Who knows? The guy we are looking might show up.” “On it, Mr. King.” Ms. Flores tapped the screen of her tablet to send the orders to the appropriate quarters. “Do you need me for anything else, sir?” She inquired. “Yes.” He said. He grabbed a stack of papers and extended them to her. “I want you to send a mail to the heads of departments regarding a performance assessment meeting. That will be all.” She took that a cue for her dismissal so she turned to l
“Knock Knock” Penelope said enthusiastically while peering through the little crack in the door. Bryan had just left the bathroom, intent on walking back to his bed. “Penny!” His eyes lit up at the sight of his baby sister. He sped up to her and lifted her in an embrace. Penelope was in hysterics. She burst into a fit of laughter. “What is with the cover? I want to see your face.” He set her down on the floor gently. A frown formed on his face. Penelope had chosen to use a nose cover to prevent her from throwing up. It was her first time being pregnant so she was still figuring out what her body wanted. Reluctantly, she removed the nose cover, hoping she didn’t have to find the nearest toilet sit bowl. Bryan gasped, “Are you sick?” He inquired. Penelope stiffened. Yes, she was sick but her brother would severe her head if he knew why. But how did he find out so fast? “You look so pale.” Penelope scratched her head, trying to find an excuse. “It is just a flu I caught. Hence, the
Penelope walked slowly in direction of the sound. She used her feet to gently push a stool to the side and walked around a counter to see Francine seated on the floor while hugging her knees to her chest. Her head was laying on her knees.Penelope lowered her nose mask. “Francine?” She called, her voice barely above a whisper. She watched Francine’s body wracked in sobs. Her heart pulled towards her so she crossed the gap between them and joined her on the floor.“Heyy… Why are you crying?” She asked gently.Francine looked up. Her smoky-eye makeup had been smudged with the remnant streaking down her face.“It .is. all. gone.” Each word made her sob harder into Penelope’s shoulder.Penelope furrowed her eyebrows, looking puzzled. “What is all gone?” She inquired.Francine wailed into her harder. The action prompted her to stop asking questions. She had noticed that the more she probed, the harder she cried. Instead, she rubbed her hand in an upward and downward movement on her back to
Penelope pulled Hailey into her room. “Tell me what is going on right now!” She said, dropping her bag on the bed.Hailey fidgeted. “N-nothing is going on.” Her eyes were downcast, fearful of meeting her gaze. She feared Penelope would see through her.Penelope paced back and forth. “I heard him talking about money. So, what does it want it for? Why are you giving him money, huh?”The barrage of questions overwhelmed Hailey so she snapped, “It is none of your damn business! Stay out of it,” She yelled and left Penelope’s room. The door slammed shut with a loud bang, startling Penelope.She was in utter disbelief. It was late in the evening and yet to have dinner. The day took a toll on her due to her health. Her feet carried her to the kitchen to fix something to eat.No one was in the kitchen, not even Ms. B. Hailey’s attitude bothered her. Something told her she was getting blackmailed by the man she saw her with earlier. But what could he be blackmailing her for?She would wait
“You can’t ignore me forever.” Killian said to Penelope with a sigh at the dining table. She made no comment and continued with her food.“It has been two days, Penelope.” Frustration peeked at the edge of his tone. She had completely served him the silent treatment ever since that night. Penelope didn’t bother talking to him during their check up with Doctor Humphrey who insisted on her resting. Penelope glared at him at the point in the examination room. She felt he colluded with the doctor.He pursed his lips and close his eyes for a second. “There is another event this evening. Everything has been arranged for. The makeup artist and stylist will be here in the afternoon.”Penelope scoffed. “Of course, I am escort. When it comes to your event, I must be your plus one. But it comes to my personal plans, you blow up about my safety and health. Your hypocrisy stinks, Mr. King.”It was 7:45 am on a Friday morning. The project would kick off the next day. Ms. B could feel the tension in
Penelope pulled out of Killian’s embrace and marched towards two figures. With great force, she pulled a man back and landed a punch, cracking the man’s jaw.“What the fuck?” The man groaned in pain. Penelope ignored him. The man had pranced on the woman against her wishes.Penelope had seen her wailing hand, trying to push the man away. She turned to look at the lady and was stunned. “H-Hailey?”She wore a dark makeup and dress scantily in a red gown. Her cleavage was bare for the whole world to see.Hailey quickly gathered her hair to shield her face but it was futile. She was caught red-handed. Penelope tried to piece everything together.“What is this?” Penelope gestured to the man holding his jaw in pain.The man spat out blood and balled his fist. He marched towards Penelope with intent. He drew his fist up, ready to strike but it got held.Killian held the man’s hand before it could connect with Penelope. Hailey’s eyes widened in embarrassment. First, it was Penelope. Then, Mr.
The man extended his hand for a shake, “Anderson Boyles.” He introduced himself. Penelope was reluctant to shake his hand but Hailey moved in front of Penelope and took his hand in hers. Hailey had a starry look as she stared at him.On the other hand, Penelope was wary of him. It was all just too convenient for him to step out of the shadows and be a knight in shining armor.“You don’t trust me yet?” Boyles inquired tilting his head slightly to the side.Penelope shrugged in response, not wanting to engage him. The less they spoke, the better for him. He was a handsome man and looked to have his c harms but his piercing gaze held a lot of emotions.“I will need some details. His name… Wh.” Boyles said but was interrupted.“Frank Bottoms.” Hailey squealed, then slammed a hand over her mouth in embarrassment.Penelope and Boyles exchanged a glance. The jerk’s last name really suited him, almost cracking their armors to laugh in unison.But Penelope cleared her throat and diverted her g
Penelope wore an overall jean, paired with a green round neck shirt. Her mood was on the high. She whistled as she tied her hair into a pony tail.She packed all her essentials and went to have breakfast before heading out to the shelter.“Someone is ecstatic this morning.” Hailey chirped brightly.It was nice to see her back in her usual demeanor.“Yes!” Penelope responded enthusiastically. She assisted the maids to serve the food. Killian walked downstairs in his sleep wear. the top was left unbuttoned, showing a little bit of his smooth, bare chest.Penelope quickly averted her gaze. She hadn’t forgot what transpired the previous night.“Good morning, Mr. King.” Ms. B greeted.Hailey and Ms. B disappeared from the dining area. It was just Penelope and Killian, each at the other end of the table.Penelope chewed slowly, aware of Killian gaze on her. She busied herself with eating.***“Penelope.” Killian called softly, after a long while. He could no longer endure the stretched sile
“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