How could I not recognize that voice?
Zebulon Sullivan!
It was really him!
"You're out?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, for over a year now. I wanted to catch up with my old friend, but you seemed to have vanished. I couldn't find you," he said with a lighthearted laugh that held a chilling undertone.
"Zebulon, you know I don't like to beat around the bush. What do you want? Just say it."
"I honestly didn't know you were the one in charge on their end."
"Is that so?" Not even a ghost would believe that.
"You don't believe me?"
"Not a single word."
"Penelope, I admit I've lied to you in the past..."
"Don't talk to me about the past!"
"Alright, fine. It's all my fault. I'll handle this. You should go."
"You're right, there's no need for me to negotiate with them anymore."
She only needed to deal with him.
Penelope handed the phone back to Darren. He spoke a few words of acknowledgment before hanging up.
"Our boss says you can leave."
Penelope took a deep breath. Before, she had wondered if there was some misunderstanding, but now she was certain this was a trap Zebulon had set just for her.
"So, the owner of Ocean Buildings is Zebulon?" she asked Darren.
Darren nodded, then shook his head. "The real owner is someone else—I don't know who—but Mr. Sullivan is in charge of everything on-site."
After leaving the hospital, Penelope visited her parents' graves at the cemetery before heading to her brother's place.
When she left her small town, her plan had been to resolve this matter quickly and return. But since it was a trap set by Zebulon, she knew it wouldn't be an easy fix and would require more time.
"Pressure isn't a bad thing, but you have to learn how to relax."
Penelope raised her glass and clinked it against her brother's. "Besides, even if it doesn't work out, it's not the end of the world."
"I don't have enough seniority at the company, and I'm young. Some people think I only got the job through connections, and I want to prove them wrong."
"But... he and I are divorced. He's not exactly your connection anymore."
Timothy smiled. "Mr. Stapleton has always looked out for me."
"That's because he values your skills."
"You don't already have another man, do you?"
"No! But even if I did, so what!"
Just as Timothy was about to say something more, his phone rang.
He glanced at the caller ID, his expression freezing for a moment before his eyes darted to Penelope. She didn't think much of it and continued eating.

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