"So, Penelope," Quentin said her name with so much hate. "Let's set down some rules."
Penny looks around for someone to save her, but Ms. Birdie must have gone up to her room for the night. The two were in the hallway, close to the door. They were too close. Quentin's objective was to intimate the small, defenseless girl.
But like a cat, trap them in a corner and they bring out their claws soon enough.
"Rule one," Quentin steps closer to the girl. Penelope was smart enough to angle her body, so it was moving towards the living room. The cat didn't have to bring out her claws this time. "Stay out my way"
Quentin had a very basic routine and if she learned it correctly, he would never have to see her again.
"Rule two," He took another step towards her. It was supposed to be intimating, but her face was so neutral, he couldn't tell if it was working or not. "No one but our families will know about this. This means that we do not have rings."
Penny wasn't sentimental over jewelry. She didn't even have her ears pierced.
"Rule three," another step. "I am allowed to sleep with other women because we are not a real couple."
So that was the reason for rule two, Penny thought. If the public knew he was taken, he would have a hard time getting girls.
Penny replied with her own rule, "Rule four, you can't bring them to your penthouse."
"Why? Are you jealous that you can't have me?" he smirks, hoping to hurt her feelings.
"No. For ten years, I have heard my father bring home his girls and stay up all night with them. I would love a decent nice sleep."
Quentin was a little shocked by this fact. Since she was young, she would be subjected to listen to her father have sex with young women all night long. But he didn't let it show on face, "Whatever the Princess wants."
Quentin carries on, "Last rule, I will never give you any money. Find a job for all I care, but I will not finance shopping sprees and coffee runs. I will only give you money for groceries. You got it?"
Penny looks away from his eyes and nods her head. She didn't want to get on his bad side even more. Penny, like her father unknowingly taught her, will remain submissive to this more powerful side. This why he says happy with her, and she remains unharmed.
Penny believes that if she doesn't follow these rules, he will hit her. Penny's father had rules in the house too. Even if she followed them, she would still lay in her bed bruised.
Still not looking in his eyes, she says, "May I go to bed now."
Surprised by the sudden obedience, he approved and watched her scurry up the stairs to her new room. A small part of Quinn wanted the girl to retaliate at his word, but he would never admit his disappointment.
She's not even hot, Quinn tried to convince himself. In reality, she was hot to him. Just because he found her hot does not mean he likes her. And that it true, Quentin did not like Penelope one bit. However, things can change.
He grabs an alcoholic drink from the kitchen and trudges upstairs. At least he could be hungover for the wedding.
***
Penny had a decent sleep. Despite sleeping in the evening, she fell asleep again in the cozy queen bed underneath the thick white comforter. She has saved up so money from past shows in San Francisco, so while she is out of a job and audition hunting, she will buy things to brighten the room.
Penny wished that her sleep could be great, and not just decent. But she had unsettling dreams. Not quite nightmares, just unsettling.
She first started out on a plane with the whole Romano family, and she could feel a pair of eyes burning into the back of her skull. She did know who, because when she looked back, it was Quentin's apartment. She walks in and goes to the fridge. Held in place by a magnet was a list of rules. She said each one out loud,
"Stay out of my way"
It felt like her heart crashed into her stomach.
"Don't look me in the eyes"
Penny was frozen has a hand fell on her shoulder.
"Don't ever mention mom"
She felt another hand, a different hand fall on her other shoulder.
"Don't tell anyone I hit you"
The hands pull her backwards and onto the ground, and she saw Quentin to the right and her father on the left.
This is the moment Penny woke up. She never had nightmares or unsettling dreams at home, which was strange to her. She expected that nightmares would come at the place where she was living in actual hell.
Penny had a feeling that they weren't going to stop.
Her heartbeat fast in her chest and her breathing was rough. Luckily that through the shades the sun peaked in, meaning that she didn't have to go back to bed.
