6. H E N R Y

I lost it, I completely lost it.

That bastard had no right to lay a hand on Penny like that, I had to teach him a lesson and I did.

I gave one good punch and asked my security team to take him to the dungeon and yes, I am a modern King who still uses a dungeon.

Why do you ask? Because of low life like him.

Archie took her to the castle, and he has not stopped calling since they got there, he says that Penelope will not stop crying and is on the verge of having a panic attack. Ashby insisted on talking to her, but I will not let him, she is mine. We were on our way back to the castle when Archie called again.

"Henry just let me talk to her" he begs, "She will not calm down until I talk to her."

I rolled my eyes and handed over the phone to him.

"Arch, get Penny on the phone."

I hated him.

"Penny," he says in his calm soothing voice.

I hated him, I was the one that was supposed to be talking to her on the phone, not him. I was the one that fought for her.

"It's okay, relax, we are on our way."

"Yes, yes, I know baby, just breathe for me okay."

Baby? Did he just call my queen baby?

I snatched the phone from him and hung up the call.

"Henry, seriously," he yells.

"Do not call her baby, ever!"

Ashby runs his hand through his hair in frustration.

"I was trying to calm her down you moron," he says lowly.

"What does call her 'baby' have to do with anything?"

He groans, "Can you stop being a jealous prick and let me help her?"

The car comes to a stop, and I look out the window, we have arrived at the castle, Ashby grabs his jacket and rushes into the castle, and I quickly follow behind him.

"Where is she?" he asks, almost knocking down my statue in the passageway, he enters the lounge before anyone could answer him.

"Penny."

She is sitting on the floor with her knees on her chest, she looked like a mess, an extremely cute, adorable mess, and her eyes were red, she looked scared.

Ashby rushes to her side and wraps his arms around her, pulling her onto his lap, she starts crying again and starts rambling incoherently.

"It's okay, I'm here now and you're safe," he says to her, rocking her back and forth while rubbing her back.

I messed up. I should be the one doing all that.

I sat down on the couch in the corner of the room and watched them interact, he knew her inside out, they were close. I was technically competing with a gold medallist, while I was barely a runner-up. I had some work to do.

Time passes and they are both sitting on the couch, she has finally calmed down and is smiling again, I decide to make my presence known by clearing my throat, earning a dangerous glare from Ashby.

"Are you okay Penny?" I ask, "I am so sorry for ruining your date. I just couldn't let him get away with treating you the way that he did, it wasn't right."

"Thank you," she says softly, "You didn't have to do all that."

"Someone had to teach him a lesson."

"You're bleeding," she says, standing up and walking towards me, she reaches out her hand and touches my forehead, and I wince.

"Sorry."

"I'll go get the first aid kit," Ashby says and leaves the room.

"Who was that guy? The one you were having dinner with?"

She looks down shamefully, I lift her chin, "Penny?"

She gulps, "My boss."

I am shocked.

"What were you doing having dinner with him?" I ask curiously.

"Just having dinner."

"Penelope, don't lie to me please."

She sighs, "He said he would give me a promotion if I went out with him and I did but now that you've beaten him up, I'm sure he's going to fire me on Monday."

I stand up and pull her into my arms, "I assure you that nothing bad will happen to you and if he does fire you, Ashby and I will be there to look after you."

She relaxes in my arms, "Promise me?"

"I promise."

She wraps her arms around me, "Thank you, Henry."

I kiss the top of her head, "Anything for my queen."

Ashby returns and Penny steps back when he shoots us a deadly glare, Archie follows right behind him with a bowl of water and a towel.

"Sit down, I'll help you with your wound," she says shyly.

"You need to get home; Aunt Linda must be worried sick about you," Ashby says placing the first aid kit down on the table beside me.

"It won't take long Ashby, I'll be quick," she pouts.

"Penny, it's late okay, let us go. Archie or one of his maids will help him."

I do not like his tone.

"Ashby, don't speak to her like that, she's not a child."

Ashby looks at me, "Stay out of this Henry."

Penelope frowns, "No fighting, please."

This isn't helping her at all.

I take her hand and squeeze it, "We are not going to fight baby, just let him take you home, you'll come to see me some other time okay."

Her face lights up, "Really?"

"Of course, you're welcome here any time Penny," I reply and kiss her hand.

Ashby grabs her hand from me, "Let's go."

Penny gives me a weary smile and she gets her belongings, she kisses my cheek before leaving and calls me her hero, my heart cannot help but melt at the compliment. I walk them to the door and wave goodbye to her as I watch them drive out of the castle. I walk back into the house to the lounge where I find Archie with his sleeves rolled up, and his hair tied up in a bun.

"Sit."

I sit down in the chair and watch as he opens the kit, pulling out a bottle of antiseptic liquid and a cotton ball.

"You and Ashby need to sort your shit out," Archie says putting the antiseptic on the cotton ball.

I sigh, "I know."

He dabs my forehead and I wince, "Shit."

Archie shakes his head and walks out to the liquor cabinet and pours me a glass of whiskey and gives it to me.

"Penny is one sweet girl, she acts tough but very fragile and you're both acting like a bunch of animals," he says, I gulp down the alcohol and he dabs my forehead again and this time I do not flinch.

"But I claimed her first," I argue.

"And this is exactly what I was talking about," he says, he takes a bandage and gently sticks it on my forehead, "Penny is not something that you claim, Henry."

He was right.

Archie packs everything away and goes back to the liquor cabinet and pours himself a glass and then walks back to me with the bottle, pouring me another glass.

"I don't know what to do Archie, I'm clueless" I reply, "And Ashby has the upper hand."

"He doesn't but Ashby knows, they'll never work out, he just doesn't trust you with her, that's all," he sips on his whiskey, "With your string of bad relationships, I don't trust you either, but I can tell that you like her."

"Is it that obvious?"

"I'll give you advice, for the next month proves to Ashby and me that you can be trusted, stay out of the limelight, stay out of trouble and try to be a good person."

"Sounds simple enough."

"Good, then tomorrow you apologize to Ash."

I frown, "Do I have to?"

"Yes, that's what good people do Henry."

Darn it, this is going to be a lot harder than I thought.