All Chapters of The Billionaire's Bargain: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

PENELOPEStanding behind the counter, I watched Jess animatedly talk about some reality TV show she had been obsessing over.“…And then, get this, the guy proposed to her sister instead! On live TV! Can you imagine?”I gasped, half listening, half kneading dough. “Wait—what? That’s insane.”Jess huffed. “I know, right? If that happened to me, I’d be in prison for murder.”I laughed, rolling my eyes. “You and me both.”Mondays were always our busiest days, but today felt different—calmer. Peaceful.Until the bell chimed, indicating a customer.A woman stepped in, her heels clicking sharply against the tile floor. She was tall, slim, with a sleek brown bob and a perfectly tailored beige dress that screamed money.Her eyes scanned across the bakery, taking in every detail with a barely concealed look of distaste. She didn’t belong here.Jess and I exchanged a look. “Good morning,” I greeted with a polite smile. “What can we get for you today?”She didn’t respond at first. Instead, she to

PENELOPEEve’s office was just as elegant as her house—warm-toned furniture, fresh flowers on the desk, rare art hung everywhere in her office. She smiled warmly as she poured us both a cup of coffee. “So, Penelope, I assume you’ve given my offer some thought?”I nodded, taking a sip before setting my cup down. “Yes, I have. And I’d love to set up a stand at your foundation’s cafeteria. It’s a great opportunity, and a nice step to take, I’m really grateful.”Her eyes lit up with approval. “That’s wonderful to hear. I have no doubt your pastries will be a hit. The cafeteria is always packed, and I think the visitors and staff would love something fresh and homemade.”I smiled, already feeling the excitement buzz beneath my skin, it sure will be an amazing way to show Samantha Elliott that I won't back down easily. “I’ll handle everything—menu, supplies, logistics. I’ll also have my team manage the stand, so it runs smoothly, and you don't have to worry about anything”“That sounds pe

PENELOPEIts been two weeks since Christian left, and the silence had been… refreshing, the house was a lot quieter, less tension, no Christian Hilton to ruin the atmosphere with his brooding figure.I had thrown myself into work, and it had paid off. The stand at Eve’s foundation was now fully set up and running smoothly. Business was thriving, and seeing people enjoy our pastries every day has its own kind of satisfaction.Everyday, I just wished my mother had been alive longer to witness it all happen. Shrugging the thought off, today was a good day, not a sad one, I needed to be happy.Jess and I were currently restocking the display case at the bakery after opening later than usual this morning.“You know,” Jess started casually, wiping down the counter, “it’s been two weeks.”“And?” wondering where she was going with that.“And you haven’t mentioned Christian once.” She smirked. “No calls? No texts? No ‘oh my God, Jess, I miss him so much’?”I scoffed. “Please, why would I miss

PENELOPEThe night before had been nothing short of chaotic—but in the best way possible.After securing the White House contract and getting the invite to cater for the First Lady’s book club, Jess and I had shut down the bakery hours earlier than usual. We locked the doors, cranked up the music, and danced around like lunatics, screaming in excitement.“This is it, Penny!” Jess had shouted over the music, twirling in circles. “We’re going big time, baby! White House, high society events, next thing you know, we’ll be making cakes for royal weddings.”I had laughed, breathless. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”“Pfft, let me dream.” She had pointed at me, grinning. “Besides, these are high-class people. We need to do something different. Something out of the box.”She was right. If we wanted to stand out, we couldn’t just do what was expected. We had to do something bold, and that's why we stayed up all night trying new recipes and new ingredients.And today will go exactly as plan

PENELOPEThe past few days had been a whirlwind.Ever since the private tasting with the First Lady, my life had felt like it was moving at a speed I wasn’t prepared for. The tasting had been an experience I would never forget—security detail surrounding my bakery, agents stationed at every entrance, the entire street practically shut down for a couple of hours just for one meeting.And it was worth it.The First Lady had been kind, warm, and incredibly down-to-earth. She had sampled every single item we prepared, her eyes lighting up with delight at the flavors. When she took the last bite of a dark chocolate tart, she smiled at me and said, “We’re definitely going with you for the event next month.”That was it. The deal was sealed.She and I went over the menu, the expected number of guests, and—most importantly—the pay. And let’s just say, it was more than I had ever imagined I would charge for a single event.Everything was going better than I could have hoped. And yet, despite t