Just after dinner, Athena and Maxwell decided to leave for their home. Since Athena and her mother didn’t leave the mansion, it was already late in the night, sizzling with the chaos unfolding every day. Athena has resorted to saying less to her family as much as she can.‘Thank you for standing by me in there’, she told him. Maxwell looked up at her with a smile. He knew what he had done was going to linger in the air for a long time and that God-forsaking Uncle Duncan might want to come for him later.His smile was reassuring and genuine. “I did it because I hate to see people bren oppressed. I have had my fair share of oppression, and I still have to deal with the stigma of being born poor every other day. He lowered his voice and held her hand in his.‘For as long as you remain my wife, I will protect you from those monsters’. His words made Athena’s heart leap for a moment as she locked eyes with him. She was beginning to love how he took her problems upon himself, but then she c
She quickly searched the entire office, pushing books down to the floor, and when she couldn’t find them, she called her secretary into the office."Ma'am, you sent for me, " Maggie said. She scanned her eyes around the scattered office and waited for her boss to explain why files were littering the place.“I am in really deep trouble,” Athena said, scratching her head.“What do you mean, ma'am? Maggie asked with a puzzled look.‘Remember the bid file I was working on”,“The bidding with the Wilmore’s?“Exactly! I can’t find it". She spoke, her voice thick with mucus. She grabbed her handkerchief, which she had earlier placed on the table, and placed it across her nose. She then blew the mucus heavily into it to relieve herself. Strands of hair stuck to her forehead as the beads of sweat stood out in their magnificent forms.“Let me help you." Maggie offered, and she quickly joined her boss on all the files on the ground as they sorted out several documents. For thirty minutes, she se
“Thank you for coming through for me, “Athena thanked Maxwell. Her tone was filled with heartfelt gratitude.I told you, I got your back’, he smiled and rubbed her softly on the chin. ‘I think you should get going now; you will be late for your meeting.Maxwell made his way out of the building. He strayed his hoodie over his head as he began to take long, stretched steps. He watched his back from the corner of his eyes as he walked out. No one must recognize him. When he got out, he hopped into a taxi and headed home.Sitting in the taxi, he brought out his phone and dialed a number.“Listen to me; everything must go as planned,” he said, ending the call. His conversation was brief and private. The driver peered at him from the rear view. After he finished, he took a deep breath and laid his head down until he got to the new home he now shares with Athena and her mother.*******The clicks of plates and heavy thudding around the corridor got Maxwell wondering. He quickly glanced at th
It’s been a couple of days since Duncan last went to Athena’s house to force her into resigning her position. The fair was fast approaching, and Athena had all her plans to win the bid. The bidding has been scheduled for next week. A total of ten applicants from different organizations were picked to participate, but after going through thorough screening, five were denied.Athena was trying to make sure she got this bid without the help of her so-called family. She has vowed to wow them with her victory; this was her only chance to prove to Grandma that she was more than capable of handling the company. As she packed up her bag for lunch, she texted Maxwell to meet her up at an exclusive restaurant. She stayed by the gate to make sure he arrived on time so both of them could go into the restaurant together.“I can see your car parked outside, " he said, speaking into the phone, taking a few steps to her car. Athena was happy to see him; at least she would have some sweet time talkin
Outside the Wilmore Tower, Athena had just pulled in on one side of the parking lot. She rummaged her bag for her hair brush and arranged her hair, then went on to apply a little more lipstick to her lip.“You can do this, Athena Fairmont,” she said to herself as she inhaled and exhaled heavily. She pulled out her keys and stepped out of the car, holding her bag firm in her hand.She stepped out with grace and clicked the lock button on her keys, but just as she made her first step, a familiar voice called out her name. She turned in the direction her voice came from and rolled her eyes.“Not today," she mouthed, her teeth clutching at each other."What is it, Sabastian Bash?. She asked impatiently. Sabastian paused, clearly not comfortable with her, calling out his full name."Come on, Athena, you don’t have to be that formal with me; Sabastian is just fine", he indulged her."Why are you here? Are you stalking me now?”“Cut the crap! Athena". "You know you need me to help you with t
Athena was sitting in the living room when a message popped up in her email. She reached out for her phone and swiped through it casually. Her eyes popped open when she saw the heading of the mail message. Her body began to vibrate. She could barely hold her phone firm in her hand.Subject: Congratulations on Winning the ContractDear Ms.Athena Fairmont,It gives us great pleasure to offer you and your company our sincere congratulations on winning the most recent tender. Your careful preparation, thorough proposal, and obvious experience have definitely been key factors in this success.This victory not only demonstrates your company's dedication to quality work but also the faith stakeholders have in your talents. We have every confidence that the project will be extremely successful thanks to your commitment and professionalism.Once again, please accept my heartfelt compliments. We are looking forward to seeing the wonderful effects of your labor and as such you are invited to our
