-Athena-

Nightshade Office, Toronto

It's now a little over a week since I came back and I've never felt more at ease. Nancy and the rest of the staff were shocked to see me at first but of course no one dared to question me when I got mad over my office having a thin layer of dust that had settled even though I had been gone for less than 4 days.

I myself was shocked when I walked into my apartment on the 7th floor of my 10 storey building to find dust gathered all over my furniture. Seriously though what's up with all this dust gathering around in just a matter of few days. I had to call in the cleaners to get the whole apartment spotless.

Now, as I'm sitted in my office, paint brush in my hand thinking of designs for the spring collection my mind races back to Ethan and his friends. Not even one phone call from my brother who didn't even want me to leave in the first place. The hypocrite.

They think I have lost my memory. I mean seriously, there is no way that has happened. I refuse to believe it. That and many other thoughts cloud my brain and I zone out which doesn't help as I fail to hear Nancy calling out to me.

''Athena.... hey...Athena,'' she says a few more times. ''Huh...ohh gosh, I'm so sorry; I zoned out.''

''Yeah I've noticed; you've been doing that a lot lately. Are you sure you're okay? you seem different.''

''I'm fine Nancy, it's nothing to worry about. So tell me, did you need something?''

''Ahh yes, there will be a board meeting this afternoon immediately after lunch. I believe it is to discuss the spring collection and your sudden comeback,'' she whispers the last part.

''ohh great, I was wondering when the meeting would happen. Seems like Clarissa is back huh?''

''umm...where did Clarissa go Athena?'' Nancy asks me with a raised brow.

''She was on maternity leave wasn't she, it's good that she is back the others will now behave,'' I reply.

''Athena...gosh Clarissa went on leave last year, right before you left, what's gotten into you?'' and with that she leaves my office.

''I'm perfectly fine, there is nothing wrong with me,'' I say to myself as I gather some of the designs and start uploading them to get them ready for the presentation.

I continue with my work when one of the juniors come to my office, ''May I come in Ma'am?'' he politely asks.

''I look up and I'm met with a geeky looking guy with rounded glasses, ''yes, please,'' I gesture him.

''Hi ma'am, I'm Tyler from the IT department.''

''Hello Tyler, how can I help you today?''

''uhhh actually ma'am......,'' he starts and starts rubbing the back of his neck nervously. I lean forward and tap my fingers waiting for him to continue.

''umm...it's my birthday today and I thought of giving something to everyone in the office, umm so if you would kindly accept this packet of cookies.''

A smile forms on my lips and I graciously accept his gift. ''Thank you for the cookies Tyler and Happy Birthday.''

''You're welcome and uhhh Thank you too ma'am, good day,'' and with that he leaves my cabin.

''Cookies huh?'' I stare at the packet, looks like he bought them from the nearby store. I open it and pop one in my mouth and by instinct a moan escapes me. I slap one hand over my mouth hoping that no one heard me. Shit. Shit. Shit.

How did that even happen, I mean these cookies are not even that good. I have had cookies before in my life but never have I ever moaned this way over one. I scratch my brain for any memory of this happening when I'm hit by a surge of pain on the left side of my head. ''Arrghhh,'' I clutch my head.

''Athena.... Athena are you okay?'' Nancy comes running inside my office.'' Here, have some water,'' she hands me a glass. ''What happened?''

''I had this immense pain on the left side of my head and now it's gone,'' I say as I begin to feel normal.

''you should get your head checked,'' she says.

''Not so subtle way of calling me crazy huh?'' I retort and she chuckles. ''You know that's not what I meant. Now come on, let's go have lunch.''

I save my work and the two of us leave for the canteen area.

''Seriously, a banana? That's what you're having for lunch?'' Nancy scolds me as she bites into her sandwich. ''I'm not really hungry.''

''Oh well, more for me,'' she shrugs and grabs another sandwich. I look around the canteen area and a lot has changed. It looks bigger than before and there are better food options too. Though it is understandable as we share the food court with 3 other floors in this building.

''come on, you've eaten enough to last you for a week, the meeting starts in 10 minutes,'' I grumble as I pull her away from the table and we make way to the board room.

