Is this destiny?

As they descended down the stairs toward the basement level, Penny shivered involuntarily as images of her experiences in the basement from her past flashed in front of her eyes.

"We don't need to do this…", Ben's low voice sounded next to her ear as he pulled her closer to him.

He knows that because of the basement, Penny was not willing to buy this house. They checked numerous villas and mansions in the Los Angeles area which were perfect except that they had a basement. The only reason Penny agreed to this one is because the entrance to the basement is something like a hidden-feature and the first thing Penny asked for was to fill up that room at the entrance so that she does not see the door.

"We will block it and I will pretend that it does not exist.", Penny told Ben. "The house, the garden, the swimming pool, everything is perfect. I'm sure that junior will enjoy it very much."

Penny was confident that she never step into that basement which makes her remember many horrid experiences from her past. However, when she thought of a way to deal with her parents, she remembered the basement and thought how letting them experience what she did, would be a poetic justice.

Back to the present…

Penny felt Ben's firm hold and his comforting voice telling her that she does not need to go through this, and she snapped out of her daze. "It's OK. I need to do this."

Penny is grateful that Ben is by her side and she is confident that he is the sweetest and the most supportive man on Earth. For her, at least.

Mr. Morgan raised his eyebrows at the sight of four bodyguards in the hallway with narrow windows on one side, and two doors on the other side. They are standing in attention, two in front of each door. He guessed that the bodyguards are guarding something or someone.

Penny stood between the two doors, facing them, and she gave a small nod to the bodyguards who immediately moved and unlocked the doors.

Mr. and Mrs. Morgan curiously peered to see what is inside and both of them screamed in surprise when they were violently shoved inside, one in each room.

Mr. Morgan fell on the concrete floor with a thud and by the time he recovered, the bodyguards patted him down, took his wallet and cell phone away and the door was closed and locked.

"What is the meaning of this!?", Mr. Morgan shouted at the top of his lungs while trying to open the door.

At the lack of response, he glanced around the room. There are a bucket and one bottle of water, a bed with a futon mattress, and a cover, and that's it. There is a small narrow window high on the wall opposite from the door, and he noticed a door-size opening on one wall which is blocked by iron bars. Through that opening, he can see the neighboring room and his wife getting up slowly from the floor while grunting.

Mr. Morgan felt panic swell inside him, and he started violently pounding on the door. "Harriet! Let me out! What is the meaning of this!? Harriet!"

An opening at the eye level was revealed and Mr. Morgan could see Penny, Ben, and two bodyguards.

"Harriet! Let me out!", he roared.

Penny looked at her father mockingly and gestured to the guard to unlock the opening on the door of the room where her mother is.

"Do I have your attention?", Penny asked.

"Harriet! What are you doing?", Mrs. Morgan asked angrily while glaring at Penny.

"I am doing what you did to me. Do you really think that I will let you do as you please?"

"We signed a contract that we can live here!", Mr. Morgan reminded Penny.

"True. And no matter how invalid that piece of paper is, I promise to honor that contract. You see… it says that you can live in the villa. And you will do that while confined to your current rooms. The contract says that we will pay the bills and the staff, and we will do so. The contract says that we will provide you with food and that the fridge and the pantry will be fully stocked, and we will honor those parts of the contract as well. I remember when I wronged you, you locked me up in a basement with one meal a day and a bottle of water. Now things are different because I am in charge and you wronged me. So, I'm locking you up in a basement with one meal a day, and if you behave you might get a second bottle of water."

Mrs. Morgan's chin trembled. "You can't do this."

"I can… I am."

"We are your parents!" Mrs. Morgan was outraged.

"And I was your daughter. Are you blaming me for doing to you what you did to me?"

"How long are we going to be here?", Mr. Morgan asked.

Penny shrugged. "When you locked me up, did you tell me how long I will be in there?" Penny stifled a laugh when she saw her parents' ugly expressions. "Enjoy your stay in my new villa. I promise that I will not kick you out."

…

Penny walked out of the mansion and took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet scent of the flowers from the nearby flowerbeds.

"Are you OK?", Ben asked with concern apparent in his voice.

Penny smiled. "Never better. I feel like some weight is gone and I can breathe freely… and I'm hungry."

Ben caressed her belly lovingly. "My boy is growing. Do you want to eat here? There is a number of great restaurants nearby. What do you feel like eating?"

"Are you asking me or our boy?"

"Both of you."

Penny thought for a second before responding. "I feel like a steak, strawberry jam, whipped cream, and pickles. And chocolate. But I want it to be a chocolate fountain where you can dip marshmallows in."

Ben's lips twitched. "OK."

Ben is confident that Penny's cravings are increasing in variety, together with her belly, but there is no way he will say that at loud.

Ben turned to the butler who was standing at the door. "Jason, you heard the Madam. Please find us a restaurant that has these options."

"Yes, Master…", Jason nodded and walked in with a troubled expression. If the chocolate fountain was not on the list, they could just make it all here at the villa, but like this… Where can he find a place with all these? He took a mental note to buy a chocolate fountain. Madam and Master will move in soon and it seems that a chocolate fountain is a must-have.

Outside…

Penny leaned into Ben's embrace. "Madam and Master. It will take me some time to get used to that."

"You are telling me? I will never get used to it."

Penny smiled. "You will. People get used to good things quickly. This house, this baby, your hug… all the good things."

…

Downstairs, in the basement…

Mr. and Mrs. Morgan shouted themselves hoarse. No one answered no matter how much they called.

They saw Penny and Ben walking away and the guards closed the openings and now they have no idea what is going on at the other side of the door.

"When do you think that Harriet will change her mind?", Mrs. Morgan asked her husband through the opening which is blocked by iron bars.

Mr. Morgan sneered. "You still don't get it?"

Mrs. Morgan blinked. "Don't get what?"

"We are not getting out of here. Ever."

Mrs. Morgan shook her head frantically. "No, no… Harriet changed her mind more than once. She is an obedient girl who got a boost of confidence because of her husband. But she will come around. We should kick up a fuss. That works…"

Mr. Morgan didn't respond. There is no point in talking to his wife. She is used to luxury and never worked a day in her life. For anything.

He looked at the narrow window and observed that it's angled. The glass surface is facing a tunnel-like opening, which only confirms his suspicion that they are underground completely. And it seems like at least four feet deep. He thought that their descent to the basement was more than usual for one level, and now he confirmed it.

Mr. Morgan sat on the futon of his bed and covered his face with his palms while trying to tune out his wife. He can't think with all the noise, and he hopes that soon she completely loses her voice.

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