PAMPERED

324 First date

“This is crazy! No, it’s terrible!” Slater paced back and forth in the living area, biting the tip of his thumb nervously, “A date?! Why is she going on a date with someone she only met a few times?! Is she crazy!? Her big brothers aren’t even married or in a relationship, but the youngest is already dating! Unacceptable!”

The men, who were gathered in the living room, watched Slater pace back and forth. Although they all wanted to express their sentiments regarding this, they couldn’t. How could they? Slater was using all the words and was making sure the spotlight was on him.

“I am not ready for this,” Charles clasped his hands across his chest, head shaking. “My beautiful daughter is going to see a man. Even though she deals with men every single day, she always kicks their asses, not date them.”

Hugo nodded, sighing. “I should stop her.”

“Why?” Atlas tilted his head to the side, eyes on Hugo. “Hugo, I know you don’t have any experience, but that’s not a nice thing to do. Penny is already old enough to explore. Dating is part of growing up. Therefore, just like how we supported her when she accepted her apprenticeship with Professor Singh, the least we could do is support her”

Atlas said all that without a second’s hesitation. However, while speaking out loud, the stress ball in his hand deflated with how much he squeezed it. By the end of his remarks, the stress ball broke. 6

Haines chuckled as he shook his head. “It’s just a date,” he said. “Two people meeting, getting to know each other, eating together. She’s not getting married.” 4

“Uncle, how are you so sure this won’t end in marriage?!” Slater was quick to retort. “Didn’t she say she met him just not long ago?! What if they decide to get married after this one date?! Uncle Haines, I’ve seen so many in the industry who only worked on one project and got carried away!”

Everyone gazed up at Slater, who was the most distressed of all of them. He hadn’t even fixed his bed hair, and he was already clasping it in stress.

“Slater, that’s a little…” Haines trailed off as he noticed the look of dread on Charles’s and Hugo’s faces. “Oh, boy.”

The already deflated stress ball in Atlas’s hand shrunk even more in his trembling grip.

Haines massaged his temple. Not that he wasn’t worried, but his worry wasn’t about the date itself. Rather, this was the first time Penny would experience a possible first love. And what Haines was worried about was her getting her heart broken.

It worried him because Haines knew a breakup would not only leave one’s heart broken but

shattered.

Just as the thought crossed Haines’s mind, Slater went on with his craziness again.

“And then, they’d get divorced. Who knows? After their flash marriage, he ends up being a

10:42

324 First date

foolish man who takes home his mistress while his wife is pregnant. And Penny has to run away with the babies!” Slater dramatically gasped, covering his mouth in horror. “My sister would have to carry her twins all alone and raise them all alone. My poor sister.”

“Slater, are you on drugs?” Hugo’s worry about his sister was quickly replaced with dismay with his little brother. “I’ve heard bad things about the entertainment industry. If I ever find out you’re using, I’ll arrest you myself and throw you in rehab.” (3

“What?!”

“My youngest son, I understand you’re worried, but I think you’re reciting a script you read somewhere. If that is a script, I tell you, don’t star in it. It’s horrible,” Charles remarked, shaking his head at Slater. “Choose an action film–ah no, tell James to send the script. I need to kill some time,”

“Slater, we’re worried about the date and the possibility that our sister might have her first love and first heartbreak. But you talk as though Penny is some kind of weak damsel in distress,” said Atlas, looking at Slater in disgust. “Your imagination surely took you to success.”

Slater frowned, looking at them in disbelief. “Why are you ganging up on me!? We’re allies here!” (2)

Just as those words flew out of his mouth, Allison’s voice was heard.

“Are you ready to see her?” 2

Everyone immediately turned their heads to the stairs, watching Allison descend. Following behind her was Penny. Penny’s hair was tied in a ponytail, making her wavy curls bounce. There were a few strands of hair falling to the side of her face.

Penny only wore light makeup, matching her casual dress paired with white sneaker boots. All of them, except Haines and Slater–who were already standing–stood up slowly. Their eyes were fixed on Penny.

Despite her simplicity, she was very refreshing to the eye. Normally, Penny looked a little older than her age because of the type of clothes she wore. Not that she looked like an auntie, but rather, someone who was at the peak of her success.

But now, she looked… like she was in her late teens.

It was as if they were staring at a slim version of her at sixteen.

“Oh, my princess! You’re so pretty!” Charles couldn’t help but rush to her, looking her up and down. “My princess! Oh, no! I can’t let you go like this! You’re so pretty, and he might not return

you!”

Penny chuckled. “Don’t worry, Papa. If he doesn’t want to let me go home, then I’ll teach him a lesson. I am Charles Bennet’s daughter, remember?”

“My Penny…”

“Penny, you can’t go looking like that.” Atlas shook his head. “You’re too pretty.”

“How about a chaperone?” Hugo suggested. “I can go–no, I’ll drive you, and I will keep a safe distance. I do that job well, don’t I?”

10:42

23

324 First date

“How can you have a date on Sunday?!” Slater, on the other hand, had a different approach. “Sunday is Family Day!”

Penny pursed her lips before Allison spoke. “Penny, have fun today, okay?”

“Mhm.”

“Penny, won’t you even introduce him to us?” Charles remarked. “At least, we know who we’re going to look for if you suddenly disappear.” O

“I agree with him.” Haines nodded, and the rest also agreed with a nod.

Penny looked at them apologetically and said, “I’m sorry, but it’s our first date. Introducing hím to my family is skipping steps. I don’t even know if there’s a second date after this.” But in truth, Penny didn’t want to introduce Zoren because Zoren might be a little overwhelmed. With how her family was handling the news of her first date, she was afraid they–Slater especially–would say something crazy.

Thinking about her argument, everyone pondered and nodded. Even so, they wanted to meet the man.

“But I can guarantee you he’s not a bad person…” she trailed off when Butler Jen’s voice reached them. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Miss Penny, your date is here to pick you up,” Butler Jen rushed to them from the entrance.

“Oh, he’s here!” Penny smiled before casting Atlas a look. “First brother, can you drive me to the gates?”

“Sure.”

“Uh, Miss Penny.” Butler Jen spoke again, looking at the family in confusion. “Your date is already right outside. I didn’t let him in because he might overhear Young Master Slater.”

Slowly, everyone’s eyes were on Butler Jen. But the most surprised of all was Penny.

“He’s outside?” she repeated, and Butler Jen nodded. “In the car?”

“No, Miss Penny. He’s standing right outside.” 6

Comment 46