Page 103 of Uncrowned

All I needed was for it to work once. I needed my message to get through to either Vaughn or The Order. And by the miracle that it did… I still wasn’t certain Vaughn would decipher my code. I had been here over a month. Surely, he hadn’t given up on trying to find me. Or maybe… maybe he believed the same thoughts that plagued me. Thoughts that belonged to my parents, not me.

You’re too weak, Penelope, too shy, too quiet, too stupid… Embarrassment.

No. Never again.

I scanned my finger down the date of the document, putting the stack back in the file and adding it to the growing mound on my desk. When I opened the next file, my office phone rang. I answered, confused.

“Hello?”

“Penny, it’s Marian. Are you bored out of your mind yet?”

I smiled. “It’s sort of therapeutic.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear your eyes haven’t fallen out of your head. Once Cassandra gets back with my coffee, I’m heading down to the ground level to grab a muffin from Martha’s. Do you want to go with me?”

Ground level…

“Yes. I’d love to. I am getting hungry, and I think I would like to stretch my legs.”

“Perfect. I’ll meet you in the lobby in a few minutes just outside of my office.”

I hung up, checking my phone. Shaking took over my hands as I stared down.

Delivered.

I could barely breathe, but from a mix of different emotions. This had to work. It had to. And if it didn’t, I’d deal with that then.

I pushed the phone in the pocket of my cardigan, heading down the hall that took me to the lobby. Marian was in a slate-colored pantsuit, tapping against the screen of her phone as if she were texting or writing an email. She glanced up, smiling big as I approached.

“You wouldn’t believe the morning I’ve had. Let’s head for the elevator.” Her cell rang and she immediately ended the call as we began to head to the lift. “Three companies have been on my father’s radar for years. This morning, I came up with a way to give him one on a silver platter. My plan was perfection. The execution would have gone down in the history books. Do you want to know what he told me?”

We got in the cart, and Marian pushed the button, throwing me a look.

“He said he’s changed his mind. He’s looking at going in a different direction now. Why, might you ask?”

I smiled at her look.

“Because it was me who came up with the idea. Me! Men. He’s jealous, but he won’t say that. I have landed every big deal in the last few years and he can’t stand it. He said this morning that he’s stepping back. But will he let me go after Henge Co.? No.”

“Damn. I’m sorry. That could have been big for you.”

“Legendary.” She sighed. “It’s fine. I’ll put it on the backburner for now, but mark my words, in time it will be mine. I’ve tasted the blood, Penelope. I know Henge’s weakness, and when I get the go, I’ll smash them like a bug.”

“Ew,” I laughed. “But brilliant.”

“Definitely brilliant. So, tell me about your day.”

“My day. Hmm. Well, you know, just filing. I like it. It calms me and gives me something to do.”

A ding sounded, and the doors opened. Marian and I headed through the large area. Random men and women walked through in their fancy business attire, and I’d never felt more underdressed. I pushed it away as I followed Marian to a small bakery that housed an array of different pastries. Two people were in line, and she turned to me as we waited.

“They have the best blueberry muffins. I’m totally addicted. I used to get scones, but lately it’s muffins. I think they put something in them that makes you keep coming back.”

“They’re that good?”

“Oh my God. Penny, just wait. They’re not just a treat. I’ve found that I’ve gotten into a routine. I’m addicted.” She looked at her watch, flashing it to me. “It’s almost two. Coffee, which I got upstairs, and my muffin. Two o’clock, every day. It never fails. I think something is wrong with me.”

We laughed and moved up in line. As she peered into the glass at the arrangement of different cakes, I searched the surroundings, taking in the people walking around. There was a determination on their faces. They knew where they were headed. It’s what had me pausing as I took in the dark-haired man towards the front desk, at the entrance. He was staring at me, talking to one of the guards, but barely showing them notice as his brows drew in. Surprise? Recognition?