She hadn’t been able to ask him about Victoria; there had been no chance to do so after he had denied her request for friendship—after he had saved them both from committing a reckless relationship blunder.
But she knew that the stoic expressions and the pretense of not seeing her had co to an end. He would at least greet her, as he did Susan—or so she hoped.
"Doctor Athena, you have spaced out again..." Damian called her attention for the second ti since the therapy session began, and for the second ti, Susan chuckled softly, shaking her head.
Athena wondered what was going through the latter’s mind, unable to help thinking that her romantic life had beco a chief source of entertainnt and relief to those around her.
"You know what, I think you should talk about your relationship with your ex-husband too... I think it will help you see things more clearly."
The only thing Athena could see more clearly was that this doctor—whom Chelsea had so highly recomnded—had been in the gang with Ewan at one ti.
She just knew it, sowhere deep down, with those almost blank eyes staring into hers, like he could see the innermost part of her soul. His patients really stood no chance against him—against his will.
"So, you finally admit that you know he was my ex-husband."
Damian laughed. "I didn’t think it needed to be pointed out. You are a celebrity figure, Athena, and I love doing my research."
Athena scoffed. "Which na tag did you go with in your underground days?"
Damian frowned. "I am a bit lost here."
But Susan was already captivated by the new topic, suddenly curious about this doctor she thought was far too handso for his own good.
"Ewan is Wolfsbane. Which are you? Were you a doctor in the gang?"
Damian was speechless. He cleared his throat after a mont, picked up his notepad from the table, and got to his feet. "I think today’s session is over."
Athena and Susan burst into laughter, heads thrown back, hands resting limply on their thighs.
"You should be open to your own ssage, doctor... being free with answers you know..." Athena teased.
"I’m not in therapy," Damian countered with a sigh. "I think you two will have different counseling tis to yield more results. As much as you’ve both gone through the sa traumatic experience, there are underlying thes which are quite different and far apart..."
A pause, where he t their gazes. "Do you understand?"
The two won nodded, amusent fading.
"Good. I’ll communicate that to you before the end of the week. And rember, I have a limited ti in this country, so I suggest you make better use of it, instead of asking unnecessary questions."
Pride, Athena mused, watching the doctor gather his things and go upstairs. Did he expect them to see themselves out?
"Do you think he knows who you are? Both as a whiz in your field, and in the other field hidden from the press?" Susan whispered.
Athena shrugged. "Does it matter? I don’t think his pride allows him to accord respect where it’s due."
She tried to recall any code nas from the files covering the gang’s case back then, but none ca to mind. She bit her lip, eyes on the stairs, fingers tapping against the chair as she counted the seconds.
They both waited until Damian returned to the sitting room, fifteen minutes later.
"You two are still here?"
This ti Susan didn’t bother with a polite reply—she simply glared at him. "Who do you think you are?"
Athena was surprised at the anger in her tone.
"You must feel so high and mighty because you ca recomnded, because you have one of the top doctors in the world as a client. Hence your stinking pride that won’t let you offer the simplest courtesy. You didn’t even inform us you were done with the session!"
Damian wasn’t startled in the least. Instead, he smiled faintly. "I don’t care if you’re the president, woman. You ca to because you needed my help. I suggest you respect that too."
"I’m disappointed—ashad—on behalf of my friends," Athena finally spoke, rising to her feet. She had had enough.
"Chelsea is one of my best friends, and because she recomnded you, I had high hopes. Then I saw Ewan here. I know his character, and I know he’ll be disappointed by your conduct. And you know what..."
She paused, smiling. "I don’t need your services, Damian. And trust , I will find out about you—every tiny detail, including your ti spent in the gang, being a lackey doctor—"
"I wasn’t a lackey doctor!" Outrage lit Damian’s face, shifting into shock when Athena laughed, shaking her head at having turned the tables.
"So you were in the gang. Thanks for confirming that piece of information. Did Ewan tell you about ? About my other side hustle?"
Damian frowned, a telltale sign he wasn’t aware of what she ant.
"Oh, too bad. If you had known, you wouldn’t have behaved so atrociously... You see..." She stepped closer, and Damian frowned at her audacity. "Ewan and I... we’re not so different."
Her head tilted to the side. "Do you understand what I’m saying?"
Damian swallowed. "I’m not sure. Are you telling you’re a gangster too?"
"A doctor who is dumb," Susan muttered loudly enough for him to hear, picking up her bag. "You should ask Ewan. Seeing as you’re friends, I’m sure he’ll give you the full gist—and pray he doesn’t blow out your brains while at it, for being rude to his ex-wife."
She clicked her tongue. "Oh, I would love to see that."
For the first ti, Damian’s confident deanor cracked. Suddenly nervous, he wiped his palms on his trousers. "They’re still close?"
Susan snorted. "Then you aren’t as close to Ewan as I thought. Forget it." Then, to Athena, "Let’s leave. I think we should keep him as a therapist. At least he understands our world—and I’m sure he’ll keep quiet about it."
Athena smiled and moved away, picking up her bag as well. "You’re right, Susan."
Then, winking at a still nervous Damian, she wished him a nice evening and walked out of the apartnt, feeling high on victory.
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