Chapter 193

Penelope’s eyes narrowed. Simon was clearly a petty man. Having lost their war of words, he was now looking for revenge.
“You organized this bachelor party, so are these girls yours?”
“They’re models from my agency.”
“Your sisters?”
Michael choked back a laugh. That was a joke even they wouldn’t dare make.
Simon’s face darkened another shade. He had clearly lost this round as well.
“But if you’re throwing a bachelor party for Theodore, why did you invite me? Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?” Penelope asked, turning to Michael.
Michael cleared his throat. “It’s because Theodore refused to come. We had to lure you here first so he’d have no choice but to show up.”
Penelope snorted. “So deceitful.”
No wonder Theodore had sounded strange on the phone. Still, hearing that he hadn’t wanted to come made her feel a little pleased. Newest update provıded by.net
Just then, music started blasting through the speakers. The women climbed out of the pool one by one, their bodies glistening with water, and began to dance. Their moves were sultry and provocative, quickly raising the temperature in the room. The men cheered wildly.
“Ms. Laurier, why don’t you get up there and show us a few moves?” Simon taunted, wiggling his eyebrows at her.
Penelope scoffed. “I can’t dance.”
“Can’t, or won’t?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“So you really can’t? Tsk, tsk. And here I thought Ms. Laurier was a woman of many talents. How else did you manage to capture our Theodore’s heart?”
His tone was dripping with sarcasm, a roundabout way of calling her untalented.
Penelope sighed. “It’s true, I don’t really have any talents. I’d rather not make a fool of myself.”
Simon covered his mouth with his hand, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
When the music stopped and the mušie
women returned to the pool, Simon shouted to the crowd, “Mrs.
Stapleton has just announced that she can’t sing, can’t dance, and has no talents whatsoever, so she won’t _be embarrassing herself tonight Let’s give a round of applause for her honesty!”
He started clapping, and the others joined in with jeers.
“Mrs. Stapleton is just being modest! It’s not that she has no talents, she probably
just looks down on us!”
“Exactly! Who are we to deserve a performance from Mrs. Stapleton?”
“Well, if she can’t, she can’t. I guess we’re just out of luck.”
Penelope clenched her fists. These men were insufferable. No wonder they were friends with Simon-they were all cut from the same cloth. The applause grew louder, and she was quickly being backed int corner.
“Ahem, Ms. Laurier, Theodore will be here any minute. Why don’t I walk you out?” Michael said, shooting a warning glare at Simon before offering Penelope an escape.
But leaving now would be the same as running away.
Penelope gritted her teeth. She tossed her purse to Michael, rolled up her
sleeves, and strode onto the platform in front of the pool.
“I do have one talent,” she announced. “Watch closely.”
She couldn’t sing or dance, but she knew martial arts.
And so, at a poolside bachelor party, Penelope began to perform a series of sharp, powerful punches and kicks. Her movements were fierce and fluid, leaving the men and th women in the pool completely stunned.
Simon, in particular, felt a chill run down his spine. He had a sudden feeling that Penelope might leap off the platform at any moment and punch him so hard his bones would turn to dust.
This woman was not to be trifled with.
Just as Simon was beginning to regret his actions, he felt another cold presence behind him. He turned to see Theodore had arrived.
Theodore shot a cold glare at Simon, then looked at Penelope, who was still gracefully executing her routine. A slow smile spread across his face.
Michael nudged him. “Hey,” he said with a grin, “if you two ever get into an argument, just do what she says. Don’t fight back, and definitely don’t get physical. You will lose.”
Simon obsequiously placed a cigarette in Theodore’s mouth and lit it for him.
“I’m just dying to know how you landed her. A woman like that… with such an interesting soul… is one in a million.”
…