Chapter 14
"Can't I?" Kelvin shot back coolly. "Or are you saying you can't handle two departments?"
Timothy groaned, "You're killing me."
Kelvin smirked, "I'll give you a raise."
Timothy shrugged, "I don't need the money. I get you want to start a jewelry brand, but why dive into the entertainment industry too?"
Kelvin took a sip of his coffee. "For a woman."
Timothy's eyes widened. "Your new wife, right?"
He leaned in, grinning. "Kelvin, can you hold it? A wife at home and a mistress on the side?"
Kelvin kicked him lightly. "Where's the stuff?"
Timothy handed over a stack of design drafts. Kelvin passed them to Penelope. "These are the designs for Peal Wet jewelry. Take a look and tell me what's wrong."
Penelope hesitated. "Um..."
"Just say it," Kelvin encouraged, raising his chin. "I want the truth."
Nathan also turned his attention to her.
"Alright," Penelope pointed at the drafts. "The overall design quality of 'Peal Wet' has really dropped in the past three years. The only reason it still sells is because of brand recognition."
She continued confidently, "First, the brand's positioning is unclear. Is 'Peal Wet' targeting the high-end market or the general consumer market? Second, the styles are outdated and lack innovation. They need fresh design talent."
Kelvin crossed his arms, watching her intently.
In that moment, she was captivating, no longer timid. Her eyes sparkled with confidence.
"That's all I can think of for now," Penelope finished. "Sorry if I was too blunt."
Kelvin nodded, satisfied. "Not bad. You nailed 'Peal Wet's' current issues."
It was exactly what he had thought before.
Penelope had surprised him again.
Nathan's face was a bit grim, but he said, "Criticism leads to progress. Mr. Davis, what about our collaboration?"
Kelvin replied, "I'll consider it."
Nathan nodded. "Alright."
Before leaving, Nathan gave Penelope a meaningful look.
That look held a lot of emotions.
Penelope lowered her head to avoid his gaze.
Timothy, on the other hand, looked at her with great interest. "Where did Kelvin find such a high-caliber talent like you?"
Kelvin responded, "She's the one you mentioned, my newlywed wife."
"So, you're Mrs. Davis! Nice to meet you, I'm Timothy," Timothy flashed a charming smile. "Only a woman as outstanding as you could win over Kelvin!"
Penelope smiled, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Foster."
Timothy asked, "Perfect timing. Kelvin's jewelry brand is about to launch, and I'm in charge. I need a designer. Would you like to join?"
Her eyes lit up. "Can I?"
"Of course," Timothy said. "Your skills are more than qualified!"
Though he seemed carefree, he was never sloppy in business and had already planned everything out.
Timothy was confident he could build the brand and surpass "Peal Wet" of the Smith Group; it was only a matter of time!
Penelope looked at Kelvin; his approval was what mattered.
"You can borrow her," Kelvin glanced at Timothy. "Temporarily, you have to return her."
Timothy laughed heartily, "No need to be so clingy! She's still in the Davis Group, just on a different floor. If you want to see her, just take the elevator!"
Kelvin kicked him again, and Timothy jumped to dodge. He spoke to Penelope, "Let's go, Mrs. Davis. I'm eagerly anticipating your designs!"
Penelope nodded. "Mr. Foster, just call me Penelope."
"OK, OK!" Timothy patted her shoulder. "From now on, you're my right-hand woman!"
Kelvin narrowed his eyes slightly. "Remove your hand."
Timothy immediately removed his hand.
Since Penelope was an excellent jewelry designer, Kelvin would have let her showcase her value rather than just subject her to torment and humiliation.
There was a saying, "Make the best use of everything."
After all, she could never have escaped his control!
After Timothy left, Kelvin leaned back on the sofa, playing with a cigarette in his hand.
"Tell me, what's your relationship with Nathan?" he asked directly.
Penelope was startled. Did Kelvin see through it?
