Chapter 270: Is She Bragging?
In the parking area of the building, Lola watched a few men take the four strollers, all attached to each other, and wheel them into the huge van.
"I’m going to take the kids today so you can focus on your task," Penny said, glancing back at the men in suits. She then placed her hands on top of Chacha and Second’s heads. "And these two as well."
"Mommy, we’ll play with our little cousins some more!" Chacha mused. "We’ll be back!"
Lola smiled and nodded, only to pause when Second suddenly leaped and hugged her legs.
"Second?"
"Mommy, don’t be too sad, okay?" Second looked up at her, though he seemed the one about to be sad between them. "We will be back."
Lola squatted in front of him, holding his hands. "Have fun with Auntie Penny and your little cousins, okay?"
"Mhm!" Second smiled before leaping and hugging Lola tightly.
"Me too!" Chacha chimed in, jumping to Lola’s other side and wrapping her little arms around her neck.
A short chuckle escaped Lola as she patted their backs, glancing up at Penny. The latter just smiled as she watched the trio.
"Come on now, Charlie, Charles," Penny mused. "She still has a company to run, and she needs to focus. Don’t worry—it’s not like I’m going to throw you away in the Arctic."
Second and Chacha loosened their embrace, looking at Lola with smiles. Placing kisses on her cheeks, the duo jumped to Penny’s side and held each of her hands.
"Go in first," Penny urged, giving her men a look to assist the children. As the kids jumped into the van, she faced Lola once more. "I’ll give them back after we tour all the candy stores in the city. So, don’t worry about them and focus on whatever you need to focus on. No one’s going to disturb you... not now, not even later."
Lola chuckled. "Have fun with them."
"Oh, I will for sure. Those two have a knack for throwing people under the bus. Until now, I didn’t know where they got it," Penny shrugged. "Probably from their grandfather."
"Take care," Lola said, her smile softening. "Let’s eat out next time... when you’re available."
"I am always available. Just call me, okay?"
"Mhm."
"Good luck with this," Penny said, jerking her chin toward the building behind Lola. "If you need help..."
"Call you, I know," Lola cut her off, making Penny chuckle.
"If not my First Brother, then call me. Or just tell Slater. He’ll find the right person to help."
"Mhm."
"I’m serious," Penny stressed. "Don’t think twice, okay?"
"Are you a worrywart?" Lola quipped. "Go now. Your children are waiting. I understand, so stop nagging."
"Can’t help it. I’m a mother now, so I worry a lot." Penny shrugged, unfolding her arms as she smacked her lips. "See you around then."
"Mhm. Take care."
With that, Lola watched Penny turn and make her way to the van. But a second later, Lola’s mouth parted, and her words flew out before she even realized it.
"Penny!" Lola bit her tongue while Penny looked back. She pursed her lips, then smiled. "Thank you."
Penny’s eyes softened briefly as she nodded. "No, thank you." She then turned and waved. "Let’s hang out more some other time, sis!"
Penny flashed her a final smile as she got into the van and the men closed the door. Lola watched the van and a few cars leave the parking area like a motorcade. Even when the vehicles disappeared from sight, the smile on Lola’s face remained.
"Penny... is still... Penny," Lola whispered with a short chuckle. "How could I forget? She’s the sunshine of the Summit School of Excellence."
That mischievous little girl from high school—the culprit of all the betting pools and troublemaking—was loved and admired by so many that her fan club from that school was still very active.
"Sis..." another whisper escaped Lola, making her quietly chuckle. "Why does it feel different with her and Slater?"
Yet her heart felt warm at Penny’s kindness and welcoming attitude. Regardless of her status, the only intimidating thing about her was... knowing what she was capable of. But once they started talking, she was truly kind and considerate.
[Please, just don’t hurt my brother.]
Lola paused, remembering Penny’s sentiments, and her eyes softened.
[He will not cry, he will not scream, he will not even make a fuss. And that always worries me, because no one would know he is hurting.]
"I..." Lola trailed off, turning to return to the building. "...don’t doubt that."
*
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Once Lola returned to her office, she stopped at the door when she saw not only Silo but also Haji and even Amala inside.
"What is it?" she asked, slowing her steps. "If you’re going to ask—that’s Penny. My boyfriend’s little sister and the mother of the quadruplets. And yes, she’s rich, smart, and kind."
She stopped in the middle of the office, smiling. "And she approves of me as her future sister-in-law... not that she had a lot of choices, is what she told me."
"Silo, is she bragging?" Haji leaned toward Silo, eyes on Lola. "Or does she need consoling?"
Silo puffed his cheeks while Amala chuckled.
"I’m just here to check on you," Amala said, slapping the armrest as she pushed herself up. When she stood before Lola, a kind smile spread across her face. "After all, I checked who she was when I saw her, and I was a bit worried."
"She’s not... she’s not a bad person, Amala."
"It seems," Amala nodded, patting her shoulder. "I’ll get back to work. Tomorrow is a big day for us."
Haji idled on the couch. "Should I get up or stay? Those kids just made me clean up this place and the other one."
"That other one is your office anyway," Lola shrugged as she marched toward the desk. "Just stick around... or check on Cedrick. I sent him some endorsement deals. He probably fainted from shock."
Haji closed his eyes, then opened them. "I’ll just go with that," he announced, pushing himself up. "If I stay here, who knows what you’d ask me to do? I swear, if I don’t know, I’ll think those kids are yours. You act so bossy!"
Lola glanced at the retreating Haji and shook her head, setting her eyes on the documents she had picked up from the desk.
"Uh, Lola," Silo cleared his throat and moved to her side. "What did Penny tell you?"
"Well... a lot of things," Lola replied indifferently. "One of them is that she begged me to marry her First Brother." She laughed, cocking her head back as she shot him a look. "Apparently, I am her last hope, and she didn’t want to get married when her children are teens."
Silo scrunched up his nose, clicking his tongue, but didn’t dwell on the little jealousy creeping into his heart. "You look happy."
"That’s Penelope Bennet. For sure, talking to her made me happy."
"Good for you!" he intoned with a mix of sarcasm and sincerity. "Tsk. Now I don’t know if I should tell you what I was trying to tell you before Penelope dragged me here to babysit."
"Hmm?"
Silo sighed as Lola shifted her attention back to him. "Look at this," he said, reaching for the tablet on the desk and opening the article he had been trying to show her. "The filming will be delayed since a few actors need to be replaced."
Deep lines appeared between Lola’s brows as she read the article. She didn’t need to read word-for-word to understand it was a scandal involving a few actors of Angel’s Revenge.
"Hah!" Lola scoffed. "While I’m busy fixing my love life, it seems Melissa’s been busy ruining others."