Troy And Athena (Forbidden Love Series Book 15)

Troy Wagner and Laurence Lennard's friendship dated back to kindergarten. They've been together through thick and thin yet in all these years their friendship had grown stronger and stronger. Now at twenty-six they were more like brothers than anything else. Troy could lay down his life for his best friend. In fact, he had done exactly that when they both underwent a traumatic car accident. For years they were in a coma in a hospital, recovering together. Laurence's parents didn't care much for him and thus it was Troy's parents, Terence and Sally Wagner who helped the boys recover.

The Wagner's were highly successful Certified Gemstone dealers with a worldwide clientele. Their company TW Gemstones collects rare gemstones, and sells consignment gems from their significant collections to jewelers all over the world. They work on collections which have everything from exceedingly rare faceted stones, to fine jewelry-grade gems, to difficult to find cabochons of agates and jaspers. With both Terence and Troy having a background in geology and mineralogy, they share a passion in this field which had made them the most successful gemstone dealers in the whole of Nevada. Troy and his dad actively handle the business, meeting numerous gem miners, master gemcutters and suppliers worldwide. They select fine quality gemstones exhibiting superior color and cut to offer their customers a great buying experience.

Laurence on the other hand was a successful jeweler specializing in diamond jewelry. His jewelry brand Sparklez was doing well and he was on the verge of opening a chain of stores in New York, Los Angeles, Paris and London. Having completed his graduation in Jewelry Designing from New York's prestigious FIT institute, his designs had already carved a niche for itself in the world of fashion.

Thus at twenty- six, both boys were highly successful billionaires, established into their chosen fields. While Laurence was reunited with his wife, Arianna and daughter, Lauren after four years, Troy had never found anyone whom he was even remotely interested in. After trying for the last two years, Troy's parents left all hopes of ever getting their son to settle down. He hardly liked any girl!

"Is he into guys? I mean, is he into Laurence?" His mom asked his dad when their last attempt at getting him to meet their friend's daughter failed. Her husband gaped at her.

"No, I don't think so. Laurence loves his wife, Arianna. Troy treats him like a brother," said her husband.

"I know that but why doesn't he like any woman?" Asked his mom.

"Relax Sal, you're overthinking this. He's only twenty-six and is too involved with the business. He hardly has time for himself. With what Laurence had been going through, Troy was upset too," said Terence Wagner.

"Now that Laurence is settled, let's see if Troy can find a girl for himself," said his mom.

So they waited but all Troy did was work and spend his days at Laurence's new house with his family. Arianna had an accident and was recovering in her room. Laurence had employed an attendant for her. Their housekeeper Sandra looked after a three year old Lauren and was more like a family member to them.

Troy lazed at their house after work, it was his favorite place to go to to relax and catch up with his best friend. "Now I wish to get married. I wish Arianna's best friend would be available, " joked Troy with a grimace as he sipped his whiskey. He had met her best friend, Isabella Harrington at their wedding and had been joking about it ever since. Troy was a fun-loving guy and loved a good laugh all the time. He joked, teased and all the positivity around him made everyone like him easily.

"She's taken, dude, remember?" reminded Laurence, knowing fully well that Troy wasn't serious. He hardly was.

"Then who? Your receptionist?" Asked Troy.

"She's engaged, man," grinned Laurence.

"Your PA then?" Asked Troy with a chuckle.

Laurence rolled hod eyes."She's aunt Sally's age, dude!" He groaned.

"That leaves me with only Sandra, " chuckled Troy.

"She'll kick you out without food if she heard you," chuckled Laurence.

Troy groaned and fell on the sofa. "Are you trying to break my furniture? That sofa can't bear your weight, " chuckled Laurence at his friend's 6 feet 5 inches height and muscular frame. With piercing hazel eyes and dark chocolate brown hair, he was a handsome dude yet here he was still looking for a girl to settle down with! He was too picky for his own good.

