The Pierson Corporation was one of the sponsors of an upcoming hacking competition, which would be hosted by the Pri Group next week. This event was a joint project between the two companies, stemming from their initial agreent when Penny took Zoren Pierson as her client.
The competition aid to demonstrate the security of their prototypes and recruit geniuses in the field of hacking. That was why Penny had co to Pierson Corporation—for a detailed briefing on the contest.
And after that... ti for so leisure.
***
[Pierson Corporation: CEO’s Office]
Penny narrowed her eyes as she sat in a long seat, tilting her head slightly. Across from her, Zoren and Atlas took note of her expression.
"Penny," Atlas called, snapping her out of her thoughts. "What are you thinking? You’re zoning out."
Zoren’s eyes glead with curiosity, also wondering what had caused her sudden lapse.
"Uh." Penny ran her tongue across her inner cheek. "I just noticed sothing earlier... that guy."
"Who?" Atlas furrowed his brows. "There were a lot of guys in the eting."
"Finn!" she exclaid. "That guy is acting really suspicious."
"Suspicious?"
"Yep!" Penny nodded. "Not long ago, he was stressing over everything. But today? He was just... smiling. Like he woke up with rainbows and sunshine in front of him!"
Atlas: "??" — he hadn’t noticed.
Zoren, on the other hand, pondered her words. Now that Penny ntioned it, he realized she was right. Just last night, Finn had made a distress call, clearly in a terrible mood. Given that, one would expect him to be tense today.
And yet, Finn had been in high spirits—so much so that he had actively engaged in Penny’s presentation.
"Sothing happened for sure. Besides, the family dinner is this weekend, but he didn’t seem stressed about it at all," Penny narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "And I think I should find out."
"Stop poking your nose where it doesn’t belong," Atlas cut in, sliding a folder across the coffee table toward her. "Focus."
Penny raised a brow, then picked up the file. But just as she opened it, she glanced away and spoke.
"But—"
"Penny." Atlas’s voice was firm. "Focus."
"Fine." Penny rolled her eyes. "What is this, anyway? As far as I know, I’m only here for tea ti with you guys before heading to Miller’s Company to check on Dad, Uncle Haines... maybe Theo Miller, too."
As she spoke, her eyes fell on the docunt. Much to her dismay, it contained a case file—with graphic cri scene photos.
"What the—"
"It’s from one of the most infamous unsolved cases of the past decade," Atlas stated flatly. "I’ve been studying it, and I’d like you to take a look. I’ve marked a few points where the perpetrator made mistakes—so we can avoid them."
"..." Penny stared at the first page before lifting her gaze to Atlas. Her mouth opened, but no words ca out.
"This is for your own murder?" Zoren, equally surprised, asked Atlas. The latter nodded.
"First Brother, are you serious?"
"Do I look like I’m joking?" Atlas responded, his tone deadpan. He glanced between Penny and Zoren. "Once we’re certain the threats to our family are eliminated, we’ll proceed. We have ti to plan and prepare."
Zoren and Penny exchanged looks before turning back to Atlas. They wanted to tell him it was unnecessary, that Penny wasn’t truly serious about it—just like how she wasn’t serious about crashing that plane.
But knowing Atlas, this conversation would only drag on.
"Uh..." Penny rocked her head from side to side, then leaned back and shrugged. "Oh, well."
In the end, neither she nor Zoren argued. They knew that once Atlas set his mind on sothing, no one could talk him out of it.
***
As much as Penny wanted to idle with her husband and first brother, she had other matters to attend to. After finishing her tea, she reluctantly bid them farewell.
Zoren would have walked her out, but she insisted Atlas do it instead.
Zoren only agreed because she coquettishly winked at him.
In the elevator heading to the parking lot, Penny and Atlas stood side by side. She kept sneaking glances at him while he stared straight ahead.
"First Brother, are you really going to help ... sin?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
Atlas finally cast her a sidelong glance.
"I made you a promise," he said simply. "And I always keep my word."
"But you really don’t have to — ahem!" She stopped when he just looked at her. "Oh, well."
"I’m not trying to change your mind," he continued, eyes still on the elevator doors. "I know what I did in the past. Even if you’ve moved on, it doesn’t change the fact that you went through hell because of . Even if I didn’t do those things in this life, the damage was already done."
Slowly, Atlas turned to face her. "I’m not trying to die, Penny. I know this plan will fail in the end—because you won’t let it happen. But it’s the only thing that eases my anger and disappointnt in myself."
His gaze locked with hers.
"Because, until now, I have no idea how to make up for everything that’s happened," he added. "I don’t even know what I feel about it. All I know is that I can’t just sit here and do nothing."
Penny pressed her lips into a thin line, unable to look away from him. After a mont, the corner of her mouth hooked up in a smirk. She tilted her head slightly.
"Sotis... I wish you’d just cry," she quipped before snapping her gaze to the floor numbers above the door. She smacked her lips mildly, then looked back at him. "I sent a file to your office—a confidential one, even Allen shouldn’t know about it. It’s always nice chatting with you, First Brother. You don’t have to walk to my car."
DING!
With that, Penny quickly turned on her heel and walked out of the elevator.
Atlas remained standing alone until the doors slowly slid shut again.
"...I also wish I could just cry it all out," he whispered. "But I am... the eldest."
Reviews
All reviews (0)