She had no interaction with Nathan!
"I don't like hearing nonsense and lies," Kelvin emphasized. "Answer me!"
Under his intense gaze, Penelope confessed, "He was my former fiancé."
His eyes narrowed. "Fiancé?"
"But we broke off the engagement two years ago. He went abroad for further studies, and I ended up in that mental hospital. We only met again today."
Kelvin muttered, "If it weren't for me, you two would be married by now, right?"
Penelope bitterly curled her lips. "Probably. But life doesn't have that many 'what ifs'."
Kelvin leaned in close, calling her name softly, "Penelope."
She tensed up.
"You must hate me deeply," His breath brushed against her face. "You hate me for ruining your life, wish you could kill me with your own hands. Even if I were dead, you'd want to dig up my corpse and whip it, right?"
She lowered her eyes. "Kelvin, we're both pitiful people."
The smile on his lips slowly froze. "Me, pitiful?"
Penelope continued, "You lost your respected father, and I lost a happy family. We are both victims of fate's cruelty."
Kelvin shouted, "This is all your just deserts! It was your father who ruined everything!"
Penelope couldn't argue because she had no evidence.
Kelvin's presence quickly receded. He lit the cigarette and spoke coldly, "Get out."
Penelope turned and left.
In the smoke, Kelvin's expression was very deep. He glanced at the stack of drafts and called out loudly, "Ryan!"
Ryan responded, "What's the matter, Mr. Davis?"
Kelvin instructed, "Investigate Nathan. I want results tonight."
Ryan nodded. "Yes, sir!"
Penelope was waiting for the elevator when her phone rang. "Hello, who is this?"
The person on the other end asked, "Are you Penelope?"
Penelope replied, "Yes."
"I'm a staff member from the prison," the other person continued, "Your father is in trouble. Come over immediately."
Penelope panicked.
She immediately stumbled towards the stairs, unable to wait for the elevator!
Grace was already in Kelvin's hands; Connor couldn't have had any more trouble!
Penelope ran out of the building and hailed a taxi.
She took out all the money she had and handed it to the driver. "This is all I have. Please, take me to LA Prison."
The driver, seeing her desperation, agreed.
When Penelope arrived, Connor was lying on a stretcher.
His arms and thighs were covered in burn marks.
He half-opened his eyes, constantly moaning in pain.
"Dad!" Penelope rushed over. "Dad, look at me. I'm Penelope. What happened?"
She turned her head and asked the prison guard, "Why is my dad so badly burned?"
The prison guard replied, "He did it to himself. It's not our fault."
Penelope insisted, "Where is the surveillance footage? I want to see the whole incident!"
The prison guard responded, "The surveillance here isn't for just anyone to see."
Penelope gritted her teeth. "You're too much!"
"Penelope, it hurts, it hurts so much," Connor groaned unconsciously, "Help me scratch it."
His hand reached to scratch the blisters from the burns, and Penelope grabbed it. "Dad, hold on. I'm taking you to the hospital now!"
The prison guard stopped her. "No, he's an inmate. He needs proper authorization to leave."
Penelope questioned him, "So you're just going to watch my dad die?"
The prison guard replied, "Actually, you can only blame yourselves for offending someone. Your dad has had a hard time since he got here."
A name flashed through Penelope's mind.
It was Kelvin!
Wasn't it enough for him to torment her? He wouldn't even spare Connor, who was serving his sentence!
"I need to see Kelvin. I'm going to find him now," Penelope wiped her tears and started to get up.
Just as she stood up, Fiona walked in, looking smug.
She sneered, "Penelope, don't waste your effort. Kelvin despises you and just wants to see you suffer more!"
Penelope asked, "Was it you?"
"I was bored, so I came to see your dad," Fiona replied, "Who knew he accidentally knocked over a kettle and got burned like this."
Penelope snapped, "Impossible! You did this!"
Fiona shrugged smugly. "Do you have any evidence?"
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