[CONTENTID1]CHECKMATE[/CONTENTID1]

[CONTENTID2]

Penelope's POV

It was well into April now and it was time for me to make my acceptance choice of the university I wanted to attend. It was between Harvard, Yale, Chicago and Columbia. Harvard was the clear choice if I was going to take over PetroPark, the same could be said for Yale. Chicago, however, would allow me to be with Kai (he'd accepted the offer from the best dance school in the state of Illinois) but Columbia would keep me and Cleo together. After finally standing up to her parents and telling them she would not follow in her father's footsteps, she chose Parsons as the fashion school she would be attending after summer. This would be one of the biggest decisions I'd ever make in my life and I couldn't make it on a whim. 

"Penny, honey, you haven't eaten all day," Henriatte said as she opened my door. I was going over all of my school notes in preparation for the upcoming exams. In a couple of weeks, I'd be sitting in a hall, unloading everything I'd learned over the year onto paper and finalising my time at Wilson Public High School. After four years of homework, benefits, friends and drama, I'd be leaving it all behind and moving on to the next stage of adulthood - university. It was wholly, totally terrifying. But that was change - it scared everyone. It was human nature. People argued that they preferred spontaneity but familiarly was a human craving. It was the reason you perhaps only liked your toast made one way or your washing had to smell a certain smell or your hair had to part just right or it would annoy you. People liked familiarity, they liked patterns, they liked knowing at least one thing in their lives wouldn't change. 

"I'm not hungry," I mumbled, reading the same line of a book for the umpteenth time. She tutted and walked in with a tray of food in her hands. She placed it on my bedside table and sat down next to me, my head. "This is so stressful. Growing up ."

"I know, honey. But it gets even tier," she smiled and I couldn't help but giggle. "I'm kidding. Work hard and it'll pay off. One day, you'll look back at this and laugh and smile and thank your past self that you studied your socks off. Then you'll remember what a wonderful person sweet old Henrietta was and buy her a house." I laughed and hugged her.

"When I'm in charge of things, I'm gonna employ you myself. You'll get a house, a car, a holiday home in Peru and anything else you want," I promised her. She chuckled and kissed my cheek. She leaned back on my pillows and took me with her, holding me against her chest. I started playing with the locket around her neck, the metal cool against my fingers. I opened it up and examined it, as I often used to when I was a child. Henrietta had been working for my parents for twenty years, since before I was born. The year of my seventh birthday, I remembered walking in on her crying in the utility room under the staircase. Her son, Lorenzo, had died in combat. She kept a photograph of him in her locket and never took it off. "Do you miss him?"

"Every day," she murmured, her voice soft. She looked down at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, and kissed my forehead. "But I have you and Vicki and it hurts a little less to know that." I nuzzled into her and she wrapped her arms around me. "I know you're scared, mi'ja, but know that I'll support whatever decision you make."

"What if I don't know what to decide?" I asked. I couldn't imagine living four years without Cleo but we had different career choices and they simply didn't cross. I loved Kai but choosing to study in Chicago just to maintain a relationship was stupid at my age. Harvard had everything to academically stimulate me but lacked two things I needed; my best friend and my boyfriend. "I want to have my cake and eat it, too."

"I can't decide for you...but I'll tell you what I told my son when he joined the army," she said, my arm. "Don't base your decisions on the people around you. Sure, they're important to you but at the end of the day, you're the only person who will have to experience that decision. Make sure it's worth it." 

"Do you wish you'd stopped him from joining?"

"No. My Enzo died fighting for what he believed in. He died proud of the choices in his life and I will not dishonour his memory by regretting letting him do what made him happy," she replied with conviction. She really was one of the strongest people I knew. In that moment, I made my decision. "Come on, let's go shopping for your benefit ball dress." 

"And I need to pick up my graduation stuff. Oh! And my prom dress," I remembered. We got up from the bed and she helped me gather my school books and place them on my bedside table, next to my tray of food. Upon remembering I'd yet to eat, she forced me to finish the food before we left to go anywhere. 

~

"I hate this," I repeated for the umpteenth time. I pulled down my ridiculously short black dress and groaned at the see-through chiffon. The material clung to me like second skin and the multicoloured necklace on my chest only brought more attention to my cleavage. I looked down at the black platform boots on my feet then back up at the mirror, rubbing my plump pink lips together and fluttering my blue-lined eyes. "I ing hate this."

"You look hot," Cleo assured me.