Athena’s heart was still thumping excitedly when she arrived at the Wilmore group’s office.She had responded to the mail she received the day before, and since it was the weekend, she couldn’t go to the office.As she approached the tall building, her heart began to rise—a mixture of happiness and anxiety. Today is going to be the most memorable day of her life. She took sharp, determined steps towards the entrance, headed straight to the elevator, and punched in the floor number. In no time, she stepped out of the elevator, and directly in front of her were beautiful ladies waiting to welcome her on arrival.“You are welcome. Ms. Fairmont. Mr. James and the rest of the team are already seated; please come with us,” they bowed to her. She nodded her approval at them and followed their lead. She was more than excited to be welcomed in grand style, and for some reason she finds it abnormal. It was meant to be just a little gathering of those involved and herself. There was a little do
The sun had just risen slightly on the horizon. Athena had just arrived at the branch, as expected. She walked in straight through the front door. Now she knows what it feels like to have a branch under her control, even though she still had someone to report to at the end of the day.“Good morning. Ms. Fairmont", Maggie Her secretary greeted her as she walked into the reception. A bright smile illuminated her face. Athena scanned her face and returned a genuine smile. Maggie has been one of her very lower staff for the past three years. And despite how she knows about everything her family members do to her, Maggie has never, for one day, given her a reason to doubt her loyalty.“Let me help you with that,” Maggie said, taking the bag from Athena’s hand.“I’m so glad you won that tender; I wonder what Grandma Elizabeth and her two sons would have to say to you," Maggie stated frankly. She has never liked Duncan and his brother Damon. From the onset, Maggie knows that their ploy is t
Maxwell and Mirabella approached the hall with their suits and their dark glasses looking so perfect in them. They had decided to go in the same dress that night, even though it wasn't their grandmother's party. The large hall was filled with guests; honorable men and women of the press were also fully present. They walked down and found the perfect spot to sit. Athena's grandma and her sons were seated on one large table. While Veronica and Athena were busy welcoming the guests into the hall, Just then Maxwell's eyes locked with Grandma Elizabeth, and she got up sharply from her seat and walked towards him.“Hey! Aren't you the wretched boy Athena brought into my home?” She asked with her aged hands on her waist.“I am that same boy, ma'am." Maxwell said, standing up from his seat.“I can see you cleaned up well, but all you need to know is that a pig will always be a pig. You do not need to borrow all of these things to look good because you want to creep into my family." She said
“What the hell is going on?” Maxwell was surprised at Athena's sudden claim of being his wife.“I should be the one asking you what's happening with you and that lady." Athena asked, putting her hands on her waist. “Well, she just came to introduce herself, and that's it. She said she wanted to get to know me, and I said fine, and then she suddenly started acting funny and crazy. She's really a creepy one. She wants me, and I can see it in her eyes. I'm never going to let her take advantage of me." Maxwell said.Athena raised her nose at him and said, “I can see that. You're irresistible,you think?” She asked sarcastically.“Of course I am irresistible, just that you are blind to it." Maxwell teased and poked her nose softly. “Grandpa is waiting for you; we thought something had happened, so I came to get you myself.”.“As my saviour or guardian angel?” “Whichever one you pick, I don't really care." Athena spoke to him calmly.“Let's go”. She pulled him by the hand.“But for real
Maxwell picked Athena up at the exact time he told her. This time she wore a black dress with a crossed strap at the back. Her hair swayed on her shoulders as she walked out of the house to meet him outside.Hello, Mr. Maxwell." She said this to him with a broad smile on her face."Hello, Ms. Fairmont, Are I late?” He asked her casually, his broad smile gracing his appearance. “Nope! You aren't late for the appointment, Mr. CEO." She responded by flapping her hands over her face so he would notice her makeup. She had to do the regular type by herself. She sensed that tonight's occasion was going to be a really heavy one, so she invited a makeup artist over to do the needful on her face. She now had fuller lips than usual, and her nose stood out, pointed and straight, with the help of the contour. “Oh! Okay, I get the message. Your makeup is a hundred percent perfect, and you look really stunning in that black dress, just like a black rose with petals of red on it." Maxwell gave his
