-Athena-

''Athena, I've got Scott for you on the other line,'' Nancy voices over the intercom.

''Okay, thanks,'' I reply and change the line. ''Scott, how are you?''

''Athena......my precious, would it be so hard to believe that I was expecting your call?'' I roll my eyes at his nickname for me, for a guy missing his front tooth, he sure has a peculiar way of pronouncing the word 'precious'.

''I'm guessing the correct answer to that question is a no?'' I answer him, trying to play safe.

I hear his laughter through the line, ''ohhh my precious, you sure know how to answer diplomatically. Anyway, jokes aside, tell me, why is it that you have called me months after hanging up on me?''

Hanging up on him? When did that happen? I scrunch my eyebrows in confusion and try to rack my brain for information but get nothing. What the hell is happening?

''Athena precious, you do realize that the one purpose of a call is to actually talk don't you?'' his voice makes me come back to reality and I almost drop the phone.

''ohhh right, sorry; I totally zoned out,''

''A habit I assume you picked up this past year, you never used to do that,'' he replies and at that point I didn't have anything to say to him so I just chuckled.

''Listen umm.... Scott, I'm really sorry if I hung up on you the last time we talked.'' If that is even true. I would never hang up on him; he is important to the company.

''I would like to have a meeting with you to talk about re-signing the contract, we would very much like it if you would consider doing business with us again,'' I tell him.

''Well you know I never miss an opportunity to see you my precious, of course I would love to meet up! Tell you what, why don't we get together for a dinner two nights from today; we can discuss more on this proposition. Is that okay with you?''

Ughhh dinner with this old oaf.......by the end of the night he will have said my precious more than a thousand times but I'm desperate at the moment and he is the only one who can save my company.

''Dinner sounds wonderful Scott, just email me the time and place and I will be there,'' I reply with fake enthusiasm.

''I'm surprised you agreed immediately, I expected a bit of hesitation from your side but then again you are in need of me aren't you?'' he replies slyly. I resist the urge to slam my hand on the desk and tell him off but I control myself.

Damn Scott, trying to rile me up. I take in a deep breath and reply, ''I'll wait for the address, see you in few days.''

''I'll see you soon precious,'' and with that he disconnects the line.

''Uhh ohh...that bad huh?'' Nancy walks in my cabin and takes a seat.

''Ugghh don't even start....'' I reply holding my head in my hands. ''What did he even say Athena?''

''He invited me to dinner the day after tomorrow, that's when we will discuss the terms of contract. I just hope I get him to manufacture for us and then things can go back to the way they were.''

''oooooohhhhh you scored a date with Scott,'' she teases and I glare at her.

''first of all it's not a date, it's a business meeting and secondly, gross.''

''desperate times call for desperate measures, don't they?''

''You know it Nancy. Well I guess I'm done for today, I'll see you tomorrow morning,'' I tell her as I get up to leave.

''Make sure to stop by the storage area on the floor below us to get yourself a smoking hot dress for your date,'' she teases and winks at me.

''oh stop it with the date will you!!''

''ohhh so you agree it's a date huh?'' she yells as I walk out of the office but I ignore her and walk into the elevator.

I hop into the shower as soon as I get home and I'm currently standing in front of the bathroom mirror in my towel just contemplating life.

''What the hell is happening to me?'' I ask myself, ''and what is this?'' I move closer to the mirror to see a mark on the left side of my neck, ''how did I even get this?'' I brush a finger over it and my skin tingles making me shiver in delight, ''okay, sensitive spot much?'' I grab the mirror to balance myself. ''Whatever I can't be bothered with small marks and bruises like these,'' and with that I change into my night gown and go to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

I sit with my plate and a glass of wine on the couch and put on the news channel when a familiar face flashes on the screen as the reporter reads out the news.

''Rumor has it that billionaire Theo Argent is looking to expand his textile business in Toronto, with factories all over the world and 5 here in Canada, we can only imagine a 6th one coming up anytime soon.'' The reporter then continues to babble on how rich the guy is.

