CHAPTER 3: Shirley's Father

She stepped out of the office, closing the door softly behind her. And the moment it clicked shut, her composure shattered.

The hallway felt too bright, even too loud. Her vision blurred slightly as she walked.

She took one step. Then another.

Her chest felt tight and she clutched it. Her stomach churned.She couldn’t think, couldn’t process.

All she could feel was the weight of it. The failure, the humiliation.

The past colliding with the present in the worst possible way.

Why?

Why did this have to happen?

By the time she reached the waiting area, she barely registered anything around her.

Except—

“Penny!”

Demetria.

She rushed toward her, eyes bright with excitement, “How was it?!”

Penelope stopped. Her blue eyes drifted to her friend's brown ones. Her lips parted. But no words came out. It was as if time was slowing down for her…

Demetria’s smile faltered slightly.

“…Penny?”

Penelope blinked, staring.And in that moment, she looked like she had seen a ghost. Her eyes were distant, shaken…broken.

“I…” Her voice trembled. “I failed.”

Demetria blinked. “What? No, you couldn’t have –”

“I did.”

Her voice was firmer now.

“I messed up. I couldn’t answer properly. I just…” She shook her head, letting out a shaky breath. “I froze.”

Demetria’s expression softened immediately, “Oh, Penny…”

“I thought this would be different,” she whispered. “I thought maybe this time…”

Her voice trailed off. Demetria pulled her into a tight hug.

“It’s okay,” she murmured gently. “It’s just one interview.”

But Penelope didn’t hug her back immediately. Because her mind was still in that room. Still stuck on him.

On his voice.

On his eyes.

On the fact that…she hadn't expected it to be him.

…

Calvin Dawson was a very practical man.

He didn't like tardiness and inefficiency one bit. So, it came as a surprise when he was handed the list of candidates accepted for the interview and he saw Penelope's.

He had frowned.

Penelope Adams. No degree, no formal experience. Nothing that justified her presence on that list.

He looked up slowly at the HR manager, “Excuse me?”

The woman shifted slightly under his gaze but smiled nonetheless.

“Sometimes the best candidates aren’t the ones with the best credentials,” she said carefully. “You mentioned wanting talent. Pure raw ability. She might have it.”

Calvin drew in a slow breath, his jaw tightening.

That… was the only reason he allowed it.

But the interview had been…disappointing. Frustrating even. She wasn’t confident, not composed, not polished.

Her answers had been intelligent, he couldn’t deny that, but her uneasiness unraveled everything she tried to build.

He clicked his tongue softly. Quite pitiful.

If she had just been confident enough…he would have considered hiring her immediately.

But…. there was something about her. Something…he couldn't just place his finger on. He had a feeling, he had met her before. But he was good with faces, so he couldn't understand how he couldn't remember.

And the way she looked at him…that vulnerability, that softness…it stirred something within him.

Calvin's jaw tightened slightly as he reached for her file again, flipping it open.

Penelope Adams. Twenty-six. No degree.

Multiple failed interviews.

Caregiving jobs, babysitting.

Then, he paused. His eyes lingered on the next line.

Next of kin: Shirley Adams (daughter).

Something in his eyes flickered, but then disappeared immediately. She had a daughter she was taking care of.

Maybe that explained the nerves and anxiety.

He inhaled deeply, lost in his thoughts. Then, a knock came at the door.

“Come in,” his deep voice rang out.

His assistant stepped in, with a tablet in hand, “Sir, the next candidate is –”

“Reschedule.”

He blinked. “Reschedule?”

“Yes.”

His tone left no room for negotiation and his assistant nodded slowly, “Okay, Sir. Understood.”

Then, he stepped out, closing the door behind him. Calvin's gaze dropped back to the file. Penelope Adams.

She had been a mess in that interview. Very unfocused and unsteady.

But that wasn’t what interested him. Underneath all that, there had been something else.

He wasn't a man women affected like this. In fact, he was called the number one most eligible bachelor in town. All ladies swarmed to him, but none seemed to interest him.

He was sure his parents were hitting their heads on the wall, for all the failed dates they had arranged for him.

His eyes flicked back to the file and then, he closed it.

Then, opened it again and annoyance flickered briefly across his face.

What was even wrong with him? What was with this woman and distracting him? There was nothing even special about her.

He didn’t second-guess decisions. He didn’t hesitate. He was a man of direct action.