Penny took her phone off the nightstand and started to scroll through out. Hidden from her father, Penny did have a phone and some social media. She just never gave her phone number to anyone important. It was a pretty old phone. She got it when she was nineteen, but it still works like a charm.
A little while later, after doing everything she could on her phone, she got out of bed. In the kitchen, Ms. Birdie was sitting at the table reading a mystery novel. She saw the redhead appear in front of her and asked, "Do you want me to cook you some breakfast?"
Penny, walking over to the coffee maker that was similar to the one she had a home, said with a raspy morning voice, "Yes please."
Ms. Birdie knowing what the girl likes, "Waffles with a side of bacon?"
Brewing herself some coffee, Penny smiled at her old friend, "Of course."
Ms. Birdie got a tour of the kitchen while Penny was asleep yesterday and knew were everything is. This morning she got a chance to see what was in the fridge and pantry. She was pleasantly surprised that it was packed with food. Quentin Romano did enjoy cooking.
While Penny sipped her hot black coffee, Ms. Birdie cooked her breakfast. In a matter of time, Penny was done with her coffee and Ms. Birdie was done with her cooking.
Penny couldn't help but ask, "Where is Quentin?" It was nine o'clock and they were meeting at the courthouse at two in the afternoon.
"Well, he was up before me. He cooked himself breakfast and left the house. I believe that we went over his parent's place to get ready," Ms. Birdie answered.
Penny knew why he wasn't here. He didn't have work today and would be stuck home to be around her. He went to his parents' house to get away. Penny accepted the fact that he didn't like her yesterday. All she has to do now is tolerate him.
After helping Ms. Birdie clean up the kitchen, there was a knock at the front door. The maid got the door and saw that it was Addison Romano. She also had full hands. A dress bag hung over one of her arms, a shoe box she was balancing in one hand, and a plastic container in the other.
"Miss Romano, are you here to help Penny get ready?" Ms. Birdie asked with a smile.
"Of course I am! Now that I am old enough, I can finally help someone get ready for their wedding. With Ben's wife I was too young and with Aubrey, she just didn't want me touching her face the day of her wedding," Addison laughed at that fact. "But now that I am a mature young woman, I am here to make Penny look even more beautiful" Addison walked into the penthouse as best she could, but the short woman was holding too much for her body to truly handle. She found Penny in the kitchen, sitting at the bar. "Are you ready?"
Penny was a little excited. She loved getting dolled up for the stage, it was a little joy for her. Penny shot out of her seat and lead the girl to her room.
Addison dropped her stuff on the bed and said, "Take a shower and I will get ready to do your hair. It's okay to take your time, just relax."
Penny said a little thanks. She rummaged through her things for her toiletries, her thin robe, and some underwear. When she was about to take a bra out of the suitcase, Addison stopped her, "With this dress, you don't have a bra that would work. I brought a stick-on bra for you. I guessed your size because we look about the same."
It was safe to say that Penny was okay with that, she didn't have the biggest breast. They were quite small. However, it fit her body and her minimal curves.
Penny entered the bathroom for the first time. She never had a chance beforehand, but now she got a good look. The flooring switched to white, clean tile and there were two small windows. The bathroom continued the nice gray walls. To her right there was the toilet, the countertop with a wide sink. The countertop had many drawers below it and space on top to hold many toiletries. To her left was the tub and shower. The tub looked like a classic tub, with a claw foot bottom. Penny didn't take many baths, but with that, she could see herself relaxing inside. Then there was the shower in the corner. It was white tile too, with glass walls. On the sides on the shower head, there were little metal storage holders so that she can stash her products.
She could see herself get some nice plants and put them in the free spaces. Penny is trying to remain optimistic, even though she is living with a man that hates her. She is just finding the little things in life that make her happy.
She put her stuff away and placed her robe on a hanger by the shower. She found some towels underneath the sink.
She took a nice, long steamy shower. The shower had a little bench, so she just sat herself down and let the water pass over her. She was in the shower for a good twenty minutes, just enjoying the warmth.
