Chapter 37: Penny’s Desperation
As Marcus Sinclair reveled in the final stages of his meticulously crafted plan to seize control of Morgan Enterprises and Hawthorne Industries, one of his pawns, Penny Townsend, found herself facing the abyss. The world she had once ruled with confidence was crumbling beneath her feet. Since Mila had publicly exposed her betrayal, Penny's career, her reputation, and her future in the corporate world had been left in tatters. Every door she tried to open was slammed in her face, and every ally she once had had turned their back on her. Marcus, who had promised her power, had left her with nothing but broken promises and a growing sense of dread.
At first, Penny had thought Marcus Sinclair was her ticket to regaining what she had lost. He had lured her in with promises of control, wealth, and status, but now, as his takeover neared its climax, Penny realized the cold, harsh truth: Marcus had no intention of sharing his spoils. She had been a convenient tool, nothing more. If Marcus succeeded in his hostile takeover, there would be no room for Penny in the empire he was building.
And Penny knew too much. Too much about his plans, his tactics, and his betrayals. If Marcus had no use for her, he would make sure she disappeared from the corporate world for good. The thought left her sleepless, her mind spinning with the weight of her mistakes. For the first time in a long while, Penny felt the full weight of her desperation.
She needed a way out. But more than that, she needed redemption.
Late one evening, as the lights of New York City twinkled outside her modest apartment window, Penny made a decision that felt like her last chance for survival. She would betray Marcus and offer everything she knew to Mila. It was a long shot, but it was the only play she had left. Penny knew that her chances of winning Mila's forgiveness were slim, but if she could give Lori Sinclair, Mila's PR director and Marcus's sister, the information needed to stop Marcus's takeover, it might be enough to save her from total ruin. Maybe, just maybe, Mila would see the value in what she had to offer.
Penny reached for her phone, her hands trembling as she typed a message to Lori. The Sinclair siblings had always had a strained relationship, and Penny knew that Lori had no love for Marcus. If she could convince Lori to listen, it might be her only shot at redemption.
Penny: I need to meet with you. It's about Marcus. I have information Mila will want. Please. This is important.
She pressed send, her heart pounding as she waited for a response. For a long, excruciating moment, the silence stretched on. Then, her phone buzzed.
Lori: I'll hear what you have to say. But this better be worth it.
The next evening, Penny found herself sitting in a dimly lit café, far from the high-end restaurants and penthouses where she had once held power. The place was discreet, a perfect spot for a private conversation. Penny sat nervously at a corner table, her fingers gripping her coffee cup tightly as she waited. She barely recognized herself in the reflection of the window—a far cry from the confident COO she had once been. Her face was pale, her hair slightly disheveled, and dark circles rimmed her eyes. She was a woman on the brink, and she knew it.
When Lori Sinclair arrived, she was the picture of calm control, dressed in her usual immaculate fashion, her sharp eyes scanning the room before settling on Penny. Without a word, she slid into the chair across from her, her expression cool and unreadable.
"Penny," Lori said, her voice neutral. "What is it you think you can offer?"
Penny swallowed hard, her hands shaking slightly as she placed them in her lap. "Mila needs to know what Marcus is planning," she said, her voice raw with desperation. "He's not just after her company. He's coming for Hawthorne Industries too. He's been using me to destabilize both companies from the inside, feeding them misinformation, planting doubts. I can give you everything—every detail of his takeover plan."
Lori raised an eyebrow, her expression remaining coldly detached. "Why should I believe you? You've already proven yourself to be untrustworthy. And you've betrayed Mila once before. What's to stop you from playing another angle here?"
Penny flinched at the sharpness of Lori's words, but she couldn't afford to back down now. "I don't expect forgiveness," she admitted, her voice shaking. "I know what I did was wrong. But I swear, Marcus has been manipulating me from the start. I thought he would help me regain my footing, but I was wrong. He's using everyone, and when he's done, he'll leave me with nothing. He'll leave everyone with nothing."
For a moment, Lori was silent, her sharp gaze boring into Penny, assessing her sincerity. Penny felt herself shrinking under that gaze, knowing that Lori's opinion could very well decide her fate.
After what felt like an eternity, Lori leaned back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest. "You think telling Mila about Marcus will make things right between you two? After everything you've done?"
Penny's eyes filled with unshed tears, her desperation laid bare for Lori to see. "I don't expect her to forgive me. I don't deserve that. But I need to stop Marcus before it's too late—for Mila, for Drake, for both of them. I've made mistakes, but I want to make this right. I can help you stop him."
Lori's expression softened, but only slightly. She knew Penny was telling the truth—at least about Marcus. Her brother had always been ruthless, and Lori had no illusions about the depths he would sink to in order to seize power. She also knew that the information Penny had could be crucial in stopping Marcus's final move.
"I'll take what you've given me to Mila," Lori said slowly, her voice still guarded. "But don't think for a second that this absolves you of what you did. You've betrayed Mila once. There's no coming back from that."
Penny nodded, the tears finally spilling over. "I know. I just—" Her voice broke, and for a moment, she couldn't speak. "I just want to stop Marcus. That's all I have left."
Without another word, Lori stood, smoothing her coat before turning to leave. Penny watched her go, her heart hammering in her chest. She had done all she could. Now, it was up to Lori—and Mila.
As Lori disappeared into the night, Penny slumped back into her chair, the weight of her decision pressing down on her. She knew there was no guarantee that Mila would forgive her, or even listen to her. But she had played her last card. If Marcus succeeded, there would be no redemption for her—or anyone else.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone