CHAPTER NINE
As she chewed on her lower lip in anxiety, Penny thought how odd it was that she hadn’t found much on sheep-shifters.
They weren’t the most popular species, apparently.
The world seemed to be fascinated with wolf-shifters, bear-shifters, lion-shifters, and other types of big, scary creatures.
The smaller ones were mentioned here and there, and it was obvious that they were faster and stronger than humans, but they didn’t hold the same aura of mystery.
So, no one bothered. Knowing this, Penny understood the logic behind Goldman’s little club.
The members owned shifters no one cared about, so it was a breeze to get away with it.
She jumped out of the chair and ran out of her office when she saw her boss coming in, stopping for a second to exchange a few words with his secretary.
“Mr. Goldman, I need to talk to you. It’s urgent.”
He turned to her, and his smile vanished. He already knew what it was all about.
“Ms. Walton, I’m sure it can wait. This is not the time, nor the place.”
He made to walk past her, but she stood her ground and stepped between him and the door to his office.
“I don’t care if this is inconvenient to you,” she said through gritted teeth. “You either talk to me, or I’ll consider myself free to do what I want… about the issue.”
Goldman pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply.
“Alright, Penny. Let’s go for a drive.”
Of course he wouldn’t want to have this kind of conversation at work, where anyone could overhear them, so Penny followed him to the elevator, then into the parking lot, where they got into his car.
As he drove aimlessly, Penny could feel the silence and tension between them weigh heavily on her shoulders.
She didn’t know where to begin. The speech she had prepared all night seemed stupid now.
It seemed righteous and na?ve. As if she could convince a powerful man like him to stop doing what he was doing because it was wrong…
“What did you want to talk about, Penelope? I don’t have all day.”
His low, harsh voice made her stomach flip uncomfortably. It was the first time ever when Richard Goldman addressed her with such disdain and impatience. Until now, he had treated her as if she were his daughter. The change in behavior shocked her to the core.
“Juniper and Thorn,” she said in a small voice. “You didn’t adopt them because you wanted to save them from a life of misery. You did it because they’re sheep-shifters, and you want to… I don’t even know what you want with them. Or, maybe I do… I’m just too disgusted to say it out loud.”
He grinned. “You’re right. See? That’s why I hired you, Penny. You’re young, bright, enthusiastic, you want to climb up the ladder, and you know what needs to be done to overcome your current condition… your parents’ condition.”
She looked at him as if it was the first time she saw him in her life.
“Is that what you think about me, Richard?”
“Isn’t that what you think about yourself?”
She shook her head. “You don’t know me at all.”
“I think I do, little lady. Stop lying to yourself. You knew something was off the day you met the twins. Also, I know you’re sleeping with Enzo Salvador, so don’t act all saintly with me.”
“That’s my business.”
“Not when your boyfriend has just joined my club. He’s exactly like me and my friends. He owns a shifter, too, did you know that? Don’t tell me you’re that na?ve, Penny. You’re making me lose my faith in you.”
“Okay, stop! Yes, I went out with Enzo twice, and no, I had no idea he’s a kidnapping bastard. Just like before yesterday evening, I didn’t know you were a kidnapping bastard, either. If that makes me na?ve, so be it. I guess I still believe the world can’t possibly be this rotten.”
He parked the car in front of a diner and turned to her.
“Don’t get your panties in a twist, Penny.
Nothing here is rotten. Shifters are not like us.
This is the first thing you have to remember: they’re different.
However they came to be, they’re in the minority, and the only reason why they still live and breathe among us is because we, humans, allow them to.
In a perfect world, they wouldn’t have rights at all.
However, this is not a perfect world yet, so those of us who know how things should be, and who have the power and the resources to make the needed changes within our families and communities, have taken it upon ourselves to treat shifters the way they should be treated: as an inferior race.
For now, our movement is small, but it’s growing.
Look at it this way: a Spanish businessman has just joined us!
And he owns a bear-shifter, not a pathetic cat-shifter, dog-shifter, or sheep-shifter.
Yes, I know my two shifters are pathetic.
They will grow strong in a few years, but who knows?
