THE ALGORITHM

8.

His remark captured Penny's attention. She listened to Cecil closely and realized he was gently sending her a threat. There was no way in hell she would allow a stranger to bathe her.

Cecil glanced at his iPhone before leaving the room. The bodyguard, Miguel, stood there momentarily, staring at her. She glanced at him but cut her attention elsewhere, not wanting to linger. Miguel eventually looked away and closed the door behind himself.

Reluctantly, Penny left the bed and snatched up the items on it. She walked barefoot on the plush carpet as she neared the bathroom. The woman pushed the door open and took in the sight of the marvelous bathroom. Soft beige walls and sleek gray tiles framed the modern fixtures.

The freestanding bathtub was adorned with decorative items, including scented candles and flowers. Weird—Penny thought. The shower area featured a sleek glass enclosure with a contemporary aesthetic.

Penny walked further into the bathroom and settled her items on the counter. She inhaled the sweet fragrance of lavender as her eyes eased on the mirror. She took hold of the counter and leaned against it. Her facial appearance held a mixture of weariness and defiance.

There was something different about. Her eyes widened in realization as she continued to stare at herself. Penny was dressed in all white. She wore a white top with the matching pants. She glanced at the clothing sitting on the counter; it was the same outfit she had worn earlier. Her eyes quickly pinpointed her locs. They were pulled into a ponytail.

Penny looked very clean. Feeling curious, she held her forehead close to her nose and sniffed it. There was a pleasant yet unfamiliar fragrance embedded in her skin. Realization hit her abruptly. Penny thought about Dr. Sterling and her weird behavior. The doctor told her she'd been unconscious for a few days. Penny was still curious about the situation because she didn't understand what was going on.

Someone has been bathing me! She screamed internally, wrapping her arms around her body.

Penny stared at herself while easing her hand toward her forehead. It was a small bandage covering her gash. Penny couldn't remember anything. She was slowly trying to recover from whatever made her feel stagnant.

Cecil's thirty-minute reminder crossed her mind. She sighed deeply before walking toward the pristine shower. Penny turned it on and adjusted the settings to her liking. She peeled her clothes off and stepped inside the shower, allowing the water to saturate her entire body. The woman lathered her blue loofah with the body wash and wasted no time cleaning herself thoroughly. It took Penny approximately fifteen minutes to get in and get out. She didn't want to test Cecil because she didn't want anyone invading her space...again.

After showering, she put on the clothes that had been given to her. Penny stood in front of the mirror with a frown on her face. She disliked the clothes because they didn't suit her style. She stood there wearing a white top with the matching pants. They fit her perfectly, but she couldn't help but feel like she was stuck inside a color-coordinated psychiatric ward.

Her shoes were nowhere to be found. Reluctantly, she slid her feet into the white, slip-on shoes. They were comfortable, but she wanted her Converses back. They were her real comfort shoes.

Hesitantly, she went toward the bedroom and placed her hand on the knob. When she turned it, her eyes widened in surprise. The door wasn't locked. Cautiously, Penny opened the door. She peeked her head outside to check her surroundings. No one was around—the security guards were absent.

Slowly, she stepped outside the room and gazed over the expansive mansion hallways. With purposeful steps, she scanned around with a determined expression etched on her face. Several doors led to rooms. Penny bypassed them all and headed for the visible entrance. It led her toward the front of the house. She passed the staircase and neared the entryway.