"Hello, Susan, I’m sorry to call you this late..." Athena began as Susan answered the call, steeling herself to address this matter once and for all. She hoped her young friend would actually decline the offer.
"Hello, Athena... Good evening..." Susan greeted, her groggy voice suggesting that Athena had woken her from a deep sleep.
Athena inhaled softly and sidestepped out of the door when Aiden gestured for them to walk into her room to continue the call. Inside, they settled into the two chairs available, adjacent to the queen-sized bed.
"I am sorry for disturbing you at this late hour, Susan..." Athena continued, placing the phone, which was already set to loudspeaker, on the center table.
"It’s okay, Athena. I know that for you to call this late, the matter must be very urgent. What is it? Do you need my help, my expertise?"
Athena couldn’t suppress the sigh that escaped her lips at the hint of excitent in Susan’s voice as she ntioned ’help’ and ’expertise.’
The thin smile on Aiden’s lips only exacerbated it. What was there to smile about? She wondered.
"Yes, I actually do. I want you to infiltrate the Devil’s Scorpion gang as a spy. Can you do it?" She said, dropping the bombshell.
"..."
Silence greeted Athena for a couple of tense seconds. She looked at Aiden, who seed utterly confused.
Athena sighed again and shook her head, ready to tell Susan to forget she had ever asked the question, thinking her friend had been put off by the audacious request. But then Susan spoke up, breaking the tension.
"Really? Do you an it?" The excitent in her voice was so palpable that Aiden flashed a winning smile at Athena.
Yet, Athena remained cautious. After all, she had made a promise to the girl’s mother to keep her safe.
"Who am I impersonating? Please, soone cool, not stupid like Fiona. Please, Athena..."
Athena shot Aiden a stern look then, a silent vow in her gaze that if anything happened to Susan, she would demand repercussions from him.
Aiden nodded imdiately, silently agreeing to take care of her.
"No, I don’t think she is as stupid as Fiona. As a matter of fact, she is badass, wicked, and all. About your age too. Her na is Heronica."
A pause lingered on the other end of the line. "Is she among the gang mbers captured by our organization?"
Athena nodded, and Aiden whispered to her, "You’re on a call..."
"Oh," She acknowledged, then spoke out loud. "Yes, she is. But don’t worry about the publicity that has garnered; we will use that to our advantage; maybe orchestrate an escape story, and all. You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll take care of it from our end..."
After a brief pause, Susan replied, "I will do it. Thanks for giving the chance to prove my worth to the organization."
Athena shook her head. "Your worth is not decided by your actions for the organization, Susan. You are already a valued personnel. Thank you for accepting the job."
"It’s a pleasure, ma’am. I promise that I won’t disappoint you."
Athena chuckled softly, feeling a swell of emotion. "You can never disappoint , Susan. Not even if you tried."
Susan laughed. "Do I have to report to the headquarters? When will I start my work?"
"Tomorrow. I would email Director Alvarez of the plan tonight. You should get access to Heronica by tomorrow. Be careful, Susan."
"That’s my second na, ma’am. Thank you for this opportunity. Good night."
"Thank you for this opportunity? She is the one doing a favor." Athena muttered, when the call ca to an end.
"You see, it went well..." Aiden gestured to the phone as he spoke.
Athena scoffed, picking her phone from the table. "Of course it would go well either way. The main problem is the job itself. I just hope it will go as smoothly as this call."
"It will. Stop worrying," Aiden reassured her as he got to his feet. It was ti to turn in. "I will see you tomorrow, yeah..."
Athena nodded. "Goodnight," She said, glancing at her phone and tilting her head when she noticed a missed call from Antonio from a day ago.
"Aiden..." She called, halting him in his tracks. "What’s up with Antonio?" She asked, rising to her feet. "I missed his call a day ago—so hours before the accident. Are you sure he is okay? He hasn’t called back, nor has he visited ?"
This was very unusual, she thought, eyeing the missed call again. Antonio would generally co to see her, especially after the news.
Aiden furrowed his eyebrows, uncertainty etched on his face. "I don’t actually know. I just know he is working with Herbert in his company. I don’t know which sector. You should ask him yourself."
"I know. But why hasn’t he co to see ?"
Aiden was at a loss himself. "I don’t know, Athena..."
"You don’t think sothing has happened to him?" She asked, her eyes widening as the implication sank in. It would explain his absence, but she wasn’t hoping for that outco either.
"I don’t think so. Antonio can handle himself, even being a father. Should I try calling him?"
Athena shook her head resolutely. She would do it herself. Dialing his number, she tapped her foot on the floor in impatience with every dial tone. Finally, he answered the call.
"Athena..."
He sounded so groggy, as if he had just woken up from a deep sleep. Athena thought, putting the call on loudspeaker.
"Antonio, are you okay?" She asked, a hint of concern threading through her voice.
"Yes, I am fine. Is there a problem since you are calling at this ti?"
Athena furrowed her brows and shook her head. "There is none. I was just returning your call..."
"Oh, that’s okay. Can we speak tomorrow? I feel very tired."
Alarm shot through Athena. Was Antonio infected with the Grey disease? "Antonio, how else do you feel? Is your eyesight greying out?" Sheer panic was evident in her voice.
"No, not at all. I am just too tired. No one ever told that working nine to five was so stressful..."
Athena chuckled, relieved. "We will talk about it tomorrow, Father Antonio. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Athena. I love you."
Reviews
All reviews (0)