THE ALGORITHM

5.

"Girl, worry about yourself. Bert will be fine." Katrina said with encouragement. "I'm gonna be honest with you, P. You won't receive another offer like this—take it and live your life. Get out of here and build your success."

Penny only nodded. She didn't say anything because she was too busy processing everything in her mind.

"This will also give you a chance to escape that situation."

Penny furrowed her brows and reiterated, "Situation?"

"The situation with the suited men who committed that murder." Katrina brought up the old memory that immediately fogged Penny's brain. Her eyes widened in terror. She had been so busy with her life that she had forgotten about it.

###

Bilal was a morning person. He woke up every day around 5 a.m. During this time, he would take care of his hygiene and run early. After his run, he would finish it by working out or heading to the shower to wash away the sweat. Today, he ran and followed it up by taking a hot shower. After putting on clothes and grabbing his favorite green smoothie, he left to meet with his father.

Greg owned a well-known real estate office in the heart of Manhattan. It was tucked away in a corner location. The storefront of the building was covered by dark, polished woodwork. Tall, narrow windows are embedded in the building with curtains draped across them. A classic sign with Lawson Realty in elegant lettering was stapled above the door.

Inside, the reception area exudes an aura of sophistication and discretion. The walls are adorned with sleek, dark marble panels, subtly illuminated from behind to create a dramatic effect. There was a white receptionist's desk where the receptionist sat. Designer leather armchairs and low-profile coffee tables sat comfortably across the room.

Greg sat at his desk while flipping through a few documents. He was in the process of examining his next business deal. Bilal stopped by and checked in with his father for a talk.

"No, this is all wrong," Greg muttered, rubbing his fingertips against his stubbled face.

Bilal glanced at his father and realized he wore a button-down shirt with slacks. Regardless, Greg loved dressing formally.

"This wasn't the original price." Greg placed his eyes on his best friend, Cecil.

"Do you want me to call Regine and ask her about the numbers?"

"Yes." The older man responded as his eyes scanned the documents for the hundredth time. "They're off—way off. I can't work with any of this."

"So, this is what you two have been doing all morning?" Bilal called out while glancing from his dad to Cecil. "Checking out numbers."

"The only way this business can flourish is if I step in and take over," Greg responded to his son. "I have to make sure everything is correct. Regine doesn't have a great eye when it comes to math." He added, referring to his oldest child.

"Mm." Bilal hummed as she thought about his sister. She was the transaction coordinator. It was her responsibility to handle the necessary paperwork and documentation. She was known for being a little disorganized. Regine kept miscalculating numbers, misplacing documents, and forgetting important deadlines.

Greg made sure to check his daughter's work. Regine had a habit of being careless. She focused more on her personal image and interests rather than on the meticulous details of her role. Bilal didn't understand why his father allowed Regine to remain employed—blood relations aside, he thought his sister sucked at being a transaction coordinator.