Enzo is giving me hope. If he can subdue a bear-shifter, then why can’t I?
This is the future, Penny. Be a smart girl, as you always are, and join us, the pioneers.
You’re already on the right track. Scoring a man like Enzo Salvador is no easy feat for a woman. ”
She couldn’t believe her ears. She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it.
She tried again, but no words came out. She was paralyzed.
The aberrations her boss had just spilled made her sick to her stomach.
Suddenly, she wanted out of the car. She couldn’t stand to be so close to him for a second longer, to breathe the same air he was breathing.
“I’m going to walk,” she said as she opened the car door.
He grabbed her wrist and made her look into his eyes.
“Don’t do anything stupid, darling. You’ve been of great help to me so far. Juniper and Thorn love you, and your presence in the house does them good. Just stick to your duties, and everything will be fine. I promise.”
“You’re going to throw Thorn into a fighting ring in a few years, maybe sooner! You’re going to trade Juniper for favors, contracts, and money!”
He shrugged. “They’re not like us. If shifters get hurt, they heal immediately.
No doctors needed. It won’t be that bad for them.
They’ll still live in luxury and get good food, expensive clothes, jewelry…
whatever they want. Don’t forget where they came from.
A poor orphanage in Bulgaria. If you ask me, they’re getting a pretty damn good deal. ”
“I… I… I can’t believe you. This is not who you are, Richard!”
He laughed and let go of her wrist. When she got out of the car, he closed the door behind her and drove off.
Penny found herself in the middle of the sidewalk, shaking and almost crying. She wrapped her arms around her, feeling cold in the crisp morning air.
“Think, Penelope. Think,” she whispered to herself.
She needed clarity. There was no way she could come up with a viable plan without putting her thoughts in order first. Central Park wasn’t far away, so she decided to go there for a long walk.
She had no intention of going back to the office, and the children had classes in the morning.
She swore to herself that the next time she saw them, probably in the evening, she would have good news for them.
***
Penelope arrived at the Goldman Mansion later than she had intended.
It was Friday evening, and Juniper and Thorn had finished their classes hours before.
She could have come earlier, but the truth was that she hadn’t had the courage to face them.
She knew they wouldn’t hold it against her that she didn’t have a plan yet, but she still felt like she was failing them.
She had considered going to her father, who was a lawyer, and tell him everything, but then she realized she wasn’t ready to drag her parents into this.
Would they believe her? Certainly. But were they ready to hear the truth about Richard and Marcia Goldman?
No. No one would be. Not even a stranger on the street, let alone two respectful people who considered themselves family friends.
As Penny slipped into the house, she greeted the maid who had opened the door for her and told her that no, she didn’t want to see Marcia.
Apparently, Richard’s wife was in the living room, entertaining some guests, while her husband was in his home office, taking care of God knew what business.
Avoiding the living room, Penny went quickly up the stairs and knocked on the twins’ door. Thorn answered.
“Hey, baby. I’m sorry I’m late. I had some… work to finish.”
The boy smiled and invited her in. As Penny stood awkwardly by the closed door, he went back to the desk and resumed coloring in a book.
“Where’s your sister?”
“I don’t know. One of the servant girls, the blonde one… Hannah, I think… came about half an hour ago and told Nina that Mr. Goldman needed her. I wanted to go too, but she said no. He only wanted her.”
Cold chills ran up Penny’s spine. Her knees started shaking, and she had to grab the door frame to keep herself upright.
“What for?”
Thorn shrugged. “Something about meeting someone special.”
“Enzo Salvador?”
“I don’t know. Probably someone else, though, because we met Enzo yesterday and he wasn’t all that special.”
“No. No, no, no.”
Thorn looked at her confused.
“Are you okay, Penny?”
She shook her head, but then got a hold of herself and gave him a reassuring, albeit fake, smile.
“Don’t worry about me. Just… wait here, okay? Stay in your room, and don’t leave even if they beg. Better yet, lock the door. I’ll be back with Nina as soon as I can.”
The boy’s brown eyes were filled with worry now.
