Chapter 74: Chapter Seventy Three

Eros

The news reached me on a stormy Thursday morning—Athena Sanderson, now Athena Carmichael, was not only married to Lysander Carmichael, but also working under the Vice President of my company, Belmonte Group.

Rage twisted in my chest like a rusted blade. Fate, with its cruel sense of irony, had found yet another way to bring us face-to-face. I hadn’t expected this—certainly not during my first week back in Eldoria. 

I’d requested the organizational structure of the company, a simple list of senior executives and their direct reports. And there it was. Her name, glowing like a neon sign against the white paper.

I had sworn to keep my distance. But her name... her face... it tore open a wound I’d long tried to forget.

“She married him?” I growled, slamming the folder shut. “And works here—under my nose?”

“Yes, sir,” Damon, my assistant, replied cautiously. “She’s been with the company for over five years now. Secretary to Vice President Juan Jose.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. Secretary? Athena Sanderson—fiery, brilliant, untamable—reduced to answering phones, scheduling meetings and fetching coffee? Still, if this was how fate wanted to play it, I wasn’t about to sit on the sidelines.

I stood and paced to the rain-smeared windows of Villa Isadora’s west wing office, jaw clenched so tight it could’ve shattered. Her father’s sins hadn’t been forgotten. 

And yet here she was, walking into my empire like history meant nothing. I had half a mind to end her career that very day.

“Have Juan fire her. Today,” I said coldly.

“Yes, sir,” Damon nodded and stepped out.

I was midway through drafting a discreet termination notice when Damon returned barely half an hour later, phone in hand and a barely concealed smirk on his face.

“There’s… been an incident.”

I looked up, irritated. “What kind of incident?”

“Sir… it seems Mrs. Carmichael already handled that herself.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Explain.”

“She was fired this morning. For assault.”

That caught my attention. “Assault? Who did she assault?”

“She kicked Mr. Juan Jose. In the groin.” Damon said, struggling to contain his amusement. “In front of three staff members and a client.”

I arched my brow. “And why exactly did she do that?”

“Apparently, he made a comment about her skirt and… implied something about after-hours meetings.” Damon replied.

Silence hung in the air for a moment before a low chuckle escaped me. “Serves the bastard right.” I said.

I never liked Juan. Third cousin or not, he was a sleaze. And frankly, good on Athena for putting him in his place.

“She beat me to it,” I muttered, amused.

But instead of letting her walk out of my life again, I made a decision—one that could backfire spectacularly or land me exactly where I wanted. Either way, Athena Sanderson-Carmichael had just become my enemy, and I intended to keep her very close.

“Offer her a job,” I said. “As my personal assistant.”

Damon blinked. “Sir?”

“Triple her salary. I want her there. In the office. Every day.” I paused, then added under my breath, “Right under my nose.”

I paused, then shook my head at my own madness. I was going to hell for what I was about to do. Twelve years of silence were about to be shattered by my curiosity—and something else I didn’t dare name yet.

“Anything else, sir?” Damon asked.

“You know what? I’ll make the call myself.”

Damon blinked. Once. Twice. “You will?” Disbelief colored his voice.

“Yes,” I said with a nod. “You’re dismissed.”

Still stunned, Damon gave a small nod. “Understood.”

He hesitated, eyeing me with that look he got when he knew I was up to something, then shrugged and walked out.

Damon Kline had been my assistant for over six years. We’d met in Hawaii, and hit it off instantly. He needed a job; I needed someone reliable. When my vacation ended, I offered him a position—on one condition: he’d have to relocate to England. He agreed without hesitation.

When Leonardo died and my grandfather summoned me back to Eldoria, Damon followed. Loyal to the core. Now, with Athena as my new assistant, I’d need to find Damon a different role—something confidential. A slow smile tugged at my lips as the perfect task came to mind.

I knew just what to do with him.

******

Athena

Later that evening, I stormed into the house, rain-soaked and shivering, my mascara smudged from a mix of tears and fury.

Lysander lounged on the couch, swirling a glass of scotch in his hand, his expression unreadable.

“You’re home early,” he said without looking up.

“I got fired,” I replied flatly, kicking off my heels and letting my bag drop to the floor.

“Fired?” His head snapped toward me, brows lifted in disbelief. “What did you do?”

“That sleazy Vice President told me I looked like a ‘bedroom fantasy in heels.’” I exhaled sharply. “So I corrected his fantasy—with my knee. Right where it counted.”

His nostrils flared. “Do you realize what this means? For me? For us?”

“You mean for you,” I snapped. “You only care about your precious image.”

Before he could respond, my phone buzzed in my coat pocket.

Frowning at the unknown number, I answered. “Hello?”

“Athena Carmichael,” came a deep, cool voice. “This is Eros Belmonte.”

My heart skipped. I stiffened. “What do you want?” I asked, my voice low, disbelieving. After all these years—how did he even get my number?

“I’m offering you a job. Personal assistant. Start tomorrow.”

I almost laughed. “You’re kidding.” I said, my voice ice-cold.

“I don’t joke. The salary will be double what you earned. Details to follow.”