But yet, here he was. Still thinking about her. Still replaying every moment of that interview.

The way her hands trembled, the way her voice broke slightly. The way she looked at him like she had seen something she wasn’t prepared for.

Like she had seen a ghost.

His jaw tightened. Why was her expression that way? Was it just anxiety…or something else entirely?

…

Across town, Penelope sat on the edge of her bed, staring at nothing.

The room was very quiet, and the only thing she could hear was the rhythmic beating of her heart.

Demetria had tried to cheer her up, tried to distract her. But eventually, she had given her space.

And now, all Penelope had was her thoughts. And they were relentless.

She pressed her hands to her face, groaning softly.

“Why… why today…”

Of all the interviews, of all the places. Of all the days!

Why him?

Her heart tightened painfully. She hadn’t seen him in years. Hadn’t even allowed herself to think about him properly.

Because thinking led to remembering. And remembering led to everything she had tried to bury.

That night. That mistake…. was it a mistake? Oh yes it was! A deliberate mistake.

No matter the circumstances surrounding her reason, she slept with a man she didn't know.

And that…her chest tightened further. That led to her daughter, Shirley.

Penelope’s eyes squeezed shut. No. She couldn’t think like that. She couldn’t let her mind go there.

She dropped her hands, staring blankly ahead.

“He didn’t recognize me,” she whispered softly.

Right? He hadn’t said anything, hadn’t reacted, hadn’t…behaved off.

Her breath caught slightly. But he had looked at her.

More than once, in an intent manner, as if trying to unravel something.

Her stomach twisted, “What if he actually did?...”

The thought sent a chill down her spine. No. No, he would have said something.

Wouldn’t he? Wouldn’t he have? Or did he just stay silent?

Her thoughts spiraled and they became more suffocating.

But then, her phone rang.

The sound cut through the silence harshly and Penelope flinched.

Her eyes dropped to the screen. Unknown number. Her brows furrowed slightly. She didn't like picking the calls of people she didn't know.

And so she ignored it. But, it rang again and again.

She sighed. Maybe it was someone who knew her? But something about it made her uneasy.

Eventually, she reached for it, her fingers slightly trembling.

“Hello…?”

“Miss Adams.”

Her entire body froze and her eyes widened. That voice. Her grip tightened on the phone.

Calvin.

“…Yes?”

“You left without completing the process.”

Her brows drew together in confusion, “What?”

“The interview,” his voice came out flatly.

Her heart began to pound again, “I… I thought it was over.”

“It wasn’t.”

Her breath hitched, “What do you mean?”

“Report back tomorrow. Nine A.M.”

Her eyes widened. Tomorrow?

“W-wait—”

But the line went dead before she could speak. Penelope stared at her phone like it had just betrayed her. Her heart pounded harder.

Tomorrow? As in the next day? Again?

Her stomach twisted violently.

“No… no...”

This couldn’t be happening. She couldn’t go back there. She couldn’t face him again. She didn't want anything to do with him.

Not after today, not after everything.

“Penny?”

Demetria’s voice came from the doorway and Penelope looked up slowly.

Her face was pale and expression shaken.

Demetria immediately hurried outside.

“What’s wrong? Did anything happen?”

Penelope swallowed hard, “He…” Her voice faltered. “He said I have to go back tomorrow.”

Demetria blinked, “…What? Who?”

“He said the interview isn’t over,” Penelope whispered, her hands shaking.

There was a brief silence. Then, Demetria’s face broke into a wide grin.

“Are you serious?! Penny, that’s amazing!”

“No,” Penelope shook her head quickly, panic rising in her chest. “No, it’s not. You don’t understand…”

“It means you still have a chance!”

“It means I have to see him again,” she whispered.

Demetria paused. Her smile faltered slightly as she frowned.

“…Him?”

Penelope’s throat tightened. She hadn’t told her, hadn't said it out loud yet. Because she was so ashamed and confused.

Demetria stepped closer, her expression shifting to concern, “Penny… who is he? Do you owe him?”

Penelope looked at her, with tears pooling in her eyes. Demetria maintained her gaze, urging her to speak.

And for a moment, she considered lying. But she couldn’t. Not with Demetria, the one person who had always stood by her.

Her lips parted slowly and her voice came out barely above a whisper.

“The CEO…”

There was a slight pause.

“…is Shirley’s father.”

Demetria's remaining smile faltered completely. Her eyes widened and she looked at Penny in disbelief.

“What?”