Chapter 264

Penny and I were still seated in the living room, savoring the sandwiches I had hastily whipped up while engaging in a lighthearted conversation. He had many stories to tell, and I was eager to hear each of them.

"So, you won't believe what happened during this one interview I had," Penny exclaimed between bites, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

I chuckled, taking a sip of my drink. “I'm all ears," I encouraged.

"Well, when I first started out, I conducted my first interview with this guy who claimed he was a rockstar. He had the whole persona going—leather jacket, sunglasses indoors, the works," Penny recounted.

I couldn't help but grin at the mental image her words painted. "Sounds like quite the character," I remarked, already getting a sense of where this was going.

Penny nodded enthusiastically. "Oh, it gets better. He starts talking about his world tours, chart-topping albums, and how he's the next big thing in the music industry," she continued, a playful glimmer in her eyes.

I raised an eyebrow, feigning intrigue. "Let me guess, it turned out to be a little bit embellished?"

Penny leaned in, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Correct! Turns out, I decided to do a quick Google search while he was busy talking about his 'concerts,' and guess what? There was no trace of him as a rockstar anywhere. It was all a facade!"

I burst into laughter, unable to contain my amusement. "Goodness! Did you call him out on it?" I asked, imagining the scenario unfold as a younger, naïve Penny unfolded the truth.

Penny chuckled, shaking her head. "Not at first. I kept probing, pretending to be interested, until I finally asked about his alleged world tours. He stumbled for a moment before admitting that he might have exaggerated a bit," she recounted, a twinkle of mischief in her eyes.

"That must've been quite the interview," I remarked, still chuckling at the mental image of the imposter rockstar caught in his own web of lies.

Penny nodded. "Oh, it was, and it was a lesson well learned. I've encountered some interesting characters during interviews, but that one definitely stands out."

As our conversation flowed, I lost track of time, engrossed in the conversation. We were only interrupted by the sound of the front door opening, and Timothy walked in soon after.

"Timothy, hi!" I exclaimed, my smile widening at the sight of him, standing there with an expression that hinted at a mixture of surprise and mild disgruntlement.

"Hey," Timothy greeted, his tone carrying a hint of reservation as he glanced between Penny and me.

Realizing that I might have overstayed my welcome with my impromptu gathering, I quickly spoke up, a tinge of apology in my voice. "Sorry. I hope you don't mind Penny being here," I said, hoping to alleviate any discomfort I might have caused.

Timothy's response was measured. "No, not at all. Your friends are always welcome. Hi, Penny" he replied, his voice carrying a note of politeness, though his demeanor seemed a touch withdrawn.

“Hi, Timothy,” Penny greeted, and I could tell she was hiding a smirk as she looked form him to me.

As he left the room, I turned back to Penny with an apologetic smile. "Excuse me for a moment," I said, excusing myself from the conversation.

I trailed Timothy's path, finding him in his room, his posture tense. "Hey," I called softly, hesitating at the door frame.

He glanced up, weariness evident in his eyes. "I can take Penny over to my place if it's inconvenient," I offered, concerned about the tension between us.

Timothy shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "No, that's not the problem, Evie," he replied, his tone gentle yet carrying a weight that hinted at a deeper concern.

I sensed there was more to his unease, and the curiosity nagged at me. "What's happened with your dad?”

He hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I couldn’t believe it. They were both trying to get me to speak on Stella's behalf and clear her name," Timothy revealed. “And they wanted you to speak for her too.”

The revelation hit me like a jolt, a surge of anger rising within me. "What? How could they?”

Timothy pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned. "I don’t know what they were thinking. Maybe it’s because Mr. Fitzgerald’s a valuable connection so the money was talking-"

"And so they decided to disregard the fact that Stella was the one that brought me to Bruce?!?" I exclaimed. "Even if she never laid a hand on me, she was part of it."

Timothy nodded, understanding and regret etched across his features. "I know, Evie. I told them that, but they weren’t hearing me."

I ran my hands through my hair, my breathing growing ragged. “Why is it so hard for these people to understand how this affects me. Am I not a human being to them?"

Timothy's hand found mine, and he guided me toward him. I fell into his embrace as he rubbed circles into the small of my back. "Emotions aren’t allowed in the business world, evidently."

"Then I can be brutal,” I said bitterly, lifting my head to meet his gaze. “Let me help, Tim. I can talk to Kamran, or Mr. Fitzgerald, and we can sort this out.”

Timothy's expression softened. "Evie, I don't want to put you in danger. This situation could escalate, and I don't want you to be caught in the middle of it," he asserted, his tone carrying a note of protectiveness.

His words struck a chord within me, a mixture of frustration and understanding swirling within. I wanted to help, to rectify the injustice, but the realization of potential danger brought a sense of hesitation.

"But Tim, I want to help. And I’m practically already in the middle of it," I argued.

Timothy's gaze met mine, a hint of reluctance in his eyes. "I know, Evie. But this could get complicated. I'll figure it out with them," he insisted, his determination firm.

As we sat in a tense silence, the unresolved tension lingered between us. Timothy's reluctance to involve me for my safety clashed with my determination to rectify the injustice. It didn’t seem like anyone was winning in either case.

"I just want justice," I murmured, my voice wavering.

"I know," Timothy replied softly, and he kissed me gently. "But you’ve got to keep your distance from these people. You saw what Andy did to me."

My frustration swelled as I observed the bandages on his face. They couldn’t get away with everything, and I refused to let them. "I'm not running from your family or the Fitzgeralds anymore," I insisted, my voice firm and resolute.

“Evie-”

Before Timothy could respond, I made my way back to the living room, prepared to make my own move in this game I’d been forced into it.

Reentering the living room, I found Penny sitting on the couch as she petted Duke. She glanced up at me and her eyebrows creased.

"Evie, is everything alright?" she asked,

I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself before responding. "I'm okay, Penny. Just some things I need to sort out," I replied, attempting to mask the internal struggle I was facing.

Penny nodded understandingly, though her concern lingered. "I could leave if it's not a good time. You seem preoccupied," she offered.

For a brief moment, I considered letting Penny leave to alleviate the tension, but a surge of determination rose within me. "No, Penny, please stay," I said abruptly.

Confusion flickered across Penny's face, but she nodded and rested back onto the couch. "Okay, I'm here for you," she reassured me, her tone supportive.

Taking a seat across from Penny, I felt a surge of determination wash over me. "Okay, about Bette Frieman’s request," I began, changing the subject abruptly. My mind was racing with a newfound plan.

Penny's eyes widened slightly in surprise at the sudden shift in conversation. "Yeah?" she inquired, leaning close.

"I want to do that interview," I declared.