I was back in New York after a week in California. I just finished discussing with the marketing team the hotel's summer getaway promo when my personal lawyer and very good friend, Jim Howard called.

"Miss Niarchos is not interested in buying the museum anymore."

"Are you sure?" I was surprised at the news. Isn't it the reason why she was marrying Zion to get hold of her trust fund so she could buy the museum? 

"Definitely. Mr. Murphy informed me yesterday. He called to offer you the property."

My lips twisted a little, I got very suspicious. "How much?"

"At market value."

"At market value? That's unbelievable."

I could not believe that the old man finally gave in. "What made him offer his property at a reasonable price?"

"He said he needed the money asap. He's leaving for Thailand to marry the girl he met online." My lawyer answered. 

That was another shock. He was already in his seventies but still it did not stop him from falling in love again. Good thing also that love changed him. 

"Talk to him tomorrow Jim before he'd change his mind. We need to get hold of that property immediately so we can start building the hotel."

"I'll do that, no worries. I'll start drawing the contract so he could sign it immediately."

"Good."

The moment I hung up the phone, I was lost in my own world. My thoughts were focused on Athena. 

What the hell is she up to? If she's not interested of the museum, what's her reason in marrying Zion? She wouldn't need her trust fund anymore.

Love. She loves Zion, there's no doubt about that. Eversince she was young, the name of Zion keeps going out of her mouth, and I was used to hearing it. Dammit! Why it hurts a lot now?

I suddenly felt so alone and empty. I was not happy at all and it was affecting my job. My trip to California was not helping at all. The more I went out hanging out with friends and the ladies, I became more depressed and miserable. I never felt like this before and I did not like it. It was like dragging myself off the bed every morning.

I left the office at eleven and headed home, but ended up going straight to my parents mansion. I saw my mom, Chloe Petrakis Monteiro at the balcony eating her lunch alone, as usual. Dad would not be home during lunch, being so occupied in the office attending meetings and running the Monteiro businesses.

"Why are you here?" Mom's perfectly curved eyebrows snapped together. 

"I miss being home." I sat down across her and looked at the very blue swimming pool. Maybe I should take a dip later.

"Aww..." Mom put down her fork and stood up, moving her chair closer to mine. Her hand rubbed my back in a comforting caress. "Tell me what's wrong."

I heaved a long sigh and leaned my back against the chair to stop her from caressing my back. 

"I'm okay. There's nothing wrong mom. I just feel tired lately."

"You're dad told me that you've been drinking. Do you have a problem? Tell me about it. You know I get so worried easily. Is it about the business? Or a woman?"

I rolled my eyes and took the plate that the maid gave me. 

"Who is the woman? Anyone I know? You're not serious about the lawyer, right?"

"Mom... she's getting married."

"Really?" Her eyes opened wide then smiled happily. "Thanks God."

It was my turn to frown at her. "What do you mean? You don't like her for me?"

"She doesn't have a good reputation after she handled the case of that rapist. She set him free."

"It's part of her job mom." I took a bite of my steak, followed by a spoonful of rice.

"I know... I know... but I pity the girl." Mom sipped her cranberry juice then said. "Are you going back to work after lunch? If you won't, maybe you can drive me, your aunt Jade and aunt Rachel to the wedding planner."

No way!

"Isn't that supposed to be the job of the bride and groom?" 

"It is, but Zion is too busy, he doesn't have the time. And Athena... she seems so disoriented lately, always spacing out. She gave Rachel a scare when she cried in the middle of the night. She should be happy, she's marrying Zion."

I felt the pain in my chest instantly. I became so worried of Athena. Why is it that she was crying? 

"You know what?" Mom continued. "When you were young, I dreamed of you marrying Athena. I liked that girl a lot and I knew of your great crush on her."

"Stop it mom, I did not."

"Don't lie to me. Remember, you told me. Athena is like an angel, mom. I'm going to marry her someday." Mom teased me.

"She's marrying Zion."

"Yeah... and too bad, they don't have the chemistry." Mom said in a dismissive tone.

Our lunch was interrupted when Daniel arrived. Looking like he just got off from bed. The buttons of his long sleeves white shirt were half undone, his necktie slung on his neck and he was holding his black jacket over his shoulder.

"Good morning!"

"It's afternoon already, brother." I snapped at him.

"If you won't stop partying like an animal Daniel, I swear, I'm going to send you to an island and scrape you of everything! Let's see if you won't learn." Mom bursted angrily.

"I don't mind mother. I love island girls." Daniel laughed and ran upstairs to his room-- sleep and wake up at night to party again. 

After lunch, I went for a swim and did many laps until I got so tired. I was in my room just finished taking a shower when my phone rang. It was Zion.

"What's up?" I asked. 

"Carter, can you accompany Athena? I'm catching a flight to Dubai."

