Chapter 8 The Bottomless Pit

Godfrey rubbed his hands together. "It's just a bridge loan. Five million. Rocha Biotech took a hit, I need to cover the margin."

Athena set her glass down. Rocha Biotech. Her mother's company. The legacy Godfrey had run into the ground while funding Gilda's shopping sprees.

"No," Athena said.

Godfrey blinked. "What?"

"You don't get a cent," she said calmly.

Godfrey's face turned red. "You ungrateful little brat! I raised you! I put a roof over your head!" He looked at Caesar, seeking a male ally. "Caesar, tell her! It's business!"

Caesar leaned back in his chair. He looked like he was watching a mildly entertaining play.

"Five million is pocket change," Caesar said.

Godfrey's eyes lit up. "Exactly! See, Athena? Your husband understands finance."

"But," Caesar continued, his eyes drifting to Athena, "I only spend it on my wife. If she says no, the vault is closed."

He handed the power directly to her.

Athena stood up. "You heard him. Get out."

Godfrey snapped. The mask of the loving father fell away, revealing the desperate gambler beneath. He lunged at her, his hand raised to strike.

"You bitch-"

Athena didn't flinch. She didn't have to.

Derik moved like a blur. He caught Godfrey's wrist in mid-air.

Snap.

The sound of bone fracturing echoed off the high ceilings.

Godfrey screamed, dropping to his knees, clutching his wrist.

"Violence in my home?" Caesar said, shaking his head. "It seems this hand is no longer wanted."

Derik hauled the weeping man to his feet.

"Get him out of here," Caesar ordered. "And tell the gate guards if he comes back, aim for the legs."

Derik dragged Godfrey out. The screaming faded as the front doors closed.

Athena sat back down. Her heart was racing, but her hands were steady.

"Thanks," she said.

"You used to beg me for money to give to him," Caesar said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You knelt on this very floor and cried for him. That woman is gone. Who are you?"

"I had water in my brain," Athena said, stabbing a piece of melon. "It dried up."

From the corner of the room, Emily and the other maids watched with wide eyes. The dynamic had shifted. The victim was gone.

Caesar wheeled himself back from the table. "I have a charity gala tonight. You're staying here."

"Why?"

"Because the media will eat you alive," he said, turning away.

Athena watched him leave. He was protecting her. In his twisted way.

She finished her breakfast. Then she went upstairs to the Blue Suite and opened her laptop. She logged into a secure cloud server-a backup she had made in her previous life.

She pulled up the Rocha Biotech financials.

Godfrey wasn't just losing money. He was siphoning it. Fake invoices. Shell companies registered to Gilda.

She had him.