31 Bruised Knees
The smile on Athena’s lips tinkered on oblivion when she walked into the office and saw who was waiting for her at Ciara’s desk.
Fiona.
She was about to call for the security men when she saw the Lears in Fiona’s eyes.
She stopped in her tracks. Had the mother died? Athena almost felt guilty
But then her eyes wandered to the basket of flowers on the ground, to the variety of items in another basket beside Fiona, and she let out a chuckle.
She knew this part of the play. Fiona had come to beg
Didn’t Ewan inform her of the truce?
“What are you doing here, Fiona?”
Fiona, who had been facing the calendar in false misery, who had pretended not noticing Athena’s presence, turned to Athena and started sobbing.
Ciara darted her eyes to Athena in confusion.
“Let her in, Ciara. Get us two cups of chocolate.”
Two can play the game. Athena thought as she strode into the office, without sparing Fiona a glance.
Fiona sniffed, and flexed her fists, wishing she could drag Athena by the hair and give her the beating of her life.
How dare she ignore her pitiful state? What was puffing her shoulders? The tag of ‘Doctor“?
She bit her lips in anger. Soon, Athena will regret treating her with disdain.
For now, however, she will let her nemesis gallivant.
After all, her recent role of submission was temporary. She believed she would have the last laugh.
With that thought ingrained in her senses, she gingerly got up from the chair, and carried the gift items which her father had procured for her role.
When she got to the office, Athena was standing by the large glass window with an overview of the beautiful city.
“Have a seat, Fiona, and start talking. Is your mother dead?”
Fiona wished so, but for her father’s sanity.
“No, but she’s barely hanging in there. We need your help.”
“Reason for the gifts?” Athena turned as she spoke, crossing her arms on her chest.
र
31 Bruised Knees
The thought of Athena being out of this world finally, gave her the strength she needed to kneel and move to the table.
As she moved, the hatred in her heart increased, both toward Athena, and toward her mother who had given in to the sickness.
If the witch hadn’t been ill, she wouldn’t have been in this position. No. She would have gone straight to plotting Athena’s demise with her father.
She sighed harshly in relief when she finally got to the table.
Her knees were sore and quaking. Bruised even. But she dared not stand. Not until Athena agreed to treat her mother.
When she grabbed the cup and took a sip, she forced herself to swallow, feeling Athena’s gaze
on her.
She downed the drink the second time, eager to get it over with.
When she was done, she turned to Athena. “Can I stand now?”
Athena shook her head. “I never asked you to kneel in the first place… But since you wanted to do that, you will continue kneeling, until we are done with the meeting. However, if you think
otherwise…”
“No, it’s okay! I will kneel…” Fiona shouted, amusing Athena.
For the future. Fiona consoled herself.
Immediately Athena sat down, and took her cup of chocolate, Fiona launched into her mission
here.
“I’m sorry Athena. These gifts are from my father and I. We are sorry, for everything”
“If he is, why isn’t he here? Too proud?”
Fiona shook her head erratically. “He has to take care of my mother, she is bedridden.
“Too poor to hire a caregiver?”
“Too in love, rather…” Fiona answered, with a shy smile.
“Like you are in love with Ewan?”
The smile disappeared instantly.
Fiona fisted her hands again, remembering the event of last night.
Ewan had dropped an apology gift this morning, but she wasn’t satisfied with it.
And she won’t be until Athena stayed dead!
“Yes, just like that” She smiled sweetly, while her knee thrummed with pain, and her stomach started rumbling in discomfort.
When a call came in, Athena abandoned the discussion and answered It.
31 Bruised Knees
Athena piqued an eyebrow, daring her to speak nonsense again.
Fiona bowed meekly. “I’m sorry.”
Athena smiled, and returned to her call, laughing inwardly.
How long will Fiona’s mask last while kneeling?
