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ATHENA “Where did Daddy go?” Rayen asks as Luca drives us back home.I don't know what to say or how to answer that question. Yesterday passed in a blur. I can barely remember what happened after Alex left or how I hugged Rose goodbye with promises of catching up.I've been holding onto my phone like it's my lifeline. Hoping and praying Giana is alright.She saved me. Gave me an education and made my life so easy. She had another heart attack and could die.I have the formula. Maybe I should stop hiding it and use it to save her and have Alex take a dose to prevent this from ever happening to him.“He had something to do, sweetie. You'll see him soon.” I finally find the strength to answer my son, who nods and focuses on his game.Luca and I share a look through the rearview mirror.“You can't keep it hidden from him forever.” He says.I know he's right, but I don't admit it.I'll tell him when I hear how she's doing.“Do you think the formula can help?” I blurt out the question.W
ALEX "I just got a call from Mr. King Snr. Your grandmother just had a heart attack."Ryan whispers the words that knock the air out of me.Everything around me fades. The smoke from the grill, the laughter, the kids shouting, all of it gone. Muted. Like someone hits mute on the whole damn world, and all I hear is the rush of blood in my ears.My grip tightens around the spatula until the metal bites into my palm.Not again.My chest constricts, the same way it did the last time she collapsed. I force myself to breathe, but it’s shallow and useless.What if I actually lose her this time?Fear settles in my chest like a cancer cell and spreads in my entire body.“Where is she?” I ask, my voice low.“Quinn’s Medical Center.” Ryan answers quickly. “She was admitted ten minutes ago. The family is already there, and Dr. Quinn snr is attending to her.”I nod once. My body moves before my mind catches up. I shove the spatula into Ethan’s hand.“Take over,” I mutter.He looks confused for
ATHENA My blood boils. What kind of idiots are these?I'm about to step forward and give them a piece of my mind, but someone beats me to it.Alex.He steps forward slowly, grabbing a sack of ingredients without hesitation. His face is calm, but his voice is cold.“Is your company bigger than mine?.” He stops and asks the first man.“Mr. King, you seriously-”“Answer my question.” He cuts him off.Everyone is so quiet you can hear a feather fall. The man starts shaking as he forces a fake laugh,“No. How can I compare to you, sir?” He responds, and I hold back a scoff.Bastards who want to bully those weaker than them but fumble when someone more powerful is in the picture. So pathetic.“Or you,” He turns his head to the other two. So lazily, he looks like they don't even deserve to be looked at, “Perhaps yours makes more money than mine does.”They both shake their heads quickly, mumbling something about how that’s not what they meant. One of them even starts stammering, trying to
ATHENA Three days later….“Today is our last day, and we must make the best of it!” The teacher announces just as Rose pulls a chair to sit next to me.I barely look up. My mind is still spinning, replaying that night like a broken record on loop.The kiss.God.That kiss.It had knocked the air out of my lungs and left a dull ache in my chest. I couldn’t shake off. Like a burn that wouldn’t stop tingling.I hadn’t talked to Alex since. Not properly, anyway. I mean, we share a room, so speaking is inevitable. We’d shared a few stolen glances, a tension-filled breakfast where I refused to look at him, and one accidental brush of hands that sent my entire nervous system into panic mode.Rose leans toward me, snapping her gum loudly. “You look like you haven’t slept in three days.”“I haven’t,” I mumble, flipping my pen in my hand.“Why? You miss Zayan?” She asks.I pause, turning to look at the growing smile on her face.Yeah, I… I do.”I’m lying. I don’t, but I’m not about to admit w
ALEXI let my fingers skim lower, brushing against the inside of her wrist where her pulse is thudding like a fucking war drum.“Tell me he touches you and your knees go weak.”She looks away, but I see the way her lips part, the way her chest rises like she’s struggling to breathe.I inch closer.Not enough to trap her. Just enough to remind her I’m here.“I told you to stay away from me,” she says, but her voice is shaking.“I don’t think you mean that, baby.” I murmur back, brushing my thumb along the edge of her jaw. “ I love you. Do you know that?”She swallows.“You don’t know what love is.”“I think I'm starting to get the hang of it.” I lean in, my lips inches from hers. “ That includes, if you tell me to move away, I will.”She opens her mouth, but no sound comes out.I press my forehead to hers again, my breath fanning across her lips.“That son of a bitch must have kissed you didn't he?” I whisper, trying to keep my blood from boiling. I wish I could tell her he's not as sh
ALEX “No!”Athena twists and turns.I’m fucking tired, but I had work to do. Being on Rayen's camping trip meant days off the grid, no meetings, no calls and no fires to put out, which only meant more load piling up the second I stepped back into the office.I have no regrets though. I'd do this anyday. Hell, I'd even stay a year if Athena asked me to.I had asked Ryan to make sure the room we got was spacious enough to fit a working table. Most of our hotels don't have them because the whole point is for our clients to relax. That way, they get to notice every service we offer. They spend more money that way. Simple business Mathematics.I sat on the desk with my laptop open, a dozen unread emails staring at me, and yet, my brain refused to cooperate.Every time I tried to concentrate, images of her kept bleeding through.Beautiful long black hair.Thick thighs and curves to end any man.Cute kissable lips that drive me fucking insane.Sometimes, I don't blame Noah and Zayan. At