Surprise was an understatent for what Penny felt when she heard the na of the person who was now Patricia’s problem. The world was vast, but apparently not vast enough for all of them to stay out of each other’s business.
"Finn’s ex-fiancée?" Penny repeated, raising a brow. "What happened?"
"I slapped her—I told you."
"And why did you do that?"
A look of surprise crossed Patricia’s face at Penny’s simple question. Though it was a natural question, it was the first ti soone had actually asked her why she did what she did. The Miller family loved Patricia, but they always sided with her, which was only natural for family. However, they never asked—especially her mother—why she acted the way she did.
They took her side no matter what. As a result, she had developed the habit of not explaining herself. Whether she was right or wrong didn’t really matter.
So, being asked that question now sent a wave of surprise through her.
"What?" Penny frowned slightly. "Don’t tell you’re not going to answer?"
"Uh, no." Patricia shook her head, massaging her nape as she tried to recall. "She’s annoying."
"That’s all?"
"No..."
"Do I have to keep repeating myself?"
Patricia cleared her throat and straightened her back. "It’s because of what she did in the past. All this ti, I was angry at my brother for making us study abroad—away from my friends—because he couldn’t handle the pressure of being in the Star Section. But today, I learned, while eavesdropping on my brother and that woman’s conversation, that it was her sche all along. She sent those girls to befriend so they could fra for sothing I didn’t do.
"My brother knew about it, and because he was afraid I’d get into huge trouble that could ruin my future, he begged our parents to send us abroad."
Patricia exhaled sharply. "I got so angry I lost control. I went to confront her, but my hand moved before I could even think. Although, I don’t regret slapping her—even if I go to prison for it," she added firmly. "Also, she was with Nina, so I dragged Nina away when I left. She got angry and slapped —that bitch!"
"Hey, that’s my sister," Penny interjected.
"Ahem!" Patricia cleared her throat and shrugged. "Don’t worry. I know your family has helped ours in ways that even a word of gratitude wouldn’t be enough, so I didn’t slap her back—even if I wanted to."
"She was with Nina, huh?"
"You should warn Nina not to get too close to that two-faced woman," Patricia warned, regaining her confidence as a defense chanism. "I saw how she threatened my brother—that twisted look on her face. I’m crazy, and you are too, but that woman? She’s diabolical. Sadistic."
She clicked her tongue, still annoyed that she had only been trying to protect Nina yet ended up getting slapped. "It’s not like I did it for fun, tch."
"Don’t worry about that anymore." Penny smiled at Patricia. "What you said is interesting, but that woman and her family wouldn’t dare make a move on the Miller Company. Although... they might press charges against you."
"I know that," Patricia sighed. "Anyway, thanks for listening. You should tighten security in this company. I just told them I work for your father, and they let in."
"That’s because they know the faces of the people who work for my father," Penny laughed, while Patricia’s brows rose. "Even so, I do wish they would stop letting people into my office so easily."
Her face soured at the thought—she still wasn’t used to unexpected visitors. And with Yugi often busy, he couldn’t keep handling assistant work to filter them out. That was supposed to be Benjamin’s and Allen’s job for Zoren and Atlas. Mark, who was usually on the floor, wouldn’t stop anyone unless they were unfamiliar, but he wasn’t here today because she had sent him on an errand when Atlas and Zoren dropped her off.
"What are you still doing?" Penny’s thoughts halted when she noticed Patricia was still standing there. "I thought you were leaving?"
"I thought you were going to say sothing more, so I was waiting."
"Just leave. I don’t like you."
"Tch. It’s not like I like you either." Patricia huffed and turned her back on Penny, marching toward the exit. She didn’t stop and quickly stepped out, closing the door behind her.
As soon as she did, Patricia walked away—but then she noticed the empty reception area, which also looked like a small office, right outside Penny’s office. She blinked, looking around the quiet floor.
"Even my father has a secretary despite not being the owner anymore," she mumbled, glancing back at Penny’s office. Just then, she recalled what Penny had mumbled earlier.
Walking back, she knocked three tis.
anwhile, Penny, still seated on the couch, glanced at the door. "Did Yugi co?" she wondered. But knowing him, he would knock and then open the door right after.
"Co in," she called out, her face twitching when Patricia peeked her head in. "You again? What is it this ti?"
"Penny, did you say you need an assistant?"
"Huh?"
Patricia pointed at herself. But her action only made Penny’s brows knit in confusion.
"What are you doing?" Penny asked. But Patricia just kept pointing at herself repeatedly, causing Penny to narrow her eyes. "Your face? Are you looking for a fight or what?"
Patricia sighed and rolled her eyes. "I said, can I apply?"
"..." Penny scrunched up her nose and laughed. "Get out."
"Tch." Patricia clicked her tongue and huffed. "Fine."
She turned to leave but stopped before closing the door. "But you have no one here!"
"Go." Penny waved dismissively. "Patricia, just go. You’re giving goosebumps. Even though I’m getting desperate for an assistant, I’m not hiring you. I’m not that crazy—I already have enough problems on my plate."
"But..." Patricia trailed off before sighing in defeat. "Alright then."
This ti, she finally left. But before she did, she idled in the reception area of the CEO’s floor, looking around. She even sat on the swivel chair, trying to get a feel for the little office that wasn’t even being used.
"What a waste of space," she muttered, pretending to type on the keyboard. "This makes feel like soone important. Haha."
---
anwhile, in the CEO’s office, Penny shuddered and rubbed her shoulders.
"What made her think I’d hire her as an assistant?" she muttered to herself. "Goodness. That woman really knows how to make people cringe."
Still, what Patricia had said was interesting. Today, Penny had learned that Jonathan was getting engaged—to the sa woman Patricia had slapped.
"For all her faults, I’ve never known Patricia to get physical with soone for no reason," she whispered, intrigue swirling in her eyes. "Cassandra... hmm? Why would Jonathan pick her in this lifeti?"
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