Unbothered
1561 Words
Vivian stepped out of her room just after seven.
The mansion was already in full swing when she stepped out..
Somewhere downstairs, dishes clinked softly. The smell of freshly brewed coffee drifted through the hallways.
She adjusted the strap of her handbag and headed for the staircase, her mind was elsewhere.
Specifically, on Oscar.
The man had practically dragged her out of the Harrington dinner the night before without so much as an explanation.
One minute they had been standing beside Harold and Margaret. The next, Oscar had announced they were leaving.
He didn't give any explanation whatsoever. Their plan to stay for thirty minutes wasn't even over yet.
Vivian sighed.
Then again, when has Oscar ever made sense? The man operated on his own strange set of rules.
One day he couldn't stand being in the same room as her. The next he was publicly kissing her forehead in front of half the country's elite.
Then he spent the entire drive home pretending nothing had happened.
Confusing wasn't even the word anymore.
She descended the staircase as voices drifted from the dining room.
One voice in particular made her pause for a second on the stairs.
Athena.
Vivian closed her eyes briefly.
Of course.
What a wonderful way to start the morning.
Hell, she hated that she even knew what she sounded like without having to see her face. Damn, isn't she a stalker now?
She continued walking down the stairs, one cautious step after the other. She better not be here to stay or she will, without an ounce of shame, use Rick again.
The dining room came into view moments later.
Oscar sat at the head of the table, dressed in a dark suit, his sleeves rolled up revealing a string of tattoos she didn't even know he had..
A tablet was resting beside his plate. He was reading something while eating breakfast.
Athena sat beside him, leaning closer with her legs crossed over the other in a short skirt that left nothing to the imagination.
Vivian glanced at her watch, she had better things to worry about and most importantly, Athena didn't come with a bag.
Good.
"Oscar, what's going on? I've been trying to reach you for a couple days now."
Athena folded her arms dramatically, eyes staring at Oscar who was clearly distracted by whatever he was reading.
Oscar continued reading.
"I called six times yesterday."
Nothing.
“Oscar.” She called again, wrapping her hands around his arm this time and finally ganging his attention.
“Yeah. I've been busy.” He said simply and glanced at her. “What is it?” He asked.
Athena pouts. “You've been a lot busy lately. You barely stop by anymore. And you told me I can't stay here after Vivian pulled that stunt weeks ago.”
Oscar rubbed his temple.
Athena folded her arms, “I can't believe you're just going to brush over that.” She whined. “She humiliated me.”
Oscar exhaled, his eyes still glued on the reports. It's either those papers were extremely important or he was pretending not to have heard her at all.
Athena opened her mouth to complain, then noticed Vivian standing near the entrance to the dining area.
Her frustration vanished, arms wrapping around Oscar almost immediately as a smile curled on her lips like somebody had flipped a switch.
"Vivian." Her voice became sugary sweet.
Oscar looked up, locking eyes with her briefly before looking away, his attention returning to his tablet.
Vivian wasn't sure why that annoyed her.
"You look put together this morning.” Athena said. “Special occasion?"
Vivian glanced down at her navy trousers and white blouse. Woah, Athena sure knows how to make people doubt themselves.
Athena had excellent taste in fashion, Vivian had to give her that.
"I'm dressed for work." Vivian said simply, biting down the radioactive response she'd had in her head.
"Oh." Athena said, eyeing her slowly. “That explains a lot.”
Vivian hummed. Athena's smile strained slightly and Oscar continued eating, apparently determined to remain uninvolved.
Vivian settled on a chair far away from the duo, setting her bag down on the spare beside her.
Athena straightened. "You must have been so happy last night."
Vivian reached for a cup of coffee, her eyes meeting Athena's with a questioning eyebrow.
"The anniversary dinner." Athena's smile widened. "I heard Oscar took you home early."
Oscar's fork paused briefly, eyes glued on his plate.
“And why is this a topic of discussion?” Vivian asked, eyes fixed on her breakfast now.
Oscar resumed eating and Vivian sipped her coffee.
The silence stretched with Athena biting down her lower lip in irritation.