Once she was dried off, she exited the bathroom with a towel on top of her bed. Addison was laying down on her bed, swiping through Tinder, "It is so annoying! All of them just want sex and I just want a relationship!" Addison groans.
"Why are you on tinder then?" Penny questioned.
"Because it is so hard to meet people in New York. It's not like I can just stop someone on the street and introduce myself." Addison started to get it to do the young woman's red hair. "Sit at the desk so we can get started."
Penny takes a sit at the dark wood desk and Addison takes out a blow dryer. The two were quiet because they just couldn't her themselves over the loud appliance. It was difficult for Addison, because she just wanted to talk and get to know the girl.
"So, did you have a boyfriend before you came here? Any heartache..." Addison said in a joking matter. She really didn't want to bring up hard feelings just in case there was someone.
"No, my father didn't let me date," Penny said with a sorrowful tone. It is true that she had crushes on many boys, possibly even flirted with some of them, but she knew her father would hear of it and beat her for it.
"You are twenty-four, why did you still listen to him!" Addison couldn't believe that someone was still strictly listening to her parents. By the age of eighteen, Addison was going by the beat of her heart, not caring what her parents said.
"My father was a powerful man, and a strict one. He wasn't one that you just couldn't listen too," Penny said. At this point, Addison started to curl her hair, placing them in gentle waves. She also got a bad feeling from Penny's father, something that she didn't wish to bring up on the second time meeting.
She changed the subject, "So, you've never had a boyfriend? Have you at least kissed one?"
"Yeah," Penny replied. "Actually, a lot on stage. However, half of them were gay," Penny joked.
Addison laughed at that fact, trying to picture her older brother kissing a girl. They continue chatting about their lives, the good parts of them anyways. Once her hair was finished and her makeup done, she got a chance to look in the bathroom mirror with her dress bag hanging beside her. Her red hair was done in nice gentle curls, with a side part, The side with less hair was pulled back with a bobby pin and a nice (fake) white flower. Her makeup was very natural too. Light, dewy foundation, light pink blush, golden glittery eye shadow, winged eyeliner, and false lashes. Penny was happy with how she looked.
She took the dress out of the dark gray bag and put it on. It was a white midi dress, perfect for New York's fall weather. The dress pinched around Penny waist in a comfortable way. The bottom had a swishy, pleated pattern that came down to the middle of her shins. The top had a mock neck and a light, opaque lacy pattern that continue to the sleeves, but was no longer opaque and her pale skin can be seen through it. The back was also wide open and if she wore a normal bra, the back would have been seen.
Penny loved the dress. Shehopes that afterwards she could wear it again and again and again. It wassimple and elegant, classy but a little casual. She feels that with this dressshe will fit in.
Addison smiles and clapped she came out of the bathroom, "Oh my god! This dress is gorgeous on you! Everyone is going to love it. I wish you had a really wedding dress, but this is amazing too." Addison took a second to just stare at her new friend and future sister-in-law. "Oh...the shoes!"
The shoes were also a plain, but bright white. They were tall pumps, and her toes would be covered by fabric. Penny was used to walking in heels. Her father forced her into six inch heels at the age of fourteen. She had to learn quick.
Penny slipped the shoes on and looked in the bathroom mirror. Addison came behind her, "You look amazing. I didn't do this for your future brother, I did this for you. This is your day, a day to start over and join a new family. I am so glad that you are here. I am glad to have the chance to be your friend."
This really got to Penny. She never had the chance for a family. Before Addison could see tears rimming her eyes, Penny turned around and gave her a huge hug. It was a little awkward due to the different heights, but sweet, nonetheless. "I'm glad too," Penny whispered in Addison's ear.
They let go from the embrace and walked down to the kitchen where they met with Ms. Birdie who was also wearing a very nice dress. She complimented the young girl and they hugged. The three of them left the penthouse together and walked down to the car. Penny thought as she got in the car...
It's time that I get married.