The Year I Was the Other Woman To Myself novel Chapter 85

Penelope went rigid. What was wrong with him?

“You—”

“One of the officials wants to set me up with his daughter.”

“…”

“It was an awkward position, so I had Harold call you over.”

Penelope’s mind raced. So there was no important file. He had just invented an excuse to get her here for this little performance.

“You could have just told me. You didn’t have to trick me.”

“And you would have come?”

“Of course. As long as you agree to hear my proposal…”

“You see? There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

“And you can’t expect a free lunch all the time, either.”

“I’ll take one whenever I can get one. I love a good bargain.”

As he spoke, he released her.

Penelope glanced over her shoulder and, sure enough, saw an older official shaking his head as he walked away.

She turned back to Theodore, who now had a cigarette dangling from his lips but was patting his pockets, unable to find a lighter.

Instantly, Penelope fished one out of her own pocket, flicked it on, and held the flame out to him with a sycophantic smile.

“You see? My uses extend beyond being a human shield. I can provide comprehensive services.”

Theodore leaned down slightly, tilting his head to light the cigarette.

He took a drag and then smiled.

“Do you provide ‘comprehensive services’ for every client?”

“Absolutely. The client is king, after all.”

“Then why don’t you call me that?”

“Mr. Sullivan must move in elite circles, then. I imagine you know quite a few influential people,” the woman said with a sly smile.

Zebulon puffed up with pride. “I do have a fairly wide circle of friends.”

“Perhaps you could introduce me to some of them sometime?” Rebecca suggested smoothly.

“That would be wonderful. I do so love making new friends.”

“Ms. Laurier, I’ve reviewed the revision points you sent over. I’ll make the changes as soon as I get back and send the new version to you immediately.”

“No rush,” the woman said breezily. “With me pulling some strings on the inside, this project is guaranteed to be yours.”

“That’s fantastic news.”

Penelope was speechless. Even if they hadn’t figured out the woman was a fraud, that last statement should have been a massive red flag. A project this important to the company wasn’t something one person could just rubber-stamp.

Where were their brains?

Zebulon and Rebecca finally spotted her, and their faces soured. They clearly assumed she had followed them.

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