"This? This is a re distraction."
"A distraction?" one gentleman blurted out, looking at everyone who was just as confused as him. They all turned to Hayley, brows furrowed. "What do you an by that, Miss Rogers?"
Hayley smiled. "I an it literally. Like Miss Penny said, we’re all on the sa ship. Pri Group experts are already working to keep all of your data safe. And while they do, Miss Penny has to distract this person nad X."
"Oh." Hearing this, the n breathed out in near-relief. They looked at each other, wiping the sweat from their foreheads.
"So, all this ti, this is just a distraction while Pri Group works to secure our data?"
"I knew it! Penelope already had a plan laid out."
"Miss Rogers, if that’s true, then why didn’t she say so earlier?" another man, still skeptical, raised his voice. "Was it necessary to shake us like that? She should’ve told us, so we wouldn’t be so terrified of the situation!"
Hayley offered a calm smile. "If Miss Penny had done that, it would’ve tipped off the enemy about the extra paraters Pri Group has in place. By now, I’m sure you’ve realized X is listening. That’s why we had to get you all in here — this place is safer."
Listening to her, the n exchanged glances again. There were still lingering doubts, but many clung to the relief the explanation provided.
"I believe in Penelope," one of the gentlen — the sa one who helped her during her early years — nodded. "She’s young, but she has the wisdom of soone twice her age. Maybe more."
"That’s true. Miss Bennet has always been the type to fix problems."
"If Pri Group is already working, then I guess I shouldn’t worry too much! Hahaha! I thought I was about to have a heart attack just now!"
"Let’s just go back to our seats."
"I guess I need to practice more patience," another one murmured, heading back to his chair.
Hayley’s words had eased much of their anxiety. Knowing Pri Group was already in action gave them hope. anwhile, a few others still looked conflicted. Eventually, one of them spoke up.
"Then, please let us know what’s going on down there," he said. "Even if Pri Group is behind the scenes, I still want to understand why Penelope stopped those kids."
"I’ll be back," Hayley said, bowing her head slightly and maintaining her composed deanor. Once everyone had settled, she turned toward the door. On her way out, she shot a look at Shawn, who quickly followed.
Once outside, Shawn turned to her.
"I didn’t know Pri Group was already working behind the scenes," he said quietly, eyes on her profile. "Did Teddy tell you that?"
Hayley didn’t react. "No."
"What?"
"I had to stop them from interfering," she whispered, facing him directly. "That’s our job — to make sure the guests don’t second-guess their partnership with Pri Group while Miss Penny and Sir Yugi handle things. Most importantly, we make sure none of these guests would have a heart attack."
Shawn’s mouth dropped. He instinctively grabbed her arm, whispering through clenched teeth. "You lied to them?"
"I didn’t have a choice," Hayley said. "If lying minimizes the damage tonight, I’ll lie a hundred more tis. I want to keep this job."
She pulled her arm free. "Stay here and make sure they’re happy. I don’t care if you have to dance naked — just get the job done."
With that, Hayley walked away to check the situation downstairs.
Shawn stood there in stunned silence, watching her go.
"This isn’t the office job I was expecting," he muttered. Then, recalling the look on Hayley’s face, he sighed. "I don’t know how to lie with a straight face like she does... but there’s a first ti for everything."
---
[Main Hall]
When Hayley arrived and approached the side of the stage, her brows furrowed. Her eyes darted between the teams while Penny stood, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"What’s going on?" Hayley asked, stopping beside Teddy and Patricia. "Why did she stop them?"
"Why are you down here?" Teddy asked instead of answering.
"If I didn’t co, so paranoid elderly gentlen would’ve," she replied flatly. "So, what’s happening here?"
"I wouldn’t be asking myself the sa thing if I knew," Teddy muttered.
"No one knows yet," Patricia added with difficulty. "I feel like I’m going to faint—"
"SHUT. THE. FUCK. UP."
Every sound in the hall imdiately cut off at Penny’s voice. Teddy, Patricia, and Hayley instinctively shut their mouths. Though Penny wasn’t talking to them, her tone made it clear — silence was mandatory.
Moreover, they had seen that look before — the sa one she wore when she trespassed into soone’s private ward.
Penny exhaled and approached the nearest computer. She leaned in, eyes fixed on the screen. She studied everything in silence, so of the players frowning in frustration.
"Miss Penny, even if you look, you won’t understand," soone said. "There’s no need to pretend."
"Shut up!" one of his teammates snapped at him, then turned to Penny. "Miss Penelope, I can explain what’s happening."
The player stepped forward. "This part here shows that our defenses are under attack. We’ve charted the progress of the viruses, and right now, he’s about to breach the next wall."
"Miss Penny, please — let us work now!"
"What is she doing? Does she actually understand it?" people in the audience began murmuring again. "Their second-to-last defense is already compromised."
"Is she just trying to save face?"
"She might represent Pri Group, but this is ridiculous. Not everyone there can code."
"This is so disappointing... painful to watch."
Hearing all the judgntal whispers, Hayley, Teddy, and Patricia clenched their fists. They held back their anger, knowing responding would only worsen the situation.
"Miss Penelope, I don’t think—" the person explaining stopped abruptly when he saw Penny looking back at him.
"I got it," Penny said flatly, nodding.
Before anyone could say anything else, X’s voice returned through the speakers:
[Penelope Bennet, have you given up now, little kitten? HAHAHA!]
"Given up?" Penny scoffed, running her tongue across her inner cheek. "Not even close."
She turned sharply, scanning the side of the stage.
"Ted, go to Yugi and tell him... send Citadel."
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