"Don’t they ever give up?" Athena muttered under her breath, watching Mary’s na flash on her screen for the third ti. Why were they insistent today?
Not that there was any other day where they hadn’t been...
Ignoring the call, she shifted her gaze around the park, scanning for Jake’s car. A crease lined her forehead when she didn’t spot him. Where did he go? She wondered, placing her hand on her waist.
She pulled out her phone to call him but rembered he had ntioned during their drive in the morning that he would be busy running errands for Aiden at this ti.
Athena cursed loudly under her breath, frustration boiling over. She wouldn’t call Aiden to free the driver, and she certainly wouldn’t reach out to Jake since Aiden might be with him. She didn’t want to seem petty, especially after saying she would stick to the schedule they had established this week.
Sighing again, she recalled also that she had been the one to suggest informing Jake of her schedule; the last thing she wanted was for him to loiter around while waiting for her. It felt like a waste of the man’s ti.
Looking around the park, she wondered what her next move would be. Whattodo?
Just then, her phone rang again, interrupting her thoughts. Athena didn’t need to check to know it was Mary again. Mary had a habit of calling five tis before giving it a rest. This was the fourth ti.
She silenced her phone and walked out of the park toward the road, pondering whether catching a cab would be a good idea.
Was it a better option? She shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought.
Yet what could she do? She needed to get the drugs today—the lives of her patients depended on it.
She pulled up her phone, scrolling through her contacts, ntally listing off people she could trust to pick her up and take her to the private lab.
Old Mr. Thorne could have made the list, but he was an elderly man, and she didn’t want to burden him with the smoky, dusty atmosphere leading to her private lab. So he was out of the equation.
That left Gianna.
Taking a deep breath, she dialed her friend’s number. It was a relief to her now, that she had confided in the latter a few days ago; it made things easier.
"Hello, Gianna, are you free?" She asked when the call connected.
"Not really. I have a presentation coming up in a few minutes. Is there a problem?" Gianna replied, sounding rushed.
Athena held back a weary sigh. "Not at all. Good luck on the presentation..."
"Athena, just talk to . The presentation can be postponed," Gianna interrupted, concern lacing her voice.
Athena paused, weighing her friend’s words for any sign of hesitation. Truthfully, she was too ntally exhausted to sniff it out.
Finally, she shrugged her shoulders and explained her predicant. "I need a ride. I don’t think I have the ti to hire a car. Could you co to the hospital with yours? You can take a cab back to work afterward."
A mont of silence t her request.
"Where are you going? The kids aren’t out of school yet..."
Athena bit her lip, debating whether to reveal the whole truth or offer a convincing lie. In the end, she decided to be honest. "I want to go to my private lab. I need to get so drugs for the patients we have in the hospital..."
"Can I co with you?" Gianna asked, a hint of excitent in her voice.
A pause greeted the question. Athena considered it for a mont before finally agreeing and ending the call. If Gianna wanted to join her, that was fine.
After all, Aiden knew the place and had betrayed her without sha. So why shouldn’t she allow soone who had been by her side for so long to accompany her?
With that settled, she retraced her steps back into the park and sat on one of the benches, acknowledging that it would take a while for Gianna to arrive. She might as well indulge in a mont of peaceful rest.
But as if the universe was conspiring against her, she caught sight of Mary and Matthew approaching.
Great. Athena wished she could teleport away or beco invisible—anything to avoid the impending disturbance.
"So, you ran away from your office to co here and do what? Sleep?" Mary sneered as she drew nearer. "Don’t you have patients waiting or appointnts to keep? I think I should report you to Herbert. He needs to see how incompetent a doctor you are."
"Yeah, I think you should. Let’s see what he has to say," Athena replied, her voice dripping with boredom and nonchalance.
This combination in her tone seed to aggravate Mary and Matthew further; they both stepped in closer, puffing up their chests, hoping to intimidate her now that no one else was around in the park.
Seeing their attempts made Athena chuckle because their antics were simply ridiculous.
"If you two are done parading like fat peacocks, I suggest you return to your posts unless you want to file a complaint... rember, you both still report to ," She warned, her authority clear.
Mary hissed in irritation. "You must feel so high and mighty, enjoying this position because..."
"Because I found the cure to the Grey disease? Get used to it. That story is getting old. Find another to peddle, or go back to your work," Athena retorted, her voice thick with authority.
The twins exchanged glances, clearly displeased with her response. But their combative efforts only made Athena more relaxed. If only she could wield a pistol in that mont—she could picture sinking one or two bullets into their legs, knowing she would get away scot-free.
Who would believe the calm, collected doctor could handle a gun? The thought made her smile a bit, but she quickly dismissed it, returning her gaze to her watch. Gianna should be arriving anyti now.
The impatience gnawed at her insides as she tapped her thighs, willing her friend to hurry.
With the siblings standing there and not planning to leave, Athena finally closed her eyes, striving to grab a little inner peace.
Of course, the mont of tranquility was intercepted as she heard Matthew’s voice cutting through her silence.
"Athena..."
She opened her eyes slowly, leaning back against the bench, giving him a placid expression.
"You think you’re smarter than us, huh?" He asked, his tone laced with arrogance.
Athena shook her head faintly. "I don’t think, I know I’m smarter. Should I call security on you two? You’re disrupting my peace... I don’t want to hear another word..."
Mary gasped in disbelief at her response, spun on her heel, and marched away.
Finally, Athena thought with a slight sense of relief, turning her attention to Matthew.
"Wait, what are you still waiting for?" She questioned, eyeing him badly.
Matthew snorted, his expression filled with nace. "I promise you will regret this. When I’m done with you, you’ll be begging to take you to bed."
Athena gagged at the suggestion, revolted. "Get out."
This ti, Matthew didn’t hesitate, recognizing the icy glare in her eyes. He turned away, snorting once again before walking off.
What was wrong with those two? Athena wondered as she continued to watch them leave. They despised her as much as she hated them; why couldn’t they take a page from her book and keep to themselves?
Just when she was about to close her eyes again, she saw them returning. She cursed softly, a headache beginning to throb at her temples.
"Are you two obsessed with ?" She asked as they ca into earshot.
"You wish," Mary muttered, crossing her arms. "We want to know how to get the drugs to cure the Grey disease. There are none available anymore. We’re supposed to work with you on the cure, that’s what Herbert promised."
Athena snorted. "Well, you can go work with Herbert then. I work alone, and there’s no way I’m letting you near my work. Now, if that’s all..." She gestured to the path they had just co from, indicating they should leave.
"What are we supposed to tell the patients who are demanding the drugs?" Matthew shot back.
"Well, tell them they will receive their treatnt this evening or tomorrow morning. Now, can I have my peace, or do you want the pleasure of the guards?"
Mary scoffed and turned away. Matthew quickly following suit.
Athena shook her head, exhaling harshly before closing her eyes again. Those two would give her grey hairs faster than she anticipated. Maybe she should start working from ho.
A car horn interrupted her thoughts a few monts later, alerting her to the vehicle parked a few feet away.
Gianna. Thank God. Athena mused, rising to her feet and readjusting the tote bag on her shoulder.
She smiled as her friend opened the door and stepped inside.
"You must have woken up on the right side of the bed if you want to show your private lab... for a mont, I thought you would call Aiden..."
Athena chuckled drily, watching her friend start the car. "Don’t say that," She replied lightly, looking ahead.
Gianna didn’t know about the altercation between her and Aiden yet...
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