Chapter 5 Captivated
“I see,” Byron said, glancing briefly at Ruby.
Ruby immediately hid behind him, feigning terror. Athena stood there, stunned and at a loss for words.
“If Ruby can’t blame you, then what about me?” Byron’s voice sliced through the air, each word feeling like a cold stab to Athena’s heart.
For a brief moment, Athena froze. Her eyes began to burn with the sting of betrayal. Byron didn’t believe her… The man she once trusted was now turning on her.
Byron continued, pulling a few pages from the file and handing them to Athena. “Even if someone else manipulated the data, the signature on these pages is yours, isn’t it?”
“…Yes,” Athena replied, her voice barely a whisper.
“Then you need to take responsibility,” he said, his tone harsh and detached. He shifted the blame entirely onto her. “I’ll give you three days to fix this. If you don’t, we’ll involve the police and follow proper procedures.”
Athena stood in shock, her jaw dropping. She wanted to argue, but the weight of the situation overwhelmed her. A feeling of betrayal swirled within her, but she quickly suppressed it. She shouldn’t have expected anything different—Byron was petty. After all, she had quit being his secretary and lover, and she had firmly rejected all his attempts to reconcile.
She wasn’t to blame for the data mistake. She had to find out who was responsible.
“Okay…” Athena said quietly, trying to regain her composure.
Byron’s eyes darkened, his irritation growing at her apparent lack of response.
Without another word, he turned and went back to his office. Ruby followed him, but not before flashing Athena a victorious grin.
Soon, rumors began to circulate throughout the company, accusing Athena of betraying the company. Athena, unable to stand the pressure, grabbed her computer and headed to the company’s library.
She had been in charge of Eric’s project from start to finish, ensuring every detail was flawless. She had also done thorough research on Maxwell Electronics. There were no problems with the data; if everything had gone according to plan, Maxwell Electronics would have accepted it as expected.
Sighing heavily, Athena tried to calm herself.
At lunchtime, she bought a sandwich and found a secluded spot to eat alone. As she ate, she messaged Evie, telling her what had happened.
Evie’s response was immediate. She called her friend as soon as she read the message.
“We have to find that bastard! No matter what it takes!” Evie’s voice was full of rage.
“What do we do after we find them?” Athena asked, her frustration starting to show.
“Clear your name!” Evie replied with a fire in her voice. “And skin that asshole alive!”
Athena grimaced. “But we just lost a huge order. So many people worked so hard on this. It shouldn’t have ended like this.”
Evie paused, then asked, “Got any plans brewing in that head of yours?”
“I’m going to track down who did this and get my original order back!” Athena said with determination.
Her resolve was strong. She might be forgiving, but she wouldn’t let herself be treated unjustly.
“Anything I can do to help?” Evie offered eagerly.
“There’s a fancy cruise party tomorrow night. Brad Maxwell, the big boss of Maxwell Electronics, will be there. I need to meet him and show him my plan.”
Evie hesitated, then said, “Oh, I heard about that event. I can probably get us invites, but Brad’s a tough one. And if your deal got sabotaged…”
“How will I know if I don’t try?” Athena replied.
“Alright, I got your back!”
“Thanks, Evie. After this is over, I’ll treat you to the best restaurant in town!”
“Of course!” Evie responded enthusiastically. “By the way, the dress code for the party is formal. Let me pick you up so we can go shopping!”
Evie couldn’t hold back her criticism of Athena’s usual style.
“Sweetie, you’ve got a killer body, but your clothes… You can’t dress like an old lady tonight, okay?”
Athena laughed. “Alright, alright.”
She didn’t need to pretend to be delicate or sweet anymore.
On the third floor of the library, Byron stood before a large window, his gaze fixed on Athena. She was outside, smiling as she spoke on the phone, something she had never done with him. It hit him like a punch in the gut.
He sulked without even realizing it.
“Byron, don’t you think you’re being a little too harsh? You know Athena better than anyone. She never makes rookie mistakes,” Gideon said, attempting to reason with him. “Look at her out there… she looks so cold!”
But Byron remained indifferent, his voice cold as he responded, “She insisted on leaving my protection. Why should I feel sorry for her? She brought this on herself.”
Gideon didn’t argue further. He knew that reasoning with Byron was futile.
At that moment, a sleek black Mercedes pulled up on the side of the road, and Athena eagerly ran toward it.
Gideon was shocked. He had never seen Athena so full of life, so full of energy.
He glanced at the car, then back at Byron, teasing, “Does Athena have a new beau? Is that why she’s so eager to dump you?”
Byron didn’t say a word. He simply turned around and walked away.
The next evening, Athena prepared for the party.
The sun was setting as a fancy cruise ship docked at the pier, ready to host an elite crowd. Wealthy individuals, celebrities, and high-profile figures boarded the ship, all dressed in elegant attire.
Athena and Evie had managed to get onboard, though instead of invitation letters, they held staff cards.
“Sorry, all the VIPs in Girard City wanted to attend this event,” Evie explained with a sheepish grin. “The best I could do was get us staff passes.”
“It’s okay. We’re here anyway!” Athena replied, checking over her plan one last time.
“Once the reception starts, change into your dress and go find Brad,” Evie advised. “You’ll look stunning. I’m sure you’ll turn heads. And who knows, maybe we can take down Brad and find a wealthy man along the way!”
Athena laughed. “Those wealthy men wouldn’t want a woman with a child.”
The reception soon began. Athena slipped into a formal dress and climbed through a low window to make her entrance.
As she put on her heels, a voice interrupted her.
“Excuse me, miss?”
She turned to see a handsome man with curly hair, holding a champagne glass and staring at her with an intrigued smile.
“Sir? Can I help you?” Athena hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
“You… you’re beautiful, like a princess from a fairy tale!” he said, his eyes full of admiration.
Athena blinked, taken aback. It wasn’t surprising; her golden dress clung to her body perfectly, and her wavy hair cascaded to her waist. Her fair skin and delicate makeup highlighted her natural beauty.
Evie had said she looked like a mermaid.
As Athena turned, the soft breeze tousled her hair, adding an ethereal quality to her already captivating presence. The handsome man stood frozen, mesmerized by her beauty.