Athena's POV.
With a light tap on the surface of my skin, my eyes struggle to wake.
Eventually, I come to sit up. Clearing strands of hair from my face, my gaze sharpened as Theodore came in view,
"Morning" he said, with a mature and hoarse morning baritone.
I threw on a smile, I couldn't help it. Whenever he looked at me like that, like, he adored me and I was the only one he could see in that moment, I would recall the times he whispered his love for me and confessed to his underlying feelings.
"Morning" I replied
"You said to wake you up early"
With a small nod, I paused my gaze on him. He leaned in, I did too and we shared a short kiss.
"Would you like something to eat?"
I shook my head,
"It's too early, I'll eat sometime later", "You?"
He shook his head.
"I don't want to leave" grasping lightly unto his arm, I fell my head on his shoulders and soon enough, he pulled me closer from the small of my lower waist.
He didn't say a word. He often doesn't, but his actions were enough to make me feel comfort. Everyone around him knew him to never be much of a talker but only a few knew, how soothing he could make you feel.
We couldn't always meet, even if we wanted to and it made me miss him gravely, but I knew my limit and respected it. I didn't want a fight, I didn't want his money but it was hard to make a claim when it was expected of you to shut up and walk away.
Theodore didn't want any of that as well when we talked about it, he didn't even anticipate that he would come to find love at his budding old age, outside of his contractual marriage.
After what seemed like a long minute, I stood to my feet and put on my lingerie,
"Take a shower before you leave"
I nodded and walked into the bathroom.
'Should I come clean on our trip?' the thought sprang in my heart as I caught my reflection in the sink mirror.
'Would he forgive me?'
'Would he accept us?'
… 'Yehezkel would never approve' a small smile form around my lips as I look away, my emotions in dismay.
Slowly, I take off my lingerie and walk into the shower, making way for every droplet of water to fall on my bare skin.
I was hopeless.
…But I love him.
We were raised to do things the right way. The way of the upper class and yet, no one knew to consider when things don't go the upper-class way.
Amidst the icy coldness of the water against my skin, I felt salty tears fall against my cheeks. It wasn't the first time but I couldn't quite remember when it began. The forbearing sadness.
'Would he forgive me?'
'Would he come to hate me?'
My friends were wonderful but I couldn't confide in them, the weight of this relationship but Yehezkel, he was my true friend, the only one I could tell anything properly -and even yet now, I can't seem to open myself to reveal to him my fears, thoughts and feelings.
'Would he understand?'
'Would he see me different?'
With each ponder brought a new wave of tears, a new moment of guilt and deeper fear.
Foam lathered against my skin, I washed up till I felt completely clean and then stepped out. Drying my body, I put on my lingerie before getting out and heading towards the bedroom.
"Would you like tea at least?"
I turn to see Theodore by the kitchen, clothed in his bathrobe.
"Yes please"
He nodded and continued setting the cups, "Go ahead, I'll be with you in a wee bit"
I went on into the bedroom and changed up into my clothes from last night and soon, Theodore walked in with two cups, handing me one.
"Thank you" I took a small sip and exhaled before breathing in the faint smell of leaves engulfed in fresh, cinnamon scent.
"It'll calm your nerves" he said.
I turn to him and notice that he had caught unto my tears. He sipped on his tea.
"You're worried about Yehezkel" he said like it was supposed to be a question.
I said nothing, sipped and looked away.
"Did it ever occur to you that he may already be aware?"
I returned my gaze to him, shaking my head in refusal, like a reflex. No.
"Your brother isn't stupid" he began, "That's why he runs the family business now"
He wasn't wrong.
"Let's say that may be the case" I began softly, "He has never once mentioned it to me", "I'm his sister, he would want to face me"
"Hm" Theo nodded, "Maybe this is the side to Yehezkel you are yet to see", "The businessman -not the brother you know"
Fear flushed cold into my fingers as I held up the tea cup and took my last sip. Taking up my things, I took my leave. I need not hear more.
'Yehezkel', I thought 'What would he decide to do?'.
Taking a detour, I headed towards a tailor shop, the back alley and took my hired vehicle back home. This was the hidden part, the blind spots.
Slowly, I walked into my home and settled into the vast silence of the cozy, dimly lit living room. It wasn't my first time but everything suddenly felt so different. Spending nights with Theodore made something change.
I reminisced on his words.
The probability of Yehezkel being aware of this affair was not unlikely but to think he wouldn't face me was odd.
'Was he planning something?'
'Was he waiting for me to tell him -but would he be so patient to wait, because I could choose to never tell him'
'Why silence?'
'Am I being too anxious and overthinking it all?'
I tend to do that.
Quickly, I headed to my dressing room to change for work and in the midst of it all, I bumped into my calendar.
"Ah", "Golfing at noon".
I stared blankly for a while before an idea came to me.
Maybe, this golfing session could be my chance to test and see what he knew and what he didn't.