14 : Turning tables
1080 Words
________
7:42 pm
Ethan arrived on the house shared with Athena, feeling slightly exhausted as he loosen his tie a little. All through out the day, Athena was nowhere to be seen on the office so It worried him a little. He heard soft noises coming from the kitchen so he walked towards it's direction.
"Assistant Saavedra?"
It took him seconds to recognize who was on the kitchen.
His eyes suddenly went cold, his aura slowly going down into a more scarier one the moment he saw who was sitting on the kitchen stool.
"Leave now while i can still control my temper,"
he coldly said and went to the fridge to grab some water.
"Why are you so mean, lil bro?"
Ethan glanced towards Keisha's direction and walked towards her.
"Leave."
he insisted. Keisha stood up, laughing slyly.
"Why are you pushing me away like this?? After i gave you the po-"
"I said leave!!"
he cut her statement and yelled at her. Keisha clicked her tongue and stood up, glaring at Ethan.
"Don't be too full of yourself Ethan. I am still older than you."
She told him and glared at his direction. Ethan scoffed, finding her utterly ridiculous.
"So what? You don't deserve any honorifics or respect."
Keisha rolled her eyes and smirked.
"I was the one who gave you your title. If it's not for me then you-"
"I don't give a damn. I never owned this position. Take it from me if you want. I never wanted it anyways,"
he sternly said, glaring at his sister.
"Oh really? Don't pretend like you never loved the recognition our parents gave you. They almost-"
"This is too pointless. Leave now or I'll call the security."
he was just cutting her every sentence, not even letting her finish because she just finds it non-sense.
"Wow. You are calling security for your own sister? You should have done that when that criminal is still inside this house."
Keisha told him, Making Ethan to look at her with his poker face.
"I never let a criminal inside this house of mine. It was the first time with you."
he told her and scoffed. Keisha laughed and give him her phone.
"Then listen to this."
She started the recording.
"Admit it. You are the one who stole his watch right?"
It's Keisha's voice. Who is she talking to?
"Y-Yes..."
Athena.
"I'll let this slip if you resign now. I won't tell Ethan anything about this. Additionally, Here's 20 million for you. Don't present yourself in front of my family ever again."
That's the last words that came out from the recording before it ended.
Ethan don't know what to feel.
Anger?
Disappointment?
"There's also a footage of her stealing it, but i know you won't see it anyways, "
she shrugged her shoulder and took her sling bag.
"I'll get going then. You should be thankful. You owe me one again."
she said in victory, smirking at him as she left his house.
Ethan was just staring into nothingness.
He was perplexed, puzzle-pated and confused. There's a part of him believing it ain't true but she can't trust Athena fully. She can't turn a blind eye on this.
He walked outside again, calling Secretary Lim for the car.
"Let's go to Athena's place."
_______
It took them roughly 40 minutes to arrive at Athena's old apartment complex.
Ethan was consistently calling her but no one is answering him.
Ethan sighed and walked outside the car. His mind is clouded with thoughts. Questions to be precise. He want to believe that it wasn't true.
But why?
They only met each other for 3 weeks. They didn't even talked a lot..
Why is there a part of him that wants to trust her? Why is he feeling this way for her?
"C-Chairman...?"
Athena appeared from the sidewalks carrying a plastic bag full of cup noodles and alcohols. She froze on her position seeing Ethan leaning his back on his car and looking at the apartment complex.
Ethan glanced towards her direction, trying to soften his cold eyes as possible.
"W-W-What are you doing here?"
Athena can't even look at his eyes because of guilt.
Ethan didn't talked and gazed back on the apartment complex.
"You live here? "
he asked her, ignoring her question earlier. Athena stood in front of him and gulped.
" What are you doing here? You should be home by now-"
she stared at him. Ethan glanced at her once again.
"WE should be home by now,"
he corrected her, putting emphasis on the word "we."
"Is it true?"
Questions after Questions. No one wants to answer. No one wants to give in.
"What?"
"Is it true? I know you know what i am talking about,"
he said. Athena looked down.
She don't know what to say. She turned her back.
Before she can even take her first step, Ethan held her wrist and stopped her from moving.
"So it's true? Everything was just a lie? You just wanted my money afterall-"
"It's not like that!!"
Athena yelled at him. Tears started to form on her eyes as she looked at his position.
"It's not...."
her voice softened and broke. Ethan grew silent, just watching her cry.
"Then why aren't you answering? You're guilty aren't you? Everything was your plan...."
"I thought i can trust you,"
Ethan's voice cracks as he looked down, still holding Athena's wrist preventing her from walking away.
Athena can't help it but to feel sad. Ethan only have a few people with him. You can count on your fingers the number of people he trusts.
Athena just broke the trust Ethan gave her.
But to think... That Keisha knows something about her past.
"Carlo Saavedra is your father right?"
"It's true.... I stole your belongings!! I'm a criminal!! Isn't that enough for you to believe?!!"
Athena yelled at him, Trying to hold back her further emotions. She violently swung her hand so that Ethan will let go of it.
But instead, Ethan just held it tighter.
" Let me go!!--"
"You just lied to me."
Athena stopped moving and looked at Ethan.
"You lied."
Ethan's eyes soften trying to find Athena.
"H-How did you-- That's ridiculous!!"
Athena pushed him away. Ethan didn't moved and pulled her.
"Let's talk properly....... Please..."
She was taken aback.
It was the first time.
She saw another emotion on his eyes.
His glare softened.
He begged for attention.
____________
- Writer
