19 Unwelcome
“What are you doing here, Ewan?”
Athena was the first to break away from the clutches of shock that held the three adults captive.
“You won’t offer me a seat?” Ewan blandly gestured to the sofa closest to him.
Athena frowned in distaste, and turned to Zane. “Did you tell him my address?”
Zane shook his head twice, amusing Ewan. “No, I didn’t. I’m sure he had other means at his disposal.”
“You are right. I did. Ewan stated sharply. “I dropped by your house, Zane, to check on you, but your butler informed me that you had gone to the hospital. I went to the hospital, after closing from work, and I was informed by an irritable secretary that you followed your new hire home.
Ewan chuckled humorlessly. “Finding her home wasn’t hard. It was enlisted in the system. And something tells me, Zane, that you are not here to plead with her to consider my request.”
“What request is that? Zane’s mood was anything but happy that his best friend had interrupted
his conversation with Athena.
Ewan hummed with widened eyes, pretending to be surprised at the turn of events. “Forgotten so soon? Fiona mentioned that she called you earlier today.”
Zane pretended to recall, and then shook his head. “I had no idea what she was talking about then. Your fiancée is always too fast. What was it that you wanted, Ewan?”
Ewan didn’t like being questioned by his best friend either. Shouldn’t the guy be on his side?
Of course Zane remembered Fiona’s request! Yet, he was denying it. What happened to their bro
code?
Ewan breathed out gently, walked to a sofa, and sat on it. He was so frustrated with everything, that he didn’t bother giving Zane an answer, yet.
When he met Athena’s gaze, hoping to see a glare, hoping to see at least an emotion in her eyes.
-any at all, he was met with indifference. His gut twisted with… sadness.
If Athena displayed emotions like she had done during their marriage–like flare up whenever she saw him, or banter stupidly with Fiona–it would have eased the restlessness in his bones.
Yes. He would have found ways to understand the feeling that rose in his chest whenever he saw her. He would have tried to get to know her again. As a friend.
But she didn’t anymore. She was like a stone now; cold and very mysterious. How would he know her afresh, if she showed no desire of being known by him?
Ewan was tired, but he knew he deserved it. In some way, despite what he thought, he knew he
deserved it.
19 Unwelcome
Hadn’t Sandro told him to investigate the accusations lately, on the day of Athena’s banishment? Hadn’t Sandro advised him not to dismiss Athena like a whore? Hadn’t his assistant vouched for Athena’s innocence and loyalty?
But he had been so consumed with anger first, with relief at being free from her father’s evil clutches after, that he had disregarded Sandro’s concerns.
He took a glance at Zane. His best friend was looking at him pitifully. Why was that?
Ewan clamped his right knee tightly. Was Zane still his best friend, or Athena’s? What best
friend was this fickle?
He inhaled deeply, but harshly this time around, and centered his mind on what he came here to do. Time was running out fast.
“Zane…” He finally started. “I told you about my town’s case, the disease spreading at an alarming rate. I was hoping you would help plead my case with Athena, after our discussion last
night.”
Zane reclined into his sofa. A bland smile perched on his lips, which grated on Ewan’s nerves.
“Yes that. But you see, I can’t do that. Athena is her own boss actually. If she chooses not to treat your town, then that’s not my concern. I can only remind her of the doctor’s code, and look the other way. My hospital is honored to have her, Ewan. I can’t lose her by badgering her with your
request.
Athena smiled at Zane pleasantly to the envy of Ewan. He had missed being the object of her smiles and fawnings.
Still…
“But Zane…”
“Didn’t you hear the man, Ewan? He can’t do anything to help you. Only I can help you.”
Athena smirked.
“And if you want my help, Ewan, just do as I told you earlier. Give me twenty percent of your company’s shares; that’s apart from my payments…”
Zane had the grace to be shocked on Ewan’s behalf.
“Twenty percent?” He croaked out, sitting up on the sofa, before he could help himself.
Ewan nodded, and sneered at Athena, thinking that Zane would join him now, having seen Athena’s cruelty.
But Athena didn’t care for all that. “Yes. Is there a problem, Zane?”
There was definitely a problem. Zane wanted to say, but he kept his opinion to himself, and reclined into his sofa again.
If he spoke on the matter, he might lose his chance of finding the truth from Athena tonight. He might even lose her friendship, which he had painstakingly recovered. He couldn’t afford that.
19 onwelcome
If he spoke on the matter, he might lose his chance of finding the truth from Athena tonight. He might even lose her friendship, which he had painstakingly recovered. He couldn’t afford that. Ewan can take care of himself.
“Zane…” Athena prodded, still holding her smirk.
Zane swallowed. “Not at all. It is perfect.
“Perfect?!” The cool facade Ewan had kept up with broke. “Zane, you think her offer is perfect and you are my best friend? You are a joke!”
Ewan got to his feet, restless with energy. He began to pace tro and fro, his fists clenching and unclenching.
However, he was making Athena dizzy. “You should leave, Ewan. You have overstayed your welcome. You weren’t even welcomed in the first place.
Ewan stood at a spot, and stared at Athena and Zane. He didn’t know what he was feeling. He couldn’t understand it. Betrayal? Loss? Rejection?
He inhaled and exhaled so that the pain clutching his heart would let go, but it held on.
“Are you trying to take revenge on me, Athena? Are you helping her, Zane?”
The question was soft, so soft that Athena’s ice began to thaw.
“You want my company to go under a second time? Is this your plan all along, Zane?”
Ewan’s eyes had
gone soft too, as if all the fight had left him.
Zane’s fingers started a beat on his thighs. He was feeling the heat. He hated seeing his friend like this.
But then Ewan chuckled softly, and the somber atmosphere was suspended. “Well, you both are a good team then. But you won’t succeed. I have worked too hard for my company to be destroyed.
He glared at Zane. “Don’t bother coming around again.”
To Athena. “I know we have a bad history. I know we had a bad start off when you came back. I’m not even sure what I did wrong, but I feel you deserve an apology. So, I’m sorry. But I won’t sit back and let you walk over me. From this time onward.”
A cough interrupted his next speech, and broke the haze of confusion over the other two
adults.
They all turned toward the intruder. It was little Kathleen.
