The alarm chimed non-stop until Athena got out of bed. She sighed and grudgingly got into the bathroom to turn on the water heater. Her headache from one side. She suffered a slight headache before going to bed the previous night. She sat on the edge of the bed and dozed a little more. She picked up her wrist watch on the nightstand and stared blankly into it. Her eyes blurred. She wiped the dried crust from her eyes and sniffed. Her eyes seemed puffy from lack of rest.By then, she felt the water had hit her enough that she turned the heater off and undressed. She didn't waste much time in the bathroom.It was 6:30 a.m. when she got out of the bathroom. She stood in front of her dressing mirror and smiled at herself. If not for Maxwell's help and through her decision-making, she would have been crawling back to beg them, but instead the reverse was the case. Even though Grandma and Uncle Duncan did not crawl, she was happy she wasn't the one begging after all they did to her. She
Outside the Fairmont building, Maxwell had just pulled up and parked just a few meters away from the building. The transformation with the suit was making him uncomfortable for some reason. He adjusted himself and walked side-by-side with Athena. Rings on their fingers. The marriage thing has to be as believable as possible, and Maxwell was beginning to love the flow of things. He held Athena by the arm and led her into the building. They took the elevator and got to the fourth floor, where Athena's office is.At the reception, all eyes fell on the fake couple as they swayed towards Athena's office. "Good morning, sir." The ladies greeted Maxwell. Some turned around to talk about Maxwell."Is he not the one she took to the business dinner?," one of them said."He is the one; he is all pimped up with her money; can't you see it?" The other one argued. Their talks didn't matter; what mattered at this point was Grandma Elizabeth's apology speech in front of all the staff.When Athena g
The next day, while at work, Athena had just finished a meeting with the department heads. She was sitting right in her office when Maggie came in with the news of a visitor."Ma'am, you have a visitor." Maggie said. "Who could that be?" Athena asked without raising her head."Some Sebastian Bash". "Sabastian Bash?" She repeated, raising her eyes to look at Maggie's with suspicion. "Yes Ma'am"Athena hesitated for a while before answering. "Please let him in"."Ait Maam". Maggie answered with a bow and went out the door. A few minutes later, she appeared through the door, with Sabastian walking majestically behind her."There goes the most beautiful woman in the whole wide world." She chanted with a big smile spread across his face. "Sabastian, what are you doing here?" Athena asked as she rose up from her seat.With boldness on his lips and pride spreading on his square shoulders, he spoke directly to Athena, "C'mon girl, is that how you welcome your admirer, huh?" Athena spott
Maxwell heard all that Athena had told her mother about Sabastian. She seemed excited about all she thought he had done for her. The moment Athena mentioned Randolph's name, Maxwell remembered that he had a business deal to strike with the old fool who tried to harass Athena at the restaurant. Men like him shouldn't be left to walk the street. He put down his pancakes and went upstairs. Athena was shocked to see him stand beside the door with a fork in his hand. She looked at him shocked "Going somewhere". She asked as she went into the kitchen to check what he was doing."Yes, I have something to pick up a few blocks away. You are welcome back from work." Maxwell said. Athena smiled and served some pancakes on a plate for herself. Maxwell disappeared upstairs and returned dressed in a black hoodie and black pants. The only one he has in his possession.He walked a good distance away from the house before boarding a taxi that took him to the bus station. Maxwell boarded a bus stra
The evening for dinner finally came. Maxwell was in the kitchen helping Mrs. Veronica out with the marinated chicken when the knock came on the door. He wiped his hand on the apron and ran out to get to the door."Hold on". He says this as he sways his massive body towards the entrance. He pulled the door open."You are welcome." Maxwell opened the door for him with a bow."Oh! Wow, here stands the church rat; maybe you would wipe my feet with this napkin," Sebastian ridiculed, pulling out a white napkin from his breast pocket. Maxwell glared at him deeply. "My bad, I totally forgot you were the unfortunate man Athena chose instead of choosing to be luxurious with me." Sebastian said it with disdain and flapped his suit as he spoke."Oh, sweet Sabastian, is that you?" Veronica's voice boomed from the sitting room, her slippers flipping along as she approached where Maxwell was standing."It's me, my gracious lady," he pushed Maxwell and worked in to meet Veronica. She kissed him on t
Maxwell went upstairs, laughing at Sabastian for being such a bloody liar, but they all couldn't comprehend the reason for his laughter. They all thought he was crazy.Athena couldn't contain her joy as she saved the news for Grandma the next day."I still want to ask you out on a proper dinner date," Sabastian said.Athena looked at him in surprise. She searched his face for clues of a joke, but the young man had a dead serious look in his eyes."I'm serious"."You know I am married, right?" Athena tried to turn down the offer, but her mother sharply interfered. "Of course Athena will go on a date with you. Isn't that right? She asked, giving Athena a skeptical look. She eyeballed her. Athena swallowed hard, and in her confused state, she nodded her head."Yes, sure. I shall go with you for the date. Just this once, and that's all." She warned him."That's fine; one time is enough to prove a point."."Good," Veronica commented. "A date it is, then! What day and time, please, so I c
Maxwell got dressed in a black hoodie and black sweatpants. Along with the Nike pair of sport shoes Athena got him some months ago, he knew she wasn't going to let him follow her on the date, and so he planned his moves on his own. "Athena, I'm stepping out," he called out when he got to her door post. Veronica was downstairs when he got out. He didn't speak to her or anything because she had been on his neck for the past couple of days. He breezed past her and headed straight through the exit door. He stood quite a distance and watched Sebastian drive through the yard."The bastard". He murmured to himself and hid in the small bush just by the corner. He watched the car stop by the house, and after a few minutes, Athena came out dressed in a beautiful black sequin dress. The weather was a bit chilly, so she wore a brown faux fur collar coat on the dress. Maxwell watched all these with one eye behind him. He listened to them speak."Hey, you look stunning, my queen." Sabastian compl
Maxwell carried Athena out of the car when he pulled up in the garage. She lay on his shoulders, and he carried her inside the house.On seeing this, Veronica sprang to her feet and rushed to him."What happened to her?" "She's fine, ma'am." Maxwell said that and carried her up the stairs. When he got to her room, he carefully laid her on the bed. While her mother held Maxwell by his clothes,. "What happened to her? I need answers, you idiot."."Ma'am, calm down. Okay, she is safe. That good for nothing, son of a bitch tried to drug her, but I snatched it away from her hand right before she took the drink. I guess she's just exhausted from the fight we had at the restaurant."."A fight?""Yes, I fought him because he tried to hike me first with a bottle of champagne, and I think I left his arm damaged too." Maxwell said it with a smile."Oh goodness gracious, what have you done to the poor boy?" "Now he's a poor boy, really? He tried to drug your only child; only God knows what he
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