Chapter 50

Athena tucked her hair that got in her face behind her ear, "I asked us to meet because you said there is something you want to tell me and I remember that I promised to call you when I am free, and this is it, I am free, so, what do you want to talk about."
"Athena," he sighed, "please, don t be cold with me."
"Really, that s what you want to talk about? Need I remind you that you were the first one to be cold? You broke up with me in the street, all because I attended your fashion show and you didn t want to be seen with me because I was dressed poorly. You didn t bother to know what became of me, if I got home safely. Then when I came to you two weeks later, you embarrassed me by calling me a beggar repeatedly, then you said to your friends that I am a mother who pleaded with you to give me some money in order to feed my kids and since then I have refused to let you be. You used your fame against me, telling me that I am not the woman for you and that I don t suit you anymore. You refused to pay back the money I borrowed for you, tying me down to debts I have no idea how to pay. You abandoned me when you believed you have gotten your dream, a dream I shared with you, prayed to God to fulfill for you. So tell me, Frank, who is cold between us?"
Frank closed his eyes, "I m sorry, I m sorry about everything, Athena, I was wrong, I was misled by the people I started meeting and I wanted you to be like them but it didn t occur to me that I have to make you that myself. That s why when I saw Sean doing that, I realized that this was what I should have done, I should have made you be what I want you to be and when I realized that was when I started trying to approach you but you won t give me the chance, you won t even listen to me." He liked his lips and reached to take her hands in his across the table but she withdrew her hands and he sighed and closed his eyes, "I m sorry, if you want me to say it a thousand times I would. If there is any other word for sorry I would say it but please, don t hate me; don t turn your back on me, Athena. Remember everything we went through together, when we first met, how we fell in love. Remember how your parents used to tease us in getting married and giving birth to a football club," he chuckled, "I still want that, Athena, I still want to make their wish come through but I can only do that if you let me, if you give me a chance, please."
Athena remembered everything he said, also when her parents used to make that comment and how they would love them to have eleven children, technically, it means them giving birth to the complete number of players in a club. And then she also remembered her mother dying and asking her to promise to marry Frank and that he was the only one she could trust that would take good care of her. She closed her eyes, remembering that faithful day when she had made that promise and her mother had died not long after.
Frank, seeing that his words were getting to her, continued, "your mother, she used to love us together and how we did everything together, she would often brag to the neighbors that she was the only one that has a son in law who is like a son to her, come on Athena, don t you want her wish to come true? Don t you want to live everything she dreamed? I know I hurt you and I am deeply sorry for that, I truly am and I don t mind shouting it from the top of the highest tower, please, just give me another chance, that s all I ask, give me the chance to treat you as you should have been treated, give me a chance to love you as you deserve."
Athena opened her eyes and stared deep into his eyes, she knew what he wants to say next and she didn t know if she would be happy to hear it or not.
"I want you back, Athena, please take me back, I love you."
***
Sean was in his office going through a magazine of jewelries, he was thinking of stocking Athena s jewelries box with different pieces, rare and expensive ones, maybe he could be able to show her how he feels by showering her with gifts; he just hopes she would give him a chance. He had finally decided to step out of the shadows, to let her know how he feels and if she rejects him, then he would take her no as a man, it would be a lot better than not knowing what her answer would have been. His phone dinged and he picked it up nonchalantly and unlocked it with fingerprint, looking at the screen to see the message he got, he was surprised to see a picture of Athena being hugged by Frank. The picture was sent by Esperanza and right after he had seen it, she started calling.
He didn t want to answer at first but he was shocked with what he saw that he didn t know when he answered the call.
Esperanza s voice drifted from the phone, "did you see it? I was shocked when I saw it too and I knew you wouldn t believe me so I took a picture. From my research, Sean, Frank was her childhood sweetheart, I think that despite of everything he did to her, she just couldn t let him go and from the looks of it, I think he just apologized to her and she accepted. I don t know Sean, I can t tell what is going on between them but I know one thing, I don t want you to be hurt and I will certainly not let you be fooled by them. For crying out loud, Sean, she is your girlfriend, why would she let her ex hug her so intimately?"
Sean didn t say anything and just ended the call, he stared at the picture again and the shock still hasn t left him, why would she do that? She didn t even tell him that she was going to meet him, why didn t she? He soon realized that the answer was obvious, she had made her choice, it would always be Frank.
He didn t know if he should be happy at this revelation because it would stop him from acting so stupid in trying to win her over or if he should be sad that he lost even before he could try. He turned off the phone s screen light and the magazine drop on the floor. He dropped his phone on the desk and kneaded his temple. He should have known, he never stood a chance, all she has ever wanted was Frank and he was just trying to get in between them. He was sad and felt bad for himself, he should have known he never stood a chance, after all, she only agreed to come with him when he promised to make her better to win Frank over. He should have known he never stood a chance when she kept talking about how her mother wanted them to be together.
He was angry that even after knowing all these things, he still let himself fall for her, how could he be so stupid? He has never made this mistake before, combining business with pleasure, he should have let their meeting be only professional, but how could he have done that when he already knows how she taste? How could he leave it at work when he often wonder what it would be like to kiss her again and he often imagine how it would feel to have her in his arms again?
But the deed has been done and there was nothing to be done about it, he has fallen for her and she had made her choice, the right thing would be to let her go and not bother her again, the right thing to do would be to let her be with the person her heart truly beats for but before he would do that, he would do one more favor for her. He picked up his phone and dialed a number, when the person answered, he said, "make enquires and pay for the sewing machine, then deliver it to Frank later tonight."
"Yes boss," Smith answered and Sean hung up, at least now, she would still be able to continue the lifestyle she had in his house. Frank would earn a lot with the release of Red sea and he would make arrangement that she would be paid triple the regular amount after the Face of Brand photo shoot. That way, she would never lack money again and who knows, after the banner would be release, a lot of organizations would contact her and that way, she would be sure of constant income and would never be in need again. He wishes her happiness but one thing was for certain, he would never let himself be close to her again. He is going to let his love die in his heart for it would be better that no one knew than have her agree to be with him out of pity or gratitude.