h4Chapter 396: Cognac/h4

"What about Lucas?" Ewan asked, sipping from the cup of cognac in his hand, his entire focus on Athena who was also clutching a cup of hers.

She had requested that he join her for a drink before they retired for the night. The children were already asleep, and Mr. and Mrs. Thorne had retired too, into their bedroom. The household was quiet.

"He is fine. Just bruises and a couple of external injuries. Nothing that a few days of rest won’t fix. I also spoke with my grandfather concerning the living situation. He said he will give them the quarters in the east wing, so that this particr house won’t be crowded somewhat. There will be, of course, security stationed around the houses and all..." Athena exined, rotating the cup in her hand.

Ewan nodded slowly, taking another sip. "It’s good what you are doing. You should be proud of yourself."

Athena snorted softly, shaking her cup slowly in her hand, her eyes fixed on the wall clock opposite her. Ten thirty p.m. And her friends were not back yet.

She licked her lips and returned her attention to Ewan, who was having a field day staring at her. She looked away, clearing her throat.

"Tell me about Spider. He looks familiar."

Ewan raised a brow. "Familiar? Spider isn’t one to look familiar to people. He is rarely seen outside."

"I know," Athena concurred, her tone firm. "I understand. But it doesn’t stop the fact, it doesn’t erase the fact that he looks familiar to me." A pause. "I have tried cing his face to a memory or something, but it’s just not working. How much do you know of him?"

Ewan shrugged, leaning back into the couch. "Not much like I have told you. He joined the gang at barely sixteen."

"Why would you lot take someone that young, someone not even up to the age limit for an adult?" Athena questioned, brows furrowing.

"He was desperate. I epted him because he reminded me of me—his desperation did, rather. I knew what it meant to be in that situation where you believe only some gang or cult will save you."

A sip of cognac. "And that’s why I took him in. He didn’t do any hard work though... luckily for both him and us, he was aputer genius. But it didn’t exempt him from training. Spider can shoot a gun like any of us."

"And has he even gone on a mission before?"

Ewan shook his head. "Not that I am aware of."

"You think you met him in one, during your time at the CIA?"

Athena inhaled, her gaze flicking away. "I don’t know. He is just familiar."

Just then footsteps were heard outside, interrupting their conversation. They both kept quiet, eyes trained on the entrance; their brows raised when Chelsea and Gianna stepped into the sitting room, whispering about something.

Whispering—because Athena could see, could gauge from their standing positions as they moved in, that they had been talking about something; an action that paused when they took notice of her presence, of her presence and Ewan’s.

"Athena... you are still awake..." Gianna started, eyes darting between Ewan and Athena, and the bottle of cognac, as she approached the duo.

Athena got to her feet, hugged her friend, and then Chelsea, who looked ufortable, nervous.

"We saw the news..." Gianna was still speaking, after exchanging pleasantries with Ewan. "What does that mean for you, for us?"

Athena shrugged. "More work I guess, more carefulness on your parts, on the part of the citizens. I am yet to know if its mode of action is like the Grey, if it spreads by contact... but to be on the safe side, I’ve told the president to issue some kind of statement, instructing everyone to be alert around their homes, to report any suspicious movements, and to put on face masks."

Gianna massaged her friend’s shoulder with a palm. "You will handle it. You always do. I’m d Ewan is around to help."

Ewan smiled, inclining his head to Gianna, who chuckled softly.

"Do you need anything else? Anything at all?"

Athena pouted. "I miss my girls." She looked at Chelsea then. "And you... what have you been up to?"

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Gianna looked at Chelsea then in a way that alerted Athena that something was wrong. Biting on her lower lip, she turned to Ewan and asked for space.

"Thanks for having the drink with me. Have a good night."

Ewan wished her the same, sent his regards to her friends, and then left for his designated space.

"So are you two like..."

"We are not present at this moment to talk about me, but you," Athena cut in mildly, interrupting Chelsea’s quest for hot gist. "What’s going on with you?"

A pause where she turned to Gianna. "You can microwave your meals, while I talk with Chelsea. I know you already know what’s up. I’m just not sure why you two had kept it from me."

"Athena, you already have a lot on your te," Gianna exined, turning toward the kitchen. "We didn’t want to add any more."

Athena scoffed. "I will always have time for family, and you two are that to me. Give it to me. What’s happening?"

Gianna left then to get to dinner. She was voraciously hungry.

"Well, a lot, I think. My parents are trying to set me up with someone I have not met."

"An arranged marriage? In these times? For a modern woman like you?"

Chelsea pouted, not knowing what to think of Athena’s tone. But when her friendughed, when she followed too, she knew that this matter had her uptight in such a way that she had almost forgotten her friend’s sense of humor.

"Can you imagine? They im that he is this and that... but I’m not interested in arranged marriages. What if he is a cripple?"

Athenaughed. "That’s a far fetch. I don’t think your parents would want that for you."

Chelsea hissed. "They want any male, so long as his pockets are full, like they don’t have enough money. I don’t get this obsession with money and all."

Athena chuckled. "Is that why you ran from home, daddy’s girl? What are you doing here then?"

"I’m thinking of starting my practice here. Gianna has been helping with statistics and all, but with the possible threat of a new virus, I don’t know." Chelsea’s voice became unsure. "I just want to..." a pause like words were finished.

"Don’t worry," Athena said, flinging her arm around her friend’s shoulder. "Everything will be fine, arranged marriage or not."

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