Chapter 43: Beggars III

Chapter 43: Beggars III When Alfonso and Fiona finally stepped into Athena’s office, they were grieved as soon as they understood why Athena had kept them waiting for so long—she had been eating. They watched with increasing loathing as Athena gracefully cleaned her lips with a serviette. They were more incensed when she ignored their presence, rather focusing on the apple she brought from her bag then. They still stood and watched, as she stood up elegantly from her chair and walked into the en-suite bathroom. They believed she had gone to wash her hands, and probably the apple too. Fiona looked at her father. He was red with anger. "Dad, she hasn’t even started with her antics, so I will advise you to put more bricks on the mask you are wearing. I can already tell you are angry. Athena is very sensitive." Alfonso almost snapped at his daughter but for the timely arrival of Athena back into the office. Still ignoring them, she sat down on her chair and bit into the washed apple. As she chewed, she opened her drawer, and got a document. She started reading it afterwards. It was then it dawned on Alfonso that Athena wouldn’t speak to them until they stated their case. He opened his mouth to speak, but a croak came out instead. Was he now lost for words? Alfonso couldn’t believe himself, couldn’t believe the audacity of his tongue to disappoint him at that critical time. Howbeit, he inhaled deeply, and with a voice akin to sorrow, he spoke clearly: "Good afternoon, Doctor Athena. I’m here to apologize on behalf of my daughter. Her actions yesterday had been disgraceful. I’ve come to seek your forgiveness." "Why?" Athena finally raised her eyes to meet the pitiful ones of Alfonso and his daughter. "Why are you apologizing?" Alfonso pinched his inner palm for control. "Because it’s the right thing to do. I just came from visiting Ewan. He had been a victim too of Fiona’s foolishness, and he has forgiven us." Of course, he would. Athena mused, folding her arms across her chest. When it came to the Adams’ family, the great and cold Ewan Giacometti was a coward, a puppy at most. "And because he forgave you, you believe I will do the same?" Athena smiled innocently. "I’m not exactly forgiving, Alfonso. Especially since your daughter has crossed me four times. I think we’ve passed the level of second chances..." Alfonso instantly pushed himself to kneel before Athena. "Fiona is easily jealous, and battles with insecurity issues. She is selfish too, and self centered. Even now, she doesn’t really realize the fullness of the stupidity she had committed. As her father, I’m ashamed and embarrassed at her shameful acts. But she is sorry, just as I am. Please forgive us. She won’t cross you again..." She would rather kill you. I will make sure of that. Alfonso vowed, not believing that he had knelt before two people today, people he was older than. But Ewan’s was understandable. Athena, however, was a different case. She would pay dearly for the disrespect she was according to him. Athena cocked her head to the side, looking at father and daughter. Her eyes centering on Fiona the most, caused Alfonso to look at his daughter. He blanched when he saw that she was still standing. Ungrateful brat! He drew her sharply to the ground, causing her knees to knock heavily on the floor. The cry of pain that emitted from her lips stopped Alfonso from delivering a slap to her cheeks. He almost asked if she was okay, but for Athena watching them amusedly. So, he held Fiona’s ear instead and drew it, pretending that her cry of pain hadn’t touched his heart. "Why were you standing? Don’t you know how to apologize?" Fiona was in so much pain that she didn’t respond. Additionally, she didn’t know whether the deep rooted hatred that suddenly roared in her heart was against Athena, the beginner of all these things, or against her father, with his overzealous methods of getting Athena to forgive them. It was like she had told her father; Athena wouldn’t be moved by their antics if she noticed a foul play. And she must have really noticed foul play then, for her to be amused. It was why Fiona hadn’t bothered to kneel, coupled with the fact that her knee was still healing. When she felt her father’s pull at her ears again, she deftly shook his hand away from her ear, and smartly prostrated on the floor. "I’m sorry, Doctor Athena. Please forgive my shortcomings." Athena shook her head in amusement, wondering how far the Adams would go. She knew that the reason Fiona prostrated was because of the pain in her knees. Yet she didn’t call attention to that. She wasn’t in the mood for their sheininghans. She continued to watch, however, as Alfonso glared at his daughter before returning his attention to her. "Please forgive us. To show us how sorry we are, you can ask us for anything..." "Don’t make promises you can’t fulfill, Alfonso." Athena interrupted calmly. "If it’s about your wife’s treatment, you don’t have to worry about it. I already have a running deal with Ewan. So, I suggest you get up on your feet, and get out of my office." Alfonso’s heart stilled. Was he the one Athena was speaking to this way? Well, hadn’t his daughter warned him? He immediately felt sorry for begrudging his daughter. When he got to his feet, he helped her up. "Thank you for giving us the audience." Athena didn’t pay them attention, not until they paused at her doorpost. "What do you want, Alfonso?" Maybe finally, they could get to the reason they had come here in the first place. At the doorpost, Alfonso fell to his knees again, as if he suddenly remembered something. Athena didn’t buy the act. "It’s about my company. Its stocks had plunged the same night as Ewan’s, after he wronged you. He mentioned there was a change after he spoke with you. Can you help me too?" Athena shook her head. "I can’t help you, Alfonso. Please leave." But Alfonso couldn’t give up on his company. He started crawling to Athena’s desk. "Please, help me, Doctor Athena. I’m ready to do anything."