Penelope got out to the living room when she heard her father talking to someone.
"Thank you Mr Watson"
"Of course"
Just as suspected,she saw that man in their living room,seems he was just about leaving but at the notice of her,he passed a smile which she didn't reciprocate.
"Dad,what was that all about?"
She asked.
"Oh sweetheart, you're here"
"What was he doing here?"
"He'll be back later tonight to take you out"
She frowned at his words.
What was he talking about.
"Take me_what do you mean?"
She was confused.
"You'll be having dinner with him tonight"
He smiled but Penelope seemed to be doing the opposite.
"Dad,wha_what do you mean dinner"
She asked perplexed cause even though she just heard what he said,she was having a hard time understanding it.
"He came to ask you out the other day didn't he,so tonight he asked if he could take you to dinner,and I said yes"
"Without even asking if I'd agree"
"If you'd agree?"
He asked with a slight frown as though confused at her words.
"Why wouldn't you?"
He chuckled.
"Did you forget I'm in a relationship dad!"
"Relationship,with who, Leon,the carpenter?"
He asked amused.
"He's not a carpenter!"
She yelled annoyed.
He wasn't a carpenter per say, although the company he owned made furniture and other wooden items.
They had a very complicated relationship where they saw rarely or barely about just three to four times each year and to be honest,she really didn't understand how she never got angry at him whenever he returned after not contacting her for so long, it was very complicated.
"Listen here young lady"
Her father's soft tone got mislay.
"You will go in,pick a dress,get ready and when he's here,you will go out with him,am I understood"
He had a one in a million chance of something going on for him here and he wouldn't let her ruin it for him.
"Dad.."
"I said I'm I understood?"
He asked firmly and could see the hurt which crossed her eyes before she walked off angrily.
He sighed looking blankly ahead,he understood she was upset with his decision now but he was doing this not to hurt her,they needed this,she would understand,he would make her understand.
Evening came and just as timed,the awaited man of the hour came to take his date to dinner but sadly,she wouldn't come out.
"I'm so sorry, penny has always been this way, always late, I'll_ill go get her"
Peter said nervously directing him to sit while he goes to get his stubborn daughter.
"Penny"
He banged against her door but she wouldn't open.
"Penny,common, out"
But she wouldn't open.
He sighed,he should've known she'd do this.
"Penny.."
His voice softened down.
"Honey please open up..."
He asked softly but she still didn't open.
Silence followed as he left her door but moments after,he came back, using his spare key,he opened the door and saw her sitting on the bed,her legs crutched up and her chin placed against her knees.
"Honey"
He went to sit beside her.
"Look.."
He began but sighed instead.
"I understand you're upset and you think I'm doing this because.."
"Because he's rich isn't it?"
She cut him off,her voice pained.
"Penny"
He called moving closer.
"You know I love you right?"
He asked but she didn't reply.
"But I also love the rest of our family too, think about Ana, once her tuition expires for this season and not paid in time what then"
He paused letting the information sink in.
"She'll have to come home,your brother has no job and your mother.."
His voice turning sulk.
This time, Penelope's attention turned to him,a frown between her brows.
"Even though her surgery was successful, she'll still need to be based on treatments which are even more expensive than her surgical fees, medical aids and special needs which we can't afford even a months,so now tell me"
"M_mom's Still sick?"
Penelope asked once everything her father just said settled into her head.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"What was I to say when there was little to nothing you both would be able to do"
.
.
Penelope came out and saw the man who had come earlier for her. He was sitted on their couch and from his sitting posture,one could tell he had been waiting for a long while, he was fondling something against his palm,he looked like a child waiting for their mother.
She walked in but he was so engrossed in whatever he was drawing against his palm with his finger that he didn't notice her.
"Eh-hem" she coughed drawing his attention and at once,he looked up but then paused,and remained so, like the time around him stopped.
"Are we going or you're just going to stare?"
"Can I do both?"
.
.
They got to the restaurant which at first glance, Penelope thought the restaurant they would go to was after the large hotel in front of them but got shocked when she realized the building before them WAS the restaurant.
They walked in and Penelope could feel her knees growing weak as she stared,her eyes wandering at each corner but when she realised few eyes on her,she acted with elegance so as to not embarrass herself.
Even though she didn't like it,the hand which Dorian placed around her waist as they walked in helped her not to lose her footing else she was certain she would have tripped herself.
