"You look ravishing, Athena."
Antonio declared softly, standing as Athena reached the table he had reserved for their date, her vibrant presence nearly taking his breath away.
She was wearing a stunning, form-fitting crimson dress that hugged her figure like a gentle embrace, the neckline dipping elegantly to showcase her collarbones and a hint of her décolletage. The fabric shimmered slightly as it caught the light, accentuating her every curve while cascading down to just above her knees.
Pairing the dress with strappy black heels that added height to her already perfect figure, she complemented her look with delicate silver jewelry that blinked softly with each movement.
Her hair was styled in loose waves that framed her radiant face, her makeup tastefully done—highlighting her eyes with smoky shadows that drew attention and full lips painted a soft pink.
When she had entered into the high-end restaurant, heads had turned, conversations had paused, and a collective breath seemed to be held as all eyes had fallen upon her.
Antonio felt a rush of pride, knowing she was his for the evening. The feeling was mixed with a tinge of anxiety as the sheer effect her beauty had on others didn’t escape him. The envious glances from other diners—women especially—spoke volumes about how striking she truly was.
"Thank you, Antonio," Athena replied, taking her seat, a modest smile gracing her lips as she accepted his praise.
She felt satisfied with her look, especially since she had managed to pull it off without Gianna’s help. Her friend had been preoccupied with the children, and Athena didn’t want to trouble her.
Noticing Antonio’s awe-struck expression, she chuckled softly. "Antonio, you are staring too much..."
He shook his head, sitting down, and beckoned the waiter to their table.
"What do you expect, Athena, when you show up looking like that? You know how I feel about you, yet here you are, throwing my heart into a frenzy, sending it into overdrive, while not accepting my request. Are you trying to kill me, woman?" Thɪs chapter is updated by NovᴇlFire(.)nᴇt
"Of course not," She said with a bright smile. "Why would I do that? You are important to the kids and me."
Antonio nodded slowly, retrieving the menu from the waiter and handing one to Athena.
"Order anything you want..." He urged confidently, but Athena’s mind strayed to the ice cream buckets she had transferred to the refrigerator as soon as she got home.
The thought of Ewan resurfaced like a tidal wave, and she had to tamp down on that craving while deciding on something spicy from the menu instead.
"Are you sure that’s all you want? Aren’t you hungry after a hectic day at work?" Antonio inquired, a crease forming between his brows.
Athena shrugged. She didn’t feel hungry; instead, an odd thirst for ice cream lingered, alongside something else she found hard to identify—or perhaps, something she didn’t want to acknowledge.
"So, tell me about your new job. Since you came to this city, you have been busier than I am..." She suggested, hoping to steer the conversation away from food and that persistent craving.
Antonio chuckled. "Please, don’t mind me. I think it just comes with the territory of settling down. I’ve been so busy with work. I didn’t know managing a couple of departments could be so stressful!"
Athena laughed at his revelation. "Well, now you know. I’m actually glad that you are doing this for yourself and that you’ve found something you love... What does your father think about this, considering you are his first son? Shouldn’t you be more interested in the family business?"
He shrugged, resignation evident in his demeanor. "I told him to pass it on to my younger brother. I could be an advisor to him and a silent partner too..."
"And was he okay with that?"
Antonio scoffed, rolling his eyes. "As if. He just can’t understand why I would work to make another man rich instead of doing that for him. He doesn’t see it from my perspective..." He paused, his voice laced with suppressed frustration.
"I’ve always been bent out of shape trying to please him, and it drove me to booze and casual affairs. But since meeting you, I discovered purpose; life is about more than just that."
Athena raised a mischievous eyebrow, intrigued. "So, you’re claiming I am your messiah?"
Antonio nodded emphatically. "Without mincing words. I’m glad I didn’t let my mother bully you..."
At that moment, the waiter arrived with their orders, and the next hour slipped away with laughter and reminiscing about old memories, intertwined with discussions of future aspirations.
Athena could see why she had been so drawn to Antonio; he was simply good for her, stroking her ego and filling her with warmth and hope.
"So, tell me about the recent discovery regarding the Grey disease... any groundbreaking truths yet? The last time, you sent me away before I could get a handle on what you all were talking about..."
Athena chuckled at Antonio’s complaint. "I didn’t send you away. You told me Herbert had fixed an important meeting with you. I didn’t think you would want to be late, given how stern he is about punctuality."
Antonio pouted, accepting the explanation grudgingly.
"But to your earlier question, I think we’ll be done with Morgan and the Grey disease soon enough," She replied, exhaling slowly as she dabbed her mouth with the napkin before her, signaling that she was finished eating.
"That’s great!" Antonio exclaimed enthusiastically, mimicking her action with the napkin. "So, what steps are you guys taking? The government has given a deadline of two weeks..."
A significant pause followed his inquiry as Athena hesitated, wondering if she should divulge this information to him.
Yes, he was a close ally and knew, to some extent, of her clandestine operations, but was it safe to fill him in? He was still new to the country, and she didn’t want to add any stress of potential attacks to his already full plate.
"Nothing really. The president assured me he would take care of the matter, and I trust him," She decided to say, hoping she had reignited his attention elsewhere.