Chapter 131

When Penelope returned from the restroom, Mrs. Winters was gone. A text message lit up her phone.
“Penelope, something came up. Don’t wait for me.”
A small smile played on Penelope’s lips. It looked like there would be more drama waiting for her when she got home. But first, she had to stop by Dr. Olson’s for her medicine.
On the way, Nathan called. There was a problem at the mall development site, and they needed more time from Zenith Group for the preliminary phase.
Penelope immediately pulled the car over. “What kind of problem?”
“We had a deal to buy the electronics megastore next to the mall to convert it into an entertainment complex. The price was agreed upon, the contract was drafted, but minutes before signing today, they backed out.”
“I asked you about this before. You told me the contract was signed!”
“It was supposed to be. The owner got into a minor car accident on the way to the signing that day, so we postponed for a couple of days. I didn’t think it would be an issue, but now they’ve changed their minds.”
Penelope took a deep breath. “You know our partnership with Zenith was finalized late. They’ve already broken ground and have deliberately slowed their pace to wait for us. If we can’t meet their timeline, the losses will be enormous.”
“I know. This is my mistake.”
This wasn’t the time for blame. “I’ll handle Zenith Group,” she said after a moment’s thought. “Your job is to acquire that electronics store, no matter the cost.”
“Understood.” Content orıginally comes from.net
As she drove to Dr. Olson’s clinic, Penelope racked her brain for a way to approach Zenith Group. They didn’t have much leverage; Zenith had plenty of other options. It wasn’t a partnership of equals. One wrong move, and they could be kicked off the project entirely.
Tap, tap…
The sound of someone knocking on her window startled her. She turned to see Dr. Olson, his hands cupped around his eyes as he peered into her car.
Penelope smiled and opened the door from her side. “It’s me.”
Dr. Olson didn’t look surprised. “I know it’s you.”
“You knew?”
“Who else driving a sports car would ever visit my shabby little clinic?”
She walked over to him, grinning. “But you’re a miracle worker that even money can’t buy. Anyone lucky enough to be treated by you must have done good deeds for three lifetimes to earn such a blessing.”
“It’s funny,” he mused. “Some people open their mouths and sweeten the air. Others can poison you with a single word.”
“Are you talking about Theodore?”
“He said my clinic has looked the same for decades because I look less like a doctor and more like… like someone who sells rat poison!”
Pfft!
Penelope tried to stifle her laugh but failed. The description was just too accurate, Dr. Olson shot her a glare and stomped back inside. Dressed in his traditional white coat, with his balding head and signature gray beard, he didn’t exactly scream “miracle worker.”
The old doctor had already prepared her medicine. He heated up a bowl and set it
in front of her. “Your husband said you’re untrustworthy and have no integrity, so I have to watch you drink it.”
Just as he was about to sit down and supervise, another patient arrived, and he went to attend to them.
Penelope let out a small huff, then had an idea. She took out her phone and started a video call with
Theodore. He answered after a few rings. He was somewhere that looked messy, leaning against a brick wall and smoking.
“What is it?” he asked, exhaling a cloud of smoke.
He had a face that could have belonged to a serene scholar or a graceful deity,
yet he always wore a scowl, spoke with a sharp tongue, and the rare smile he offered was always dripping with sarcasm.