''Ohh great, so the creep is now a billionaire, ugghh I just lost my appetite,'' I switch off the tv and put my plate in the refrigerator, ''well my breakfast is sorted now.''

By instinct I'm awake at 05:00 am the next day and decide to go for a run, I put on my running clothes and shoes and take the route I always did.

I walk in the office at 09:00 am and see Nancy waiting for me by her desk.

''Morning, what do you have for me today?'' I greet her and walk to my office with her on my tail.

''The art department got back with the designs we submitted yesterday, they want some changes to be done....''

''okay, I will go downstairs to pay them a visit later during the day, anything else?''

''Scott called and as usual asked for you, so you have to call him back,'' she replies wiggling her eyebrows.

''ohh, I'll call him then thanks and stop doing that!'' I scold her. She chuckles and starts to leave.

''Ohh before I forget, Nancy; draw up the contract that we signed with the other company and have it on my desk by midday, I'm having the meeting with the lawyers this afternoon. We need this contract terminated.''

I reply a few emails and dial Scott's number, he answers on the second ring, ''My precious...it is so good to hear your voice in the morning.''

''Morning to you too Scott, I am just returning your call. Is there anything you needed?''

''oh no no no.... i just wanted to give you the address and time for our dinner tomorrow.''

''you could have just emailed Scott,'' I tell him. ''and miss the opportunity to hear your voice,'' he chuckles from the other end of the line, anger boils in me as I crumple a piece of paper.

''Ahemm... just give me the details Scott,'' I grab a pen and notepad and jot down the address. ''Thanks, I'll see you tomorrow then.''

''See you tomorrow my precious, I'm sure we'll all have fun,'' and the line disconnects.

All have fun.... what does he mean by all? Knowing Scott, his wife will definitely not be joining us. So what did he mean by all? Guess I'll find out tomorrow night.

As I make my way to the elevator to the 17th floor where the art department office is, I catch Nancy wiggling her eyebrows again, ''spoke to your boyfriend Athena?''

''don't start Nancy, I'm really not in the mood.''

As soon as I'm done with the art guys, someone delivers the contract to me and I have to make my way to the lawyers' office. Guess I'm skipping lunch today.

I bury myself in my work and by the time I get home I'm beat. As I get ready for bed my phone rings.

''who is this calling me so late in the night?'' I grumble and answer it without even checking the caller ID, ''What?!'' I snap.

''Hello to you too Ena, remember me? your brother, who you haven't even bothered to call? It's almost 2 weeks now Ena,'' Ethan says.

''What do you want Ethan?'' I roll my eyes. ''If you're rolling your eyes at me right now Athena, I suggest you stop.''

''I'm not, okay.''

''I know you Ena,'' he then whispers softly, ''please come home.''

''I am home Ethan. If that is the reason you're calling me, I suggest you stop wasting both yours and my time and get back to your alpha duties.''

''How did you know I'm alpha?'' he asks with what I think is hope in his voice.

''Dad is no more isn't he? So of course you'd be the alpha now; it's common sense brother.''

''Uhh ohh...yes of course, but Athena please, come home; we can help you here,''

''I don't need help Ethan, I'm perfectly fine. Stop treating me like I'm some deranged person!!'' I yell at him and my anger flares up.

''That's not what I meant Ena,'' he tries to defend himself.

''That is exactly what you meant.... I'm not crazy okay. I can't believe you would say something like that Ethan!!!'' I shout over the phone and feel my wolf trying to take over. I abruptly turn and a scream escapes me as I look at myself in the mirror.

''Athena.... Athena are you okay?'' I hear Ethan's worried voice over the phone.

''Oh goddess no! Ethan, I have to go,'' and with that I cut the call.

''This cannot be happening.... how.... how do I have red eyes!? No...I can't be Alpha, it's supposed to be Ethan, not me,'' a sob escapes me as the reality sets in.

''Oh god,I can never go back. Never.''

***

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-Jessica.S