Chapter 6 Her husband

The relief lasted for two minutes. Then Caesar opened his eyes, and the walls went back up.

"You can go," he said.

Athena pulled her hands away. "Go where? The icebox?"

Caesar pressed a button on his armrest. "Mrs. Potts."

The housekeeper materialized from the shadows, looking significantly less arrogant than she had ten minutes ago. She kept glancing at Athena's robe with fear.

"Who gave you the authority to put the lady of the house in the condemned wing?" Caesar asked. He didn't yell. He didn't have to.

"I... I just thought... it wasn't ready..." Mrs. Potts stammered, wringing her hands.

"Prepare the Blue Suite," Caesar ordered. "Next to mine. Have it done before dinner."

Mrs. Potts paled. The Blue Suite was the second-best room in the manor. "Yes, sir."

Athena went back to the guest room to pack her meager belongings. As she folded the white dress, her phone began to vibrate against the nightstand. It danced across the wood, buzzing angrily.

Unknown Number.

Clovis.

She picked it up.

"Athena!" His voice was a roar. "You dared to stand me up? Do you know how long I waited in the rain?"

Athena laughed. It was a dry, hollow sound. "Three hours? Caesar waited all night in the storm for me once."

"Shut up about him!" That was a matter of a previous life. Clovis naturally did not know what Athena was saying. He just hissed. "Don't forget, I have those photos. The ones from the beach house."

Athena rolled her eyes. Photos of her in a bikini. Scandalous for a nun, perhaps, but hardly leverage in 2024.

"Send them," she challenged. "And I'll send the PDF of the embezzled funds from the Madden Trust to the Williamson Board of Directors."

Silence on the other end. Heavy, terrified silence.

"How... how do you know..."

"Clovis," Athena said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You think having the last name Williamson makes you royalty? Your father isn't even on the family tree. You're a tourist. And if you contact me again, I will ruin you."

She hung up.

She turned around. Emily was standing in the open doorway, holding fresh towels. Her mouth was agape. She had heard everything.

"So," Emily sneered, trying to regain her footing. "You have a lover. A fake Williamson."

Athena crossed the room in two strides. She invaded Emily's personal space, towering over the smaller girl.

"Go tell Caesar," Athena said. "Let's see who he believes. The wife who just cured his headache, or the maid who eavesdrops on private calls."

Emily opened her mouth to retort.

"And if you open your mouth," Athena added, leaning down, "I'll tell Mrs. Potts about the silver spoons missing from the pantry. The ones pawned on 4th Street."

Emily's face drained of blood. She dropped the towels .Emily doesn't know why the other party knows, and it's impossible to think that the person in front of her came back with her memory. Her secret doesn't have any privacy in front of Athena.

"Get my bag," Athena commanded. "Take it to the Blue Suite."

Emily scrambled to pick up the suitcase, her hands shaking.

Athena walked out of the room. She moved into the suite next to Caesar's. The walls were thick, soundproofed with layers of history and money. But as she lay down on the plush mattress, she felt the presence of the man on the other side of the wall.

The monster. Her husband.