The day went well.
Yehezkel sat back as he recalled his sister.
His plan was taking shape slowly and nicely but he genuinely hoped his sister wouldn't be too affected. Would she even want to understand?
Yes, he was selfishly handling everything without speaking to her and attempting to talk her out of it but he knew her to some extent. She was stubborn, wanted what she wanted even if it wouldn't be the best for her and worse of all, she hated whenever he attempted to intervene or even protect her.
This was his best resort, behind her back and without her knowledge.
He felt too tired to bathe much less to eat and couldn't help but chuckle as he glanced at his wrists, recalling how worried his mother would be whenever he came into her sight.
"You're tall and lean, what more do you want?", she nagged
"No he's not, he's lean muscular" Athena would counter
"Dear God, no flesh on these bones" she would press down on his biceps with concern,
"If only you would eat lots and grow fat with a small stomach", "Urgh you've always been like this even at a young age"
He smiled for a long while with the thought still fresh in his mind, before rising to his feet and doing the needful.
The next day came quietly.
Yehezkel stood to his feet in his silk nightwear and headed out of his bedroom to witness Athena and a few men walking about with flower pots, some with porcelain vases while others were mounting them altogether.
"Morning love" she greeted, "Brushed your teeth yet?"
He pressed down on his drowsy eyes, "What in God's name is all this?"
"Plants" she replied, "The ones you didn't get me" she emphasized.
"And you thought it best to do this in the morning, disrupting my sleep?"
She gasped dramatically, "How... How, -How could you say that when you basically slept like a baby" she paused, "You wouldn't have known if you didn't wake up"
He scoffed, "You don't say", pressing on his eyes some more, he headed towards the bathroom, "Be gone before I'm out"
"No way, we're having breakfast together"
He groaned under his sighing breath, now, his 'Quiet morning' routine had been disrupted before it even started.
A few minutes later, his shower was done and now, he put on some underwear and slipped back on the silk nightwear trousers before heading over to the closet, shirtless.
"Eww" Athena exclaimed
"Shut up" he shut the closet door behind him.
Quickly, he threw on a casual forest green, ribbed knit polo shirt that sat firmly loose atop some cream pleated pants, loosely seated on his long legs. A plain, brown leather wrist watch, some brown kiltie loafers to match, his favorite cologne and one of his warm gray, oversized cashmere coat was all he needed before heading out for breakfast.
"I see you're eating without me" he took a seat,
"I can't help it, I'm slower than most at the table"
He smiled, "Come over after work, yes?"
She hesitated, "I'm a little occupied"
"Hm" he nodded, his gaze loosely on her, "And who could be the person, keeping my sister from me?"
He noticed Athena avoid his gaze while he ate calmly,
"Just my friends" she ate from her fork, "We have a small get together, it's been… -sometime since we last saw"
He nodded nonchalantly, "Anything I could get you?"
She shook her head slowly, swallowed down and shot him a small smile.
"Let's go out the day after tomorrow instead"
He smiled, "And where does princess want to go?"
"Stargazing in Norway" she paused, "I would like to see the auroras there with you"
"Mm" he shrugged, satisfied, "Doable". He ate, "Anything else you'd like?"
Athena sighed, "It's not just about me you know"
"Of course its not, its about me" he said with a calm yet serious tone that left Athena in a bubbly, belly laugh.
"Urgh -I hate you, just when I was being all nice" she groaned, he chuckled as he watched her.
In a short while, breakfast was done and they both headed out to see Cathalina and her team standing at ease at certain points around the vehicles.
Athena leans in,
"Mother must've been really worried after the whole buzz around you"
He nodded as they walked on and into the car.
"I told the team leader to take care of you properly" she paused, glancing up at his 'are you serious right now' expression, leaving her with a chuckle "Promise to tell me all about it on our trip alright?"
He scoffed as the doors went shut beside them, "No need", "It'll be over before you even know".
Athena pressed down on her lips and gazed out the window, trying her best not to feel disappointed as she too had much to hide and gaps to fill. This feeling would possibly never go away but maybe, just maybe their trip to Norway could be a means for a clean slate.
…
Cathalina had gone through the summarized outline for Yehezkel's 7-day schedule. It seemed a month's copy was still in process and was yet to be sent but quickly, she sent every member of her team a copy.
Among the outline she couldn't help but notice a specific appointment. 'Doctor Juan Fan meeting' it wrote, at one of the most famous hospitals in the whole state. She couldn't tell if this was a regular appointment or reoccurring, was he sick or was it just a meet up, if so, then why at the hospital and not a café of some sort.
They all headed into the office, dispersing into their various positions for the day.
…Knock! Knock!
"Excuse me Sir"
Yehezkel turned to her, hanging up his coat, "I haven't even taken a seat"
Cathalina sighed, walking in and shutting the door behind her.
"My apologies but I would like to address something quickly with you"
Steadily, he headed over and took a seat behind his desk, waving her to continue. She walked forward and began.
"The young lady from earlier urged me to do my job properly" she began, "But I also believe myself -and my team to do so as well"
He sat back and crossed his legs, listening.
"Before we were assigned to protect you, we were instructed to prevent physical contact with you and so we opted for leather gloves" she gestured at her hands clothed in gloves, "It has also come to my notice that you have a doctor's appointment and would like to know how to work around not being able to come into physical contact with you in regards to your health issues so I and my team can perform our duties to the best of our abilities"
The room went silent.
Cathalina held her wrist tight as she stood, waiting, swallowing back on the mild anxiety building up in her chest.
"I understand" he began, "Engage when necessary".
The room went silent.
"Why are you still here?" he spoke, breaking the ice while his gaze remained on his desk computer.
"Are you going to be alright?"
He looked up at her with a subtly confused expression, "That's not part of your job"
"Yes" she began, "But I would like to know how serious this could be and how it affects our performance"
"Get back to work" he ordered calmy, sitting up and tapping on his landline,
"Sir?" Lyon's voice echoed
"A schedule adjustment is about to be made, come to my office"
Cathalina watched as his gaze waved away, almost like she became invisible. She nodded and walked away, out of his office.