34. Penelope
Penelope
Guilt.
I should have felt it. It should have had me shaking and terrified that Katia and the other agents would come back for me.
I felt nothing.
Nothing but determination to somehow reach Vaughn. Although I was set on this path of investigation, he had to know I was okay. That… I missed him.
“You’ve been awfully quiet in here the last few weeks. How’s the filing going, Penny?”
A smile came as I peered up to Marian’s receptionist, Cassandra, peeking in the doorway of my tiny office.
“Everything is great. How are you today?”
“You know, I’m okay. Fred hasn’t called, but that’s to be expected after the disaster of a date we had.”
“Oh no. What happened?”
Cassandra looked back and forth in the hallway, stepping into my office and lowering her tone to nearly a whisper.
“Do you remember last week how I was telling you about my ex, Harrison?”
“The flirty one. He hit on your cousin.”
“Yes. Well, Fred and I ran into him last night. Get this.” She leaned in closer. “He had the audacity to start running his mouth. He tried to get Fred to fight him.”
“No.” I gasped. “He didn’t. Not after what he did.”
“I know. The nerve. Anyway, now, no text, no call.” Her face fell. “I really liked him.”
Shifting in my chair, I tried to keep the impatience at bay, but the need to check my phone was constant.
It had taken forever to get to this point.
To get my accounts set up. To order my books.
But I was here. I was finally here, and I was freaking out.
Luckily, I withheld the frazzled emotion from my voice.
“If he’s a keeper, he’ll call. Just give him time to process. You’re worth the trouble with Harrison. He’ll see that.”
She brushed back her chestnut hair. “You’re the best, Penny. Truly, thank you.” She stole another look back down the hall. “I should go. I was supposed to be getting Marian coffee.”
“Oh. How is she? Marian sounded very angry earlier when she was on the phone.”
Cassandra laughed. “That’s normal. She’s totally fine. The woman amazes me. Okay, I have to go.”
I waved and she snuck out. The moment she was gone, I pulled up my new cell, checking the tracking on my package. Out for Delivery.
Marian LaRoe GS Tower 123 Regency Row Kensington London SW7 3AB United Kingdom
I bit my bottom lip at the business name and address.
Putting the tower under the business name associated with my parents’ townhome had to work.
Or maybe it would backfire and Katia would discover it first. Either way, I had an excuse.
Buying things online was new to me. I wasn’t thinking.
I’d never been taught how to set up packages to be delivered.
I barely knew what I was doing on a computer.
All I needed was for it to work once. I needed my message to get through to either Vaughn or The Order.
And by the miracle that it did… I still wasn’t certain Vaughn would decipher my code.
I had been here over a month. Surely, he hadn’t given up on trying to find me.
Or maybe… maybe he believed the same thoughts that plagued me.
Thoughts that belonged to my parents, not me.
You’re too weak, Penelope, too shy, too quiet, too stupid… Embarrassment.
No. Never again.
I scanned my finger down the date of the document, putting the stack back in the file and adding it to the growing mound on my desk. When I opened the next file, my office phone rang. I answered, confused.
“Hello?”
“Penny, it’s Marian. Are you bored out of your mind yet?”
I smiled. “It’s sort of therapeutic.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear your eyes haven’t fallen out of your head. Once Cassandra gets back with my coffee, I’m heading down to the ground level to grab a muffin from Martha’s. Do you want to go with me?”
Ground level…
“Yes. I’d love to. I am getting hungry, and I think I would like to stretch my legs.”
“Perfect. I’ll meet you in the lobby in a few minutes just outside of my office.”
I hung up, checking my phone. Shaking took over my hands as I stared down.
Delivered.
I could barely breathe, but from a mix of different emotions. This had to work. It had to. And if it didn’t, I’d deal with that then.
I pushed the phone in the pocket of my cardigan, heading down the hall that took me to the lobby. Marian was in a slate-colored pantsuit, tapping against the screen of her phone as if she were texting or writing an email. She glanced up, smiling big as I approached.
“You wouldn’t believe the morning I’ve had.
Let’s head for the elevator.” Her cell rang and she immediately ended the call as we began to head to the lift.
“Three companies have been on my father’s radar for years.
This morning, I came up with a way to give him one on a silver platter.
My plan was perfection. The execution would have gone down in the history books. Do you want to know what he told me?”
We got in the cart, and Marian pushed the button, throwing me a look.
“He said he’s changed his mind. He’s looking at going in a different direction now. Why, might you ask?”
I smiled at her look.
“Because it was me who came up with the idea. Me! Men. He’s jealous, but he won’t say that. I have landed every big deal in the last few years and he can’t stand it. He said this morning that he’s stepping back. But will he let me go after Henge Co.? No.”
“Damn. I’m sorry. That could have been big for you.”
“Legendary.” She sighed. “It’s fine. I’ll put it on the backburner for now, but mark my words, in time it will be mine. I’ve tasted the blood, Penelope. I know Henge’s weakness, and when I get the go, I’ll smash them like a bug.”
“Ew,” I laughed. “But brilliant.”
