Page 49 of The Seducer
“But I feel like a fraud and if Finn finds out, he won’t have any respect for me.”
“Why do you care what he thinks? Finn is more concerned about himself than he is with you or me anyway. As long as you don’t get in his way when you leave here, he’ll be fine.”
“But that’s the problem, Athena. The Council asked that I keep an eye on him and make sure he stays on track.”
“And what track would that be?”
“Setting a great example for the Nmen, of course. Apparently, his last visit to the Motherlands involved a lot of interactions with women, so this time the Council has come up with a schedule to keep him busy with things related to his profession as a doctor.”
“Interesting – what’s on his schedule?”
“Look at this,” Hans said. “Now that we’re spending five days here, some of it will have to be cut out. Today he was supposed to visit a hospital and meet with his peers to discuss approaches to diseases in the Northlands and here in the Motherlands,” Hans said. “And then there’s a visit to a retirement home, a scientific research center, a fertility clinic, and a place of reflection.”
“Sounds very serious.”
“Yes, but some of the other Nmen are doing lighter stuff like working on community garden projects.”
I was done eavesdropping on them. If Athena and Hans were hiding something from me, I wanted to know what it was. Two minutes later I stood fully dressed, with my arms crossed and eyes locked on Hans. “What is it you don’t want me to know?” I asked.
Hans got all flustered and pointed to the stack of pancakes on the table. “Are you hungry? How about some breakfast?”
I grunted. “Don’t try to distract me, it’s not going to work.”
“But I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Hans stammered, his face radiating guilt.
“Look, you two geniuses shouldn’t be discussing things I’m not supposed to hear when you know I’m upstairs.”
“We thought you were sleeping,” Hans defended himself.
“I was, until I woke up and heard you two whispering about something that would make me lose all respect for you. Well, guess what, I don’t have much respect to begin with, so it’s not like you have a lot on the line here.”
Hans plunked down on a chair, his shoulders drooping.
I turned to get answers from Athena and my blood started pumping faster. She was goddamn gorgeous this morning with her long hair cascading down her shoulders and those green eyes more enchanting than ever. Bits from our conversation yesterday came back to me, and I shifted my balance when I thought about how I had lied to her. The truth was that if I could make love to a woman as amazing as Athena every night, I wouldn’t look at another woman.
“Tell me what you two are keeping from me,” I demanded, a bit harder.
Athena angled her head and took three steps to stand next to Hans. “Good morning,Finn.” Her voice was soft, but the look in her eyes told me I had to go through her, if I wanted a piece of Hans.
“Good morning,Athena; now tell me what this is about.”
With a swing of her hand, Athena gestured for me to take a seat at the table. “Would you like a bowl of fruit with your pancakes?” she asked, and after arranging everything in front of me, she sat down, lacing her hands together in front of her on the table. “I’m surprised that you are asking to hear Hans’ secret. Does that mean you are willing to share your own?” Shewas looking straight at me with a no-bullshit attitude.
Narrowing my eyes, I chewed on my food, and looked from her to Hans and back again. “My secrets have nothing to do with you two.”
“And what makes you think that Hans’ secret has anything to do with you?”
Hans had his elbows on the table now and his face hidden in his hands.
“Because I heard him say that he didn’t want me to know.”
“Yes, well, that’s the problem with eavesdropping.” Athena’s voice was calm but stern. “Sometimes you hear things that you’re not supposed to hear.”
I had picked up a glass of orange juice, but her comment made me slam it down on the table. “Cut the crap and just tell me already.”
Hans jumped in his seat, and started babbling like I had threatened to cut off his fingers or something.
“I can’t take this level of hostility,” he said in a high-pitched voice. “I appreciate you trying to keep my secret safe, Athena, but I fear Finn will never give up pressuring us until we tell him.”
