The woman led them to a table with a beautiful view. It stood alone in a corner, giving some air of privacy. He pulled the chair out for Penelope and settled into his thereafter.“Here is the menu.” He passed a menu each to them. Call on me when you have decided. I will get you some tea in the meantime.” The woman said and attended to other tables.The language was foreign to her. “Uhm… What are you having?” she peeped over her menu and asked Killian.“It is written in Mandarin.” He pointed out and read the menu out fluently. She settled for steaks while he had a traditional dish.“That was a delicious meal.” Penelope complimented the woman.The woman held a hand to her heart. “Thank you. We will to create moments for our customers.” She said. Then, an idea popped in her head. “How about a picture of you two, huh?”Killian wanted to object but Penelope beat him to it with a mischievous smile. “Sure!” She squealed. If he was willing to play the couple card, she would see it to the very
For some minutes, Killian simply stared. He was unable to make a decision. Penelope turned and swam around, “This isn’t fun.” She said with a sigh, almost to herself but the wind conveyed it to Killian’s hearing.Penelope had her back turned to him.“Hey.” She heard behind her, making her turn.She let out a huge gasp out of surprise. He was standing right in front of her. “You are not such a bore, after all.” She whispered to him.Killian furrowed his eyebrow. “I wonder if this is right.” He said.The gap between them began to close.“It is up to us to make that decision.” She responded, lowly. Her eyes took him in. The muscled planes on his chest are smooth with no hair in sight. He looked like he was chiselled by a carver.Her hands itched to feel him. Like a self-powered motor, her hands lay on his chest. Her touch made him gasp quietly. His eyes became dark with want. All sense of righteousness began to drift away.Penelope’s hands toured his chest like they were in the wild for
“The Xing diamond is one of a kind. I heard it would be put on auction today.” A woman gleefully told the two women dressed exquisitely next to her next to her. One of them gasped, “Xing Fei? My husband must get it for me. I want it for myself.” Her eyes dimmed with greed. The other two women snickered. They all wanted it for themselves, too. They quickly dispersed to persuade their husbands. Penelope walked by them to look for any familiar face. Killian had sent Francine to inform her that he needed to sort out his stolen items. Her phone was in the car, too. So, there was no one to accompany her to the auction. Instead of the dress Killian chose, she settled for another one at the last minute. It was the last dress that caught her eyes right before leaving the mall. The golden gown flowed behind her, pooling around her feet. The bodice had a drape over her bust with tiny straps to hold her backless dress. A draped rested on her butt to conceal her behind with a little tease. She
Francine spoke about the other men. “There is Vlad Pochensky. He works with the military confidentially with the military.”“And, Jared King. Killian’s father.” Coincidentally, the man turned his gaze towards their direction. He was wearing a sun glass indoors but his glare behind the glasses was intense.Penelope locked gaze with him. He had been the one that orchestrated her abduction. The man seemed to have an unspoken vendetta against her.“What is his deal?” Penelope couldn’t tame her curiosity.Francine furrowed her eyebrows. “What do you mean?” She stared at Penelope whose breath became heavy as she continued to stare at the man. “Is this some shared telepathy between Killian and you?”Penelope had no idea if Francine knew about her abduction. “He just seems… unapproachable.”Francine narrowed her eyes at her. She could feel there was more to it but she suppressed her urge to ask. “Well, Killian loathes his guts. Jared doesn’t have the best of reputation anyway.”“And, who is t
Something gnawed her at insides. She held her tummy and tried to ease it with her fingers.“Is this some kind of sick joke?” Penelope asked warily.Killian maintained his expression till a smile creeped over his lips. “Got you!” He said and let out a small laugh.Penelope let out a huge sigh of relief.“You should have seen your face.” He pointed out mockingly.Penelope wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or be offended for being mocked. She was glad to see that it was some silly joke. But something on his face played it believingly without an iota of doubt.“Let’s have our seats.” He guided Penelope to their seats which were next to Francine’s and Freddy’s. Their seats were at the front row, just on the opposite side of Jared and his friends.“Right about time.” Francine said as soon as their butts hit the seats.The auction started for several items till it was time for the ultimate item of the night. The item was in a glass. Reflection bounced on it. It looked out of this world.“
They all stated their orders to the waiter. Penelope requested for a chicken burger.“Chicken burger?” Francine asked. “Looks a little inappropriate for dinner.”Penelope shrugged, “It was what she craved to eat.”The waiter came with their orders and they dug into their meals. A minute later, Penelope stopped eating.She used her fingers to part the chicken part. Her vision was blurry for a second before it regained its focus.The chicken looked pinkish. Her stomach summersaulted and grumbled.“Penny? Are you okay?” Francine inquired. It got Killian’s attention as well.“Penelope.” He asked with his eyebrows furrowed. He stared at the chicken in her hands.Penelope held a hand to her mouth. She grabbed the waiter at the table next to theirs and asked for the restroom.Francine leaped from her seat and ran after Penelope. Killian was on his wondering what to do.“Francine will take care of her.” Freddy assured Killian. He had a look of concern etched on his face as well.***Penelope
4 years old Penelope“Mommy, where are we going?” Little Penelope asked while holding onto her mom’s hands tightly.Her mother crouched down to her height and pulled her cheeks, “Just to see an old friend, okay? Remember not to wander off and stay where I instruct you to stay.” Her mother said sternly.Penelope furrowed her eyebrows, wondering why her mother looked serious and a little fearful. She watched her mother’s hands tremble.Just as she summoned the courage to ask her mother, a cab pulled over. The address was given to the driver.Penelope became engrossed with the views upstate. She had never been their because they lived in the crass part of the city. Up state smelt peaceful but tainted.“I am coming, Stanley.” Penelope averted her gaze from the view and turned to look at her mother. She was speaking on a phone she had never seen before. They could hardly pay the phone bills at home, let alone afford an expensive device like the one her mother held.The cab arrived at the b
Evelyn went in search of Stanley.“Stanley!” She called.A man surfaced from one of the bedrooms. “Evelyn.” He called sultrily. His gaze travelled up and down her form, His movement looked uncoordinated.“Stanley? Are you drunk?” Evelyn asked with disgust. He peered into the room behind him to see some bottles on the floor. She shook her head in utter disappointment.Stanley belched. His breath which reeked of alcohol dazed her. “I am-m not drunk.” He said and leaned on the door frame to support his staggering weight. “Come here, baby. Let’s have some fun!”He motioned for her to come to him. But Evelyn had another mission in mind. She left him at the door and returned to the living area.Stanley followed her to the living area. With each step he took, he unbuttoned his shirt and disposed it in the hallway.“Baby, d-don’t run away from me.” Stanley slurred. He had been waiting to bed the woman after they stopped their arrangement. She was an enticing woman. He wanted her solely for h