CHAPTER 352: ’WHIPPED AFRESH’

"So, will there be a party?" Herbert asked, when Athena was done narrating Fiona’s tale, as shortly as possible.

"Knowing old Mr. Thorne, I am sure he would be interested in that. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if your grandmother is already putting things together, sending out invites, to introduce the world to their lost but found grandchild."

A pause. A deep throated laugh. "Don’t look so ashen, Athena. That’s what happens in high born families. Didn’t Zane throw you a party on your return to the city? And you weren’t even his daughter."

A laugh. Athena paling further. She hadn’t thought of that. Another limelight experience, this time with her children.

Oh god. She didn’t think the twins were ready for that. Oh, they could handle it quite alright, but considering the uncertain state of things, she didn’t think it was wise to release their information to the public. But could it be helped?

She relaxed further into her seat, aware that she was the centre of attention, aware that Ewan had stepped closer to her. To offer comfort?

Was he even aware that he was closer to her than before? They seemed to draw each other like a moth to a flame.

There she goes letting him confuse her thoughts again. Athena mused, shutting her eyes for less than a second.

Ewan, who had been watching her, thinking that she was disturbed about the incoming party, quickly moved closer, while Aiden and Herbert exchanged amused glances.

"Hey, it’s okay. I am sure we can convince grandfather not to hold the party, at least to keep the kids away from the public."

His hand resting gently on her shoulders eased the discomfort a little, but greatly multiplied the confusion in her mind. It seemed that the only thing her mind wanted to think about was Ewan and his maddening touch.

"Ewan is right. I think Edward wouldn’t want to place the kids in the limelight, although the public would be able to connect the dots, seeing as the twins have appeared in the news before..."

Seeing Athena’s raised brow of query, Herbert chuckled, shaking his head at her quickness to forget. "You remember the kidnapping incident..."

Athena exhaled and shut her eyes. She had forgotten the only time her children had been abducted from their school.

She wished to cut off Morgan’s hands then. Maybe she shouldn’t have alerted the president to his capture, so she would have more time with him. Hopefully, Sandro’s imagination wouldn’t come to pass.

She couldn’t stomach Morgan being tended to by curvaceous women. An exhale. "I think we can handle it. Thanks, Herbert. I take it that you will be invited?"

Herbert smiled, and relaxed on his seat.

Even for an old man, he was a handsome man. Athena noticed. Would have broken many hearts in his younger times, just like his son, Zane. It would explain why no one knew the identity of his wife, or Zane’s mother to be exact.

No marriage records had turned up when she had done a thorough research on him, years ago.

She shook her head; not a time for these thoughts. "See you then, Herbert." She rose to her feet. It was time to head home. Maybe check out her new lab later.

If she was to take a guess, the people monitoring her would be fuming now, and would have put a couple of criminals on her tail. It was best not to give them something to feed on. It was best to retire home for now.

She would talk with Ewan on the best way to get to her lab without being followed, maybe recruit more agents to stay hidden and take out unwelcome guests hovering around.

"See you, Miss Thorne."

Athena rolled her eyes. "Please call me Athena. I’m still getting used to my new status."

"And fighting," Herbert concluded, causing Ewan to glare at him. Yet he couldn’t be bothered.

"Well, if these two big men haven’t told you the truth, I will..."

"I know, Herbert," Athena interrupted with intelligent grace. "I don’t know how I was able to escape unscathed, but I know that my parents were murdered by the family. I know too that they won’t let me rest, that they will try to kill me off too..."

A weary sigh. "You can say that again, Herbert. I seem to be getting used to the fights."

Her eyes looked old then, weary, tired.

Herbert sighed. "Don’t worry, Athena. I am sure you can handle it. If you handled Morgan... surely you can take them out too."

A ghost of a smile passing on her lips. "So I should bank on your help with dealing with them?"

Herbert shook his head, laughing. "What a sly fox you are. You can. But that would be on one of our dates."

Athena raised a brow, amusement shining in her eyes, laughing when Herbert winked at her. Interesting.

And when Ewan cleared his throat, she winked at Herbert. No harm done, she concluded... that’s except torturing Ewan with mixed emotions, as he was doing to her.

"Let’s go, boys," she whistled, feeling good on seeing Ewan’s annoyed expression. He was too easy to annoy.

Aiden, however, remained in a jolly mood, blissfully aware of the games playing on, that Herbert now knew of Ewan’s still attraction to Athena.

"Goodbye, Ewan." Herbert called out, teasingly.

"Goodbye, Herbert," Ewan replied, walking out, gritting his teeth as Herbert’s laughter followed him out of the door.

"Do you go about granting dates to everyone you meet?" he started, once the door shut behind him.

Athena’s strides didn’t break. But Aiden’s did.

"Don’t worry about this much, Ewan. They are just playing,"

Ewan scoffed. "But they will meet to talk about the Thorne family?"

"Of course. Don’t you want her to win this fight?"

"I do. But she can meet me."

Aiden laughed, and turned away. "You really are whipped afresh. So much for keeping your cards close to your heart."

Ewan snorted, watching him walk away, watching Athena mix with the other doctors, maybe telling them that she won’t be around for the rest of the day.

Beautiful. He thought as he watched her, everything fading from his vision. Just her, talking, laughing, shaking hands, tapping a shoulder, kissing a little one’s forehead.

He could watch her forever. He realized. He really could.

Aiden was right. He had been whipped with love afresh, irrevocably.