A/N: SO sorry for the delay! I do hope people are still reading this story; it will be finished. Chapter 15 is completed and I am going to try to get 16 done soon so you do not have to wait as long between updates.

Johnny

"Okay, thanks Lemon."

I ended the call and quietly slipped back into my apartment. The last thing I wanted to do was wake the beautiful woman sleeping in my bed. I tiptoed over to it to look at her.

Penelope.

She looked so peaceful. Some of her hair had fallen in her face slightly. I wondered what she was dreaming about. She stirred and rolled over, the blanket uncovering her shoulder. I pulled it back up so she was tucked in properly and gently moved the hair out of her face. Then I walked back into the other room.

Edward had told Penelope that his company was threatened with a hostile takeover. That was true because Lemon and I were the company. During our research, we had discovered that Edward had a habit of spending the company's money on himself. He kept it secret from everyone, even his father, all the while sucking up to become next in line for chairman of the board. The question still remained; what did he do with the money? The VanDerMan family was already wealthy; they didn't need to steal. So what did he do with those funds?

That is what Lemon was working on now. He had friends in low places and they were all too happy to give information that might ruin the VanDerMans. That is why I didn't want Penelope to stay married to them anymore. If Edward goes down, I don't want her going with him.

Course, I didn't want him to have her anyways. He didn't deserve her.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. I would be lying if I said I didn't miss the pig-nose; it was endearing. But I also liked Penelope now. Since the curse broke, she had developed a confidence that I had never seen. She glowed. She thought she could do anything and probably could.

I thought about the first time I had seen her. I was startled, so I jumped back. That was a natural reaction though. Had she been wearing a gorilla mask I would have done the same thing. I just wasn't expecting it. And then she was staring at me, her eyes ready to spill over with tears, while I soaked her in. Edward was wrong, she was not a monster. She was actually beautiful, even with the nose. I had an aching desire to touch it, so I reached out.

And that damn camera went off.

I couldn't leave without telling her the truth. I wanted her to know that I wasn't a blue blood, but I would love her if that is what she wanted. I stopped short when she said that if the curse wasn't broken she would kill herself. I couldn't bear that thought. I couldn't bear to think that I might come home one day and find her lying dead on the floor because of that damn curse. I had to give her what she wanted.

So I said no.

The pain in her eyes was almost too much to bear. I wanted to run up the stairs and hold her, tell her it was alright and that I was in love with her. But instead, I left.

She stirred again from the bed and I smiled. I never thought she would be here with me. Oh sure, I wanted it, fantasized about it, but never thought it would come to fruition. She was so innocent and good. Now that I have been given another chance, I will not blow it.

I poured some coffee and sat down by the window. My musings continued.

I couldn't believe she was still a virgin. I figured that Edward would take every advantage now that she was normal. It surprised me and scared me at the same time. I'm hoping I can start a relationship with her, but knowing that she has no experience is a bit daunting for me. What if she doesn't like it? What if I do something wrong?

But secretly, I was thrilled. I hated thinking that she had slept with Edward. I knew that she had detested him, but it baffled me that she would stay married to him. I figured she could use him to get what she wanted, but I didn't know how far that would go. Being the jealous suitor that I am, I imagined the worst. When hearing that she was still a virgin, I realized Edward wasn't as much of a pig as I thought (no pun intended). In that sense, I respected him.

"Johnny?"

The soft voice broke me out of my reverie. Penelope had sat up and was looking around. She was disoriented.

"Hi," I said softly, walking over to the bed. "You fell asleep here, remember?"

She nodded slowly and then rubbed her eyes. The sunlight glinted off of her wedding ring. I wanted to rip it off of her, but that would hurt her.

"I slept like the dead."

I chuckled. "You needed that."

She swung her legs over the bed and stood up. I had managed to get her shoes off, but just laid her in the bed in her clothes. I didn't know how far I should go, so I decided less was more.

"I made coffee."

She smiled and walked over to the kitchen area. Her stocking feet were light and soft on my wood floor. Some of her mascara had smudged, but that didn't even matter. Even first thing in the morning, she was still beautiful.

I took her hand as I poured the coffee. She squeezed mine in response and we sat opposite of each other, drinking the coffee and not saying much.

Finally, the silence was too much. "Penelope, what are you thinking?"

She looked at me and chuckled. "Just that I need to make a decision about Edward."

I nodded. "It's pretty obvious, isn't it?"

"It's not."

I looked at her over the rim of the mug as I was drinking. She continued.

"Yes, he was horrible to me, but he has been kind the past few months. I know that it was because of this curse, but that actually made me feel sorry for him. If anyone knows what it's like to live with a curse, it's me."

That is true.

"Do you love him, Penelope?" I asked this question through gritted teeth.

"No."

I sighed loudly. She laughed. "Good," I replied.

She squeezed my hand again. "No, Johnny. I am in love with you. I guess I'm just being silly. I'll talk to him today about ending the marriage."

"Do you think the curse will hit him?"

She shrugged. "Better him than me."

THAT was the girl I loved.

A loud knock at the door interrupted our drink. I opened it and came face-to-face with Edward.

"Where is my wife?"

I opened the door wider to show him. He brushed past me.

"You stayed here?" he asked incredulously.

Penelope stood up and walked over to him. "Yes."

He turned and looked at me. "No doubt his vagrant has been telling you lies to seduce you. Seems like him."

"Actually, he was a complete gentleman."

Edward snorted. "I doubt that."

Penelope gestured to her clothes. "Edward, look at my clothes. They're wrinkled. Why is that? Because I slept in them. Nothing happened and even if it did, I don't have to explain myself to you."

"Don't have to explain yourself to me? I'm your husband!"

She began to walk past him. "Not for long."

He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to him forcefully. I could see the red marks on her arm from where he was gripping her.

"Let go of me!"

I stepped in and pushed him away. He reached for her again.

"You're coming with me, Penelope."

Before I could think about what I was doing, my fist connected with his jaw. I saw the spot where I had hit him yesterday, so that is what I focused on. He stumbled backwards again.

"Penelope," I said quietly but forcefully, "lock yourself in the bathroom."

"Johnny," she started.

"Do as I say!" I snapped.

She turned and walked to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. I felt bad about snapping at her, but I would apologize later.

Edward stood up and squared off against me. "Now let's see how tough you really are, piano boy."

I'm sure Penelope thought that a tornado had ripped through the apartment. That is how loud we were. But when it was over, neither of us had won. We both had bruises and I was ready for a drink.

"Get out," I said breathlessly.

"Not without my wife."

"She is not yours anymore, Edward. She never was."

The last thing I saw before blacking out was Edward's right fist hurdling towards my nose.

A/N: Sorry this is a short chapter. Thanks for reading!