The white-washed wall seed to be bleeding profusely like Ewan’s right fist when Sandro stepped into Ewan’s ho office.
He stood as he always did—when Ewan got this way—and watched his friend.
Ewan was sitting miserably on the floor with his head in his hands; hands stained with blood.
Sandro didn’t bother to ask for a first-aid kit or hurry to get one because this imagery right here was as consistent as business in Ewan’s life; a side of Ewan, many people didn’t get to see.
This was the only way Ewan got rid of frustration and unexplainable feelings.
Yet Sandro was observant to note that it had increased since Athena’s banishnt six years ago.
And with her return, Sandro feared for his friend’s knuckles.
Sighing tiredly, he shut the door behind him.
Ewan showed no indication that he knew soone was in his office with him, until Sandro sat down beside him.
"What do you have for , Sandro?"
Sandro had a lot, but he just didn’t know how to get into it without pushing Ewan to punch his office walls again and again.
He didn’t want that to happen, because he wouldn’t be able to bear it. He would rather choose to be the punching bag.
"Did the shareholder speak? Which shareholder did you visit?" Ewan continued, breaking into Sandro’s thoughts.
Although he understood Sandro’s silence, he wanted the truth, so that he could process things better and put this bad day behind him.
He knew Sandro was holding back on the reports, because the latter believed making the reports now would trigger him to punch the walls again.
He knew his friend and assistant was avoiding the plague of guilt.
Ewan wanted to tell him that he was okay now, that there wasn’t anything to trigger, but he kept silent.
Sandro understood him, even more than Zane did. And the forr knew that the punching activity was a coping chanism for him.
Sandro knew he would go crazy with the riotous feelings and thoughts in his head if he didn’t punch walls. The pain helped him to focus.
"I visited Ethan. He was the only one that agreed to et us." Sandro finally said, stretching his legs before him. This might be a long night.
"And what did he say?"
Sandro sighed. "He showed the decrypted text. The long ssage explained in detail the closing down of the company, citing that our creditors are on our necks. It also painted the picture that we are down on funds, that everyone should find their way out of the company. Worse, there were curse words to ungrateful clients and entitled shareholders, written in italics, and attributed to you. Basically, it was a nasty text."
Ewan exhaled harshly, his mind concocting the best way to retaliate against Athena and Zane.
"I don’t exactly know how Athena cos to play in this, considering she’s just a doctor..."
"She’s a counselor too. She’s many things. Who says she can’t even be a hacker?" Ewan interrupted, lifting his head.
Sandro opened his mouth at Ewan’s frustration-ladened statent, then finally settled on a question. "She’s a consultant? dical, I presu?"
Ewan shook his head. "General consultant, especially on financial issues, to Zane’s father. I did a little research. He’s not the only one. She counsels many wealthy people, consorts with them. I won’t be surprised if she’s in governnt too."
Sandro’s jaw slackened.
"But Sandro, my question is: who is backing her up? We both know Athena for god sake!"
Ewan’s eyes were alight now.
"Yes, she had striven for education after the banishnt, yet covering the grounds she has in six years is almost impossible! Did you find out who her husband is?"
Sandro shook his head.
Ewan turned to Sandro when he heard nothing.
Sandro shook his head again. His tongue was heavy.
"I saw her daughter today. Very beautiful, innocent, unlike her. She had startling blue eyes..."
Sandro jerked. "Blue eyes??"
"Yes. Must be from the father."
What if you are the father? Sandro wanted to ask, but kept quiet.
He would need to confirm first, before raising Ewan’s hopes up. They already have enough problems on their hands as it stands.
"So, who could be backing her?"
The million dollar question with no reply.
But Sandro was sure that Athena had sothing to do with the cyber attack.
The first ti the hack-in had occurred was last year, after Ewan had publicly announced Fiona as his fiancée.
A ssage had been dropped in his email—’Unfaithful man.’—after they had survived the cyber attack and the resulting consequences.
Now, a year later, a more serious hacking had occurred on the sa day the ex-couple t to talk over an issue.
Did Ewan threaten Athena? Was it because of the shares?
"Why did Athena demand that amount of shares?"
"She just wants it. It’s part of her paynt for accepting to treat our people."
"Athena really asked for that?" Sandro couldn’t believe it.
The Athena from six years ago wouldn’t hurt a fly, not to ntion putting the lives of innocent citizens at risk because of an old feud!
Ewan was right. The new Athena was sothing else.
Sandro didn’t like it.
"So, will you give it to her?"
He got his answer when Ewan glared at him.
"Did Ethan tell you anything else, like why he agreed to et you?"
"Not really. I think it’s because he ca from the States. He doesn’t pay attention to our dia."
Ewan furrowed his eyebrows. "When did he step into our city?"
"A few weeks ago."
Ewan nodded, "I see. A new rich person who loves investnts. I will thank him specially, after this blows over. What’s the situation now?"
"Well, the dia is blowing it out of proportion as usual. By tomorrow we should have a better handle of things. I promise."
Ewan nodded his thanks, and stumbled to his feet.
"What do you have in mind for Athena and Zane?" Sandro mirrored Ewan’s movents.
A pause.
"I’m not sure. I have to et Zane’s father first. I have to know if he knew about this setup. If he knew about it, I would decide my next step from there." Ewan responded, noticing a frown on Sandro’s face the next second.
"What’s the matter?"
"The hackers, I just rembered... they couldn’t be traced. We lost them again."
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