''Clarissa, it's good to see you. How is the little one doing?'' I ask her when I see her sitted on one of the chairs in the conference room.

''Oh he is an angel; he will be turning a year old in a few months' time but all that aside. How are you Athena? It really good to have you back, you have no idea how happy I was when I was informed that you're back.''

''umm.... Clarissa, uh, I was only gone for like......'' but Nancy cuts me off.

''Oh who cares how long it has been, the good thing is that she is back right?'' she grabs me by the arm and drags me to my chair, ''ohh look, everyone is here; let's get started shall we?'' she squeals and I look at her quizzically but choose to ignore it.

''Very well then, thank you Nancy,'' I get up from my seat while glaring at her and she mouths a sorry.

''Before we start, we would like to officially welcome you back Athena, it has been rocky in here ever since you left, though your visit a few months ago helped but still it's nice to now have you back on a daily basis,'' Mr. Gilbert; a tall, bald and olive skinned man tells me.

I'm about to reply to him that I'd just been away for a few days but Nancy clears her throat and subtly shakes her head at me. ''Ahem...Thank you Mr. Gilbert for your kind words, it feels great to be back,'' and from my peripheral vision I see Nancy relax on her seat.

''Well now that, that is done; why don't we get to business. First things first, I was going through the sales report for our third collection and noticed that our profit this time round was nowhere near what we made during the last two lines. Why is that?'' I ask them.

''Athena...I'm surprised you are asking us this, don't you remember your little visit to the office a few months ago where you gave us the go ahead to sign on with another company even though they were charging us double of what Scott used to,'' Clarissa replies giving me a questioning look.

''I did what now?'' I ask them with wide eyes and see Nancy fidgeting nervously on her seat.

''You do remember being here don't you?'' Clarissa asks again and I pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration. ''This is not good; this is not good at all. Are you all sure I gave the order?''

''Yes Athena....it was you, '' Mr Gilbert confirms and the rest of the members nod in agreement.

''Well shit,'' I whisper lowly, luckily none of them heard me. ''Very well then, I will personally see to it that the contract with the new company is terminated and we shall get back into business with Scott well in time to launch the spring collection,'' I announce.

''Which brings us to our next item in the agenda, the spring collection,'' Nancy says and we all discuss the new designs. The meeting goes in for another hour and by the time we are done I'm exhausted.

''We definitely need a break after all that Athena.''

''Breaks don't run a business my friend, get me Scott on the line now!'' I order and she scurries away to her desk to make the call.

-Theo-

Crescent Pack, Vancouver

''Has anyone even bothered to call Athena? She has been gone for a week now.''

''No one is calling anyone Charles, let her be,'' I reply.

''Let her be! Let her be! Are you serious Theo, like what's gotten into you man. You are terrifyingly calm about this. Isn't this affecting you in any way, isn't it affecting the mate bond?''

''What do you think Charles?'' I question him back.

''I think that you are not even the least bothered that your mate; who has no memory of the past year, has left you and you know exactly where she is but have made no effort whatsoever to go after her!''

''Enough Charles, you're being hard on him right now, '' Mila scolds him but he just scoffs.

''He deserves it Mila and he deserves more than this for sitting here on his ass and doing nothing about getting Athena back!!!''

''Charles show him some respect! He is your alpha!''

''He is my friend before being my alpha and he needs to hear this Mila.''

The three of us are in our office in the pack house as we wait for our trackers to come back with any information they might have stumbled upon in regards to Selene.

''Theo......what has gotten into you brother?'' he now asks calmly as he places a hand on my shoulder.

''I'm hurting Charles; I might not show it but everyday that I wake up to an empty bed my heart breaks. Ever since she left, it's like the mate bond has simmered down, like it's in a coma of its own. Whether you wish to believe me or not Charles, but letting her go was the best decision I made.''

A cloud of silence hangs over us and then Mila breaks it by speaking up, ''you know they say if you love someone truly let them go, if it's meant to be they will find their way back to you.''

''and it is my belief that she will find her way back to me,'' I reply as I look over the pack from my seat in the office, my eyes zeroing on the trackers who are making their way back.

***

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Above is a glimpse of Athena's living room.

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-Jessica.S