บท 14: Vought International
Niklaus descended onto the orphanage's grounds, landing with a controlled grace that betrayed none of the power simmering beneath his calm exterior.
Penélope was already waiting, standing near the place where he touched down.
Her posture was almost eager, like a dog waiting to be praised, her eyes bright with anticipation.
He caught the look but chose to ignore it, his focus already elsewhere.
Without sparing her a glance, he walked past her and made his way back to his room.
Penélope, dutiful as ever, followed him in silence.
When they reached his quarters, Niklaus slipped out of his suit, his muscular form shrinking as he shifted back to his child-like appearance.
He barely noticed Penélope's quiet disappointment as she helped him out of the costume, her hands moving with practiced care.
Though she didn't say anything, Niklaus could sense the tiny shift in her demeanor.
She was always composed, but he knew she enjoyed seeing him in his adult form—the power, the authority.
He didn't care to address it, though. There were bigger things on his mind.
"Penélope," he said, his voice soft but commanding. "I want you to get to the plan I told you about earlier."
Penélope's eyes lit up again, the previous disappointment quickly vanishing.
She nodded sharply, understanding the gravity of what he was talking about.
The plan. It was their way forward, their way to establish control in this world. Vought International would soon be a reality, and Penélope was going to be the face of it.
Of course, for novelty's sake, Niklaus had insisted that she change her name to Penélope Vought.
It was all part of the game, all part of the appearance. Once the company was established, she would adopt him, bringing everything full circle.
"Understood, Master," she said, her voice betraying a mix of professionalism and something deeper.
Niklaus gave her a sharp nod. "And remember," he added.
"we have plenty of funds. Use them wisely but don'tcut corners. The investments I told you about will keep flowing, and the banking systems still aren't fully developed. We can exploit that—misuse it to our advantage."
Penélope smiled slightly, though her expression remained respectful. "As you wish Master. Everything will be in place soon."
---
4 Years Later
Penélope Vought stood at the podium, her silhouette framed against the backdrop of the Vought Enclave's shining logo.
But this moment wasn't about her company—it was about her story.
Her eyes swept across the audience, full of powerful figures and everyday people alike, each listening intently as she began to speak.
Her voice was soft but steady, rich with emotion. "I didn't start this company for power or fame," she began. "I started it because, as a mother, I had no choice."
She paused, her gaze distant for a moment as she gathered herself. "You see," she continued, her voice trembling slightly with the weight of the memory, "years ago, I spent countless nights by my son's bedside in the hospital. I watched as he struggled for breath, clinging to life while machines hummed around him. I would have done anything to make him better... and thankfully, I had the means to give him the best care possible."
The room was silent, every eye on her as she spoke.
The rawness of her words cut through the usual corporate polish, and for the first time, the people saw not just the CEO, but a mother who had once been helpless.
"But it wasn't just him," she continued, her voice growing stronger. "As I sat there, day after day, I saw other families. Mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, standing over children too young to understand what was happening to them."
"And yet, they hesitated. Not because they didn't want to help their children, but because they were afraid. Afraid of the cost. Afraid of the bills that would pile up afterward."
Penélope took a breath, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I saw families having to choose between paying for rent and paying for their child's medicine."
"I saw mothers weeping as they signed discharge papers because they simply couldn't afford one more night in that sterile room. And it broke my heart, even though i helped them with all i could I-"
Her voice chokes ,as she uses a handkerchief to wipe her eyes slightly.
"There were many lives lost, Lives far too young"
She looked out at the crowd, her voice filled with a quiet fury.
"That's when I made a decision. No mother, no father, no family should ever have to make that kind of choice."
"And so, I took up the mantle. I founded Vought International with one mission: to ensure that no one, no matter their income or status, is denied the healthcare they deserve."
There was a hush in the room as she continued, the audience hanging on her every word.
"In the past three years, we've made real change. Together, we've brought healthcare costs down by 20%. But let me tell you, that's just the beginning."
Penélope's eyes hardened with determination as she stepped closer to the edge of the stage. "This company wasn't built on corporate greed or empty promises."
"It was built on the love of a mother for her child. On the understanding that every parent would fight with everything they have to keep their child safe and healthy."
The crowd was silent, many visibly moved by her words.
Some wiped tears from their eyes; others simply watched with awe as Penélope continued to lay her soul bare.
"But healthcare is only the first battle," she said, her tone softening again. "Because I've come to realize something else, something just as important."
"Our children… they're not just suffering physically—they're suffering in their minds and their spirits. "
"Our education system is failing them. It's been stagnant for too long, stuck in outdated methods and unprepared to help the leaders of tomorrow flourish."
She smiled warmly, her passion and determination palpable. "That's why I'm proud to announce today that Vought International will be expanding into education."
"We will bring the same revolution to our schools that we have brought to healthcare. We will invest in our children's futures, ensuring that they not only survive but thrive."
The room exploded in applause, and Penélope stood tall, her heart swelling with the emotion of the moment.
As the cheers grew louder, she raised her hands in a gesture of humility, thanking the people for their belief in her vision.
She smiled gently as she finished her speech, "This isn't just a business—this is a movement. And together, we will keep America healthy. We will keep America strong. And we will build a future where every child has the chance to shine."
As the applause reached a crescendo, Penélope stepped away from the podium, her eyes bright with the promise of what was yet to come.
And in that moment, she wasn't just the CEO of a company—she was the mother of a movement.
Movement that had uprooted Comapnies bordering on being a century old within a few years.
---
As soon as Penélope reached her office, her confident and authoritative demeanor melted away.
Inside the spacious, sleekly designed room, Niklaus sat with his back turned to her, his blond hair catching the light as he lounged in a large chair.
Despite his youthful appearance, the power he exuded made the air feel heavy, a reminder that there was something far greater within him than the surface suggested.
Without hesitation, Penélope crossed the room and knelt before him, her earlier passion and strength now replaced by a quiet, reverential submission.
She bowed her head slightly, awaiting his acknowledgment, expecting the praise she had come to crave.
It had become almost second nature for her to seek it, the validation of his approval meaning more to her than the applause of the world.
Niklaus slowly turned his chair to face her, his piercing blue eyes studying her for a moment.
His expression was unreadable, his thoughts hidden behind a calm, almost detached demeanor.
But when he finally spoke, his voice was low and deliberate, a hint of amusement threading through it.
"You did well," Niklaus said, his tone laced with a soft approval that made her heart race. "Your speech was everything it needed to be—and more. You've made them believe in the cause, made them trust in Vought, in you."
Penélope's lips curved into a subtle smile at his words, the tension in her shoulders easing.
Praise from him, no matter how simple, felt like the highest reward.
She dared to glance up at him, her eyes reflecting admiration and something deeper—something she couldn't quite define but had grown stronger in the years since she had taken on this role.
"And now," he continued, leaning forward slightly, "you've opened the door to something greater. Expanding into education, building a future for those children... it's just the beginning."
He reached out, placing a hand gently on the top of her head, a gesture that felt both like affection and ownership.
Penélope closed her eyes at the touch, feeling a rush of satisfaction at his approval.
"You've done everything I expected of you and more," Niklaus said quietly, his voice softening as he pulled his hand away.
"Now, keep going. Build it all, just as we've planned."
"Of course," she whispered, her voice filled with quiet devotion. "Anything for you Master."
Niklaus smiled faintly, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Good girl. Now get back to work."
Penélope rose gracefully to her feet, her heart still pounding with the satisfaction of his praise.
She gave him one last glance before turning and walking back toward the door, her every step purposeful, driven by his approval.
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