"Exactly," I grumbled, frowning at my sleek bob, wishing I could mess it up, along with this whole plan. For the final heist, we needed a tonne of flammable hairspray but we didn't want to purchase any, should it be traced back to us. We also didn't want to use any of our own because, well, that was too easy. A beautiful opportunity presented itself when Sehun, with the help of private investigators and a whole lot of money (and VIXX), found out who had attacked him months ago. It was almost pathetic how long it took us to piece it together. The C-Line hadn't acted on their own accord, they'd been ordered by Logan and Stacey. Still, Sehun wanted revenge on all of them and none of us argued. 

"You're gonna be fine. Remember, we need to do this. Don't up," Cleo warned and I groaned, nodding reluctantly. "Wonsik's already on his way to Stacey's." I'd somehow managed to convince VIXX to help us with this plan also. To get Logan and Stacey's hairspray, we needed distractions so that the others could sneak into their rooms and get the cans. That's where me and Wonsik came in - we were the distractions. 

"What if I get ?" I asked, half-joking.

"Bite his off," she shrugged and I chortled, smacking her arm. With another once over in the mirror, I took a deep breath and went downstairs. I passed my mother in the hallway and smirked when her eyes widened at my less-than-appropriate attire.

"And where on earth are you going dressed like that?" She demanded. I turned around, walking backwards as I replied.

"None of your business," I said before spinning back around and striding out of the house. I got into my car and looked at Kai, who was staring lustily at me. "What are you waiting for, oppa? Vroom vroom." He laughed and revved the engine. We shot forward and whipped around the fountain of my driveway-roundabout. The gates opened for us and we left my neighbourhood, entering Logan's.

"You sure you wanna do this?" He asked.

"I have to if this plan is going to work," I shrugged. "Are you sure you're okay with me doing this?"

"Not at all," he deadpanned. "I ing hate it but I guess I'm gonna have to deal with it." His grip was tight on the steering wheel, his knuckles paling at the force. He looked me sideways. "Aren't you a bit...I don't know, nervous? Worried?"

"Well, sure. But as you said, I'm gonna have to deal with it. It has to be done," I replied with another shrug. "I wish I didn't have to wear this dress though. I feel ." Not to mention half of my s were only covered by see-through material. Kai's eyes flickered to said area and I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment. "Stop staring." 

"I can't help it," he blushed, looking away. Since getting back together, we'd yet to have again. I just felt like we still had some reconnecting to do before we got that serious again. I couldn't quite explain it but it simply didn't feel right to jump back into bed so soon after the makeup. That, paired with my conflicted emotions for Sehun, just didn't sit right. 

"Stop here. He lives just up the street, fourth door down," I told him without much thought. I didn't miss the flash of jealousy in his eyes. We parked and waited for Kris. He came a few minutes later and rapped on the window. I got out of the car and closed the door behind me. "We'll be back in less than half an hour." Kris was one of the few guys who'd been inside Logan's house before and knew the layout. He'd collect the hairspray while I distracted Logan. 

"Damn, Penny. I'd like to bend you over and-"

"I can still hear you, -tard," Kai growled and I laughed out loud, playfully nudging Kris. We walked up to the gate and Kris stood to my left, out of view of the camera above me. A screen came on with my face on it and a red dot in the corner, indicating the mic was on.

"State your name and business here," a voice said.

"Penelope-"

"The gates will open now," the voice said, cutting me off. I couldn't help but find it majorly creepy that Logan still commanded his staff to allow me in. The gate opened and I looked at Kris who was on his phone to Daehyun. On cue, the camera shut off and the gates froze. Did I mention Daehyun was a great hacker? I walked up the driveway, Kris following closely behind. He then snuck off to the side of the house as I made my way to the door. I then knocked, knowing all the electricity was temporarily disabled. 

"Ah, Miss Park. What a pleasant surprise," Donald, the Samuels' butler, smiled. I always liked Donald, he was a kind man unfortunate enough to be working for my ex's family. I'd met Mr Samuels a handful of times and he'd rubbed me the wrong way every time. He shook me as the sleazy type. 

"Hey, Donnie. How're Bertha and Thomas?" I asked, pulling my dress down a little in an attempt to look classier before the gentleman. I hated that I had to dress this way for Logan. 

"They're great, thank you. Bertha just opened up a little café down on 27th St. and Tommy is soon to graduate law school," he replied.

"That's great! Tell them I wish them both the best of luck," I smiled and he nodded, gently patting my head. Donald was a kind soul but really did not know how to interact with people other than his wife. The few times I'd met his son, he'd told me how his father often treated him like a cat. It was amusing, to say the least. "Is Logan here?"

"Please tell me you're not taking that sack of back," he pleaded and I burst out laughing, swatting his arm. "You're way too good for him. Is that why you're dressed like this?"

"Can you keep a secret?" I asked and he nodd