A night with a Stranger [1]

Just as Athena expected, the police as well as her bodyguards are here right on time.

"Put your gun down, Hayden Poirier!" the inspector yelled pointing his gum at Hayden.

Shocked, Frantic, Hayden dropped the gun in fear and raised his arms in the air in a way saying he surrenders. It is quite surprising for Cynthia to see how easily he dropped the gun just by a single sentence from the police.

The inspector signaled his teammates to go and catch him.

"When did you call! How did you plan all this?" he asked loudly with his red eyes to Athena.

With eloquence, she answers, "Do you play chess? If you do, then you must know you have to start plotting the moment you meet your opponent."

He grits his teeth so hard that it might make his jaw hurt. "Bitch! Just who the hell are you? I did nothing to you! Why are you doing this?"

"Because I felt like," she says simply making him angrier.

The cops put the handcuff on his wrists and take him away with force out of the room. Once he is out, the shareholders come to her and thank her for what she did. "We are all grateful to you for your help, Miss Followhill."

"I will transfer the shares to Mr. Chairman soon" she asserts. She then says to Cynthia, "Our work here is done. Let's leave."

Athena rises from the seat and taking her coat, she leaves the meeting room which is now quiet. A while ago a mad man was screaming. She smiles and continues walking straight.

"I do want to know when having you called the cops, My Lady?" Cynthia questions as they step inside the elevator.

"I already knew about the possibility so I informed the cops beforehand when you were busy asking the receptionist at the reception area."

"I see."

Outside the building, it is already dark but the beauty of the large waterfall along with lights decorated is something to observe. "Except that Hayden, I liked the company," Athena says jokingly and walks to where the driver is waiting for them just some distance from the waterfall fountain.

"My lady, which hotel do you want to stay at?" Cynthia asks once they are inside the car. Cynthia shows Athena the list of hotels and their facilities. Athena takes a look at the options on the screen and quickly tells her decision. "The third one."

"I will book two rooms now" Cynthia notifies and dials the hotel's number.

While Cynthia is talking on the phone, Athena gazes out of the window seemingly thinking of her life and the others on the streets. The image of couples laughing, children hopping around with their parents reminds her that she can never be one of them. Love is one term she fails to understand. For her, it's nothing but a wastage of time. But apart from that, she adores her parent's love.

Her lips curls up into a smile remembering the last word her Mom told before she headed to this country. "Be safe. And try to come often."

Because of her life as the leader of the Valerian clan, she is always is busy with company matters, clan matters, and also the task of finding Cario— the enemy clan and her grandfather's murderer.

For two years she has been searching for him in the whole country but he is nowhere to be found. Whenever she picks one of his minions a tiny hope ignites in her heart that now she might be able to know his whereabouts. But the minions' loyalty towards him makes her disgusted as well as envious.

"My lady, we have arrived" Cynthia wakes her from her bubble of thoughts. Athena looks out to find a huge shimmery mansion-like building.

Going to her side, Cynthia opens the door for her before Robert gets out of his seat. Cynthia puts forward her open palm for Athena to take it. Athena places her hand in hers and steps out of the car.

"It is unusually chilly here" Athena mumbles shoving her hands inside her coat pocket.

Saying goodbye to Robert they both head inside the luxurious five-star hotel, Garcia.

When Cynthia comes with the room keys in her hand from the reception desk, she finds Athena is not in the Hall area. She scrutinizes and with alarm senses, she goes to check where Athena went.

Athena is in no mood to go inside a stuffy room and sleep when the night is so young. Her eyes brighten when she coincidentally walks inside a bar. The bar is not like the normal bars. This place is neat, modest, and has it all she likes. With a smirk, she made her way forward. Finding an empty seat, she sits on one of the seats. She looks around to see women and men dressed in their best spread around.

Pushing a strand of her auburn hair behind her ear, she calls for a waiter. A cute waiter with a smile comes to her and asks for her orders.

"What would you recommend?" she retorts, keeping her time flirty. After a hectic day, she does need some relaxation.

He somewhat blushes and answers her, "We have thousands of different flavors of drinks so it's hard to name one."

Keeping her smile the same, she tells him her order. The waiter writes her order and when he is about to leave, she stops and adds with a wink, "Don't forget to bring your signature drink."

The waiter gets blushed. He nods and hurries to get her drinks.

She muses sitting by her own when Cynthia comes. She finally found her after minutes of roaming around. Athena notices her standing beside her and welcomes her to join. "You have a flight tomorrow, My lady. You shouldn't—"

"Oh relax, my love. We are in a new country, a new place. Let have some fun before returning" Athena says without having any stress for anything. She acts nonchalant whenever she senses tension approaching her.

Cynthia sighs. What can she even do? She is about to sit when her phone vibrates in her jeans pocket. She excuses herself and leaves the Hall.

A while later, the waiter comes with her orders and places them on the small rectangular glass table fit for two. "Here your orders, Miss."

"Thank you," she says smiling at him. Her smile can bewitch anyone she pleases and she likes it when she is the one in control, the one who knows what will happen next.

He leaves to take other orders and Athena rolled her eyes. Now she is bored. She thought of talking with that waiter but it seems she is bound to be alone.

But her aloneness does not remain for a longer time when a man approaches her. "Mind if I join you?" his deep and manly tone has her pause. She turns around to see a man grinning at her. She blinks surprisingly to see such a handsome man. Smiling, she says, "Sure."

He takes the seat opposite to her without removing his gaze from her. She glances at her while taking sips of her drink. Good height, attractive features, hopefully, good body, and a sexy smile, it is enough to make for her to spend some time with him.

"What are you having ?" he asks. He does have a sensual voice so manly and seductive.

"Tequila" she answers looking at his eyes. He assumes he must be some businessman or a rich brat judging the way he is dressed up— a white shirt with collar button open, black pants, and a black suit with a small crystal attached to the breast pocket.

"Having a rough day?" she asks when his gaze makes her a little conscious.

He grins, "I won't be here with you if I am having a rough day, Missy." He sure knows how to talk.

She smiles wickedly and puts down the glass on the table. "why don't you order? Or are you planning to steal mine?" she asks teasing him.

"Can I steal?" he joins her. She smiles and shakes her head.

"I don't like to share what's mine," she says taking another glass of her drink.

"True indeed. Then I should order" he says with a laugh. Something about him makes her wonder but she cannot guess what it is.

"Why are you staring at me?" she asks with a raised eyebrow and a flirty smile.

"Appreciating the beauty. My eyes get glued whenever I see something beautiful" he responds, trying to flirt.

The alcohol she took in the last ten minutes makes her head buzz a little snd her throat burns. She ignores the sensation and joins the flirting competition.