Chapter 624: Penny’s order

Angel paced back and forth in the hallway, making the rest of the bodyguards on standby follow him with their gazes.

"Captain, can you please stop pacing? I’m getting a little dizzy," one of the bodyguards finally said when he couldn’t take it anymore.

Angel glanced at his colleague, only to see the others sporting the same sentiment. A deep exhale slipped past his lips, and he clicked his tongue. He gazed at the door to the private ward where Penny was.

"How can I calm down?" Angel said. "Uncle Wild already boarded his flight here. If he sees her with that injury... all hell will break loose."

All the bodyguards were speechless, remembering that Wild was on his way to Anteca. He would be moving here to help Penny with the Prime Group operation. Not to mention, he would be with Yugi. With those two making a fuss, they exchanged glances with Angel and nodded in understanding.

"Captain, continue pacing," said the same person who had earlier asked Angel to stop. "Just know that we’ve been loyal to you from the beginning until now."

Angel hissed, glaring at his subordinates, who were shamelessly asking him to protect them. However, he didn’t dwell on it when he caught an approaching figure from the corner of his eye. Turning his head, he saw Mark sauntering toward them.

"Will you look at that?" Angel slowly faced the approaching Mark. "He’s even walking as if he’s in a fashion show."

"What happened?" Mark’s first question came as he stepped into their vicinity.

"What happened?" Angel’s face contorted as he pointed his thumb over his shoulder. "Do you know who is inside that ward?"

Mark slowly shifted his eyes to the door and then back to Angel. "Is she okay?"

"Well, she had a head injury because apparently, someone smashed a bottle of beer over her head. She was also punched in the face and was almost stabbed by a broken plate. But overall, she’s alive — good thing." Angel smiled, his remarks oozing with sarcasm. "Though I’m not sure if you’re going to see the morning."

Hearing this, Mark’s face stiffened. He moved his gaze to the door once more, holding his breath, already guessing the anger swelling in Zoren’s chest. After all, Zoren’s only order to them was to not let Penny get hurt — not even a scratch.

"Tch." Angel clicked his tongue and hissed at Mark, noticing the blank look on the man’s face.

Zoren had entrusted Penny’s safety to his men because she didn’t pull back her guards from Zoren’s. Thus, they exchanged guards. However, while Penny’s men executed their orders efficiently and perfectly, Mark had just left Penny all alone.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Angel asked out of pure curiosity. "I have a good impression of you, and I think you’re the type who wouldn’t just let her be, even if you know she’s capable."

Angel paused, staring at Mark’s face. "So, why did you leave her today?"

Mark kept his gaze fixated on the door before slowly setting his eyes on Angel. His lips were drawn into a tight line as he sighed heavily, contemplating the situation.

"We’re following orders," Mark explained quietly. "She told us not to follow her."

"Huh?"

"And she specifically asked me to pull back the men I had planted in her shadows to protect her."

Deep lines appeared between Angel’s brows as he assessed the stern look on Mark’s face. The latter wasn’t the type to lie or make excuses. Moreover, he didn’t seem to be making this all up.

"Why?" Angel blurted out. "Did you tell her that there’s another unit following her aside from the main one?"

"No." Mark slowly directed his gaze to the door. "That’s why I was surprised. I was hoping you could tell me because I thought you had mentioned it to her. It seems you also don’t know."

A moment of silence fell in the hallway as both Mark and Angel stared at the door. The more they focused on it, the more it brought Mark back to a memory he had from earlier that day.

*******

Penny and Zoren’s decision to switch guards was no secret to anyone. Penny couldn’t pull back her men, and Zoren was worried about his wife. Therefore, Zoren sent his men just to guard her. Even though she was capable enough, they had been doing that job quietly and efficiently.

When Penny voiced her displeasure about feeling uncomfortable with Zoren’s men’s presence, he told them to keep their distance and give her more space. And that was what Zoren’s men did.

Whether Penny was at home or in her office, they followed her like shadows. Of course, they kept their distance, but that distance was still within her line of sight. She didn’t complain about it for the longest time. However, they didn’t tell Penny that Zoren had placed another group to protect her from the shadows. That particular group’s job was to protect Penny without her knowledge.

Everything was going smoothly until today.

While Mark was idling outside her office as usual, Penny suddenly came out in the middle of the office hours. Mark wasn’t the type to ask questions, so he automatically followed her. However, when they were in the elevator, Penny suddenly faced him squarely.

"Stop following me," Penny said the moment their eyes locked. "I have an important appointment today, and I’m not comfortable having people follow me."

Mark maintained a stoic front as he replied, "We’ll keep our distance."

"That’s not what I’m saying." Penny slowly turned her back on him, facing the elevator door. "I don’t want you to follow me. Period."

"I can’t do that—"

"You can, because right now, you’re reporting to me and not to my husband," she argued, without waiting for him to finish. "I’ll explain everything to Renren."

This time, Mark didn’t respond. ’Well, there are still those guys who are following her. Arguing with her will only upset her,’ he thought, only to hear Penny speak again.

"Also, pull back the men you planted in my shadows."

Slowly, Mark lifted his eyes to her, surprised. Penny glanced over her shoulder as she added, "If I sense that they’re still following me, they’ll get hurt. I need privacy and time; that’s all I’m asking. I hope you respect that over your orders."