Troy laughed. "I can't help it. I love lazing on your sofa," he said.

The doorbell rang and Laurence's neighbour, Mrs Bridgette Harrison, who was a sixty year old woman came in to check up on them.

"So tell me what happened with Arianna?" Asked Troy with concern. Laurence told him everything about her accident and what she had gone through in the last four years that she had been away.

The doorbell rang and Laurence went to get it. It was Bridgette Harrison's grand daughter, Athena who came to get the keys to the house from her grandma.

Troy stared at her, hypnotized by her. She was exquisitely beautiful like some Greek Goddess with dark cascading hair, deep chocolate brown eyes, svelte figure to die for. She might be returning home from some party he thought staring at her delicious figure clad in a pale golden gown. 

 

A million harps started playing in his head as he imagined her on the beaches of Greece wearing a flowing garment that Greek Goddesses wore! Ah! She fitted the description perfectly! She would be his dream girl. A strange excitement coursed through his body. 'Found her at last!' He thought in his head and sat watching her, mesmerized by her.

"Please come inside Athena. Won't you meet my wife and daughter? Your grandma's upstairs with them," Laurence said to her. He had met them when he was having the house renovated. She came inside shyly and her eyes fell upon a dumbstruck Troy.

"This is my best friend, Troy Wagner," said Laurence, discreetly nudging Troy to bring him back to earth. "Troy my neighbour, Athena Harrison," introduced Laurence.

"Whoa, Greek mythology unites here in Laurence's house! I can't believe it. Where were you for so long?" Said Troy. Athena blushed and rolled her eyes at this strange creature. 

"I'm out of here," she said running away to search for her grandma.

"Seriously bro? That was all you could come up with on your first meeting with a girl? She'll run for the hills of Greece next time she sees you," said Laurence.

"What can I do? I'm already bowled over by her beauty, " said Troy with his hand on his heart.

"Shut up dude. You're into my neighbour of all the women in the world? " asked Laurence.

"Did you forget the saying, 'love thy neighbour'?" Asked Troy with a grin.

"But she isn't your neighbour, " said Laurence. This guy was too much. He wouldn't let him live in peace. If he had an affair with Athena, her grandma would blast Laurence.

"It's the same bro. Your house is mine. Your neighbour is mine too," said Troy. Laurence rolled his eyes.

"Stop right there. Nothing else is yours," he told a grinning Troy. Athena took the keys and ran out through the back door much to Troy's disappointment and Laurence laughed heartily at him.

"Your Greek Goddess has escaped, " he laughed more.

"Do you have binoculars, bro?" Asked Troy with eagerness.

"Hey, why do you need binoculars?" Asked Laurence curiously.

"I'll see where she had rushed off to," chuckled Troy. Laurence rolled his eyes.

"Really bro? You fell that hard for her already?" He asked with disbelief.

"Yeah, I think it's love at first sight," said Troy, clutching his heart. Laurence looked at him with confusion. It was difficult to say whether he was serious or joking.

"Are you seriously interested or what?" Asked Laurence.

"I've never been more serious in my life, " said Troy with a twinkle in his eye.

Later Athena's grandma left and they had an early dinner. Troy kissed Sandra's hands for preparing the most delicious dinner, making her very happy indeed.

"God bless you boy!" She said, happy to see him relish her cooking so much.

"Yes Sandra. Bless me so that I get my goddess living next door," he said.

"What? You're into Athena of all the girls in the world?" Asked Lisa Lennard, Laurence's younger sister who was around ten years younger to them. Even Troy loved her like his own sibling since he was the only child of his parents.

"Yeah, why? You know her? Tell me about her, please. I'll take you shopping Liz, " said Troy, with puppy dog eyes.

"Bro, forget her. She already has a boyfriend, " informed Lisa. Troy's face paled and the harps stopped playing in his head and he felt an immense need to throttle and murder someone's boyfriend!