Penelope led Chloe into a private conference room on an upper floor, the silence of the space a stark contrast to the bustling reception area. She gestured for Chloe to sit at the long, polished table but remained standing herself, her posture radiating an icy authority. "Start talking," Penelope commanded, her voice low and direct. "And don't waste my time."
Chloe, momentarily intimidated by Penelope's cool demeanour, took a deep breath. She had rehearsed this. "I'm Sarah's sister," she began, her voice a mix of feigned sadness and calculated triumph. "The girl your fiancé has been hiding at the hospital."
A flicker of something—was it hurt, or just annoyance?—crossed Penelope's face. "What about her? And what does she have to do with Damien?"
"Everything," Chloe replied, leaning forward conspiratorially. "She's not just a patient. She's his mistress." She then launched into her story, exaggerating details and painting a picture of a passionate, secret affair between Damien and Sarah. She described Damien's daily visits, his gifts, and his intense concern for Sarah, all while carefully omitting the fact that Sarah had no memory of him and that their relationship was based on his guilt. She explained how they were her adoptive family, how they had taken Sarah in when she was just a baby, and how they had looked after her all her life, a fact she embellished with tear-jerking tales of sacrifice. "But now," she continued, "Damien moved her to a private ward and has forbidden us from visiting her."
Penelope listened intently, her expression unreadable. When Chloe finished, a long silence filled the room. Chloe shifted uncomfortably, unsure if her words had landed.
Finally, Penelope spoke. "So, you're telling me that my fiancé is having a secret affair with your sister, and you're here to tell me this... why?"
Chloe's face hardened. "For a price. We've been looking after Sarah our whole lives. Now, with all her injuries, it will be a lot more costly. My mother and I have been taking care of her, and we think we deserve to be compensated. You see, we are not as rich as you are. And since it's in your best interest to know about this... affair, you should pay me for the information, and I can be of assistance to you in the future. If not, then I suppose I can always turn to the press."
Penelope arched a perfectly manicured eyebrow. "Oh? I see. You're trying to blackmail me. Or rather, you're trying to sell me information about my future husband. Interesting." She walked to the window, looking out at the city skyline. "And what makes you think I can't find all this out myself? Damien is my fiancé. All I have to do is ask him."
"He won't tell you the truth!" Chloe insisted, her voice rising. "Who would tell their fiancé that he's hiding a mistress?" She laughed. "You can even pay us for our silence and keep this whole situation a secret. You don't want your reputation ruined before the engagement, do you?"
Penelope turned back to face Chloe, a thin smile on her lips. "I don't think you understand who you're dealing with. I don't pay for information. But since you're so loyal..." She paused, her eyes like chips of ice. "How about this: you will give me all the information you have about Sarah, and in return, I will give you $1 million to disappear together with your sister out of my and Damien's life. I'll add another million if you get rid of Sarah completely."
Chloe's heart pounded. She hadn't expected this. "You want me to kill Sarah?"
"Yes," Penelope said, her smile widening. "Do we have a deal?"
Chloe swallowed hard. This was more complicated, and far more dangerous, than she had imagined. The gold ticket she held in her hands had now turned into a possible ticket to prison. How could she kill Sarah? She was desperate for money, having debts everywhere, and this money from Penelope could pay off some of her debts. But she realized that killing Sarah would get her nothing. She could see if a Mr. Kang was still interested in her.
"Do we have a deal?" Penelope repeated, her voice a soft, deadly purr.
Chloe, her face a mask of greed and fear, nodded slowly. "We have a deal."