THE ALGORITHM

10.

"What a gift," Cecil spoke, interrupting Bilal's thoughts. "Who is it from?"

Bilal drew the dagger from its sheath and examined the sharpness. The honed edges were capable of piercing and slicing through anything. He glanced at Cecil and said, "Lauren."

"Miss. Mancini," Cecil smirked while running his hand over his salt-and-pepper mustache. He knew who she was the moment Bilal mentioned her name. "How is she?"

"I'm not sure," Bilal answered honestly. "We haven't talked since last year. I last heard she moved to Turkey to care for her ailing grandmother."

Cecil raised his brows while placing his eyes on the dirk that was now covered by the sheath. His mind started to wander why Lauren would randomly send Bilal a gift.

"That dagger is...beautiful," Cecil opined. "However, I'm somewhat curious about her reason for sending it."

Bilal sighed and pushed out, "You're not the only one." He glanced at Porter and Levi before saying, "You two can break this box down and get back to work." The men nodded in confirmation.

As soon as Bilal walked off, Cecil followed behind him. His mind was flooded with questions to ask the Don. Cecil wanted to know what Bilal would do about Lauren and her sudden generosity.

"What do you have planned?"

Bilal glanced at Cecil and his nosiness. He didn't bother to push him away because Cecil was the family's adviser. He always had the best guidance. Cecil was wise with multiple strategies. His expertise resulted in Bilal's confidence in him.

"I plan to give Lauren a call," Bilal responded while opening the door to his office. He walked in and decided to put away his dagger.

"Great idea. In the meantime, what are you going to do with Penny?"

Bilal sat at his desk as he continued to listen to Cecil's chatter.

"She's been here for two weeks, and we have to figure out what we're going to do with her."

"Penny will be on kitchen duty until further notice."

Cecil raised his eyebrows, stunned by Bilal's words. "Kitchen duty?" He reiterated before sitting in the chair facing the desk.

"Turns out she's a skilled chef," Bilal revealed.

"She doesn't look like the type to cook," Cecil stated.

"She doesn't, but she was the head chef at Bert's this entire time." Bilal concurred while grabbing his pen from the wooden stand. Immediately, he scribbled down some mental notes before murmuring, "Penny is also on housekeeping duty. Make sure she handles her responsibilities around here. I don't think she realizes how serious this situation is."

###

Cooking was never something Penny wanted to turn into a career. She appreciated food but never wanted to spend the rest of her life cooking for people. Penny didn't have the privilege of sitting in the kitchen watching her family members cook. Instead, she spent a lot of time reading books and trying to survive in her foster care homes. She always felt cautious when being sent to a home due to the unsettling atmosphere. Her foster parents were either trying to bully her, or she had to deal with kids who weren't taught to keep their mouths shut and consider someone's feelings before speaking. Penny's interest in learning how to cook was sparked when she began working as a waitress at Bert's restaurant. It all started with an egg omelet, and after successfully cooking her first medium-rare steak, she continued to explore and learn other recipes.

The sounds of butter popping in the iron skillet caught her attention. She glanced over her shoulder to inspect the pan before grabbing the knife on the counter. Swiftly, her eyes cut over to Scoop, who was busy supervising her. Penny noticed he would place his hand over his holster whenever she went for the knife.

"I'm not going to try anything," Penny stated while aligning the sharp blade with the shallot. Her eyes diverted toward the guard. "So, you can stop putting your hand on your gun."

Scoop blinked a few times as he tried to gather his thoughts. He wasn't expecting Penny to call him out. Their encounters were brief—they didn't hold conversations. Scoop would escort her to an area of the mansion, and that was it.

"I'm just doing my job."

"Everyone is treating me like I committed a murder," Penny stated with a slight frown on her face. "I'm just a girl. I should be the vigilant one."

Scoop watched as she chopped the shallot swiftly. Penny didn't miss a beat—she diced it into small pieces and did the same to the garlic. In a coordinated rhythm, she moved toward the pan with the minced veggies and tossed them in. Penny grew satisfied when she heard the hot butter sizzling as it came into contact with the minced garlic and shallot.

Soon, the smell tangoed around Scoop's nostrils. He appreciated the rich, savory aroma of the food. He watched Penny, taking in her new appearance. Penny's hair was still brushed into a bun. She wore an all-white dress with a matching apron. Scoop thought she looked much better than before.

He scrutinized her gloomy expression before clearing his throat, "I'm not trying to make you feel uncomfortable."

Penny removed the herb-crusted lamb from the oven and set it on the counter to cool off. Scoop took in the golden-brown, crusted meat. The herbs produced a strong, appealing, and tantalizing fragrance.

"It doesn't matter," Penny murmured with a shrug. "I was brought here against my will." She moved her focus toward Scoop and pushed out, "I've been uncomfortable."

Scoop could see the hurt in her face. At that moment, he just stood there with a subtle expression on his face. He didn't know how to respond or react. Comforting her was out of the equation. Penny didn't seem to want that anyway. Instead, she chose to focus on sauteing the asparagus.

"Wow, something smells good in here." A melodic voice called out, capturing Penny and Scoop's attention. Penny turned around from sauteing the veggies. Her body became stiff, similar to a statue. She observed the stranger who sauntered inside the spacious kitchen.

The stranger halted in her tracks to appraise Penny. With a smile glued to her face, she scanned her thoroughly while clasping her hands. She neared the counter and dropped her eyes toward the roasted lamb and wild mushroom risotto.

"Oh, hi." She smiled at her. "You're new?"

Penny furrowed her brows while momentarily looking off to remove the asparagus from the stove. She twisted the knob, turning the burner off. Her mind was wrapped around the woman's choice of words.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Penny questioned her.

"I...it's just..." The woman stuttered with her words. She wasn't expecting Penny to react that way. Her facial expression was stern, and she held no cheery appearance. Furthermore, her tone didn't help the situation. Penny's voice was raspy and stern. "It's my first time seeing you."

Penny didn't respond to her. She detached from the conversation and moved items around on the counter. Scoop suffered from secondhand embarrassment as he watched in silence. The woman frowned slightly and watched Penny for a moment before saying, "I'm Victoria, and you are..."

Dropping the dish towel onto the counter, Penny shifted her attention to Victoria. Her initial thought about the woman was that she had a bougie vibe. Penny created the assumption after hearing Victoria's high-pitched voice and noticing her luxurious clothing.

Victoria's sandy brown hair complemented her honey complexion. Her grey eyes meshed well with her narrowed nose and medium lips. A huge mole was resting between Victoria's nose and upper lip, catching Penny's attention. She ran her fingers through her pressed hair as she waited for a response. French nails covered her fingernail beds, and Penny noticed the large diamond ring on her left finger.

"Penny."

Suddenly, Victoria's eyes widened in realization. Penny was Penelope Bailey. The girl whose file Bilal had during their trip to Oregon. She stood there for a while, trying to process the situation.