Chapter 85

Penelope went rigid. What was wrong with him?

"You-"

"One of the officials wants to set me up with his daughter."

"..."

"It was an awkward position, so I had Harold call you over."

Penelope's mind raced. So there was no important file. He had just invented an

excuse to get her here for this little performance.

"You could have just told me. You didn't have to trick me."

"And you would have come?"

"Of course. As long as you agree to hear my proposal..."

"You see? There's no such thing as a free lunch."

"And you can't expect a free lunch all the time, either."

"I'll take one whenever I can get one. I love a good bargain."

As he spoke, he released her.

Penelope glanced over her shoulder and, sure enough, saw an older official shaking his head as he walked away.

She turned back to Theodore, who now had a cigarette dangling from his lips but was patting his pockets, unable to find a lighter.

Instantly, Penelope fished one out of her own pocket, flicked it on, and held the flame out to him with a sycophantic smile.

"You see? My uses extend beyond being a human shield. I can provide comprehensive services."

Theodore leaned down slightly, tilting his head to light the cigarette.

He took a drag and then smiled.

"Do you provide 'comprehensive services' for every client?"

"Absolutely. The client is king, after all."

"Then why don't you call me that?”

Penelope's eyes twinkled as she playfully tugged on his tie. "How about I call you that tonight? In bed?"

Theodore shot her a look and took another deep drag from his cigarette.

"I like a good bargain, but I don't like being taken for a ride. Remember that."

He turned and walked away just as Penelope's smile finally broke into a grin. Before he left, Harold brought her a lunch voucher.

She got into the car and had the driver take her directly to the restaurant.

"This is the most exclusive restaurant on the island," the driver informed her. "It's usually impossible to get a reservation."

Penelope looked at the voucher in her hand. Theodore did have a conscience, after all.

The restaurant was set within sprawling, magnificent grounds. Walking through it felt like entering an enchanted garden, with flowers gazebos, umque aure, fush green lawns, and even a small rice paddy. sŵnovel

As she was admiring the scenery, she ran into Zebulon and Rebecca again. They

were walking and talking with the female official from breakfast.

The woman was captivated, remarking on how beautiful the place was.

"It's very difficult to get a table here," Rebecca said proudly. "Luckily, Zebulon knows the owner, so they were able to squeeze us in."

"Mr. Sullivan must move in elite circles, then. I imagine you know quite a few influential people," the woman said with a sly smile.

Zebulon puffed up with pride. "I do have a fairly wide circle of friends."

"Perhaps you could introduce me to some of them sometime?" Rebecca suggested smoothly.

"That would be wonderful. I do so love making new friends."

"Ms. Laurier, I've reviewed the

revision points you sent over. I'let

make the changes as soon as get back and send the new version to you immediately." . to

"No rush," the woman said breezily. "With me pulling some strings on the inside,

this project is guaranteed to be yours."

"That's fantastic news."

Penelope was speechless. Even if they hadn't figured out the woman was a fraud; that last statement should have been a massive red flag. A project this important to the company wasn't something one person could just rubber-stamp.

Where were their brains?

Zebulon and Rebecca finally spotted her, and their faces soured. They clearly assumed she had followed them.