"Pe — Penny?" Patricia’s eyes widened as she stared at the woman standing beside the table. "What — what are you doing here?"
Nina pursed her lips and glanced up at Penny, only to see the latter smile at Patricia.
"How nice to be recognized by you at a glance, Patricia," Penny smiled and chuckled. "Even my Third Brother couldn’t recognize me at first sight, but you did. I find that sweet."
Patricia opened and closed her mouth and then cleared her throat. "Heh. Well, nothing’s changed; of course, anyone with eyes would recognize you!"
"That’s exactly my thought!" Penny sighed.
"Anyway, it’s nice to see you again, Penny!" Patricia forced a grin, now in a hurry to leave. "I have to go since I’m meeting with my friends..."
Penny suddenly grabbed her arm, stopping her.
Patricia stopped and slowly lifted her eyes to her. "Penny?"
"Patricia, it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other," Penny fluttered her eyelashes ever so tenderly and smiled sweetly. "And I kinda overheard you talking about something... very interesting. Don’t go, sit."
Penny wiggled her brows, gently pushing Patricia back to her seat.
Patricia gulped and smiled, shrugging. "Fine," she said. "It’s still early, so I don’t mind indulging with my old friends."
"Good!" Penny smiled and sat in the other corner, winking at Nina, who was giving her an odd look.
Seeing the look on Penny’s face, Nina let out a shallow breath. ’What is she up to this time? She didn’t hear everything Patricia said, right?’ Because Nina knew that if Penny had heard everything, Patricia would be done for. ’Penny isn’t as petty as before, right?’
With that, the three of them sat down and ordered their food. Penny happily linked her hands together, her fingers interlaced. She rested her chin on top of her fingers, smiling gracefully at Patricia.
To an outsider, Penny seemed genuinely happy to see Patricia. But Nina knew it wasn’t like that. Although Nina couldn’t point out exactly what Penny was actually happy about.
’Well, with Penny here, I’m not as uncomfortable with Patricia here.’ Nina cleared her throat, darting her eyes between Penny and Patricia. ’Patricia seems nervous, though.’
But then again, Patricia often avoided starting a problem with elites, and Penny was part of the elites. Although it was not public knowledge that the person behind the Prime Group was Penny, Patricia wouldn’t fight Penny solely because of Atlas, the CEO of Global Prime Logistics.
"What you said just now... Patricia, is it true?" Penny’s voice was laced with interest, her eyelids drooping.
"Huh?" Patricia raised her brows at Penny. "What do you mean... it’s true? Which one?"
"The one you said just now?"
Patricia gulped. "The...?"
"The offer you’re giving Nina," Penny clarified and sighed. "Didn’t you give Nina a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity just now? Though I’m not sure of the full context, I’m intrigued. Nina is sometimes very stubborn and wouldn’t want help."
’Who? Me?’ Nina blinked, confused. ’Since when did I refuse any help? Or is she talking about herself?’
"Let’s hear it!" Penny grinned. "Who knows? It might be beneficial for us as well."
"Ahh... haha." Patricia relaxed a little. "It’s nothing, Penny. It’s just a project I am interested in working on with Nina. I heard she’s one of the best, and she definitely needed help with her standing."
"Oh?" Penny’s mouth formed an O shape. "You will help her?"
"You mean the Millers?" Penny tilted her head to the side. "From what I last heard, your brother had been begging my First Brother for reconsideration... and you’re saying the Millers can help Nina more than we, the Bennets, can?"
Patricia opened and closed her mouth. "Penny, what are you on about now? I came here with good intentions, and you’re twisting my words."
"Patricia, I’m not twisting anyone’s words. I’m simply... deciphering them," Penny explained with a shrug. "Unless, of course, you meant you’re going to help Nina because you are getting help from someone else."
"Hah! Penny, how dare you?" Patricia rose from her seat and scoffed at her. "I am Patricia Miller, and even though our families haven’t been on good terms, I have my own career and a name for myself!"
Patricia scoffed at the two of them. "If you consider my offer an insult, shame on you! There’s no point in reaching out a helping hand to ungrateful people. Hah!" she huffed and turned to leave in a hurry.
Penny and Nina stared at the fuming Patricia. Nina couldn’t help but tilt her head to the side.
"Why did she get angry like that?" Nina muttered. "It’s not like you said something really hurtful. She looks like she just made a reason to run away."
Nina slowly shifted her eyes to Penny, only to see a grim expression plastered on Penny’s face. For a second, Nina’s heart slowed as she gulped nervously. She had never seen Penny wear such an expression, but it was enough to tell Nina to be careful with whatever she had to say.
"Patricia Miller..." Penny whispered as she narrowed her eyes. "Nina, she did mention Zoren Pierson, didn’t she?"
"Hmm? You heard that part?"
Penny cast Nina a look. "Do you know him?"
"Uh... yes," Nina nodded. "Finn mentioned his name in passing, but his business is his, and I don’t meddle with it. All I know is that Zoren Pierson is the head of the Pierson Family and the current CEO of the Pierson Corporation. Penny, do you know him?"
"Mhm," she hummed. "He’s my client."
"Oh." Nina opened and closed her mouth, observing Penny’s side profile. "Penny, is everything alright?"
"What else did she say?" Penny asked, ignoring Nina’s question.
Nina blinked and tried to recall everything in a hurry. "I think... I think she said she’s with Zoren Pierson."
"And that... that I’d side with her because Finn’s family is now under the Pierson’s."
"Finn is not under the Piersons, Nina," Penny corrected. "He is under a Name Pierson, not the entire Piersons."
She paused and leaned forward, looking Nina straight in the eye. "Don’t mention this entire conversation to your fiancé. Can I trust you with that?"
Nina pursed her lips and nodded. "Of course. I don’t know why you’re suddenly , and I’m scared of it, but I won’t tell him this. Not that I planned to, anyway."
"Good." Penny leaned back and set her eyes on the entrance where Patricia had left. ’That woman... she’s gonna get herself killed for sure. I hope she knows so much about me and Renren because if she slips up once, she’s done for. I don’t even need to do anything.’