by Kayla Hensen
That night she worked late sitting at her desk but it was hard to focus. Instead, she stared at the blank screen on her laptop and bounced a pencil up and down in her hand. Penny poured herself a cup of coffee to clear her mind but she knew what it was she needed to do. So instead of walking back to her desk, she headed to Logan’s office.
She knocked on the doorframe. Inside he sat on the phone but when he saw her he held up a finger. A few moments later, he ended up call. “Penny, come on in. What can I do for you?”
Penny folded her hands together and took a shaky breath as she stepped inside. “I wasn’t sure if you were aware that Duncan Williamsworth had started his own firm.”
“Nothing happens in this industry that I don’t know about. I do and it’s a noble effort. I hope he’s successful. He’s talented enough. I appreciate his gumption. It scary going into business for yourself, no matter how much money you have.”
Penny nodded. “I’ve been supportive of his business. I never would give away any of your trade secrets.”
“I wasn’t worried about that. I was worried that you might want to leave me and go work for him. He could use someone like you and you’ve been different around the office.”
“Oh?” Penny cringed and worried he could tell her mind was elsewhere.
“Happier. Bouncier. When Duncan’s name comes up you flush bright and red. I assumed you two are an official couple by now.”
“We are. And I want to give him my full support. This company means a lot to him and he wants to prove himself to so many people. You included. Being here sometimes makes me feel like I’m not helping him as much as I can.”
Logan’s face went slack. “You are thinking of leaving me. Can I beg you not to? Give you a raise? What do I have to do?”
“It’s not about money. It’s about running a business together with the person you… want to spend the rest of your life with. Small businesses can fail or succeed on a dime. I know what one bad decision can do. I also know if you have the right team, how far it can go.”
Logan stroked his chin. “We can work something out. I know we can. You’re the most efficient assistant I’ve ever had. I can be a little overbearing sometimes.”
“You, sir?” Penny raised her eyebrows in mock surprise.
“It’s true,” Logan sighed. “I assign tasks just to keep people busy and make sure there aren’t idle hands. If you can be available to work for me remotely while Duncan’s business gets up on it’s feet, maybe we can work something out?”
“I’d love that, Mr. Sinclair. Leaving Sinclair Enterprises is the last thing I want to do right now but if I could have more time…”
“Then let’s do it, but you’re going to have to do something for me first.”
Always another assignment.
“Yes, sir. Just tell me what it is?”
“Duncan. I’m going to need to speak to him. Me and his father. You need to arrange a meeting with all of us. I think it’s time to put this rivalry to bed, don’t you?”
Chapter Nineteen
Duncan held Penny’s hand as they strolled through the park near her office. It had been customary over the last few weeks to meet for lunch there and walk through the flower gardens. It was a nice way to recharge in the morning. Some days they had to postpone because of one of their schedules but Duncan felt like they were both determined to spend time together even with hectic work lives.
Today Penny had packed his favorite sandwich and even supplied potato chips. As she talked about her plan for him to meet with both Logan and his father, Duncan knew why. She was buttering him up with food—her favorite thing in the world. He couldn’t really disagree that it was a bad method but he really wanted nothing to do with either of them.
“You know how I feel about this, Pen.”
“I know.” Her face looked pained. “But I really want this to work. Your business can capitalize on their contacts. All we have to do is be cordial to start. I’m sure you’d like that, wouldn’t you? If you meet them, Logan’s promised to lighten my schedule so I can work with you at Second Chances. I can help you bring your company up through the infancy stages. I know I’m just an assistant—”
“Penny,” Duncan chastised. “You’re not ‘just’ anything. You’re amazing.”
She smiled. “My experience and the people I know can help you. It can help us. It’s not my name on the door but—”
“It will be one day. Everything I have will be yours, too. The timing was wrong but as soon as we can…” Duncan thought it over and realized what Penny was giving up for him. Her cushiony job at Sinclair Enterprises, working for the most successful businessman in Hamilton Springs. “All right.” He swallowed hard. “I’ll meet them for you.”
Penny hugged him. “It’s all going to work out. You’ll see!”
Maybe she was right. “Under a condition that you present them with a business proposal that shows the health of the business before we meet.”
“I wish you didn’t feel the need to do that but yes, of course.”
“And you’ll help me draw it up? I have no idea what I’m doing when I’m behind the computer. I’m better on the phone. I’m a mover and a shaker. Not a typer.”
“Luckily I am.” Penny tightened her arms around his waist and drew him close. “I can type eighty-five words a minute.”
Duncan’s eyes widened. “Wow,” he whispered. “And you call me the dork.”
Penny laughed. “I love you.”
“I know,” he nuzzled her neck and breathed in her sweet, deep scent. He rubbed his nose against her soft skin. “And that might be the biggest miracle of all. How lucky I got when I met you.”
“I guess I’m just your lucky Penny.”
Duncan liked that. No, in fact he loved it.
*****
Duncan straightened his jacket and took his sunglasses off as he and Penny stepped up to the front entrance to the Williamsworth family estate. Here went nothing. He didn’t know why he was as nervous as he was. He felt the same way he did when he crashed the Lamborghini into the fence when he was a teen. Hadn’t been old enough to drive but he sure had been old enough to get severely punished.
The butler pulled the door open for them. “It’s wonderful to see you again, Mr. Williamsworth. Welcome home.”
“Thanks.” Duncan tried to sound relaxed but he sounded far from it. He sounded like the most tense person on the planet and like he was heading into the principal’s office.
Penny greeted the butler as they stepped inside. They were shown into his mother’s seating room but inside were Logan and his father. His mother was nowhere to be seen, which was disappointing because she was the one he really wouldn’t mind spending time with. His father got bonus points for not inviting Matthew, though.
