Chapter 65
“Of course not! I don’t know how the strap just broke p>
Penelope rushed to explain, then remembered. In the banquet hall, when Zebulon had grabbed her shoulder, she had struggled to get free. The strap must have been damaged then, only to break at the most inopportune moment.
“That’s hardly an original move p>
“So you think I’m trying to seduce you p>
Theodore glanced down at where her hand was covering her chest, a mocking smirk playing on his lips.
Penelope’s face flushed. “You saw p>
“Didn’t you want me to p>
“No p>
“Really p>
Her mind went blank with anger. “You… since you saw, you have no right to lie! I’m clearly… impressive p>
A chuckle escaped Theodore’s lips. “Then I must not have gotten a good look p>
“Hmph p>
“Perhaps I should take a closer look now p>
“Pervert p>
Penelope glared at him, her eyes welling up with frustration. He laughed again, a low, magnetic rumble that started in his chest and sent a shiver through her. The man was dangerously handsome, a true heartbreaker.
Shaking her head to clear it, she tried to look down and fix the strap. But they were so close that when she lowered her head, her forehead bumped against his chin.
Startled, she stumbled backward, her heel catching on something. With a small cry, she grabbed his shoulders to steady herself, causing the dress to slip again.
Theodore’s eyes darkened. “And you still say it wasn’t intentional p>
At this point, anything she said would sound like a lie. “Just… just turn your head away!” she pleaded, her voice a little too dramatic.
He didn’t, because he didn’t need to. The height difference was enough that he could just look straight ahead.
“Clear sky, bright moon,” he mused. “Not a bad choice of words p>
Penelope, tumbling with the broken strap, froze. Her eyes widened. He had heard her? Of course, He was only wearing one earbud. And she d been about to repeat her whole pitch like an idiot.
With no needle and thread, she could only try to tie the strap back onto the dress,
but it was a clumsy, difficult task. She tied it once, but it came undone as soon as she tugged it.
Just then, she smelled smoke.
Looking up, she saw Theodore had
lit a cigarette. He took a long drag
then slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke. The smoke swirled around
his face, obscuring his ethereal
beauty and replacing it with
something raw and untamed.
“Can I borrow your cigarette p>
“What?” He looked down at her, confused.
Without explaining, Penelope plucked the glowing cigarette from his lips, used the burning tip to singe a small hole in the fabric of her dress, and then placed it back between his lips.
Theodore was momentarily stunned,
then a slow smile spread across his face. He continued to smoke, anc when he heard footsteps
approaching, he pulled her closer, shielding her more completely.
With the hole, Penelope was able to thread the strap through and tie a secure knot. It was uneven and the knot was obvious, but it would hold.
As she fretted over her appearance, Theodore shrugged off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
She looked up, surprised. Understanding his gesture, she quickly said, “It’s okay, I’m fine like this p>
“Are you sure?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Penelope was about to say yes, but then a thought struck her. Returning his
jacket would give her another chance to see him.
An opportunity.
She clutched the jacket tighter.
“Mr. Stapleton, you’re too kind. As I was saying about our companies collaborating p>
“Three minutes p>
“What three minutes p>
“When you return this jacket, I will give you three minutes to make your case for why our companies should work together,” Theodore said, tilting his head with a slight smile.
Penelope’s eyes lit up. This was far better than the rambling speech he’d barely listened to. A guaranteed three minutes was solid gold.
“Deal p>