Chapter 20
It's been a week since Penny arrived in California. Her manager spend the first few days in her house to make sure Penny has all the things she needs. Penny was thankful that Miranda kept her house and car safe and properly maintained. She told her everything that happened while she was on the island. She told her about Leonard, his house, his job, Buster, their adventures together and almost everything else since she considers Miranda like an older sister.
"It seems like Leonard is a great guy huh?" Miranda asked.
"Ugh….he's so great….he's so smart and sweet. I'm so lucky to have someone like him in my life." Penny said.
"Well, I'm happy for you Penny but you need to know something." she said.
"What is it?….tell me." said Penny.
"While you were away, Richard was asking for you. I think he wants to get back together….I told him nothing because I honestly didn't know where you were in the first place." said Miranda.
Penny shook her head. "Richard and I are done….I'm not putting myself through that again." Penny said.
"Well he was very persistent and apologetic when he called me." said her manager.
"Nothing he says will make me change my mind." Penny said.
"I just want to give you a heads up especially since there were rumors going around about you and him." said Miranda.
"What rumors?" asked Penny.
"Well the press said that the reason for your disappearance was that you got pregnant with Richard's child and chose to hide your pregnancy overseas. Some of them even said that you got an abortion." Miranda said.
"What!?….that's ridiculous….why would I hide something like that?" Penny exclaimed.
"Well you know how the media works…..and when they asked Richard about it, he never told them that he doesn't know anything like the rest of us….I told some reporters that you weren't pregnant and just taking a short vacation but the media takes one thing and turns it into another." said Miranda.
Penny put her face against her hands. "Ugh! This was why I chose to go away….the lies…the back-stabbers!" she said as Miranda tried to console her.
"Relax Penny. You have to focus on your audition tomorrow." her manager said.
Penny sighed. "You're right….I need to focus." Penny said.
"That's the spirit….anyway I have to go now….there's food in the fridge and if you need anything just give me a call okay?" she said.
"Thank you Miranda!" Penny said hugging her then waving goodbye to her. Penny went to her bedroom to get some needed sleep and relax her mind for tomorrows audition.
Several days after the audition, Miranda came over to Penny's house.
"Well I have good news." she said as she hugged Penny.
"What is it?" asked Penny.
"You got it!" Miranda said.
Penny screamed. "Aaahhh! I got the part? Really?" she exclaimed.
"Yeah….the casting director called me just an hour ago when I was on my way here." Miranda said as she sat on the couch.
"Oh my god I'm so excited!" Penny said jumping with joy.
"Hey remember, this is an A-list cast and a top notch director….you need to level up your game." Miranda said.
"I know." Penny said as they hear the doorbell. Penny stood up to get the door. She opened it and saw her ex-fiance standing on her porch. "Richard? What are you doing here?" she asked him. Miranda stood and went near them.
"Well, I heard you were back in town and I thought I'd find out and see how you were doing." Richard said.
"I'm doing fine, thanks for asking." Penny said folding her arms. "You're here to find out if the rumors were true isn't it?" she asked.
"Penny can I come in?….I just want to talk to you….please." he said. Penny looked at Miranda.
"Do you want me to leave?" asked Miranda.
"No, but can you go to the bedroom so we can have some privacy?" said Penny. Miranda nodded and went upstairs as Penny let Richard into the living room. They sat opposite each other.
"How are you?….you look good." Richard said.
"I told you I'm fine…..you want to know if the rumors were true isn't it?" Penny said.
"Well...are they? I didn't believe the tabloids but even Miranda didn't know where you went and the press just blew things out of proportion." Richard said.
"They're not true Richard. I went away to escape all of this….to keep myself sane." Penny said.
"Oh?….okay….well I'm glad you're back. I heard you got the part in the movie….congratulations." he said.
"Thank you. Is there anything else?" Penny asked him.
Richard sighed. "Penny I'm really sorry for what happened to us….I feel that it's my fault that it ended the way it did." he said.
"It's alright Richard. You don't have to apologize." Penny said trying hard to keep it together.
"Penny I want us to try again….I realized I am nothing without you." he said.
Penny didn't say anything. She clenched her fist to prevent them from shaking.
"Penny I still love you and I'll do anything to make our relationship work." he pleaded.
"Richard….I'm sorry but I was drained when I went away….and I told myself that I wouldn't put myself through that experience again." said Penny.
Richard was quiet for a while. "Have you met someone else?" he asked. Penny didn't reply.
Richard nodded. "I'm sure he's a very lucky guy…..tell me…..does he love you?" he asked.
Penny folded her arms. "He treats me like a princess." she said.
Richard nodded and sighed deeply. He stood up. "I'm happy for you Penny." he said as he walked away and went out the door. Penny grabbed a throw pillow and cried on it. Miranda heard her crying and quickly sat beside her to console her.
"I miss Leonard so much!" Penny cried.
"Didn't you say that Leonard will wait for you?" Miranda asked.
"Yeah. I told him to wait for me while I do this movie." said Penny.
"Then that's what you're gonna do…..you come into the movie, finish it and then come back to him." Miranda said.
"What about the studio? The press?" she asked.
"Let me worry about that….the important thing is for you to be happy." said Miranda.
Penny hugged her. "Thank you." she said. Penny wiped her tears and took a deep breath. "If I come back to him, I don't know when we will return to California." said Penny.
"Why does he want to stay there in the first place?" asked Miranda.
"He's still looking for his scientific breakthrough and he says he'll just be distracted here in California." Penny said.
Miranda nodded. "So I guess you two will get married if you come back there?" said Miranda.
"I guess. We talked about it and he said we have to be sure that's why when I got the offer for this movie, he didn't get in the way and told me to do it. He said he was being selfish for asking me to stay with him." said Penny.
"Wow….Leonard's really great huh?….letting you go like that." said Miranda.
"He's the greatest….that's why I want to come back to him." Penny said.
"Alright. But for now, you need to focus your energy on this movie." said Miranda. Penny nodded and took a deep breath.
Penny made all the preparations for her role in the movie. Although she had a minor role, she gave her all and did her best for all her scenes. The movie was entitled Burnstown and the story revolves around four siblings returning to their hometown to settle their late father's will and estate. Penny was chosen to play the youngest of the siblings whose relationship with her other siblings were strained to say the least. This was not the first drama film that Penny did but this will be her first time to work with an all-star cast of this caliber
The movie took about five months to film as the cast and crew had to film in three different cities. Penny was thankful that it was already done and felt as if a heavy burden was taken from her back. The entire cast and crew had a simple 'wrap party' and Penny made sure to thank each and everyone involved with the movie.
Penny came back to California accompanied by Miranda after the movie was done filming. She still had to do a couple weeks of promotion and interviews while the film is in post-production. The producers told her it wouldn't take that long since they have already have a release date for the film. Penny was exhausted after almost two weeks of doing interviews and promotion for the film. She tried to keep herself calm during the interviews since every reporter wants to know about her almost year-long absence and pregnancy rumors instead of talking about the film and the character she plays. After soldiering through the film promotion, she and Miranda attended the premier of the film in one of the upscale theaters in Hollywood.