Chapter 84: Winning Again II

Chapter 84: Winning Again II Athena watched Alfonso heave in and out harshly, his anger radiating like heat from an open flame. She shook her head and got to her feet. "The offer just dropped to eight million..." Alfonso’s anger immediately deflated. His eyes widening in disbelief, he stuttered an indecipherable apology in resignation, before falling to his knees. "Please, Athena, have mercy on me..." His voice trembled, desperation etched into every line of his face. Athena shot him a look of contempt, her gaze as icy as a winter morning. "Mercy? Be real Alfonso. This is pure business. When you’re ready, email me the document. But remember, as the day goes by, the value drops." She was just about to head out when Alfonso unexpectedly grasped her ankles, holding her back. "I’ll take it. I’ll take your offer." "Good," Athena said, turning aside and sitting back down after shrugging his hands away from her feet. The power dynamics felt so deliciously delightful to her. Gianna observed the scene play out, almost as if she had foreseen Alfonso crumbling under Athena’s assertiveness. She was thrilled to see her friend in this commanding state, ready to gloat—this was something she could definitely relish. "So, the document can be prepared now, to save time. As a matter of fact, I have a template..." She chimed in, her excitement palpable. Alfonso and Athena both furrowed their brows, turning to Gianna in unison. "What?" "You told me about the deal, remember? I just prepared a document for it in advance. It’s for a hundred million dollars, but that can be changed..." She explained, a hint of pride in her voice as if she had just solved a difficult math problem. The room fell into a cloud of silence as Gianna worked her magic. A few minutes later, she handed the iPad to Alfonso. "You can sign here. And please be fast about it," She urged. Athena sighed and leaned back in her chair, letting her mind drift as she dreamt about the new addition to her collection—this deal felt like winning the lottery. Alfonso hesitated, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. Was this really what he had come to? A pauper at an age when he should be thriving? This was all her fault! He would deal with her surely. But for now, he would take care of Mag and get things sorted before he made any rash moves. With a heavy heart, he finally signed the document. When he handed the iPad back to Gianna, Athena took her turn and signed as well. She then sent the PDF to him with a flourish, as if it were a magical scroll. "When will I get my payment?" Alfonso inquired, his voice wavering. "Only when you make the announcement that you’ve sold the company to a better handler. And don’t forget to settle your employees..." Athena replied, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "From which money?" Alfonso asked, incredulous. Athena let out a soft cackle, "Come off it, Alfonso. You must have a stash somewhere. So pay them off, and tell them to take a week off until the new boss commands their presence." Alfonso sighed, his shoulders slumping under the weight of impossible expectations. "So you will be running the company?" Athena shrugged, her nonchalance infuriating him even more. "I’m not sure yet. But that’s not your concern. Who knows, I might sell it to a friend of mine. He’s great at building businesses from the ground up." Alfonso tightened his fist at her words. She had someone all along, and she couldn’t help him?! She could have prevented this situation and yet chose not to! She could have given him a loan! But no, she was reveling in her revenge despite his countless apologies. She would pay for this. "Alright then. It was nice doing business with you," He finally muttered, trying to keep his anger in check. After all, he still had his health and his wife to worry about. Athena smiled at him, a bright, victorious look on her face. She stood up from where she sat, and with Gianna beside her, they walked out of the living room without looking back. Once they left, Alfonso shut his eyes and rested his head on the desk. A stash? He had none. He had berated his daughter for being foolish with finances, but he wasn’t any better. He had frivolously spent money, thinking he had Ewan and his company to fall back on. He kept taking loans from one bank to another, and now he was left with nothing. If he paid off his workers, he would have nothing left. What could eight million dollars do for him? Perhaps he could kill Athena? He thought angrily. He would hire a mercenary. Maybe he could even place a bounty on her head in the dark web. But how much would be left to him after paying for the services of one? He sighed, remembering the hospital bills that were piling up, and cursed under his breath. What had his life become? How could he have fallen so far in just a month after Athena’s return? This was her revenge. He was sure of it. Well, it was his turn to pay back the favour. This time around, her death would suffice. Grabbing his phone, he called Fiona. "Hello, Dad... you’ve not visited me for a while..." She said, her voice bright yet laced with concern. Alfonso inhaled deeply, fighting to keep his temper in check while remembering the doctor’s report. "Sorry, my dear, I’ve been busy. My company has kept me on my toes..." There was a pause on the other end of the line. "I saw the news. What are you going to do now? Have you called Ewan?" Alfonso hissed angrily, "That idiot turned his back on me! After everything I’ve done for him! He refused to loan me any money, help me out, or even buy the company!" Another significant pause filled the air. "That’s understandable, considering he’s working at the company to earn money for both of us..." Fiona pointed out, trying to remain logical. Alfonso took the phone out of his ear, glared at it, and put it on loudspeaker. "Since I’m his wife, I’ll keep sending money to you." Alfonso liked the idea; it seemed like a lifeline. But then again, there was Athena to consider. "What about Athena? Are they still dining together?" "Just partnership stuff. Although she’s dead now," Fiona said cryptically. Alfonso furrowed his brow, not understanding. "What do you mean by ’dead’? Like in the future tense or something?" Fiona laughed, a light chuckle that cut through the tension. "No, past tense. She’s dead." Alfonso laughed in disbelief. "Are you sure you’re okay? Have you been living under a rock or something?" There was a pause on the other end. "Athena just left my house a few minutes ago, with a document stating that she bought my company for just eight million dollars! She’s the owner now!" Fiona could only laugh, a nervous, disbelieving harsh sound escaping her lips. "What are you talking about, Dad? I made sure..." She stopped mid-sentence, but Alfonso already knew where this was going. "You tried to kill Athena?" Another long pause stretched between them. "Well, you failed. Try again... this time with me,"