It took me a week to see Zion again. I was in a coffee shop with my friend Gilda when he invited me for lunch and to hang out afterwards.

"Where are we going?" I asked as I entered his Lamborghini.

"How about in my house? I realized that I haven't given you a tour of the house yet."

"Okay... " I answered." I've been there once when I was six years old. That was your grandfather's birthday. I just stayed in the living room after dinner, scared of getting lost. It's a very huge house."

"It's the biggest among all Petrakis mansions. My great grandfather Aristotle Petrakis just wanted it so big to store all his massive collections."

The mention of the massive collections was an anticipation. And true to his words, he showed me the Petrakis collections of arts, artifacts, paintings and rare items after lunch. 

"Let's go to the library. You'll love it."

"Library? No, let's skip on that. You know I don't like books. They just give me headaches." I laughed at my own disability. It became a habit. "How about the theatre room?"

"Okay, let's go."

We were at the theatre room drinking wine and watched the latest episode of Riverdale. My mind kept on thinking of Carter. He's getting married. Sadness creeped inside me, that there could never be an us.

Maybe I was meant to be with Zion. 

I poured myself another glass of wine and drank it straight. I wanted to remove the pain off my chest and to think of Zion. I used to love Zion so much, but why it was slowly fading?

I love Zion. I love Zion. I said to my mind. 

I took another gulp of my wine until I became sleepy. 

"You want to continue with the tour?" I heard Zion asked when an episode ended. 

I yawned, my head was dropping and it was hard to keep my eyes open. "Can we stay here for a few minutes? I'm so sleepy."

I thought I was dreaming, but I realized Zion was kissing me. It was gentle at first and I just let him. Hmm... he was a good kisser. It was hard not to enjoy it. 

Suddenly the kiss became rough and persuasive. Forcing me to respond. 

"Claire." He groaned. 

Claire? Oh my God. He was thinking of Claire while kissing me!

"Shit! Zion!" I shoved him so hard. 

"What?"

"I knew it. All this time, you can't still get over her."

"What are you talking about?"

"There's no way that I'm going to marry you. You've just called me Claire!"

"What?" There was a shock on his face. He just realized his mistake. Stupid guy! "I'm so sorry, Athena. Please forgive me. I love you."

I did not want to cry, but at that moment, my heart felt so congested. Hot tears ran down on my cheeks. I thought of him, of Carter, of my insecurities and disability. In other words, I was having self-pity. 

"Yeah. I know you love me, but not in a romantic way. You always treat me like your sister."

"Shh... no."

"Please, don't deny it Zion. I grew up having a great crush on you. I got so excited every weekend to hang out in your place because I'd see you. I tried for you to notice me, but you were so into Claire. When you went to university and I learned that you broke up with her, I was happy. I felt like I'd have a chance with you."

"What?"

I let out a sarcastic smile. "Yeah, so silly of me. But when I saw you, you changed. You became cold, stubborn and hard like stone. You wouldn't smile whenever I tease you anymore or laugh at my silly jokes. It was so hard to get into you, you have this wall so high it reaches the sky. I felt like the old Zion was gone. But my feelings for you didn't change. There were times I tried to copy Claire's appearance - her hair, her manner of dressing and actions. But still, you ignored me."

"I'm sorry, Athena..."

"Remember our first date? That was so special. Although it was not really a date. You just needed someone to bring with you in that business event. I felt like it was the start of you and me. And it did. I tried to please you, to make you happy, to be your perfect girl, but still, you're so lost in your own world. You're so near and yet so far, Zion. You're mind kept on drifting somewhere. You forgot that I was beside you."

"I'm always busy, Athena. You know I run not just one company. Many employees are relying on me."

"I know. It became your diversion, your pleasure. your world. I tried to make you love me Zion, in a romantic way, but I always failed. When I asked you to marry me so I'd get my trust fund, you just answered yes without any question. To think that I was only testing you, to get a reaction from you."

"I wanted to help you, to make you happy. To get your heart's desire."

"You are my heart's desire, Zion. But sadly, yours is Claire. When you introduced me to her during that dinner, my world suddenly collapsed. I knew I couldn't compete with her. I caught you too many times staring at her when she was not looking, like she was the only person in the room. You were so mesmerized."

"I... I'm so sorry. I was not even aware."

"You still love her, Zion. Much as you'd deny it, you never stopped loving her." I took his hands, squeezing them tightly. "I love you so much and I'm letting you go. It hurts, but I want you to be happy. Claire is your happiness. Don't torture yourself. Stop fighting your own battle of personal restraint. Go to her before someone takes her away from you, forever."

"Athena..."

"Go, Zion. Get her."

His eyes brightened and I saw the happiness in there, like a great wall broke down. He stood up and kissed my cheek. "Thank you so much, Athena." He ran to the door then stopped and faced me again.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine." I forced a smile at him. "I'll just watch another episode of Riverdale."