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CHAPTER 7
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Mine to Lose CHAPTER 8
Athena' POVAfter work and my meetings. I don’t return my father’s call or even my mom’s, instead I have Harold my personal chauffeur drives me home, to my parent’s place. The house where I grew up. I take deep breathes practicing the breathing technique I learned in therapy to remain calm and composed. Because my parents always have a way of getting to me.I’m met at the foyer by the house manager Melinda, someone who has been in the family since I was little. She basically raised me.“Miss Athena, I didn’t know you were coming. I could have made you your favourites, you look so skinny. Have you been eating?” Melinda asked with concern lacing over her word.“Mel I’m fine and don’t worry about me I’ve been eating, I’m probably skinny because I miss your cooking you know nothing measure up to that.” I say and she smiles brightly.“Where are they?” I ask referring to parents.“Mrs Castellanos is upstairs getting ready for dinner and your father is in his study.” Melinda says.“Okay than
Mine to Lose CHAPTER 9
Athena's POVI wake up with my mind scattered, having barely slept, and I really don’t want to deal with anyone today. I call my P.A., Pamela, and ask her to reschedule all my meetings for tomorrow. I’m taking the day off. My father might not be pleased about it, but at this point, I don’t care. For once, I want to be a regular 23-year-old—spend the day with my friends, relax, and do whatever it is that 23-year-olds do.I text my friend Jess letting her know I have a free day so we can hang out. I also reply to Nick, asking if we can meet up to talk. I plan to be clear with him about where I stand, letting him know that I’m only interested in a friendship and nothing more.I debate on whether to text Cassian back, yesterday I gave in and liked the picture of the painting he sent me. But I still unresolved thoughts about us, I don’t know much about him, yet we’ve had sex with him twice. I wasn’t proud of myself, I never imagined I’d get involved with a stranger like this.Jess is more
Mine to Lose CHAPTER 10
Athena's POVI hated the way Cassian looked at me when he saw me with Nick; he looked at me like I had pierced his heart with a sharp object. I understand how it must have looked, as if I were on a date with Nick, and I don’t blame him for feeling hurt. I wanted desperately to explain that I was with Nick only to end things.When I got home, I tried calling Cassian, but he didn’t answer. I considered going to see him but decided against it, unsure if he’d be at his studio and not knowing where he lived. Instead, the next morning, I stopped by the art studio before heading to work.I’m greeted by the striking curly haired woman that had let me in the other day. She was staring at me the same she did the other day, like she couldn’t it was me, like she was seeing a ghost.“Hi.” I said feeling completely awkward.“Hi, oh my God. I was staring, I’m so sorry.” She said apologizing profusely. “I just can’t believe you’re real.” She adds smiling nervously.“Real?” I asked now confused by her
Mine to Lose CHAPTER 11
Athena's POVWhen I get home, the first thing I do is hang the painting Cassian sent me in my bedroom. I step back to admire it, then take a photo of the artwork now displayed on my wall. Adding a brief message with my home address and a “For Next Time” note, I send it to Cassian.I watch the message show as it’s delivered and then shows read in a matter of seconds. I then see that he’s typing, and I wait for his reply, but it never comes. Deciding to occupy my brain because at this point, I was obsessing I open my laptop bringing open my Pinterest board.I was raised in a world infused with fashion due to my mother’s status as a fashion icon, I developed a deep passion for style very young. While fashion initially served as a bonding activity with my mother, it soon became a genuine interest of my own. Despite my occasional desire to run away from my mother’s interests being forced down my throat I fell in love with it. Now as hobby I spend much of my time curating the perfect outfit
Mine to Lose CHAPTER 12
Athena's POV“I can’t believe you just did that,” I said, still processing his unexpected intrusion as he watched me with a wide grin.“Why not? I needed to see you,” he replied casually, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. I walked back into my bedroom, with him following close behind.“What are you doing here? You ignored me for days,” I said, frustration edging my voice. I was annoyed with both him and myself for forgetting my irritation.He moved closer as we spoke. “I could never ignore you, even if I wanted to,” he said, his words not quite making sense, but at that moment, I didn’t care.“Never do that, again.” I said then I close the distance between us and, on tiptoe, with my hands on his t-shirt, pull his mouth to mine. He is shocked, and then—with a quiet grunt of surprise—his hands go to my hips, and he pulls me closer. His mouth is soft but growing more determined by the second, and I’ve never wanted anything more. His low groan vibrates in his chest as
Mine to Lose CHAPTER 13
Athena's POVAround 11 p.m., I sneak out of the house. Everyone had already retired to their bedrooms. Cassian was waiting for me by the beach, just a short distance from my house. He was dressed in all black, as usual, with his dark hair tousled and bright with a hint of the night’s sea breeze. His fingers were streaked with paint, indicating he had been busy creating.As soon as he saw me approaching, his grin widened. In all the times I’d seen him, his happiness was always so genuine and effortless. It was exhilarating to be in the presence of someone so cheerful, and I couldn’t help but wish that his joy remained a constant fixture in his life. The thought of him being unhappy, even for a moment, was devastating to me.“You came,” Cassian says, his smile lighting up his face.“I said I would,” I reply, returning his smile.“What do you want to do?” he asks, the sound of the ocean gently crashing around us.“I don’t know. What do you want to do?” I ask, watching him intently.“With
Mine to Lose CHAPTER 14
Athena's POVI don’t sleep well, tossing and turning all night as I replay my conversation with Cassian over and over again. By the time morning comes, I’m already up and ready before my father even has a chance to wake me for our tennis match with his friend and his son.My father is surprised to see me so prepared. “Is something wrong?” he asks, noting my earliness and my mood.“I’m alright,” I assure him, and we head to the country club.Wesley Summers, my dad’s best friend, is a regular fixture in our lives. He’s a typical white, guy in finance and, I believe, owns a couple of banks. He has always been respectful toward me, treating me like his own daughter, so I have no issues with him. His son, however, is another story.Josh Summers, a few years older than me, has always been a jerk. He acts as though he’s superior to everyone and expects everyone to fawn over him. And the annoying part is he hasn’t grown up since high school always acting like a frat guy.We meet them on the
Mine to Lose CHAPTER 15
Athena's POVThe party is shaping up to be a typical affair—elegant but predictably tedious. My mother’s meticulous preparations are evident in every detail.My mother has spent years navigating the treacherous waters of high society, a world where her entry was never guaranteed. My father, despite being from one of the most prestigious families in the States, chose to marry outside of their well-heeled circle. My mother, a Brazilian from São Paulo, was raised in poverty, and at just sixteen, she stepped into the world of modelling to support her family. Her beauty, as my maternal grandmother used to joke, was their ticket out of poverty. She worked incredibly hard to build a life for herself before meeting my father, and I’m immensely proud of her for that.When my father proposed to her, his family was outraged. Not only was she from a poor background, but her career as a model, with her face plastered on billboards and magazine covers—including some with scantily clad poses—was con
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