All Chapters of Pen & Passion: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The house was quiet, the kind of deep, serene quiet that only comes in the middle of the night. I was deep in sleep, lost in a dreamless slumber, when the harsh ringing of my phone yanked me awake.Groggily, I reached for it, squinting at the screen. The time glowed back at me: 2:00 AM. The number was unknown.Confused and a little apprehensive, I answered. "Hello?" I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.There was a brief pause, and then a robotic, pitchy voice came through the line, sending a chill down my spine. "Leave Joaquin or else Haven will get hurt."I bolted upright, my heart pounding in my chest. "Who is this?" I demanded, my voice shaking. "Why are you threatening me?"The voice on the other end let out a distorted laugh that sounded eerie and unnatural. "That's none of your business. Leave his house tomorrow and resign from your job, or you'll get what you deserve." The call ended abruptly, leaving me staring at my phone in disbelief.My mind raced, trying to process what ha

The dim light in the warehouse flickered as the figure stepped closer. I couldn't make out their features, but the menace in their voice was unmistakable."You must follow my instructions if you want to keep yourself safe," the robotic voice continued. "Any deviation, and you'll regret it.""What do you want from us?" I demanded, my voice wavering.A distorted laugh echoed through the warehouse. "You'll find out soon enough. For now, you'll follow these simple commands. First, Haven, you are to stay away from Joaquin. No communication, no contact. If I see you together, you'll both pay the price."I felt a surge of anger and fear. "Why are you doing this?""That's for me to know and you to find out," the voice replied mockingly. "Second, you'll publicly announce that you are breaking off your engagement with Joaquin. Make it convincing."Joaquin tightened his grip on my hand, his eyes blazing with fury. "We won't play your games," he said through gritted teeth."You have no choice," th

Joaquin and I settled in on the couch after finishing our midnight snack. The wine had loosened us up, and I suggested we play a game to lighten the mood. Joaquin's eyes lit up at the idea, and he pulled out a gaming console."How about a little Tekken?" he suggested with a mischievous grin."You're on," I replied, matching his enthusiasm. "Loser drinks two shots of whiskey.""Deal."We selected our characters and dove into the game, our competitive spirits flaring. The first few rounds were close, but I managed to win more often than not, much to Joaquin's mock dismay."You're a worthy opponent, Haven," he said, pouring himself another shot after another defeat. "But I think you're just getting lucky.""Sure, keep telling yourself that," I teased, my own glass in hand.As the night wore on, the game became increasingly difficult as we both became tipsier. Our laughter echoed through the cozy bachelor pad, a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere of the past few days.Finally, after a

As we finished breakfast, my curiosity got the better of me. "So, who do you think this woman could be? If it's not one of your exes, could it be a stalker? Someone obsessed with you?"Joaquin sighed, leaning back against the counter. "It's possible. There have been women who took an interest in me, especially those within the same social circle who thought a connection with me could benefit them. Some even suggested merging businesses through marriage."I chuckled at that, shaking my head. "Sounds like something out of a drama or a book. But would they really go so far as to cause a scandal like this?"He shook his head, a thoughtful look on his face. "No, they wouldn’t risk their reputation like that. But you’re right, someone with enough resources to pay off my maid and make her fear for her family... that’s someone with a lot of power."I frowned, contemplating. "Who could be rich enough to threaten your maid? And if they’re that rich, why would they even bother with something like

Joaquin and I walked through the mall, my arms laden with bags filled with beautiful clothes. Dresses, blouses, jeans, shorts, and even office wear—everything I had always wanted but never allowed myself to splurge on. Joaquin had insisted on carrying most of the bags, which made me feel both spoiled and grateful."I really feel like a fiancée," I said with a playful smile, glancing at him.Joaquin laughed, a deep, genuine sound that made me smile even wider. "Even though it's an arrangement, I'm more than willing to spoil you. Not because of the contract, but because I want to."His words warmed my heart, and I felt a rush of happiness. "Thank you, Joaquin. This means a lot to me.""Next, let's get you some footwear," he said, steering us towards a shoe store. "Sneakers, slippers, sandals—whatever you need."I grinned, feeling a bit giddy with excitement. "Are you sure? Because I'm really loving this shopping day."He laughed again. "How many times do I have to reassure you, Haven? It