Athena chuckled slyly, seeing the display Zack Moore was enacting in public.
Did he think doing this would sway her into helping him? He must be a joker!
Already she was hearing murmurs from people, both hospital workers and patients alike.
Most of them thought her proud for letting an old man kneel before her.
But she wasn’t moved.
She chuckled more instead, when Zack, seeing the desired effect of his act on people, wrapped his hands around her legs and started bawling uncontrollably.
Zack concluded that if Athena wasn’t moved by his pleas, then she would surely be moved by the opinions of others.
He didn’t know how his stocks had suddenly plunged, but they had suffered that sad fate after that night’s party.
Hence, Athena must have something to do with it!
"Athena please! Don’t forsake your aged father because of a little scuffle six years ago! Please let the past remain in the past, and help me! I’m at the point of my death! Won’t you forgive my mistakes still?!"
He artfully checked the faces of people around him.
Seeing they were moved, he intensified his groanings.
"Remember how I took care of you, my dear, when you were younger and sick. Remember how I comforted you, on nights when you were plagued with nightmares. Would one mistake forever taint me in your eyes, because you are a doctor now?!"
Zack also refused to be separated from Athena’s legs when a concerned male tried lifting him.
The male in question gave Athena a bombastic side eye, before shifting away from them.
Athena wondered if the former knew who she really was, considering he had the prevalent disease, notwithstanding it was still in its earliest stage.
However, she knew she wouldn’t hold it against him, or the people murmuring about her; they were only hearing one side of the story.
Maybe she should fill them in on the second side of the story, her own side.
Since Zack wanted drama, she would give him drama.
Therefore, when the security men arrived and tried to interfere, she held her hand up, telling them to wait. She would deal with this herself.
The murmurs were fast becoming loud talks as she could hear them vividly now. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the ɴovᴇl(ꜰ)ir(e).nᴇt
’Who does she think is; letting her father kneel before her ? This new generation of youths needs to be taught a lesson!’
’Yes, we should petition her case to the chief doctor. I’m sure this one is just a new doctor, considering her age. She should be sacked for being a nuisance in such a pristine organization!’
’I agree with you. But why aren’t the doctors and nurses doing anything? Why are they just watching, knowing that she is in the wrong? Are they afraid of her?’
’I think so. I remember seeing her with Zane Whitman in the papers. They are probably lovers.’
’Really? That would explain her status in the hospital, and why the others are afraid of her. They aren’t ready to risk their jobs!’
’But is that fair? I don’t think I’ll return to this hospital again!’
’I would have agreed with that, but I have the unfortunate disease... and from what I hear, only this hospital can treat it!’
’She is so full of herself! Do you see her chuckling? Someone has to call her to order for god sake! Or else she will spoil the lesser generation, allowing them to think that disrespecting an elder is a normal thing...’
Athena tuned off then; she was tired of hearing the wrong statements.
Zack, meanwhile, was extraordinarily happy.
Surely, Athena would listen to him now.
Just then, an aged couple, around sixty-something years approached Athena with their lips turned up in condemnation.
They were both affected strongly by the strange disease, considering the gray patches on their faces.
Athena was surprised people accommodated them, without discrimination.
Were they that enlightened?
Seeing their condescending looks though, she smirked, crossed her arms around her chest, and kicked Zack away from her space.
Zack, not seeing it coming, cried out truly as pain rocketed from his head, where the kick had landed, to his spine.
He needn’t be told twice to scurry away.
The kick, however, caused shouts of disapproval to echo in the hospital’s reception.
The doctors and nurses, who knew the status of Athena, were surprised at the turn of events.
They knew Athena as a good boss, the perfect there is, always caring and responsive.
But this side of her, they didn’t understand. They didn’t know what to think of it either.
A few amongst them believed there must be a reason, while the rest decided to stay away from her from henceforth.
But Athena wasn’t bothered at all.
"What is your name, doctor?" The couple asked Athena, at the same time, revealing their marital status.
"I’m Athena, the president of all Whitman hospitals,"
A hush silence permeated the reception space instantly, as the patients and visitors understood what the title meant.
The people, who came to be treated for their strange diseases, swallowed their resentments and took steps away from the spectacle.
Athena lifted her chin, and pointed at Zack, who was kneeling with his forehead to the ground, still pretending.
"And that man right there, is not my father. He is a fake."
Murmurs broke out in the crowd that had gathered for the spectacle.
Some brought out their phones to record the happening.
Zack, hearing camera flashes, hearing the people become unsure of their earlier stand, lifted his head in fake anguish and cried out, determined not to lose face for nothing.
"Athena, please stop, you are hurting me! Yes, I made a mistake a few years ago, but won’t you forgive me? How can you deny me in front of these people?"
The couple sighed, and reverted their attention to Athena.
"Sometimes, we aged people make mistakes, but it doesn’t mean you younger ones should deny us in public. You are disgracing your father, young lady." The husband spoke.
His wife concurred. "Forgive your old man, and settle your issues at home."
That the couples’ attitude toward her improved, considering her title, wasn’t enough for Athena.
Zack thought he could tarnish her reputation again? He should think better!
"I appreciate your advice, ma’am, but that is not the case." She smiled at the couple who became instantly disarmed by her innocent smile.
"You see, six years ago, I was accused of something I didn’t do. I was accused of adultery..."
Athena knew this might drag Ewan’s reputation to the mud again, but she was on a roll now, and couldn’t stop.
Ewan could blame Zack for his troubles. She didn’t care.
Being forced to remember the past and speaking about it eroded her sense of guilt... should it appear.