“Why would you—?” I began, but he cut me off.

“I don’t tolerate scandals in my company,” he interrupted. “But you made quite the impression today.” Then, just like that, he hung up.

I stared at the phone, still hearing his voice echoing in my head.

“What was that about?” Lysander asked sharply.

“A job offer.”

“From who?”

I hesitated. “…Eros Belmonte.”

His expression hardened like stone. “You are not working for him.”

I crossed my arms. “He offered double the salary.”

“I don’t care if he offered you a kingdom. You’re my wife, and I said no.”

Something in me snapped. “I’m not your property, Lysander. I’m a person. I want to work—and I will. Whether you like it or not.”

He stood slowly, voice cold. “Don’t test me, Athena.”

But the decision had already been made.

\~~~~~~

The next morning, I stepped into Eros Belmonte’s office wearing a crisp navy blouse tucked into wide-leg cream trousers. Polished. Professional. Unapologetic.

“This is a joke, right?” I said flatly.

Eros looked up from his desk and leaned back in his chair, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips.

“You showed up. That’s all I needed to see. And it's not a joke. You’re hired.”

“You don’t even like me,” I reminded him.

“That’s mutual, isn’t it?” he replied, tone dry.

My jaw clenched. “I don’t want to work for you.”

“Then don’t. Walk out. But you won’t get another offer like this—not after kicking your last boss in the balls.”

“You call that assault?” I narrowed my eyes.

“I call it an excellent aim.” He said, a smirk tugging at his lips.

I bit back a grin and crossed my arms. “Why me? Why now?”

“Because I know exactly what you’re capable of. And because…” He paused, gaze hard. “I want you close.”

Something twisted in my stomach at the way he said it.

I hesitated. “I don’t need your charity.”

“No. But you need the salary. And your husband isn’t exactly pulling seven figures, is he?”

My face flushed, anger flaring. “Stay out of my marriage.” I said through gritted teeth.

He met my gaze coolly. “Then stay out of my company.” He shot back.

The tension between us was electric. I turned sharply, hand on the door.

He didn’t stop me.

I paused. “How much?” I asked quietly.

“€260,000 a year." he said without missing a beat. “Full benefits.”

I blinked, my mind struggling to process the absurdity of the offer. €260,000 a year? That was over twenty-one thousand a month. I couldn’t help but laugh, despite myself. “You’re insane.”

“Take it or get out,” he said, voice sharp enough to cut glass.

I moved away from the door, the sound of my heels echoing as I approached his desk—sleek, cold, and as intimidating as the man behind it. Climbing the short steps felt like walking into enemy territory. 

“You’re serious? This isn’t some messed-up power trip?”

Eros leaned back, unbothered. “Do I strike you as someone who jokes?”

His grey eyes darkened like thunder rolling in, and for a moment, I wondered if I’d touched a nerve. Maybe that was the point. Maybe I wanted to.

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever. I’m only taking this for the money.”

“Good.” His tone didn’t flinch. “I didn’t offer this out of charity.”

I tilted my head. “Then what’s the angle?”

He stood slowly, walked around the desk, and stopped in front of me. Too close. “Because having you close is far more interesting than watching from a distance.”

My pulse kicked up. Of course it did.

“If this is some revenge fantasy about my father—”

“Oh, it is,” he said with a devil’s smile, his voice smooth as velvet. “But not just that. You intrigue me, Athena. Always have.”

A chill crept up my spine, though I held my ground. I won’t be his pawn. Not again. Not ever.

My jaw tightened. “I’m not here to play games with you. I’m not some toy you can manipulate, Mr. Belmonte.”

“Then don’t flaunt your strings,” he said, voice low and lethal. “Unless you want me to pull them.”

We stared each other down, and suddenly the room felt too small, the air too thick. There was history between us—tangled, bruised, and burning. And we were standing in the middle of it.

Without breaking eye contact, he handed me a tablet. “You’ll manage my calendar, sort urgent emails, and keep me from committing homicide in meetings. Think you can handle that?”

I arched my brow. “Tempting.”

“I am,” he said without missing a beat, a smirk curling at the edge of his lips.

I snatched the tablet from his hand, leveling a glare at him. “Let’s get this straight—I don’t like you. I don’t trust you. And if you think this job gives you power over me, you’re delusional.”

“I’d never walk,” Eros murmured, stepping just close enough to make my skin prickle, his eyes darkening again. “I’d run… straight through your boundaries.”

My eyes narrowed. “Then I’ll be right behind—with pepper spray and a grudge.”

He laughed—low, amused, wicked. “There she is. The Athena I remember.”

I turned to leave, each step a defiant exclamation. But right at the door, I paused. I hated admitting it, even to myself, but I owed him. As much as he annoyed me, I was quietly grateful. 

Juan Jose had made it very clear—he’d blackball me from every company in the country. And yet… here I was.

I didn’t look back. “Thanks for the offer.”

His reply was quieter this time. “You’re welcome. Welcome to hell.”

I walked out, tablet in hand and fire in my veins.

And for reasons I couldn’t explain… I didn’t mind burning.