Chapter nineteen: "Chef's Kiss"
We got in the parking lot elevator and he pressed the top floor button, it was silent and a bit awkward for me in the elevator because there was no elevator music. I heard the elevator bell ring before opening, I saw a red-carpeted long hallway that has many similar beautifully designed doors that looks like it was custom made only for this place
"Wrong floor, we must have gotten in the wrong elevator," he told me as he pressed the ground floor again, I was confused
"Is the elevator gonna make a difference to go to your place?"
He chuckled as he patted my shoulder
"Oh Sleepy, you simpleton" the doors opened and he pulled me out as we went to the next elevator, there is one thing I noticed when he uses the elevator. You have to have a key card for it to work so when we got in the next elevator he swiped the key card again and I was surprised to only see one button
"What the?" I muttered to myself
Why on earth would an elevator only have one button!?
In my panic I glanced around the elevator because confusion has overtaken me, it's either I don't know much or they make stupid inventions like this
"When they were constructing this building, I requested for it" he explained as soon as I saw his face with amusement with my reaction
"What floor does that lead?"
He only said one word "up"
I heard the elevator bell chime and open, my jaw dropped to the floor instantly with awe
"You live in a penthouse" I let out as I stand there in my place frozen, my eyes were wandering. Cloud stepped out of the elevator and was waiting for me to step out, I slowly walked out as I take in the luxurious and expensive interior of the apartment
"So where is my corner again?" I glanced at him putting my luggage beside a long white couch, he tilted his head to follow him and we went to a corner where one side is a red brick wall as the design and a huge window
He walked up to me and leaned forward to my ear
"You can only design this part of the penthouse"
"Oh sorry I was planning on taking over and designing the living room too" I sarcastically told him with a smirk, we both heard the elevator chime
"Cloudinaaa~" I heard a female voice, Cloud massaged his temple
"For the last time Nikki I'm not Cloudina"
We glance to see Nick and a woman that is taller than me who has tan skin, electric blue eyes, and has a caramel brown pixie cut hair
Her eyes, skin, and hair color are similar to Nick's, Nikki also has an athletic body
"Gorgeous!" Nick greeted me with his arms wide
"Handsome!" I copied him and his playfulness, we gave each other a bear hug and stuck our tongues out at Cloud who was watching us
"Aww does Cloudina want a hug too?" Nikki put her arm around Cloud's neck and did a chokehold on him, he was trying to break free and he did it successfully
"So what's your name?" She asked me with so much energy, her eyes are filled with seriousness and excitement
"I'm Penelope" I grinned as I gave my hand for her to shake but she shake her head and hugged me tightly instead, she was hugging me so tightly that I almost couldn't breathe
"Nikki let go, she's turning blue" Nick told her and Nikki looked at my face as her eyes widened
"Oh My Goodness I'm so sorry" she let go of me and gave me a small bow as an apology
"No it's ok, my sister's hugs are much tighter than yours and I almost fainted from lack of air" I joked
"Are you sure you can sleep beside Cloud Gorgeous? cause I know for one thing is that he is a hardcore no sleeper" Nick asked me
"Wait, how did you know about that? Cloud" I gave Cloud the look, Nikki patted my back and gave out a nervous laugh
"Funny thing about that is that me and Nick are the only ones who know about it so don't worry" she reassured me with honest eyes
"Think of it this way, you are Cloud's 'Pillow Buddy'" Nick spoke
"Pillow Buddy?" Cloud was confused at Nick's made-up term
"Pillow Buddy: a person who sleeps beside you, not with you or a person whom you share a bed with" Nikki guessed it and Nick snapped his fingers because she got it right
"You always get what my terms are sis"
Nikki rolled her eyes as she shake her head with a small smile on her face
I laughed a little
"I guess Cloud is my official Pillow Buddy" I grinned
"Hey Marshall don't even try making a move on this innocent soul, you hear me?" Nikki threatened Cloud, he just agreed because he doesn't want another headlock again. Cloud acts like a little brother to Nikki and an older brother to Nick
Cloud snickered "innocent soul?" His piercing green eyes gaze at me, I felt like he could see through me again. His lips formed a small smirk
"You guys don't know this but her curses are very original when she is in pain" he chuckled
I forced a grin at him
"Really? Do you want me to curse you to oblivion right now Marshall? Because doing it seems like the logical way to do in this situation" I said all of it in a happy tone
"Forget Marshall making a move, I'm more worried about Penelope killing him if she ever gets the chance," Nick told his sister to which she agree with him with a nod
Cloud and I were glaring at each other for a long time that I didn't notice ten minutes have already passed
"Cloud won," Nikki told her brother and Nick groaned handing her 2 dollars
"We weren't in a staring contest," I told them
"Yeah we do, you just happen to have your brain flying away at the moment" Cloud mocked me, I ignored him as I sat beside Nikki
"The more he ages the more he becomes too cocky and annoying to handle"
"Nah I think he didn't change a bit he just happens to not care about what some people think about him" she replied as she drank beer
"So Gorgeous, are you not going to tell me you went out wearing a nightgown?" Nick asked me as he ate a pop tart walking toward us, I look down and my nightgown was showing through the coat
"Why don't you tell that guy over there, he kidnapped me and brought me here" I gestured them to look at Cloud who was minding his own business in making a panini bread
Cloud raised a brow at me
"You agreed though so it's not kidnapping Penelope, I call it kidnapping with consent"
Nikki spat out her drink a little from her mouth
"The way he replies is just.." She was trying to find the right word
Nick did a chef's kiss
"Yeah that" she muttered
"But may I say Penelope that you look great in a silk nightgown" Nick looked at me with almost dark eyes causing his sister to throw an empty can at his face
"Keep your pants to yourself" she scolded him, Cloud, on the other hand, smacked him at the back of his head
"You are having dirty thoughts again, just find another conquest in a bar"
I shake my head at their way of finding things to do in their free time
"Trust me you are blessed that he is not your brother, it's always noisy every night when he brings a woman" Nikki complained to me with a whisper, I bit my lip as I try to contain my giggle
I felt a pair of eyes at me, it was Cloud who was watching me bit my bottom lip