“Definitely brilliant. So, tell me about your day.”
“My day. Hmm. Well, you know, just filing. I like it. It calms me and gives me something to do.”
A ding sounded, and the doors opened. Marian and I headed through the large area.
Random men and women walked through in their fancy business attire, and I’d never felt more underdressed.
I pushed it away as I followed Marian to a small bakery that housed an array of different pastries.
Two people were in line, and she turned to me as we waited.
“They have the best blueberry muffins. I’m totally addicted. I used to get scones, but lately it’s muffins. I think they put something in them that makes you keep coming back.”
“They’re that good?”
“Oh my God. Penny, just wait. They’re not just a treat. I’ve found that I’ve gotten into a routine. I’m addicted.” She looked at her watch, flashing it to me. “It’s almost two. Coffee, which I got upstairs, and my muffin. Two o’clock, every day. It never fails. I think something is wrong with me.”
We laughed and moved up in line. As she peered into the glass at the arrangement of different cakes, I searched the surroundings, taking in the people walking around.
There was a determination on their faces.
They knew where they were headed. It’s what had me pausing as I took in the dark-haired man towards the front desk, at the entrance.
He was staring at me, talking to one of the guards, but barely showing them notice as his brows drew in. Surprise? Recognition?
“I didn’t even ask what you wanted. Did you see something you like?”
I could barely focus on Marian’s question. The man was still looking. Still talking to the guard as if he were determined to get in.
“I’ll get what you’re getting.”
Marian turned towards the door where I was looking, catching exactly what I did.
“Don’t worry. It’s pretty common with being downtown. People always try to get in, whether it’s for the restroom or Martha’s. Elliot, my bodyguard, he stays on top of security here.”
“You have a bodyguard?”
Marian nodded. “I don’t have much need for him when I’m in the building, but when I leave, yes.
My parents.” She again rolled her eyes at the mention of them.
“I hated it at first, but I’ve gotten really close with Elliot over the years.
You’re safe, Penny, I promise. The man probably has the wrong address.
It happens all the time. If he’s not meant to be here, they won’t let him in.
Each person on this floor is monitored and watched at all times that way no mistakes can be made. ”
“Oh.”
The man forced a smile, keeping his eyes mostly on me as he nodded to the guards at the door and headed to leave.
Could Marian be right? Was it a case of the wrong address? Or did it have to do with Vaughn?
As Marian ordered for us, I felt sick. I wanted to run after the stranger. To ask him why he was here. The ability to stand still was almost impossible.
Paper rustled from the shop’s bag, and the volume around me increased in odd surges of tones. I pulled at the collar of the dress, feeling sweat beginning to collect against my skin.
“Hey, are you okay?”
The rise and fall of my chest increased. “I’m good. I just... I think I’m going to maybe call it a day. I’m suddenly feeling a little off.”
“Okay.” Concern was in Marian’s tone as she took the bag from the cashier and put her arm around the back of my shoulders.
As she led me out of the shop, I scanned the large glass walls to the sidewalk outside.
The crowd stayed steady with businessmen and women rushing by.
And in a sea of suits, anyone could have been the taller gentleman who’d kept my stare.
If he was out there, I couldn’t see him anymore, and that didn’t fare well for the woman who was homesick for cement walls and darkness.
At this point, I’d take the stone walls of The Order.
Home was with Vaughn, and I prayed that he was already opening my package and trying to piece the clues together.
“I shouldn’t have brought you down so soon. I’m sorry, Penny. I’ll take you to the apartment and get you settled. Do you want me to call Cassandra and tell her I’m not coming back? I can stay with you—”
“Oh, no. Please don’t do that. I’d feel so guilty.
It wasn’t being down here, Marian.” We got on the lift as I tried to explain.
“I actually feel better down here. I needed new scenery. I haven’t been eating very well.
I think it’s finally caught up with me. The muffin will help.
And I’ll get some rest while I read more from those history books I borrowed. By dinner, I’ll be back to normal.”
“Are you sure?”
I hit the floor to our apartment, pushing in the one for Marian’s office.
“I’d tell you if it were too much. I’m doing great. I just need a little break to collect myself, that’s all.”
“You still have the nightmares.”
I nodded, not able to hide from the rapes that tortured me in my sleep.
“About that. Marian… I know this is going to sound silly but…” The words wouldn’t come as I took in green eyes.
“Nothing is too silly. Ask me, Penny.”
“I’d like to learn how to defend myself.
I think it might help with the nightmares.
I have some skill, but I want to learn to fight really good.
I want to take a class. Would Katia allow me to do that?
I mean, how long am I supposed to stay inside?
I’m really sort of getting itchy to be out in the breeze. To feel sunlight.”
Marian got quiet. “I’m very knowledgeable in self-defense and can help you. Elliot, too. But I’ll talk to Katia and see what I can do about getting you in a class. I can’t make any promises though, Penny. I’m not sure she’ll go for it. My instructions were to not let you leave.”
“Not let me leave? At all? For how long?”
Worry clouded Marian’s face, and we stopped as we reached the floor to her office. “Until they find him, Penny. For however long that takes.”