When will this click? Athena wondered, chewing on her lower lip, impatience flaring within.
With her approaching wedding with Ewan, which had her tingling with excitent whenever she thought of it, the need to tie up loose ends increased. And the one more poignant was Cedric’s.
The other, the one that was now a dull ache that she scarcely rembered unless there was a cause for it, was no longer a priority.
Aiden had promised her though that it was still being looked into, that she should focus on her recent role as head of the Thorne Empire, and these days it was getting easier.
She just had to deal with these people, who had wrecked her grandparents at one point; even though her grandfather had told her it might take years, that they didn’t have to do that now.
But Athena wanted to do it now. She had set her plays in the right positions. She was just impatient that they were taking longer than she expected.
Two weeks after she had been hosted by her grand aunt, a week since Cedric was convicted, and there had been no play. Were they still thinking they could bail him out?
Hadn’t they realized that it wouldn’t be feasible, since she was the Thorne with the highest power now, next to her grandparents.
She hadn’t given them a response as she had promised, and yet, watching the cams that her children had made sure were installed in strategic positions of the house, had turned up nothing.
Why weren’t they discussing killing her like they had killed her parents?
Ewan had told her to be patient, but Athena wasn’t sure she could do that. Maybe she should poke them more?
She pushed away from the work before her and got up from the chair, her fingers drumming once against the armrest before she stalked to the glass windows.
She looked out at the city below, hands slipping into the pockets of her black, well-tailored office pants, her shoulders tense with thought. What to do?
Just then her phone rang. She turned slightly, brows knitting. She sighed when she couldn’t see who was calling from her current position, internally calculating if whoever was calling was worth breaking her silence for.
At last, she picked the phone, brows furrowing deeper when she realized it was the lawyer handling the case.
"They are contesting against... aren’t letting it lie low..."
Of course. Athena mused, exhaling slowly, fingers tapping her thigh. He was their only child. It would be an offense for them to lie low because she had refused to help or take back the accusation.
"Go ahead," she said when the lawyer was done. "I might add a new accusation to the case. Until then, keep updated."
A tweak in the plan, but she could see it would still converge. Maybe this was even better. Maybe she could convict them all; they could reap a couple of years imprisonnt, especially her grand aunt Beatrice.
She sighed, letting her body relax slightly, wishing this could be settled in the elders’ council. It would make the evidence Spider had been helping her collect sweeter to present, as it had been during her case with Ewan.
She laughed now, rembering that period. How ti flies...
Her phone rang again. This ti it was the president.
She frowned, posture straightening. Did sothing happen?
"Hello, Mr President?"
"Yes Athena... how are you doing?"
"I’m fine, thank you," Athena answered carefully, her tone respectful but guarded, her mind already calculating the possible reason for this call.
"You would wonder why I am calling... just to check in concerning the Grey case..."
Even that na sounded alien to her ears now.
"Any progress? Who had done it? I know it’s been a while since we have seen any shows, but I cannot relax yet... the feeling compounded by the fact that I had been attacked, and my family... was quite traumatizing."
Athena nodded slowly even though he couldn’t see. "I understand, Mr President. But my n are on it. If we find anything, you will be the first to know."
A pause on the other end of the phone. She wondered if he was doubting her.
"Okay then, Doctor. Thank you. How is managing the Thorne Empire going? You will be around for the state leadership conference right? I am hoping to see you there..."
"Yes sir." Did she have a choice, when the company was one of the highest—if not the highest—contributing companies to the overall GDP of the country. She would be going with Ewan.
"Alright then... about your engagent... I’m not sure what to believe in again. Are the rumors true?"
Athena pressed a thumb to the middle of her forehead, eyes shutting briefly. "Yes. The first one was broken out of irreconcilable differences."
"Bad luck for the fellow then. And kudos to Giaotti for swooping in. I’ve always thought you both fit like gloves on hand."
Athena raised a brow. Really?
"Well, congratulations then, again. Any weddings coming up? Am I invited?"
Since saving him and his family from the grips of the Grey disease, the president called her sotis like this, trying to form a bond of so friendship? Or is it family?
Whichever it was, she wasn’t sure what to make of it. She was yet distrustful of the governnt, therapy or not.
"Of course you are. Thank you."
"Don’t ntion, Doctor. Do have a nice day, and say hi to the kids for ."
"Alright sir, have a nice day too."
When the call ended, she stared at the phone for so seconds before dropping it on the table, her fingers lingering on the edge. Should she get used to this?
Feeling bored, yet not in the mood to continue work, she picked up her phone again and called Ewan—video call this ti.
The man didn’t wait for it to even ring twice before picking, the screen imdiately treating her to a view of his face that sent her into a frenzy every goddamn ti.
"Hey..."
"Hey, my favourite girl..." His voice was a soft whisper, unnecessary but intoxicating, laced with warmth that tugged at her heart. The way he looked at her—every single ti—should be banned from the earth.
She snorted lightly, rolling her eyes even as her lips curved. "You say that to Kathleen..."
Ewan flashed white teeth. "She is the assistant... you are always first."
She shook her head, blushing despite herself, the earlier frustration easing from her body. She was already feeling better.
Reviews
All reviews (0)