"Then... you’re going to keep owing . Penny, I don’t want you to owe , but if that’s the only way to keep you away from him and the Pierson family, then you’ll keep owing . And I’ll make sure you do."
A glint flickered across Dean’s eyes as he slowly drew his head away, holding her sharp gaze. He watched as the corner of her lips twisted lightly into an incensed smirk.
"A threat," she remarked. "Right in my territory."
"This place is never your territory."
"It is, and if not, it will be." Penny took a step, chin high, eyes still locked with his. "Dean Pierson, you’re going to great lengths to stop from helping Zoren Pierson. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you so passionate over sothing."
"I told you." Dean lifted his cast arm mildly. "Do you know where I got this cast? Not long ago, from an accident orchestrated by my own family. Why? Because I am Dean Pierson, and I exist. Do you know who else got hurt? My driver. He was in critical condition while his wife and children took care of him, dreading every second that his heart would stop."
He lowered his head as his eyelids drooped. "He got hurt just because he was around at the wrong ti and in the wrong place. You’d be him if you linger here, Penny."
After speaking, Dean took a step back and exhaled slowly. He kept his sharp gaze on her, running his tongue along his cheek.
"Please," he breathed out. "Don’t get hurt just because you’re in the wrong place at the wrong ti."
Another wave of silence fell between them for a mont, eyes never leaving each other. A while later, Dean shook his head as he moved away, hands raised at his sides.
"Just making sure you’re okay, and I’m glad you are," he said. "That person who attacked your brother will never see the light of day again."
The corner of his lips curled up, his eyes flickering before he turned his back on her. After taking only three steps, he stopped when Penny spoke.
"It’s not that I hate you, Dean," said Penny, staring at his back with an arched brow. "It’s just that... your very presence makes uncomfortable. That’s the only thing I always feel around you—perhaps anger as well."
"Fine. Do what you want to do," she added, watching him glance back at her. "However, no amount of debt would make go back now. It’s not like I have a choice anymore."
"What does that an?"
"It ans get out of that damn door and leave alone," she replied in a matter-of-factly. "I appreciate the constant warnings and worry, but throw another threat my way again and you’ll see what I do. Who knows? I might suddenly decide to beco your aunt."
"Penny, you—"
She jerked her chin towards the door. "Now, off you go, and the next ti you want to see , set up an appointnt. You have Yugi’s number, right?"
Dean scoffed, knowing what that ant. Going through Yugi for an appointnt with Penny? That guy disliked him with every fiber of his being. Yugi would make that arrangent next year, or never.
"Fine," he scoffed once more, backing down. "But I’ll stand by what I said. Sit back, relax, and watch the show."
After uttering his final piece, Dean didn’t stop from leaving her office. Once he closed the door behind him, the fierce look on her face twisted into anger. Penny knocked her knuckles against the surface of the desk, huffing to release the tension swelling in her chest.
"That guy really knows how to press my buttons," she grumbled, sitting down and picking up her phone. After tapping the screen aggressively to write soone a ssage, she put her phone down. Her sharp eyes shot at the door, glinting dangerously.
"Dean Pierson... that guy is always like a splinter in my throat that, no matter what I do, he sticks there," she whispered, leaning back, her eyes glossing over the piles of papers waiting for her attention. "Now, I’m no longer in the mood."
*
*
*
Later that day...
"Woah..." Hugo blinked, sitting on a bench, watching his sister sprint on the treadmill. Her legs almost looked like wheels with how fast she was going.
Earlier, he had received a ssage from Penny telling him she wanted to hit the gym. But it seed she hadn’t invited him to work out today or bond with him but to vent years of pent-up anger. They’d finished their routine, and he had even indulged her in a sparring match, but apparently, that wasn’t enough, and she was still going at it.
"Well," Hugo shrugged, watching his sister finish.
It took another ten minutes for Penny to slam the ergency stop on the treadmill. She walked over to him and took a seat beside him.
"Feeling calr now?" he asked, tossing her a bottle of water.
Penny caught it, her breathing heavy, and opened the lid to take a few mouthfuls. Once satisfied, she exhaled and wiped her mouth with her arm.
"Why are you acting like a man?" he asked, tossing her a small towel to wipe herself. As deftly as she caught the bottle, Penny wiped her forehead and neck. "Did you have a fight?"
"With Zoren? No." She glanced at him, relaxing her legs as she stretched them out. The physical strain had a calming effect, relieving so of the anger she had to suppress just to get through her workday.
This intense workout reminded her of how she used to exercise in her previous life. Even though she rarely had ti in her first life, she would still visit the gym or run on the track for an hour or more when overwheld with emotion.
It had been a while since she worked out for the sa reason.
"Then who?" asked Hugo again. "Soone made you angry, for sure."
Penny faced her second brother and sighed. "Soone insignificant, but at the sa ti, the kind of nuisance I can’t seem to shake off."
"Like a fly?"
"Mhm." She nodded. "Like a fly who always cos back no matter how you tried to shoo it away. Just as annoying as that one."
Hugo grinned from ear to ear until his eyes were squinting. "Want to take care of him? My other profession is that I’m actually a professional fly swatter. I can take care of him if you want."
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