Troy And Athena (Forbidden Love Series Book 15)

After Troy left, Brandon sauntered into the apartment to look for Athena. She was about to sit down to eat her breakfast when Brandon walked into the room with his eyes glued to the food. Athena rolled her eyes. 

"How do you always end up beside my table whenever I'm having breakfast?" She asked with a chuckle. 

Brandon stole her food a little. "I can't help myself, I just love your cooking," he told her with a shrug. 

"You didn't tell me why you left Camilla and came here, Brand," said Athena. Brandon looked a little uncomfortable. 

"Are you hiding something from me?" She asked him with concern. Brandon looked up at her. 

"We'll talk about this in the evening, Athens. Right now I think you need to go to work and so do I, " said Brandon. Athena nodded. 

"I'll call you when I'm back just like I did yesterday, " she said, getting up to clear her breakfast. Afterwards, they locked the apartment and went downstairs to the parking area. As Athena drove away, Brandon followed her outside towards his car. To his surprise, the crazy woman again drove out after Athena to stalk her again. Brandon quickly climbed into his car and followed her out. He had completely forgotten about her this morning. Tonight for sure, he would talk to Troy about this. 

He followed Athena and the strange woman all the way to Athena's art gallery. However, the woman stayed inside her car waiting even after Athena had gone inside. Brandon sat in his car patiently to see what she would be up to. 

After fifteen minutes, the woman climbed out of her car and walked towards the gift shop just opposite the art gallery. A man wearing a black hoodie stood there watching her approach. The woman went up to him and both started talking. Brandon discreetly managed to click a picture of the two. He was more worried after seeing the huge sinister looking man with whom the strange woman seemed to be having an argument. Who were they and why were they after Athena of all people in the world? The man left after a few minutes and the strange woman waited inside the car. Brandon didn't have any choice but to wait and watch. The woman sat quietly, waiting and Brandon had no idea what she was waiting for. Then one of the security guards went outside to the cafe down the road maybe to get something to eat while the other guard walked inside the gallery. 

The woman seeing her opportunity jumped out of her car and climbed up the stairs of the art gallery. Brandon was apprehensive of her intentions. He too got down from his car and wearing his sunglasses, he followed her towards the art gallery. Would she now grab Athena? He had to save her. The woman however, approached the receptionist and handed her something, before turning and running out of the gallery. Brandon kept his distance and watched the painting adorning the walls of the reception room to avoid  bumping into her. She climbed into her car and sped off. 

Brandon went up to the receptionist. "Hi, I'm Brandon Kingston, Athena Harrison's best friend. What did that woman give you just now?" He asked the woman. She looked up at him suspiciously. 

"She gave me a note to hand over to Athena," said the woman, getting up from his seat to hand the note over to Athena. Brandon panicked. He had to see the note before Athena did. 

"You can give the note to me. I'll hand it over to her," he said casually. The woman shook her head. 

"Sorry, can't do that, " she shrugged.

"Fine, I'm calling the police since that note could be a threat. That strange woman is a criminal who's after my friend's life. Since you won't cooperate, I think, you can be answerable to the police," said Brandon, taking out his phone from his trousers pocket. The woman looked scared. 

"No please, I don't want to be involved with the police. Here's your note," said the woman, handing the note over to him. Brandon took it from her and thanking her, asked for Athena. She gestured towards Athena workstation and Brandon walked out of the reception room towards Athena's cubicle. He opened the note when he was out of sight of the receptionist. The note indeed was a threat note as he had anticipated. He read and re-read the message scribbled on it.

Stay away from what's mine! If I see you with Troy again, you will be responsible for the consequences. Troy's mine and I don't share. I can do anything for him. 

The note didn't specify what the consequences were but the implications didn't sit well with Brandon. He had the bad feeling that whatever the consequences were, it had something to do with that weird looking hoodie guy. He might be a hit man or someone who would carry out the consequences that were mentioned on the note . Brandon didn't want to take the risk. It was necessary to inform Athena right now about the dangers that were looming right in front of her. He strode down the corridors towards Athena's cubicle.

"Hey Athens! When do you get your lunch break?" He asked casually. Athena's eyes dropped out seeing him at her workplace. 

"Brand? What the hell are you doing here?" She asked, looking at him with disbelief. Brandon smiled and shrugged.

"My lunch break starts in five minutes, " informed Athena. 

"In that case, let's go to the cafe down the road. I need to talk to you," said Brandon. Athena nodded and wrapped up her work and stood up. Picking up her handbag, she turned to Brandon and nodded.

"Let's go," said Athena. They walked out of the gallery towards the cafe. 

"You didn't tell me what you were doing here? What is it that you need to say,  Brand? You came here all the way from your office to tell me something? Couldn't it wait till evening?" Asked Athena, looking puzzled. 

"I didn't go to work yet," shrugged Brandon. Athena gaped at him wordlessly, not understanding anything that he was saying. They entered the cafe and settled down in a corner booth after ordering their food.

"Why didn't you go to work? I'm so confused," said Athena. 

"You remember the day I arrived here at your house? You guys let me stay at the room below yours?" Asked Brandon. Athena nodded, looking more puzzled. 

"Of course, I remember, " she said. 

"Well! I couldn't sleep that day since you guys upstairs were raising a tornado with your noises," said Brandon with a small smile as Athena looked horrified. 

"So I walked towards the window to grasp a breath of fresh air. It all started then. Athena, what I'm about to tell you is very serious indeed. Listen very carefully. That day, before I could open the window, I saw a strange looking woman at the apartment on the tower opposite yours. She had a pair of binoculars stuck to her eyes. She was observing you and Brandon. She went inside only when you two stopped," said Brandon, making Athena blush with embarrassment. 

"Oh my, she was watching us? I told Troy to draw the curtains close but he wanted bright daylight," said Athena with horror. 

"That's not all, Athens. There's more. I didn't pay her much heed that day but nevertheless I thought of informing you two to be careful the next time. However, when I visited you the next morning, I completely forgot about it when I saw the same woman stalking you at your workplace," said Brandon. Athena gasped with horror, sitting up rigidly. 

Brandon stopped for a while as their food arrived. He took a bite of his sandwich. Swallowing it, he continued. "I followed the two of you. She looked determined and there was a strange and sinister look on her face which I didn't like. She tried to go inside your gallery but fled the moment she saw the security guards. It was then that I realized that she might be up to some mischief," said Brandon, eating his food. Athena was aghast and shocked at what he had just told her. 

"Then what happened?" She asked slowly. 

"I informed the guards to call me if they saw her again in the vicinity. The whole day I was alert and waited for them to call but they didn't, which meant that she hadn't come back. I visited you in the evening wanting to tell you about it when we started talking about Camilla and I forgot everything else, " he shrugged, finishing his food. 

"I came today to tell you about it but you were about to leave and Troy was already gone. When you drove away to work to my surprise, she again followed you here and I followed you both. I saw her meeting a sinister looking hoodie man here, gesturing towards your gallery. She waited for the guards to go and then entered your gallery to hand over this note for you to your receptionist. I followed her and managed to get it. As I had anticipated, it's a threat note. Here see for yourself, " said Brandon as a scared looking Athena took the note from him with trembling hands. 

"Oh my God!" She whispered with horror after reading it.