Troy And Athena (Forbidden Love Series Book 15)

The next day, after being busy the whole morning, Troy finally found the time to visit Laurence in the evening. He had been waiting for this time when he would be able to see Athena again, so with an excited stride, he walked into Laurence's house, looking around for his object of desire.

"She's in Lauren's room," said Laurence seeing him scan the whole place for Athena. Troy's grinned at him. No wonder Laurence was his best friend, he understood everything he did. He never had to say anything explicitly.

"Oh, that's bad," said Troy, sitting with Laurence in the living room with a drink.

They talked about their day at work when Laurence's phone buzzed with a call. He got up to take his call and Troy saw his opportunity and went upstairs to Lauren's room to see Athena. He could hear her sweet and melodious voice from outside the room. He stood at the door of Lauren's room watching Athena interact with Lauren. The white crepe top clung to her body, making her look too curvaceous and delicious. The black pencil skirt left her never-ending legs look so creamier that he was dying for a touch.

"Uncle Troy?" Squealed Lauren making Athena instantly look up straight into his eyes. Time stood still as Troy held her gaze, challenging her to look away.

"Hi, " she greeted him nervously but he quirked an eyebrow at her when she didn't call him by his name. "Hi, Troy, " she said, her cheeks coloring a little at the scrutiny.

"Hey Athena, can I join your class?" He asked her, walking into the room and opening out his arms to little Lauren. She ran into his arms and hugged his legs. Troy took out a little toy car from his pocket and handed it to her. She squealed with joy and pulled him down to kiss his cheek. Athena forgot to answer as she watched their interaction with interest.

"Do you like it cupcake?" He asked Lauren.

"Yessss, it's the best mini car everrr! Thank you, uncle Troy," said Lauren, looking extremely happy. Lauren settled down to resume her class while Troy's attention went back to Athena.

"You didn't answer me, Athena, " he reminded her.

"Umm, what will you do here?" She asked him, awkwardly.

"I can watch you," he told her making her eyes widen. Troy chuckled. "I meant that I could watch the two of you draw and paint, " he explained. He wanted to hit his head for that slip of tongue.

"Sure, make yourself at home," she shrugged, trying to look unaffected.

"This is home, " he told her and Lauren giggled when he sat beside her, opposite Athena, much to her horror.

He watched her like a hawk, without saying a word and Athena wanted to hide somewhere away from his constant, unwavering gaze. Lauren excused herself to go to the washroom and Athena at last looked up at him.

"Please stop," she said in a frustrated voice but it had the opposite effect on Troy. Instead of stopping his stare, he looked at her with more interest.

"Stop what?" He asked with a smirk.

"Staring, what else?" She pointed out, feeling like escaping and hiding somewhere.

"Why? Is it making you nervous?" He asked her with a sly grin. Athena rolled her eyes.  She would never tell him the truth to boost his ego.

"No. It's making me feel like an insect under a microscope, " she pointed out.

"Oh, really? I have a solution to that. Teach me everyday and I'll stop disturbing you," he told her. "I'll pay you whatever you ask for," he informed with a smile.

"My fees are fixed and so are my hours, Troy. I teach only three days a week. For kids, I charge 15 dollars per hour and for adults, it's 35 dollars per hour," she informed him.

"Then get used to this," he shrugged, getting up. Lauren arrived to resume her class and Troy left the room after ruffling Lauren's hair.

His plan failed and now he had to find newer options to meet her regularly. "Why are you sulking man?" Asked Laurence with a laugh. Troy glanced at him briefly.

"She won't teach me daily," he told his friend and Laurence laughed out loud.

"She leaves at 7 o'clock for Merryhill Elementary School and returns at 2 o'clock, " informed Laurence. Troy's face broke into a grin hearing her schedule.

"Thanks bro," he told him. They chatted for sometime when Athena walked down the stairs with Lauren following her. Her class was over and after meeting Arianna and updating her, Athena was about to go home when she saw Troy's hot stare fixed upon her.

"Done for today, Laurence. She enjoyed her class, " said Athena, ignoring Troy. Laurence smiled.

"Thanks, so the next class will be day after, right?" Asked Laurence. Athena nodded and with a brief smile at Laurence, she left the house.

"She didn't even smile at me," sulked Troy more. Laurence laughed.

"You need to try harder, dude," said Laurence with a smile.

Athena sighed as she reached home. The whole day Brandon hadn't called and she didn't know what suddenly happened.  He always called once a day or so to grumble about his bad day.

The next morning, she decided to visit the garage first to enquire about her car before going to work. It had been four days already and yet they hadn't delivered her car. As she walked out, her eyes popped out seeing a sinfully gorgeous Troy standing beside his car in a navy blue suit, all ready to go to work. But what was he doing here at this time? Didn't he have to go to work?

"Good morning, Athena, " he greeted her with a smirk seeing her shocked reaction.

"Good morning Troy. May I ask what you're doing here so early in the morning?" asked Athena with dread.

"I'm here at your service, my Goddess of War. I can't let you take the transport meant for commoners. Your chariot awaits you," he said with a wave of his hand to indicate his luxurious car. Athena curbed the smile trying to break out on her lips.

"I'm not yours," she corrected him.

"You'll soon be," shrugged Troy. Athena looked at him with disbelief.

"I'm engaged Troy, " she pointed out.

"To a man who cares nothing about you," said Troy

"He does care. He's been my best friend since kindergarten," Athena told him, trying to walk past him. "I'm getting late. I'll take a cab." Troy caught her arm.

"Get into the car, I'll drop you," he told her, his eyes determined as ever.

"I'll be going to the garage to check up on my car first. You'll get late, " she told him.

"No, I've got all the time in the world. Just tell me the way," he informed her, pushing her into his car. Athena had no choice. She climbed in gingerly into the passenger seat and fixed the seat belt. Troy climbed in to the driver's seat and looked at her. She told him the way to the garage and he started his car.

"So, you're marrying your best friend? Are you in love with him or what?" Asked Troy, curiously. She didn't look like she was in love with that Brandon guy yet a deep feeling of intense jealousy coursed through his whole body.

"Yes, I'm marrying my best friend. What's wrong with that? I prefer not to answer your other question," she told him. Troy said nothing. He knew the answer already. He drove her to the garage and had a talk with the owner who was apologetic about the delay and immediately promised to deliver by lunchtime.

Afterwards, he drove her to her school. "I'll come down for my class today," he reminded her.

"Okay, bring your stationery, " she told him. Troy shook his head.

"I won't waste time buying it as I'll be coming down straight from work. Why don't you provide me and include the cost in your fees?" He said, glancing briefly at her. Athena shrugged.

"Okay. Stop, we've reached. Thanks for the help at the garage as well as for dropping me. Bye," she said, climbing out of the car.

"Just thanks won't do. Extend my class for another hour or more if you're so thankful," he suggested, much to Athena's displeasure.

"I'll see about that," she shrugged in a noncommittal manner.

"I'll look forward to seeing you tonight, " said Troy with a cheerful smile, eager to start the day with the hope that it would end soon and he would be able to spend two hours with her.

Athena went towards her school entrance fully aware of Troy's attention on her. She couldn't figure out why he was wasting his time on her when she told him clearly that she wasn't available. Her granny called at noon to inform her that her car had been delivered and the bill amount wasn't much. She heaved a sigh of relief and proceeded with her classes.

However, a strange excitement filled her heart and mind the whole day and she knew that it had nothing to do with the delivery of her car or the little salary hike that she received at the school.