Kill for Love

Chapter 45 - She's Back

After the conversation she had with Astilbe, Athena decided not to go out tonight. If she wants to put Astilbe in jail, she will need to be sober. She needs to get herself together.

She got up from her bed and went to the bathroom. Her bathroom looks like a public bathroom because of the wide bathroom counter and mirror except that it only has one toilet and it has a shower and a jacuzzi. It’s spacious too. She looks at herself in the mirror and chuckles at her reflection. She just couldn’t believe how she could look like this.

She looks like a witch! Her hair is everywhere. It looks like she hadn't taken a shower for months. It was so sticky and even the comb will surrender if she tries to straighten her hair with it. Her eyes were swollen and there were dark circles under them. She turned her face left and right and sighed when she noticed that she’s losing weight.

The sophisticated Athena is now gone. Her eyes no longer sparkle. What she’s seeing now is a woman who had been forsaken by the world.

“Wow, I’m such a mess!” She exclaimed in disbelief. No wonder that the people last night looked so afraid of her when she passed by. “You have to get yourself together, Athena. We have to get justice for Ares,” she told herself while looking at her reflection.

She stared at herself for a couple of minutes. She’s like having a staring contest against herself. She chuckled. She must be getting crazy. She started taking off her clothes and opened the glass door of the shower. She went to the middle and turned on the shower. Cold, refreshing water immediately comes out for the shower head that was placed in the middle of the shower cubicle. She runs her fingers through her hair as the water pours like raindrops over her head.

Athena couldn’t remember how long she took a bath, but what she definitely knew was that it was the most satisfying bath she’s done after Ares died.

She’s already dressed. She wears black sleeveless with spaghetti straps in which she tucked the hem of it in her high waisted tattered jeans. She partnered it with her Gucci sneakers. She already put her things in her luggage and now, she’s ready to go. She took her phone from her crossbody bag and started dialing the number that she had been ignoring these past few weeks.

It didn’t take long before someone answered the phone.

“Bestie!! Oh my god, I’m glad you finally returned my calls. How are you? Are you okay? Where are you? I’ll come to get you,” Cytherea frantically said.

Hearing how worried Cytherea was while asking her, she felt awful. Guilt is eating her up. How could she betray her best friend?

“B-Bestie, I’m okay. You don’t have to be worried about me. I’m so sorry if I was not able to message you or returned your calls...” Athena said, controlling herself not to cry.

“Oh no, Bestie. You don’t have to apologize. I know you’re feeling guilty just like what you’ve told me, but you don’t have to say sorry. You’re innocent,” Cytherea explained.

‘Not as innocent as you thought, Bestie,’ her inner thought said.

“Still I need to say sorry. I don’t want you to think that I’m not at the moment when you needed me the most. I was--”

“Bestie, you don’t have to explain. I’m glad that you already called me and for me, that is already enough. You don’t have to explain everything to me because whatever it is, I understand you. I’m just glad to hear that you are okay.”

“You’re so kind, Bestie. I’m sorry that I made you worry. Don’t worry about me. I’m perfectly fine already.”

“Where are you? I’m going to pick you up.”

“You don’t have to, Bestie. I’ll just go to you. Are you still staying at the Emerald?” Athena asked. She pulled the luggage’ handle getting ready to leave. She’s just waiting for Cytherea to let her know where she is.

“Yes, I’m still here in the Emerald Hotel but I’m no longer in the same room. I can’t tell you the room number because of the circumstances but I will wait for you in the lobby.”

“Okay, give me thirty minutes and I’ll be there already.”

“Okay. I will wait for you, Bestie. Be safe, okay? Let me know if you are already near. I’m so glad you are okay now,” Cytherea said. Happiness is evident in her voice. She felt relief to know that Athena is doing good and they’ll be seeing each other again.

Athena is like a sister to her. They’ve known each other since they were kids and she will never be able to forgive herself if Athena got herself into this mess with Astilbe because of her.

“Will do, Bestie. See you in a little bit,” Athena said.

Cytherea looked at the digital clock which is on top of the bedside table. It’s already 11 AM. She went out of the room and went to Gaus’ office where she found him busy signing some papers. He looked so dignified while looking at those papers. He was wearing his business suit that Cytherea couldn’t help but stare at him in admiration. She already saw him wearing casual clothes but there’s something in him that when he wore business suits, he became more catchy in her eyes.

Gaus noticed the door going to his private room opened, so he looked up and found Cytherea standing by the closed door. He couldn’t help but notice how beautiful Cytherea was even with her simple red shirt, short shorts that revealed her smooth thighs, and gladiator sandals that showed her pinkish feet.

Cytherea cleared her throat when Gaus caught her looking at him like she was checking him out. She felt her face turn red because of embarrassment.

“Athena called,” Cytherea informed him.

“Oh, really? That’s great! Where is she?” Gaus excitedly asked. He puts down his pen and focuses his attention on her.

“Yeah, she did finally reach out to me and I’m so happy that she did,” she said. Her face was beaming with happiness. She walked towards Gaus and sat on the chair in front of his office table.

Gaus smiled. One worry is now off Cytherea's list.

“That’s great! Is she coming here?”

“Yes, she is and I want to discuss it with you. You’ve done a lot for me already and I hope you wouldn’t mind if I Athena could stay here with me?” Cytherea asked, hesitating.

Gaus already did a lot for her and she didn’t want him to think that she’s abusing his kindness.

“But of course! When is she coming? That would be really great if she’ll be here. It would ease my mind that you are not alone if I’m not here.”

Cytherea jumped in joy and without thinking she went to Gaus’ side and hugged him tightly. Gaus was caught off guard and after a few seconds, he wrapped his arms around her waist with a smile on his lips.