Chapter 224: The Secret Room
For a second, Athena didn’t know what to say or do. She sat, dazed, confused, just watching the president, who
had a thin smile on his lips.
Athena immediately felt a surge of anger rise within her, a desperate urge to slap that smile away, to dash the
president’s head against the wall. Maybe then, he would take this seriously. Maybe then, he would show his
cards, and not keep wasting her time.
Did they put a clown in this seat, or what? She wondered, exhaling softly afterward as she relaxed back into the
chair. If he wanted to play rough, then he should play rough. If he wanted to reason with her, well, he should go
ahead with that. Why the back and forth? And why did she feel this was all a gto him?
Athena held back from cussing out loud; she hated games—especially those where she wasn’t winning, where
she wasn’t the initiator. She pressed her lips tightly together as she watched the president saunter gallantly to
his seat, acting as if he had no care in the world, as if he weren't aware that she was irritated.
She couldn't help but wish that Gianna had followed her here. Maybe things would be different; her best friend
always had a way with people.
"How do you feel, Doctor Athena?"
What now? Athena thought, struggling to hold back a scoff. She didn’t know how long she could keep it in,
however, how long she could respectfully remain calm before the highest official in the country.
"I asked you a question, Doctor Athena..." The president continued after a moment of silence.
Yet, Athena said nothing. He thought he could irritate her, push her up against the wall? Well, he should prepare
to have a taste of his own medicine.
President or not, she wouldn't tolerate nonsense!
She smiled widely thereafter, when the president's jaw slackened for a nano second before it righted itself again,
when he realized she was playing the gtoo.
"I see that’s how you want to play it," He said, nodding his head slowly, before standing up again.
Athena didn’t respond, though she raised an eyebrow when the president smiled.
"You live up to the research, Doc. That's good; you can hold your own ground. Follow me."
Athena's brows knitted together as she watched the president walk to the eastern side of his office, where a
huge painting of the country’s slogan and history was hanging.
"Aren't you coming?"
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
"Coming to what? You want to walk straight into a..." Athena paused, looking at the wall, her eyes widening
slightly when she saw stelling signs on the creamy surface: there was a room behind that wall!
"I see you are as observant as your friend said," The president remarked, still smiling.
Athena's eyebrows furrowed further. "Friend? What friend?"
The president shrugged. "The answers you seek are on the other side of this wall."
Still, Athena didn’t stand up. She wasn’t about to follow a strange president into nowhere. She had her family,
her patients, and her companies to worry about.
President George raised his hands. "I promise you will not be harmed. After all, you are the key to curing this
disastrous disease ravaging the country. What would be my gain in killing you?"
Athena shrugged. "I don’t know. Maybe to putand my cure away so that you and your friends can make
money off your sick citizens?"
The president's mouth fell open in surprise for a moment before he laughed loudly, holding his belly. Athena
thought she had never seen a president so free and loose. Wasn't he taught setiquette?
"You really think I'm behind the Gray disease?" President George asked, still laughing.
"Maybe," Athena replied, finally getting to her feet.
Worst cto worst, she had sent a text to Aiden. He would cto her rescue if things went south.
"Let's head in then, Mr. President. Let's see the secret you are hiding."
The president nodded, smiling, and turned back to the wall. Tapping sspaces on the surface, which would
look ordinary to a bystander, he pushed the painting to the right. As the door began to open, he stepped back.
Athena tsked as she saw a hallway emerge—neat and well-lit. "Well, who would have thought there was a secret
passage in the presidential office?" She mused as she stepped into the space, followed by the president. The
walls closed behind them.
"It is known only to the presidents and the secret operations, mainly for escape should there be a need for that.
But this is an important meeting, and | don’t want to be interrupted, nor do | want any case of leakage," The
president explained as he led the way. "I'm sorry for earlier... | was just bored."
Athena said nothing to that. She rather looked around the secret passage, amazed at the well-constructed
passageway.
She inhaled deeply as the corridor started to widen. Very soon, she would meet the secret operations personnel,
along with whoever else would be around for the meeting.
A few seconds later, they emerged into a wide space, a larger office more akin to a boardroom, featuring a long
table with comfortable chairs around it. Already people were waiting.
"All these are secret operations agents?"
The president shook his head. "All except one. There is Minister..."
"Minister Thomas, Minister of Health. | know him. He helped clear my nwhen things had gone south at the
hospital." Athena walked straight to the man who stood as she approached, offering him a firm handshake.
"Pleased to see you here, Athena. | see the president has acquainted you with everything now..."
Athena shook her head. "No, he hasn't."
She turned to the other people clad in black suits—who were seated around the table—to greet them, when she
stopped short, her jaw dropping in shock. "Aiden?"
Her grip tightened on her bag as a wave of betrayal washed over her. "Wha..." She shook her head in disbelief,
especially when Aiden said nothing to her, instead focusing on the president.
So, Athena turned to the president. "When you mentioned my friend, that was him, right..."
"Yes, but..."
"What is he doing here?" Athena cut in sharply, her emotions flaring. "Since when has he been working with
you?"
Athena’s mind raced as she tried to recall any tAiden had let it slip that he was working with the president
and not with her. And for what? Money?
She shut her eyes as anger mixed with pain gripped her heart. He knew almost everything about her, if not
everything. He knew the location of the lab and how her research worked, to an extent. Since when had he been
betraying her?
Athena fisted her hands, refusing to tear up in front of the people before her. Instead, she glared hotly at the
president, ignoring the tremors that rippled amongst the agents.
One of them, a hefty man who approached her from the side, seemed ready to correct her errors or put her in
her place. Athena wasn't sure, but she knew she wouldn't back down without a fight.
"One more step, and you are a dead man," She threatened, ready to use her bag as a weapon.
The unknown hefty man halted, looking at the president quizzically.
"Stand down, Colt. Everything is fine," The president said.
Colt pursed his lips, glaring at Athena with narrowed eyes. He had read about her, but so what? She couldn't
disrespect his president.
His jaw slackened the next second, his fists balled tight as Athena called the president by his name. What was
wrong with this woman?
"George, aren't you going to answer my questions?"
Colt expected the president to call her to order, especially since her friend had remained silent since his arrival,
but the president merely sighed.
"Athena, if you had allowedto speak, you would have known that Aiden was hired today. Yes, we've been
trying to recruit him into the team, but he only sent back a positive reply today, and I'm guessing it's because he
got wind of what we are about to do here. If anything, that man is as loyal to you as anyone could be."
Athena bit her lip, glancing at Aiden, who was now looking at her with disappointment reflected in his eyes. His
next words confirmed her thought.
"You really think | would betray you? And for what? Money?"
Athena sighed and ruffled her hair, growing tired, which caused her bun to becmessy and loose. "I'm sorry.
But you can’t blme."
"You would have at least let the president speak."
Athena opened her mouth and then shut it. Yes, she should have. She had let her emotions run their course
again. "I'm sorry, Aiden."
She turned to the president. "I'm sorry, Mr. President."
President Walls waved her apology away. "That's okay, Athena. And the offer still stands—callGeorge."
Athena chuckled softly. "I think I'll leave the offer pending for now. Can we get to the meeting proper?"
"Of course..." The president said, pointing to the only vacant seat at the table. "Have a seat, Athena. Welcto
word
word
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWL1i10f1ifl0&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
word
word
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWLIII0fiflo&1
mmMwWL1i10f1ifl0&1
mmMwWLIiI0fiflO&1
StartNovel