The people in here didn't look like ordinary people, they looked like Hollywood stars and the likes.
Once they were sitted,the waiter was quick to approach them, asking what their orders would be.
Most of the foods on the menu,she barely recognised them but once her eyes settled on the ones she was familiar with,she ordered them, although her eyes didn't miss the prizes.
These People were thieves I tell you.
"And for you sir?"
The waiter asked Dorian.
"I'll have what she ordered"
His voice didn't sound present and his eyes never left her all these while,it was as though she was the only one he could see.
Refreshments were placed in front of them before their orders would be brought.
Moments more, Penelope felt the silence eating her up and his scrutinizing stare wasn't making it any better,she swallowed.
"You said you want me to be with you right?"
She asked after moments more and a change could be seen in Dorian's expression,a look of curiosity.
"Fine"
Her response amused him but she kept going
"But on a condition"
She paused.
"I need you to help my family" her voice didn't sound commanding,rather,it softened down sounding almost pleading and when he didn't respond,she panicked.
"Please.."
"I will" he cut her off. He didn't need her to say a word,he would do it, although he knew she agreed to come with him cause of what her father had told her as he had heard bits of their convo but nevertheless,she could use him for all the wealth he had,he didn't mind, as long as she agreed to be with him.
"And for your mother,you don't have to worry" he assured knowing how much she worried for her mom.
"I'll make sure her after Medications are provided, she'll be fine once she out of her comma"
He explained but this only got Penelope confused,how did he know her mother would need after Medications and ...
Did he,wait,her head began to put two and twos together,the hospital patient he had come to see was no other than her mom,then did that mean.
"Y_you paid her bill?"
She asked but it sounded more like a statement than a question and his silence gave her the answer she needed.
she looked down at the table feeling guilty.
He had done all that and was even promising to do more . She felt ashamed at herself and sad not for herself,but for him.
"Thank you" a little voice came out.
"Don't say, everything I own is yours so don't ever thank me,if anything,I should thank you,for existing"
She looked at him surprised. Was he really that deep interested in her.
How could he thank her just for existing.
"Have you thought about it?"
His voice pulled her out of her thought.
"You said you'd need a day,it's been a day"
His words were followed by her silence.
Moments more but she still didn't give a response.
"Do you need another day"
Dorian felt like giving himself a slap once those words left his mouth. He wasn't sure he could go another day away from her.
She didn't reply for a while more but then did.
"No,I already thought about it"
She paused and silence echoed
",I agree"
Was all she said to have Dorian smiling like a clown.
No one could relate to how happy her response got him.
Soon,their meal arrived and halfway through their food, Penelope accidentally spilled a drink on herself.
"It's okay,it's only a drink"
He said when he saw how she panicked.
"Where can I clean off?"
"Right through that hall"
He directed with a point of his finger and his response got him a look from Penelope,he was quite familiar with the place which would mean he had been here before,if so then with who?
"Will you need help?"
"No no"
She was quick to say when she saw he was about getting up.
She walked through the direction he showed her and thankfully,the hall led to only two directions so it was easy to follow through.
She was yet to get to the bathroom when she felt Something odd,it was a familiar feeling and she recognized where she had felt so before,it was at the hospital that day.
The feeling grew intense that she just had to see if someone was behind her and just as suspected,there was a man trailing behind her.
Her heart skipped a beat almost immediately but then she calmed herself down, perhaps he was heading to the bathroom as well.
Stop overthinking Penelope.
She kept walking but when the feeling grew stronger,she stopped and turned around and supposedly,her eyes met with his,he was looking straight at her.
"Excuse me?"
She asked but he just walked past her into the second bathroom which was most likely for men.
Giving a breath of relief,she walked into the second bathroom.
She got her dress cleaned and washed her face, cleaning it with a disposable cloth when she heard the door click and when she looked,she froze in place at the sight of that man,his eyes were of a different color and sharp white teeth shot from each sides of his mouth.
A loud scream filled the room as she yelled and before she could discern anything else,she saw a hand come around his neck and with a tight squeeze,she heard a snap of bones and the man before her disintegrated into a light smidder of dust,not a single drop of blood present as he ceased to exist.
"Wh_ho_wha.."
"There's something I need to tell you"
Dorian said as he approached her and grabbed her hand leading her out but her brain was yet to understand what just happened before her eyes.