Chapter 43

Athena can t tell when she fell asleep last night but it had been so hard to even think of sleeping, all she knew she did was that she cried. She cried so hard that her chest felt heavy and her eyes hurt including her nose.
There was a knock on the door and she heaved a deep sigh, although she slept so late she still woke up early because she had a very disturbing dream and couldn t sleep again. Taking off the bed covers, she climbed out of the bed and stalked to the door. When she opened it, she saw him, the reason of her sleepless night, the reason of her pain and the reason she had cry so hard last night even though she doesn t know why.
Sean felt his heart miss a beat when he saw her, she looked like hell, her hair was a mess and her eyes were red and swollen, he didn t know when he reached out to caress her, "are you okay?" he asked but she moved away before his hand could touch her. He was hurt at that but he dropped his hand and asked, "What happened?"
"I m fine," she squeaked and cleared her throat, "I m fine."
Then why are you like this? Why is your eyes swollen and red, why is your voice raspy? All he wanted to ask but only sighed, "Tobias has models to prepare for a shoot, so he left early. I was thinking if you are up for a little shopping?"
"No, I don t think so, you go on without me," she replied.
"You will be alone, won t you feel lonely?"
"Don t worry, I will be okay."
Sean bit his lip, he would be lying if he said he didn t notice the change in her, she replies him as fast as she could without thinking on it. Isn t this ironic? She is using his lessons on him. He nodded and turned to walk away but still looked at her, "call me if you change your mind."
Athena only nodded and closed the door before he could say something else. Sean closed his eyes and heaved a deep sigh; did he make a mistake yesterday by turning her away? He heaved another sigh and walked away. Walking toward to his car with Smith holding the door open for him, he turned to look at her window, hoping that he would catch a glimpse of her like he did yesterday but there was no one there and the curtain showed no sign of anyone just dropping it. He licked his lips and got into the car. He has a meeting this afternoon in the office but he had wanted to cancel if she had agreed to go shopping with him.
He knew he hurt her last night but he was trying to protect both of them from something beautiful that she would have addressed as a mistake. He closed his eyes and kneaded his temple; he just hopes he hadn t made a mistake while trying to avoid one.
Later in the evening when he got back, Athena wasn t in the living room as she used to be but he knew she would be in her room and doesn t know if he should go to her. Tobias would have help in bringing her downstairs but he was not around, after the shoot they had left for London, they had a show there which would have been fun taking her there with him but he has an auction to attend tomorrow being Friday and the show is tomorrow as well.
He went to his room and freshened up, coming downstairs again, Esther has finished preparing dinner and to his horror, he had to dine alone because even though he sent her to go call Athena, she had returned with the news that she is not hungry and that he should go ahead without her. Dinner has never been boring like it was that night. After sitting and drinking alone in the living room, he went up to her floor and stood in front of her door, he raised his hand to knock and after a while, he put it down, turned and left.
He went into the kitchen, heat up the food in the microwave and placed it on a tray, he carried it back to her floor and stood for some seconds before finally knocking. He had to knock again for the door to be opened and Athena was surprised to see him, "I didn t see you at dinner and decided to bring this up for you," he showed her the tray.
Athena looked at the tray, she didn t say anything and he waited with his heart in her throat for her answer, she looked better than she did in the morning and he was grateful for that. After some seconds, she took the tray from him, "thanks," she went in and closed the door before he could invite himself in.
Sean stared at the closed door, if there was any closeness that they had formed within the months they have been together, he could feel it slowly passing away and he has no idea what to do. For the first time in his life since starting his business, he was completely clueless on what to do. After standing in front of the door for some minutes, he turned and stalked to his room, again he wondered if he had done a mistake while trying to prevent one.
***
Sean returned from work late in the afternoon the next day, he needs to get Athena prepared for the auction they were attending at eight pm; Tobias wasn t home so everything was in his hands. He just hopes that she would talk to him. This morning before leaving for work, he had gone to her and she was just the way she was yesterday and to be honest, he didn t like that Athena.
As he stood in front of her door about to knock, the door opened and Athena walked out, she was surprised to see him and Sean was more surprised especially at the books on her head, he counted them in his mind and was shocked to discover that they were eleven books. Esperanza was the best he trained for she walked comfortably with ten books on her head and now, Athena broke the record with one more. "How long have you been able to do this?"
Athena was touched at his visible shock and the amazement in his eyes but just like she had concluded within herself, she didn t let it affect her. They won t be another familiarity between them anymore. She would just do what he wants her to do and nothing more. "I walked with ten yesterday and just decided to try eleven today," she shrugged but that wasn t the only truth, she could remember he had told her while reprimanding her that Esperanza could walk with ten. She wants him to be using her as an example to any other model he would train. She wants to be the best in his eyes.
"Wow, you broke a record."
She smiled casually, "thanks."
Sean heaved a sigh, there was something different and he doesn t like it, he just hopes that she would talk to him and they would settle whatever it was. "We need to go a little shopping, there is an auction today and we are going."
"Can t you go without me?" She asked.
Sean let out a deep breath, "Athena, don t be like that."
She looked up at him, "don t be like how? I m just not feeling like going anywhere."
"We need to pick a dress for you, Tobias isn t around, he would have been the one to do that if he was."
Athena sighed, "fine, if that s what you want."
"Great, dress up and don t apply any makeup, we would have one outside," he said and she nodded and went into her room, closing the door yet on his face again.
Sean sucked in a deep breath and blew it out through the mouth, his phone started ringing and he picked it up without glancing at the screen, "Sean Brand."
"Mr. Brand, this is Augustus Hawke, I m calling to tell you that the designs are ready, I have them with me and I can bring it wherever you want. Are you still at the office?"
Sean smiled, "what a perfect timing, Augustus, don t worry, I will come meet you at Fashionista, she would be coming with me so she could try them on."
"That s perfect, the Black Diamond would be perfect for the auction tonight, don t you think so?"
Sean closed his eyes, remembering the design he just mentioned, according Augustus, there would be over six thousand tiny pieces of beads that would be used to adorn the gown in order to bring out the twinkling that was emphasized in the design. He had been mesmerized at that and the Black Diamond has been his favorite in the three designs he chose. "Yes, I would love to see her already in it."
"That s good, I will be waiting for you."
"We will be there," Sean replied and hung up before going to his room to freshen up as well.