44 Beggars IV
Athena pretended to be in thought, at Alfonso’s request, whereas she was brimming with satisfaction at her plans coming together beautifully.
Taking her eyes away from a pleading Alfonso, who was now kneeling in front of her desk, she glanced at Fiona.
Fiona was finding it hard to maintain her sorrowful mask.
When her father had suddenly crawled to meet Athena, she had been numb for a second; only reverting to reality, when her father made his plea again.
Athena smirked in victory, baiting the latter.
But Fiona refused to fall into the trap this time around.
To help her cause, she hurried to her father’s side, and prostrated before Athena.
Athena chuckled softly. Fiona was learning quickly.
“Do you have your company documents with you? Or an article detailing the state of your company?” She finally spoke, needing to be free of their pestering presence.
Alfonso nodded fast, even though he wondered the reason for her interest.
Shouldn’t she be calling her backers, maybe the man, whom she was leeching money from? The man, who was behind the attack on Ewan’s company?
With his right hand, however, he gestured to Fiona to get the black laptop bag he had come with to the hospital; the black b
they had abadoned at the doorpost.
Aforetime, he had brought the documents to beg for Ewan’s favor, but Ewan had sidelined him!
His son in law hadn’t even cared to ask him how his company thriving, nor had he agreed to speak with Athena. The egocentric brat!
If his sickness didn’t move the latter, would it move Athena then? Impossible! The girl was the
worst!
Meanwhile, Fiona got up from her prostrating position, walked quickly to the door, and
retrieved the bag.
When she returned and handed the bag to her father, she remained standing, suddenly tired of groveling at Athena’s feet.
At her father’s glare however, she held back a tired sigh and sat on the floor.
That’s all she would do!
She wouldn’t hurt herself again to please Athena, when she knew the latter won’t help them. While Alfonso handed the documents to Athena, he couldn’t help but voice his opinions after she opened the brown envelope and brought out the important papers.
“But what are you doing, Doctor?”
44 Doggars IV
He didn’t believe Athena understood business,
Athena’s gaze on him just then, pronounced him a fool.
She looked at him like he was crazy.
“Alfonso, are you mentally okay?”
Alfonso nodded meekly, while his fists clenched tightly.
“Forgive me, Doctor. I’m just curious. Do you intend to go through them?”
Athena frowned. “Of course, How else will I know how to help wi
the financial counselor to Herbert Whitman?”
Alfonso paled.
Ewan tell you that I’m
He looked at his daughter for an explanation, but she had the same look on her face. Hadn’t she known? And why didn’t Ewan mention this important piece of information?
At least if the latter had done so, he wouldn’t have made a fool of himself now!
“No, he didn’t tell me. I apologize for the error in judgment.”
Athena ignored him and continued swiping the pages of the thick document.
She pretended to go through it, while mentally going through her already laid plans.
She used up ten minutes for the document, during which Alfonso, tired of kneeling, sat on the floor like his daughter.
When Athena look
had fallen!
up from the document, she thought they looked like dogs. How the mighty
“So, what do you think?” Alfonso asked, even as he felt an evil foreboding, seeing the grave look on Athena’s face.
“Well, the statistics aren’t great. As a matter of fact, it is totally poor.”
Flona gritted her teeth.
What else could the statistics be? Who was the stupid person causing this?
“I’m aware of that. What could be done to salvage this situation?” Alfonso prodded, barely hanging onto his patience.
Athena shook her head. “Nothing really. The only option is that you sell your company. I think Ewan will pay a lot for it…”
Alfonso cussed out loud, his facade finally breaking. “What the hell, Athena! Who do you are?”
Fiona palmed her face. Her father’s love for his company was next to none.
you
think
Sometimes, she believed that he even cherished the company more than he valued her, or even
her mother.
She watched him now as he stood up energetically from the floor, and started pacing from one end of the office to the other.
Bears V
She turned to Athena. The latter had a large smile on her face.
Fiona had a feeling that they had just walked into her trap, especially as Athena clapped her hands then, bringing her father to a halt.
“Finally, Alfonso, your facade is off.”
Alfonso gritted his teeth in anger. His daughter had been right again. Athena was a better game. player.
“There’s nothing as a facade, Doctor Athena. My company is like my child, more important to me than my health. Yet, you told me to give it up. What other reaction did you expect from an old
man?”
Alfonso tried to salvage the situation wisely.
Athena laughed. “Whatever that will float your boat, Alfonso. But my analysis is correct. You can check other consultants and confirm from them. It’s better you hurry though. Your company will soon go under, and become worthless. It’s better you sell out now.”
Alfonso exhaled harshly. “You are right, Athena. Very right. But I came to you to see if you can talk to your… backer? Wasn’t that what you did about Ewan’s situation?”
Athena pretended to be surprised, before breaking into a boisterous laughter. “You are not serious, are you?”
Alfonso kept quiet.
“There’s no backer anywhere, Alfonso. Even if there was, there’s no help for your situation, other than what I’ve offered. Ewan’s case is different too.”
Alfonso’s eyes twitched in annoyance. How could she lie to him?
Yet Athena met his gaze steadily as she drove the final nail to the coffin.
“Honestly, Ewan can’t help you either. He’s barely hanging on, considering he experienced the same downfall as you did. If he decides to buy your company, he will pay at most a million dollars. But I can offer you a much better price.”
Alfonso piqued his right eyebrow in unbelief.
“I will offer you a hundred million dollars for the company… That should cover a lot, at least.” Alfonso sneered at Athena. “See you talking as if you can even afford that…”
He chuckled snidely, shaking his head. “I see your plans, Athena, but it won’t work. I won’t sell out a product of my blood and sweat!”
Athena laughed and dismissed him. “Get out of my office then.”
