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
With respect to what happened the previous day at Athena’s office, grandma called for a meeting.It was 5pm in the evening by the time they arrived at Grandma's house; she lived in her own mansion, the same one Duncan and Damon were raised in.Hearty laughter could be heard from the entrance. Maxwell pushed in the doorbell. A little girl came racing towards the door, and in no time the door flung open. The little girl bowed in obeisance to Maxwell and Athena. She welcomed them with an innocent smile. As they walked into the living room, the roaring laughter increased. The moment Athena appeared in the living room with Maxwell, they all stopped to look at them."Why the hell did you show up here again with this toy boy?" Duncan asked. Athena wanted to respond, but she earned a pinch from Maxwell to shut up. He was already aware of the game they were trying to play, and she would help them by giving them something to feast on. She owns her emotions, and giving these people the chance
“I told you to marry Sabastian, but you refused; instead, you chose this good-for-nothing loser." Veronica scolded. Maxwell gave deaf ears to what she was saying: he has a bigger picture in mind; men like him don’t sit and whine; they take action.I have made my choice, and this is final. My marriage to Maxwell isn’t the problem here; can’t you see that? Athena spoke angrily at her mother, who has done absolutely nothing to help but scold her every single day for choosing Maxwell."Yes, he might be poor, but he protects me," she added. Maxwell didn’t bother to sit in their presence again. He got up, dusted an invisible dirt from his butt and climbed up to his room. Veronica traced him with her eyes until he disappeared into the upper lobby leading to the rooms.“The so-called Sabastian that you want to marry has a loud mouth, and see how he blew everything out of proportion. Tell Tom, Dick, and Harry how he helped me win a tender. I despise his guts".“Now that you do not have a job
“Is that what you want?’ Duncan asked his son, utterly surprised at his son’s decision."C'mon, dad, you said I could ask for anything. That’s what I want." Travis said it impatiently.“But that car was given to her for official duties. You can’t…”“Come off it, Duncan. The boy is right; the wimp no longer works here, and she has no right to drive around town in our official car. She doesn’t need it in any way." Damon rolled his eyes.Duncan took a deep breath and wiped the invisible sweat off his face with his hand.“Consider it done’.“Yes, Travis! Exclaimed, yanking his elbow in the air. His face was filled with the excitement of a newborn.After work hours were over, the three men set out to Athena’s little mansion. Her house wasn’t as big as the ones Duncan and Damon lived in. The car was the only fashionable and really expensive asset from the company, and it was only given to her because she served generously and successfully over the years she had worked.With a pound on the d
The doorbell chimed loudly into the house. Athena had fallen asleep after crying for hours. That had been her routine for the past two days. She stretched her body and yawned. Maxwell had told her he was going to see his grandparents, and he was still not back. She sniffed, struggling hard to clear her nostrils of the congestion that had appeared as a result of excessive hours of crying. She licked her now-dried lip and slipped her feet into her slippers. Her polished red nails display elegance.“Hold on a second," she said as she took the steps down. She reached the door and turned the knob.At the door, she was greeted by a strange man dressed in a black T-shirt, ripped jeans, and a face cap. She responded to him as calmly as she could. He had a smile on his face, which made Athena smile back at him.“I have a package for you, Ms. Athena Fairmont." He said it in a deep baritone voice.“Okay, that’s cool.” She responded by pushing the strands of hair that flew into her face to one
Maxwell was almost done trimming the grass outside the building in the morning hours when he received a call from Zander. He knew his time was up at the Fairmont’s mini-mansion. He turned around to see if someone was listening to him before he answered the call."Hello,” he said in a very hushed tone. He wiped his dirty hand against his worn-out black shorts as he spoke into the phone.“I have been watching you lately; I see you are getting along with Fairmont Lady so well." Zander’s voice boomed from the end of the phone".Maxwell signed, knowing it had not been an easy task for him in the past few weeks.“Everything is going as planned, and to an extent, I am glad I came at the right time."So, are you prepared for the contest? Remember, I told you it would be held tomorrow? The venue has been changed to a more private place. I will come pick you up at 12 p.m. tomorrow." Zander informed him."Zander, you know you cannot pick me right in front of the house; Athena and her mom would
"Get dressed quickly; we have no time," Zander said.Maxwell quickly went into the changing room. He dressed himself in a white robe and pants."We have no time to waste. Come on, be quick.".Maxwell hurriedly got dressed in his martial arts attire and stepped out.He got on the ring, which was stationed in the center of the hall. The crowd cheered a little when he got in the ring. A few others glared at him, wondering what a young, inexperienced man like him would be doing in the field.The music blared all through the hall as different flags from different martial schools and organizations waved in the air. The thing about winning is not about making so much noise and cheering. It's about how well you know your onions when it comes to your profession.He was inexperienced compared to the others who had registered, but his determination to break a record his father couldn't get was the motivation he needed.He shut his eyes, meditating deeply on the words that proceeded from his inst
They drove off and headed to the clinic. Maxwell's nose was treated, and a few medications were given to aid his healing.When he got a few miles away from the house, he tried to pull off the plaster, but he couldn't bear the pain, so he left it.He checked the garage. If Athena's car was there and he didn't see it, he rushed into the sitting room.Veronica almost jumped out of her skin when the door yanked open. She stood dumbstruck at his sudden appearance.God, you scare the living out of me, boy. What the hell is wrong with you, poor folks? You think this house is a jungle where you can just sneak out and jump in like some toad?" You are getting on my nerves, she said, speaking through her teeth."Arrrrgh! Stinking man from the gutters," she said, rolling her eyes. She had never, for one day, liked his guts, and Maxwell wasn't bothered by what she thought about him. She was no better than Grandma and her sons, and if not for the fact that she was Athena's mom, he was sure she woul