Troy And Athena (Forbidden Love Series Book 15)

It was 4:50 in the afternoon and Athena's heart started beating faster and faster thinking about how to start teaching Troy. He would be here in ten minutes and she was already panicking.

"Why did I have to agree to this? It was such a bad idea," she mumbled as she paced her room, peeping out of the window of her room every now and then. Suddenly the doorbell rang and she flew out of her room and down the staircase before granny could even get to the door of her room.

"Were you expecting someone?" Asked her granny. Athena blushed awkwardly. Of course, she was expecting someone. She was expecting the impossible flirt, Mr Troy Wagner, the owner of some business empire who loved playing with Legos and wanted to learn painting! That too from her!

"Umm, yes, I was expecting Troy, " she said as the doorbell rang again.

"Troy? Who? Laurence's friend?" Asked granny with a grin, her eyes twinkling with hope.

"Yeah," she said but the doorbell rang again.

"Someone's getting impatient. You better open the door before it breaks down, " chuckled her granny. Athena opened the door and Troy barged into the house.

"Hey Greek Goddess of War! What took you so long?" He grinned, coming to a stop right in front of her nose. Athena rolled her eyes.

"I didn't take that long," she protested while her granny smiled, looking at the two of them with interest.

"I'm glad that you're here. I could do with some company since this girl would be off in a few minutes, " said granny Bridgette.

"I won't let her go anywhere. I've come to learn drawing and painting from her, granny," said Troy, glancing at Athena.

Granny Bridgette chuckled. "Oh really? She's a sculptor too. You can learn that also," she suggested. Troy's eyes shone with interest.

"Yes, I'll learn everything. That should take a year, right? Or more?" Asked Troy. Granny Bridgette chuckled.

"More if you deviate from the topic, " she teased and Athena's cheeks turned crimson. Troy laughed, liking her granny immensely.

"I would love to deviate from the topic," he whispered into granny Bridgette's ear. She laughed knowingly.

"I guessed that, " she said still smiling. Athena rolled her eyes at them.

"Did you get your drawing stuff?" She asked, seeing him arrive empty-handed.

"What stuff?" He asked innocently. Athena groaned, wanting to pull her hair out.

"Students need to carry their drawing sheets, brushes, easel and paints," she told him using her teacher tone.

"Oh, I didn't know," he said sticking his tongue out. Athena tried hard to control the smile that was threatening to break out.

"Okay, I'll provide you with everything, " she offered, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"Gee, thanks. Can I hug you for being so kind to me?" He asked and granny Bridgette chuckled.

"No, no hugging, no nothing, clear?" she told him sternly.

"Now I know why Goddess Athena was a virgin, " he mumbled.

"Did you say something?" Asked Athena not able to catch what he just mumbled.

"Nah, nothing important, " he said, sitting down. Granny went to the kitchen to get him something to drink and nibble on.

"Why don't you sit here and wait for me? I'll get what we need," said Athena, rushing upstairs to her artroom to get the stuff. As she collected everything, she frowned deep in thought.

"Why does he need to learn painting when he runs a business empire?" She said, flailing her arms, looking for extra sets of everything.

"I need to know. Else how will I teach my kids when they're born?" Asked Troy's deep voice from behind her. Athena's rapidly beating heart nearly leaped out of her chest with horror. When did he come upstairs? She clutched at her heart.

Then realization struck and she thought about what he had just told her. So he was married and his wife was expecting? Then how could he flirt with her so openly? She whirled around and glared at him.

"Then shouldn't you be with the mother of your unborn children?" She said, looking pissed off, with a drawing sheet in one hand and an easel in the other.

"I'm with her already, " muttered Troy with a chuckle. Athena glared at him more seeing him muttering to himself and chuckling. He cleared his throat.

"Are you teaching me or not?" He asked, trying to be serious now.

"Not until you tell me why you're here flirting with me when your wife's expecting, " she asked stubbornly using her teacher tone. The thought that he was married made her all the more pissed off.

"My wife? I don't have a wife. I'm looking for one," he said with a smirk. Athena looked at him with confusion.

