CHAPTER3
1130 Words
ALL BECAUSE OF HER
Ares’ POV
“Mom, Dad, what’s this about? I’m quite busy, you know?” Ares questions as he walks into the study room. His eyebrows are raised to a height of no return when he sees his father sipping on tea at one of the tables, the dark liquid within a complete contrast to his whitish-blonde hair. His mother—Ivana-Rose Remington Frost—on the other hand stands beside his seated father.
Ares’ mother adorn in a simple blue gown answers, “Well dear, we’re expecting a guest on behalf of my father, that’s what…”
He moves closer towards them, “How does this concern me, mother?” Ares throws her a questioning look, his six-foot-two frame towering over her five-foot-five’s. Ivana’s face hardens and Ares knows to cut off his condescending demeanour.
She turns towards the window and begins her stride towards it, “Do you want to take this honey?” She gazes out the window but everyone knows who her question is directed to.
Her husband, Jameson Frost sips on his tea before he replies, “Nope, you’re doing great, honey,” His blue-grey eyes crinkles as he smiles at her even though her back is in his sight.
She turns around and grunts in frustration, “Jameson?!” She scolds.
“What?” He answers.
Ares runs his hand through his messy hazel-brown hair, “Please, can you both stop being silly and tell me what’s going on?” Ares states, his hand now on his face.
“Do you remember grandpa Dion? You’ve met him a couple of times,” Jameson says.
“Yes, I do.” Ares ascertains briefly.
“Well, he died a week ago,” Ivana says sadly. Ares scowls and relaxes his face a few times as he tries to digest the bomb his mother dropped.
Ivana resumes, “And you also remember Athena, dear?”
“How could I not, you talk about her any chance you get.” Ares answers and walks over to sit on the office chair on the opposite end of his father.
“She’ll be staying with us for a few days until some things get finalized. You know she has no one to lean on right now, especially with her grandpa gone…”
“And why are you telling me this?”
“Would you let me finish, Ares,” Ivana lashes out and then turns to Jameson. “Honey, are you seeing this, he definitely won’t listen,” She states pointedly, pacing the marble floors.
“Dad will have to speak to him by himself,” She says in an attempt to give up on the conversation.
“As always, I have to,” Benjamin Remington, Ares’ grandfather announces his presence as he walks into the study room, with an extravagant cane in his right hand.
Jameson vacates from his chair to extend the sit beside him for Ben to sit. After he positions himself comfortably on his seat, Ares resumes his state of concern.
“Can you please tell me what’s going on, pops?”
“My best friend, Dion, has died, is what,” Ben states with a stoic look directed at Ares who leans forward on the table.
“I just heard. I’m sorry for your loss,” Ares manages to console.
Ben’s lips curl upwards to reveal a sad smile, “No worries.” He resumes his stoic expression. “However Ares boy, I have a request for you?”
“Anything for you pops,” Ares eagerly states.
“I need you to marry Athena Raven Blackwood,”
Ares’ face morphs into a state of disgust, “What? Never,” He blatantly refuses.
“Is this the reason why you all called me in at 2pm in the afternoon? I had to clear my entire schedule, pops,” He complains.
“Ares boy, I promised Dion that Athena would marry you. You wouldn’t want me to break the promise I made to my dead best friend right?”
It is obvious that Ben’s attempt to guilt trip Ares won’t work, so he adds, “How’s work going lately, Ares boy?”
Ares shifts his gaze sideways, away from Ben, immediately understanding where this is going.
“I hear that you’re struggling to seal a deal?” Ben says in a persuasive tone.
Ares grits his teeth, “You heard right, pops.”
Ben proceeds to bring out the rarest family heirloom—which cost a fortune—in the entire household out of his black suit inner pocket, “And you’ve always admired my precious locket too.” His lips twist into a sly grin, and the wrinkles on his cheeks folds in.
“Isn’t that meant for me, dad?” Ivana interrupts.
Ben turns to face her, “Well Darling, you didn’t keep your end of the bargain during your time. No offense, Jameson,”
“None taken,” Jameson answers.
Ben turns around to face Ares squarely, “…and now I have to negotiate with my youngster here, what do you say, Ares boy?”
Ares sighs, it isn’t the first time he’s told Grandpa to quit the addition of ‘boy’ to his name. He is a twenty-nine year old man who has power over his choices, and even with that, he still always feels like a ten year old receiving candy from his grandfather.
Ares runs his hand down his face as he gives in to his grandfather’s demands, “I’ll do it pops,” Ares mumbles.
“Wonderful! Consider the deal sealed, and the locket yours,” Ben picks up his cane to support him off the chair as he stands to his feet.
“You always perform magic with him, Dad,” Ivana praises her father.
He whirls around to face Ivana and Jameson, “Well, he is my favourite grandchild. Don’t let Lyra know,” He whispers with a snicker.
****
Ares releases yet another sigh; he is awake by 6am and finds himself reflecting on the conversation that led him to the unbecoming state he currently finds himself in—Marriage.
Never in his life did he think that he’d be married at age twenty-nine, and yet here he is.
“Damn it!” He slams his right hand on his bedside table. “This is all because of Athena.” He blames.
He rises to his feet, deciding to shower and make his way to the office before he has to run into the reason for his anger this morning. After he comes out of the shower, his nose begins to twitch. He notices that a certain smell has wafted all around the room, like incense.
“What the…where’s this coming from?”
- Writer