Six months later, Wilmore Casino had grown into the talk of town. They were well known all over the city. Uncle Zander and grandpa are so proud of what Maxwell had made out of the business within just a few months of emerging as MD. Just like the way Grandpa usually creeps into his room unannounced. The knock on the door was soft and familiar, but he never thought that it would be his grandpa until he answered.“Come in, please." He answered even though his back was turned against the door. He was busy making some photocopies.“Hey,son”. Maxwell turned only to see his grandfather walking into the room with his walking aid on one hand. “Hey pops, you didn't tell me you were coming,” Maxwell said with a smile on his face. He got up from his seat and went to hug his grandfather.“I didn't know I had to call your assistant or book an appointment before coming over to see my son; you should be more grateful, and the old grayed man is paying you an extravagant visit." Grandpa teased. They
Maxwell had resumed work fully, and it has beenIt was a bit hectic for him, as this was his first time managing any institution. He was sitting in his office when Mirabella came in. Shocked to see her, he got up.“Mirabella, is everything alright?” He asked her with shock and curiosity in his tone.“Have you seen the news recently?” Mirabella asked, still pointing at him as he stood to his feet casually.“What about the news? I haven't heard anything, though." Maxwell responded sharply. "Here,” she rummaged through her bag and threw the newspaper down on the table.“What's this?” He asked about picking it up.“Vickie?” He asked in surprise and flipped the page to read the headlines. “My God, who did this to her?” He asked, looking up at Mirabella. She shrugged her shoulders. “I don't know." She replied. He paused for a while and had a flashback to the last day he had met her with those hefty men. She had actually brought them to kill him, but Grandpa was just on time to defend him
After they finished with the dinner, they spoke for a while and cracked jokes to themselves. Athen had never had such a beautiful moment in her life with any man before. Her heart skipped a bit the moment she paused and leaned closer to her. Her body was ready, and just as his lip was about to touch hers, she pulled away.“Uhm! Arrh! I have to go now. I mean, we should go now; we have work to do tomorrow. I have meetings to attend tomorrow." She stuttered the words at him. Maxwell got up and looked down at her. “I get it, and I am sorry. I am willing to wait until you are ready." He told her with a smile, and for a second, Athena had all the tightened air in her stomach loosen. “Thank you”. She said and smiled at him for being so kind and considerate, unlike Sabastian, who tried to drug her to have his way with her. She loves Maxwell's sense of humour and how mature he acts around her. He is the kind that Mark's and protects his territory. She is sure that with him, she would have n
“I shall tell you everything you need to know, and none of it shall I withhold." Maxwell told her calmly, his eyes not straying away from her at all. She had learned to hold his gaze for a little more time before doing anything else. Now that he began to speak, she placed both hands on her lap, barely even checking out the food prepared for them by the five-star chef. Athena looked cool and calm, but deep down in her heart, she had loads of unanswered questions.“I'm waiting, and I plan to listen to all you have to say to me tonight." Athena responded with a calm tone.“I am an orphan. I lost my dad to some killers from the opposition. And my mom was killed a few months after my birth. So my grandpa, Ricjard Wilmore, took me to a woman and asked her to take care of me. He even gave her some money to take care of me. The lady looked away because my life was threatened, so she ran away with the baby, and that's how I grew up in a poor home. I never knew I had a rich father until my fina
Athena put her hand into his and climbed down the remaining part of the stairs. She smiled at Maxwell and the two of them walked out of the building. Outside, Maxwell helped Athena with the door till she got into the car and settled down. Maxwell took the driver's seat and off they drove into the heart of the city. Athena looked puzzled as she drove past all the restaurants she had been to yet she never said a word, after a while she began to panic in her heart and then she couldn't just hold it anymore.“Maxwell, where are you going?” She asked curiously Maxwell took a quick look at her and smiled. Somewhere you would love he answered. “Why do you ask though, you don't trust me anymore?” He asked her with a smile forming at the corner of his lip.“It's not that, I am just curious because we've passed almost every restaurant I know “. She sighed and looked out the window. “It's fine. It's okay to have fears. I never wanted you not to be too strong though, being feminine comes with
After the men left, Maxwell looked at his watch. He had planned to go on a date with Athena, at least, if not for anything. She deserved some explanation about how he got to their house and the reason he had to hide his identity. He looked out the window for a while and smiled. There was no way he would let any of his children face the same humiliation he did from the rich folks. He had vowed to make a name for himself, aside from the great Wilmore behind his name. He would make a name for himself with the talent he has built inside of him. He twirled the seat and tossed it side by side. This is just a part of the good life. Nothing on earth would make him leave a life as sweet as this, and the best part of what he has earned with his new name is the respect he gets from the people around him and all those who once looked down on him. He sat in his office after he had the meeting with the staff. He needed to know their names, at least, so he wouldn't address them wrongly. They all