"Then who's pregnant with your unborn children?" She demanded. She would go crazy with this man!

"Oh that? Haha, no one's yet pregnant with my unborn children. I'm just looking for a wife to...," started Troy but Athena threw the easel and sheet and shut her virgin ears.

"Stop, stop. I've got it. Shall we go down and paint?" She asked, picking up her stuff when he stopped, his grin deepening. Athena noticed the sinful dimples on his cheek. This man was too much. She'd have to take a dip in holy water after he left. If possible she'd make the class as boring as possible so that he never came back again.

"Hey! Why can't we have the class here? This place is peaceful enough, " he suggested. Athena's eyes widened with horror. No way! It was too peaceful. With granny not able to climb the steep stairs of this house, she would be stuck all alone with him. That was too dangerous. She was an engaged woman.

"No, no, it's better to go downstairs, " she said, already rushing down before he could say a word. They went to the dining table and sat down spreading the drawing sheets and the other accessories. Granny switched in the TV in the living room to enjoy her favorite show.

"Okay, draw me a shape. Any shape. We'll go ahead from there. I'll teach you how to draw something step by step from a basic shape, " she told him. Troy was too interested in shapes.

He sucked his lower lip between his teeth and concentrated on his favorite shape in the whole world. "Done," he said after a few minutes, showing Athena his drawing. Athena's cheeks turned crimson seeing the shape that he had drawn, a part of his anatomy with which he was planning to produce his unborn children.

"What shape is this? Draw some basic shape," she told him. Thank God she taught only little children.

"This is a basic shape. It's an elongated oblong," said Troy. Athena sighed. There was no point arguing with him.

"Okay, let's draw a basket of zucchini out of this," she said, picking up her pencil and instructing him step by step how to go about it. The sketch came out well and she had to admit that he was good at picking up new things effortlessly.

"Wow, this is a masterpiece, " said Troy, admiring his drawing.

"Yeah, it's good considering it's your first effort," said Athena.

"Now we'll learn the shading and I'll teach you all about pencil pressure," she told him, instructing him how to shade his picture. The way she instructed, there was a distinct 3-D effect to the drawing and it looked good indeed.

Suddenly Athena's mobile buzzed with an incoming call from Brandon. She accepted the call.

"Yes Brandon, " she said into the phone. Troy's attention was immediately piqued and he stared at her, listening to her intently, nibbling on the mozzarella sticks and fresh lemonade that granny had served them.

"Hey Athena, I wouldn't be able to pick you up tonight. Can you just take a cab please?" He asked.

"Is it necessary for me to go?" She asked. She and Brooke weren't close at all then why would she have to loose her sleep over her first fitting? In fact Brooke hadn't even asked her to be her bridesmaid, so she wasn't indebted to her in any way.

"I don't have time to answer that. Do whatever you want, okay? Bye, " said Brandon, disconnecting the call. Athena stared at the mobile phone thinking about whether to go to Brandon's house or not.

"Who's Brandon?" Asked Troy, looking at her with avid interest. Athena looked up at him blankly. She had forgotten about him completely.

"He's my fiancé," she mumbled out. Troy looked at her with disbelief.

"He's quite rude to you. If you would have been my fiancé, I wouldn't have left you alone for a minute," he told her, looking suddenly serious. Athena gaped at him, as a blush stained her cheeks. She looked away.

"Then who would have run your business empire? Be practical," she told him but he shook his head.

"Being busy doesn't mean you'll neglect your loved one. That's a wrong notion. If you really love someone, you can make time for her even if you're neck deep in work," he told her. Athena liked what he just told her but she was helpless. Her relationship with Brandon wasn't based on love. Brandon didn't love her so why should he take out time for her?

"Class is over for today. I don't think you need to learn anything more," she told him, wrapping up.

"I'll see you day after tomorrow, Athena. Till then think of what I just told you," he said, getting up and going towards the living room. He kissed granny on her cheeks and thanked her and left. Athena heaved a sigh of relief. Relief for what? Relieved that he went away? Or relieved that he would come again?