Penny couldn’t know, but his shifter senses had kicked in, and he could feel her distress, the fear that was slowly crawling through her veins, making her heart beat faster.
He put his colored pencil down and looked straight at her.
Without another word, she was out of the room in a second, and Thorn went to lock the door behind her.
It didn’t matter, anyway. Of course they had the key.
Penelope ran down the stairs and headed straight to Goldman’s office.
She hoped to God that Juniper was still there and he hadn’t done anything horrific to her.
It was the only place she could think of where the girl could have been taken.
She heard Marcia laughing in the living room, but she had a feeling Juniper wasn’t with her.
Just as she was reaching for the doorknob, a man of about fifty years of age burst out of the office, almost knocking her down.
He was seething with anger. He didn’t even look at her as he mumbled under his breath: “Get out of my way, idiot.”
Normally, she would have stopped him and told him a thing or two, but she couldn’t care less.
She recognized him as one of the bankers who had attended the cocktail party a week before, and she wondered what had made him so angry.
Richard Goldman would have never offended one of his intimate friends and club members intentionally.
She pushed the door open and stepped into the office.
She was beyond knocking and asking for permission, as every second mattered.
Juniper was standing in a corner, looking down at her fidgeting fingers, and Goldman was sitting behind his desk, counting a stack of money. Across from him, lounging in a leather chair, was Enzo Salvador.
“You,” she spat through gritted teeth. “Wherever I go, you’re always there, always lurking in the shadows and stalking these kids. What kind of monster are you?!”
Enzo turned to her, brows furrowed. She couldn’t read him. Goldman, however, shot up and yelled at her.
“What is the meaning of this? Penny, you can’t just barge in and insult one of my business partners. Get out!”
“I’m taking her with me.”
She walked over to Juniper and grabbed her hand. The poor girl was shaking. When she looked up at Penny, she had tears swimming in her beautiful almond eyes.
“No, you’re not.” Goldman advanced toward her. “Leave her and go home before I change my mind about you and fire you.”
Penny laughed. The whole situation was so messed up and so ridiculous that it actually strengthened her resolve.
It was funny that Goldman believed he was the center of the Universe and he could order everyone around.
Just as she was getting ready to spit a string of curses into his face, Enzo stood up and handed her boss a second stack of money.
“Hey, hey… there’s no reason to fight over this,” he said in a smooth, calm voice. “I’m not here to cause you any more trouble, Richard. Warren has just stormed out in a rage, and I feel guilty. Here, how’s this? I’m going to offer you double, and you give me the both of them for tonight.”
“Excuse me?” Penny looked at him dumbfounded. Did she get that right? Was he offering Goldman money for her and Juniper?
“Shut up, woman!” Goldman turned to Enzo, glanced at the money he was holding out for him, considered the offer for a moment, then smiled and voraciously grabbed the bills. “Deal. Bring them back in the morning.”
Penny started shaking her head in utter shock. Her mouth opened and closed a couple of times, then she gave up trying to speak and swallowed heavily. When Enzo nodded toward her, she almost snarled at him.
“I’m sorry about Warren, truly,” Enzo told Richard. “He’s your friend, and I’m only the new guy.”
Goldman waved him off. “He’ll get over it. Your offer was better. He’s a businessman, so he’ll understand once he cools off a bit. Well, I hope you enjoy what you bought.”
“Oh, I will.” As Goldman returned to counting his money, Enzo leaned in to whisper in Penny’s ear: “You’re both safe with me. Trust me, okay? I’ll explain everything on the way.” Gently, he pushed her toward the door.
Penelope was too afraid and confused to protest. He seemed honest, but she immediately shunned the feeling that she could, indeed, trust him.
For now, she thanked the Heavens that she had gotten here on time and Juniper wasn’t alone.
The girl’s hand trembled into hers, and she squeezed it lightly.
She had no idea how, but she was going to get them both out of this mess alive and unharmed.
As Enzo led them to his car and made them sit in the back, Penny smoothed down Juniper’s blonde locks and whispered:
“I’m here. I’m with you. Everything is going to be okay.”
The girl sniffed and nodded. Penny wished she could believe her own words like Juniper did.