Chapter 390
“Why haven’t you been over these past few days?” he asked, a hint of complaint in his voice.
Penelope secretly stuck her tongue out. She’d been so focused on dealing with Mrs. Bishop that she had inadvertently neglected him. But she would never admit that. Instead, she turned the tables. “You didn’t come looking for me, either. Did you even miss me p>
“Hmph. So I’ve been talking to a pig on the phone every night p>
Penelope immediately made a few oinking sounds, and just like that, Theodore’s frustration melted away. While it was true he’d called her every night, she had been exhausted from juggling work and her schemes against Mrs. Bishop, often falling asleep just moments into their conversations.
“I want more,” she whispered, tracing a finger across his chest.
Theodore responded instantly, his hands gripping her waist, ready for more mischief.
“There’s not enough room to stretch out in here. It’s uncomfortable,” she added.
“Then come back with me p>
“But we’re right at my front door p>
“Don’t even think about it p>
“I was even going to offer you my special services p>
“Hmph p>
An idea sparked in Penelope’s mind. She quickly straightened her clothes, pushed open the door, and got out of the car.
“I guess you’ll just have to miss out then p>
With that, she strode toward the house.
She had almost reached the front door when Theodore finally caught up, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into a fierce kiss. He followed her inside.
The next morning, Penelope brought Theodore down to have breakfast with Mr. Johnson. The older man was so overjoyed he couldn’t stop beaming, eating two extra bowls of porridge and lingering reluctantly before leaving for work.
“Theo, I’ll make your favorite fried chicken for dinner tonight, how about that p>
Theodore paused, then looked directly at his father and replied earnestly, “The West Mountain Resort is having its grand opening today and the first group of guests is checking in. There’s a gala tonight, so Penelope and I won’t be home for dinner p>
Mr. Johnson’s face split into a wide grin. Dinner didn’t matter. What mattered was that his son was talking to him again.
After Mr. Johnson left, Penelope called her assistant to let her know she wouldn’t be in the office.
“I’m attending the gala with you. What do I need to do to prepare?” As the new Mrs. Stapleton, this was part of her duties, but she was still inexperienced.
“The event is planned, but there will inevitably be unexpected situations that need handling p>
Those situations were unpredictable, requiring Penelope to think on her feet.
The West Mountain Resort was Zenith Group’s flagship project, a decade in the making. It had always been championed by the elder Mrs. Stapleton, but for the grand opening, she had stepped aside, letting Theodore take the lead. The message was clear: a changing of the guard was underway. From this day forward, Theodore-the heir groomed with all the Stapleton family’s resources-was at the helm of Zenith Group.
For Penelope, as the new Mrs. Stapleton, attending this event by his side was a powerful statement, solidifying her own position within the family.
After breakfast, they headed to the resort. The first wave of guests included dignitaries and socialites from every field, all personally invited by the Stapleton family to be the first to experience the resort’s services.
The moment they stepped out of the car, they were surrounded. Everyone in the business world wanted to be on good terms with Zenith Group, making Theodore the man of the hour.
While the men flocked to Theodore, the women gravitated toward Penelope. She greeted them all with a smile that was both humble and self-assured, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with the various wives and daughters.
Just as the atmosphere reached a lively peak, another car pulled up. Donald, Mrs. Bishop, and Yvonne emerged. Donald escorted Yvonne aver to Theodore’s group where Yvonne positioned herself at Theodore’s side as if she were his wife.