Chapter 94: Déjà Vu

Chapter 94: Déjà Vu Get out? The command wasn’t anything new for Sandro. He stood up from the chair without wasting time, a determined look on his face as he headed to the door. He paused for a brief moment however, and Ewan inhaled sharply at the familiar wave of déjà vu that washed over him. It was an unsettling reminder of years ago, when Sandro had similarly paused after he had told him to get out because the latter had been pleading Athena’s case at that time. This déjà vu didn’t just come with nostalgia; it brought an uneasy feeling along with it. What if his friend was right, just as he had been six years ago? "I don’t know what to say again, Ewan. You’ve seen Athena since she came back. Does she count as someone with underhanded tactics? If I should say, she is very admirable—unlike someone else I know who keeps leeching off others’ successes." Ewan didn’t even need to ask who that "someone else" was; he was all too aware. "What about the twins? Why is she so close-mouthed about that? What about their voices? I distinctly heard them speak during the hack in the company. What do you have to say about them?" Sandro sighed, his frustration palpable. "There must be an explanation for all of that. Give her the benefit of the doubt." Ewan scoffed in response. "Something you won’t give Fiona? Why not extend that courtesy to her?" Sandro sighed again, the exasperation evident. "Fiona is different. She’s obsessed with you." Ewan didn’t bother to contradict that statement. He had seen it firsthand a few nights ago, and he believed that with the right medical help, Fiona’s infatuation would be addressed, and she would eventually stop clinging to him like a barnacle on a ship. "Ewan, just know what you are doing this time around. You blamed your actions six years ago on ignorance. There’s no option for that now, no contract holding you down, except for a misguided duty to Fiona. Make the right choices this time around." "Sandro..." Ewan gritted his teeth, trying to keep his frustration in check. "There is No misguided duty anywhere. Fiona is my savior. And I would appreciate it if you respected that and refrained from making assumptions about it. The next time you mention it again, I won’t hesitate to punish you..." Sandro merely shrugged in response, seemingly unfazed. "That’s fine by me. But you should remember that since Athena started treating your people a few days ago, they have been getting better. She has saved your people and has restored your respect in their eyes..." He paused, allowing that truth to sink in. "But it’s your choice all the same, what you want to do about the situation. If there’s anything else on your mind, let me know. I’ve got work cut out for me today." Ewan rubbed his face in resignation. He had greatly offended his friend now. But could it have been avoided? Yes, Athena was undoubtedly a savior, but at what end? As he recalled the hacks that had plagued his company over the years, he couldn’t help but wonder what her ultimate goal was—his company, perhaps? "The DNA test on the twins... When are you getting it done?" Sandro shrugged his shoulders. "They’re too intelligent. They already know what I’m about to do." Ewan nodded and began to formulate his next move. "Then pay someone else to get it done—like their class teacher or a staff member in the school. Offer any amount necessary. It’s time to put all these games to an end. I hate muddy waters. I need to see a clear path to tread, so I can make the right decisions." Sandro inhaled, chewing over the suggestion. "Sure. But I think you should ask Athena yourself, instead of..." "Do you think she will be honest about it? She isn’t even honest about her past life!" Ewan shot back, his irritation rising like steam from a boiling pot. "And why should she? There’s no reason for that! Plus, at the dinner where she had agreed to meet you, you and your lovely Fiona messed it all up! Who knows if she had a lot of things to share with you then?" Sandro’s voice lowered, almost conspiratorial. "You should understand that Athena has been burned by the world before, and so she’s cautious and shy. You should understand that better than anyone." Ewan sighed, the weight of the conversation settling on his shoulders. "Still, get the DNA samples. I need solid evidence." Sandro, feeling defeated, gave a resigned nod and walked away. Ewan sighed again as he watched his friend’s hunched figure disappear from view. Yet a strange feeling gripped him—he couldn’t face Athena. For some reason, he felt a deep sense of shame. Was it because of how he had abandoned her? Pushing those thoughts aside, he called in the tech and research team. Mr. Suarez stepped into the room, his expression a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "How did it go? Did you find anything on that gang I told you about a week ago?" The man shook his head, disappointment painting his features. "Nothing, sir. We need more clues. Or better still, a good hacker and research expert." Ewan furrowed his brow, a wave of frustration washing over him again. "A good hacker and research expert? Don’t we have that here?" Carlos shook his head emphatically. "There are better ones out there, especially the ones who pulled off that hack on us. We have their contact..." Ewan shook his head vigorously. "I don’t think that contact would be viable. It’s been ages ago. They must have done away with it. They probably have no interest in working for us too. Why would they? They likely want to keep us as their target instead." "Probably," Suarez conceded. "But it’s a recent contact—just a few days ago. It’s like they had been planning another attack but paused for some reason. Their tracks were hurriedly cleaned up; however, we managed to analyze the footprints left, and check out their profiles on the dark web. Do you want to contact them?" Ewan was left momentarily speechless. "You say a few days ago... as in how many days?" Suarez raised his eyebrows, trying to gauge his boss’s reaction. "Like three to four days ago." Ewan hung his head, the realization hitting him like a ton of bricks. That was the timeframe when he had abandoned Athena. Clenching his fists, he felt the familiar mix of anger and determination wash over him. Should he always be afraid of Athena now at every turn? He slowly shook his head. He hadn’t come this far just to be scared of a woman, no matter the amount of backers she had. He would rather get stronger. Yet, it was ironic to him, that Athena had managed to provoke this side of him. But there was no time for games anymore. He also had to abolish whatever interest he had for her. "Get the contact," he instructed sharply. Five minutes later, Ewan found himself facing the interface of the dark web. Without wasting time, he sent a message to the contact with a rather menacing profile—a dragon with two heads. ’Can you work for me?’ He typed, but just as quickly as the message was marked seen, he found himself barred from accessing the contact. Before he could realize what was happening, he was logged out of the dark web. His account has been blocked too. "Of course," Ewan muttered sarcastically to himself. "What was I even thinking?"