Dad stood up to greet him and Logan did the same. They all shook hands. Duncan didn’t know what the next step was. Penny cleared her throat. “Thanks for meeting us.”
“Yes, right,” Duncan said. “Thanks for having me over. We have a lot to discuss.”
“Right,” Dad said. “Heard you’re living over by the beach now. How do you like it?”
“Better than living in your pool house,” Duncan said.
Penny elbowed him in the side but kept a smile on her face. “We’re not here to trade insults.”
“I’m sorry. Penny’s right.” Duncan put his hands in his pockets. “It’s nice. Tranquil. The house is great and was just the right price. I love it there.”
“We read over your business plan,” Logan said. “Together and separately. You have lofty goals and some success is giving you momentum but you’re going to need more capital to sustain it. To grow even further, you’ll need to go into the hole during the startup phase. Are you prepared for that?”
“I’m prepared to do the work. Some capital would be nice.”
“What you’re trying to do is noble. I never thought I’d see my son, Duncan Williamsworth, care so much about what people can afford. Or if t
hey can get their second chance. We’ve always been in business property, same as Logan,” Dad said.
Logan nodded. “It’d be good PR for me to help you out. An interest free loan and a sizable gift. What do you say?”
“Depends what he says,” Duncan glanced at his dad. “For my part, I’m sorry for my behavior but I felt blindsided. I know I should’ve handled it better and should’ve handled it more professional in front of the guests.”
“It set me into damage control for a few weeks,” Dad complained. Duncan didn’t know if he was going to get from his dad what he needed. He felt more sad than angry.
Penny cleared her throat and gave his dad a pointed look. Duncan loved how fierce she was even in the face of such an intimidating man.
“But…” His Dad sighed. “I shouldn’t have thrown you out. I shouldn’t have yelled. I let my emotions get the better of me. Truth is, I’ve missed you around the house. Having Matthew around as my only son is plain boring, to tell you the truth. He always does what I ask. He never pushes back. He’s perfect in every way.”
“Wow,” Duncan said. “That makes me feel so much better.”
“Look, we’re not going to solve this overnight,” Logan said. “But can we all agree to be cordial and work together? It’d be for the good of our companies and for the better good of Hamilton Springs. The last part being the most important. I’ve sat in my ivory towers for too long. It’s time for me to make a difference somewhere else.”
Duncan nodded. “Agreed. On all accounts.”
“And I’m sorry if you thought I was after your parents company. I wasn’t.” Logan licked his bottom lip. “All I wanted was to assist a company in trouble. I can’t say no to a good business opportunity when I see one. Just like Second Chances. I want in.”
“You’re in,” Duncan admitted. “You’re both in.”
They all shook hands and Penny gleefully smiled. “Sounds like we have some serious work to do.” She held up her laptop. “Are we ready then to get started?”
“Can we have a meal first?” Dad asked. “The cook is preparing us lunch under specific instructions from my wife.”
Penny’s eyes sparkled. “Can we? Sir, you’ve jut said the magic word.”
“What’s that?”
“Lunch,” Duncan and Penny said in unison.
Epilogue
Duncan and Penny Williamsworth stood in front of the brand-new community center on the other side of Hamilton Springs. The side few people ever talked about because it wasn’t as affluent. The people who lived there were down on their luck and most of the rich liked to pretend it didn’t exist.
But not anymore.
Duncan held a pair of scissors in his hand. Behind him was a stretch of a classy new building with a playground. “I’m proud to announce that we’ve got this new community center built and off the ground. Three years ago when we started the initiative in partnership with Sinclair Enterprises and Williamsworth Real Estate, this was barely a dream. We had no idea if we could do it for the price we wanted to do it for. Now I’m proud to say, it’s here. Kids will have somewhere new to play. Somewhere safe to go after school and parents will be able to hone their skills and find better jobs.”
He cut the yellow ribbon to applause and to camera flashes. Penny smiled widely at him and gave him a hug. “I’m so proud of you! You’re my favorite adult sized human.”
Duncan’s heart swelled with pride and love. He hugged her close and squeezed his eyes shut. He thought of the baby just beginning to take shape inside of her and how that baby was going to change everything—just as it should. He couldn’t wait to meet the little tyke, even if it terrified him.
Him? A dad? What if he messed that all up.
He kissed the side of Penny’s head and turned to face the crowd again. He waved before stepping down. Both Logan and his dad greeted him and shook his hand. “Who knew,” his Dad said, “that you have so much of your grandfather in you?” his Dad wore the face of pride and Duncan felt accepted.
Accepted and like he had his father’s love.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“I knew you had it in you all along!” Logan gruffed and then gave a wink. “If you’ll excuse me. We have visitors today coming to the house. The grandchildren! That’ll be before you know it for you, too.”
“I can’t wait for it,” Dad said, giving Penny and Duncan a big smile. “Your mother and I couldn’t be more thrilled. You take care of yourselves. Penny, you need anything, you make sure this big duffus does it for you, okay?”
“Absolutely,” Penny smiled and folded her hands at her still flat as a board belly.
Duncan sighed. “Duffus now? Really?”
“Don’t worry. You’ll always be my dork.” Penny laced her fingers through his.
It didn’t phase him anymore. “How about we go for ice cream? Strawberry?”
Penny’s eyes widened with happiness. “You know better than anyone how I can’t say no to food.”
Duncan did. And he loved it. He loved her. Their future was just beginning and despite all the good times they had, he knew the best ones were still coming. Once a player and now an expected father-to-be, Duncan’s life was better than he ever dreamed.
So much better.
