Chapter 86: A Reward

Chapter 86: A Reward After Athena dropped Gianna at her workplace, she headed straight home, her mind heavy with exhaustion. Zane had granted her as much time off as she needed, and she was grateful—she needed it more than she cared to admit. Tomorrow’s task of returning to work loomed ahead, but for the moment, she allowed herself to relish the idea of resting. "So, do you feel better today?" Aiden asked as they drove through the city. Athena nodded absently, her gaze drifting to the window. They were passing the spot where she had been kidnapped, a memory etched in her mind that she wished she could erase. Her thoughts spiraled into the past: if the kidnappers had relied solely on Heronica, she believed she would have managed somehow to overthrow the young girl. But they hadn’t. They had assistance, as always. Their teamwork was as infamous as their name. Aiden broke into her thoughts. "That’s great. What are you going to do about Alfonso’s company?" Athena shrugged, her shoulders rising and falling. "I already sent a text to Ethan to handle it. Luckily, Alfonso operates in a different sector from Zack, so we can transform it into branches of our business—much like how Zane’s family expanded into medicine, tech, and more. Ethan should be capable of reviving it smoothly. I plan to work closely with him." Aiden nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "Things are really looking up, aren’t they?" "Yes," Athena admitted, but there was a shadow in her voice. "I just wish I could find those brats who kidnapped me. Did you manage to trace Heron’s blood trails? Did they wipe it clean or something?" Aiden sighed, shaking his head. "Stop fretting, Athena. Everything will sort itself out in due time. The team is working on the details." Athena exhaled harshly, resting her head against the car seat. "Any developments at work?" Aiden asked, quickly shifting the conversation. "Yeah. Zane hired more capable hands to assist with my management responsibilities. I’ll need to check them out tomorrow," Athena replied, her expression serious. Aiden shook his head. "You are not going to work tomorrow, Athena. You still need to rest. You can check out the hires next week." "Next week?! That’s seven days away, Aiden! What will I be doing all through that time? Watch TV?" Athena rolled her eyes, exasperated. "Exactly. There are plenty of great shows these days," Aiden encouraged, his tone light. "You should catch up on them. Plus, you can cook for the children. Experiment with new recipes. You know how much you love that." Athena scoffed, a smile creeping onto her face despite her feigned annoyance. "Yeah, I do. But times have changed." "Not really. You just thought you could ignore those things," Aiden countered, chuckling. "I’m sure the kids would love to spend more time with you." Athena sighed, the mental image of delicious dishes occupying her thoughts. She recalled how cooking had been a refuge during those bleak years—a way to channel her stress and emotions, much like reading had been. As she contemplated her next culinary adventure, a thought crossed her mind. "So, quick question, Aiden..." "Go ahead," Aiden hummed, now parking the car. "Gianna thinks I should go on a date with Ewan. What do you think?" Athena asked, a hint of uncertainty lacing her voice. Aiden furrowed his brow, glancing at her through the rearview mirror. She noticed his confused gaze and raised her hands in a gesture of surrender. "Okay, I’ll backtrack." "Thank you," Aiden replied, settling back into his seat as she collected her thoughts. "Last week, Ewan visited with gifts to thank me for agreeing to be his doctor, among other things," Athena explained. "But with everything happening, I didn’t get a chance to check out the gifts until today." She paused, her eyes distant as she recalled the moment she stopped by the children’s room. "I was about to head out with Gianna when I saw them opening the gift packages. Ewan bought Legos for Nathaniel and a playhouse for Kathleen. They didn’t say it outright, but I could tell they liked the gifts. Mine, though, was different." Aiden raised an eyebrow. "As it should be." Athena smiled, catching herself lost in her memories. "It was books from Colleen Hoover, signed copies. As surprising as it was that he knew my favorite author, it was the date attached that shocked me." Aiden tilted his head, urging her to continue. "What date was it?" She turned to Aiden, her heartbeat quickening. "The books were signed a year after I left him." Aiden’s eyes widened slightly before he composed himself. "You realize what this means, don’t you?" Did she? Athena wasn’t certain, and part of her felt the need to unravel this mystery. "The second gift was a stunning gown and a pair of heels—Areso’s gown and Lefan’s heels. Aiden, he took note of my collection from the welcome party." "That’s important," Aiden replied, his interest piqued. "What else?" "It came with a note," she continued, a smile breaking through her apprehension. "He invited me to dinner—something he called a ’business talk.’" Aiden barked a laugh, his amusement palpable. "There ain’t no business he wants to discuss!" Athena nodded in agreement, chuckling softly. "Gianna thinks the same way. But she insists I should go, especially since I could tell him about the twins. She believes he sent Sandro to get their hair for DNA samples; the latter hasn’t stopped coming by the school, hoping for a miracle." Aiden nodded, finally grasping the underlying concerns. "Well, if you think it’s worth addressing, then go for it. Better to hear it from you than anywhere else. He’s been acting genuinely well lately." That thought settled in Athena’s mind, floating like a bubble, promising both hope and fear. Yes, Ewan has been different. Maybe she will text him a positive response as a reward. "Alright, thanks, Aiden, for the advice. I’ll head upstairs now." "No problem. Will you be going out again today?" Aiden asked as she slid out of the car. "No, I think I’ll stay in." She paused, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "When are you planning to see your daughter, by the way?"