Unfortunately for her, Vivian had a meeting in less than an hour and no desire to participate in whatever game this was.
“He probably left early because you were so not unbearable.”
Oscar stood abruptly, forcing the duo to glance up at him in shock. His jaw clenched as he stared down at his tablet as though hesitating about something.
“Zara, I'm done here.”
The head of staff bowed her head as Oscar picked up his tablet. One of the maids was on standby, ready to clear the table once he was out of the way.
Athena glanced at him in confusion. "Are you leaving?"
"Yes."
His jacket was already in his hand and he walked away from her without another word.
He pulled a stop right next to Vivian, green eyes fixed on her.
"Charles will send the revised documents."
She nodded. "Fine."
That seemed to satisfy him. He walked right out seconds later.
“I'm coming with you!” Athena called after him but the man said nothing.
Athena watched the doorway for several seconds. Eventually she turned back toward Vivian.
Vivian took another sip of her coffee without a care in the world.
Athena folded her arms. "I'm not trying to insinuate anything but.."
Vivian already knew where this conversation was headed. Like hell, she almost admired the persistence.
"If I were you, I would be worried."
"Worried about what?" Vivan asked without looking up which seemed to irritate Athena more.
Athena smiled. The expression never reached her eyes.
"About my husband spending time with another woman."
Vivian set her cup down carefully. She's done with breakfast. She might as well start leaving.
Athena leaned forward. "You know he never wanted this marriage."
Vivian nodded as she wiped her mouth with a napkin. "I know."
Athena blinked. The response seemed to hit a wall somewhere inside her brain.
"You... know?"
Vivan exhaled, gaze finally meeting the young lady. Damn, to think they used to be friends.
Athena laughed awkwardly, that wasn't the reaction she anticipated.
"You don't seem upset."
Vivian tilted her head. "Should I be?"
The question landed like a slap and Athena's smile weakened.
“The man you married doesn't love you and that doesn't bother you?” She asked.
Vivian nodded thoughtfully. "Should it?”
Athena stared harder. The woman looked genuinely frustrated now. Like someone trying to start a fire using wet matches.
Eventually Vivian sighed. "Athena."
Vivian smiled politely. "Can I ask you something?"
Athena doesn't respond.
"Do you have a job?"
The question came so unexpectedly that Athena actually froze.
"What?"
Vivian folded her arms. "A job."
Athena blinked. "What kind of question is that?"
"A simple one." Vivian smiled. "I'm curious."
Athena's face tightened.
Vivian glanced toward the doorway Oscar had used earlier.
"Because from where I'm standing, your full-time occupation seems to be following Oscar around."
Athena's expression cracked completely and the smile vanished. Color rushed into her face.
"You.."
Vivian stood, grabbing her bag. "You should find a hobby."
Athena stared in disbelief as Vivian smiled pleasantly.
"Something productive."
"You think that changes the fact that he doesn't want you?”
Vivian almost felt sorry for her.
"If I spent my mornings chasing after someone who won't answer my calls," Vivian said calmly, "I'd probably be more concerned about myself than anybody else."
Athena's face turned scarlet. Vivian walked away before the woman could respond. The sound of her heels echoed through the foyer.
She had a meeting to attend.
Outside, the morning air felt cool against Vivian's skin. Her driver was already waiting, the passenger door already open. She climbed into the back seat and the door shut.
A moment later the car began rolling toward the gates. She never noticed the black sedan parked nearby.
Or the woman storming toward it.
Athena yanked open the passenger door, fuming as she slid into the seat next to Oscar, ready to vent.
The words died instantly as her eyes landed on Oscar. He wasn't looking at her, he wasn't looking at anything inside the car.
His gaze remained fixed ahead and Athena followed it.
She felt her stomach drop.
Vivian's vehicle was disappearing down the driveway. Oscar watched it until it vanished beyond the gates.
Only then did he look away and only then did his driver ignite the engine and pull out of the driveway.
Athena sat frozen. Something unpleasant twisted inside her chest.
For the first time, she wasn't thinking about Vivian's words. She was thinking about that look.
The one Oscar had worn without realizing anyone was watching.
And suddenly, she was angrier than before.
- Writer
