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But it runs through Athena Godwin’s, and as I enter her office at Medusa Enterprises, I’m very aware of that fact.
When my sister-in-law lifts her eyes from her laptop to stare at me, the look on her face is as if she smells shit. But then again, that’s how she always looks at me. She examines me from head to toe, no doubt assessing if my designer clothes are fashionable enough, if the extra pounds I gained in the past months are concealed well enough, and if my appearance is worthy to enter Medusa as a Godwin, even if I only hold the name by marriage.
Athena and I could actually pass as blood sisters since we both have dark hair, even darker eyes, and our features are similar. Godwins have an exotic, mysterious, almost vampiric appearance. Every single one of them has eyes that haunt you, leave you silently begging for mercy as they captivate you as theirs. Their company name—Medusa Enterprises—is fitting since every member of the family can almost turn you into stone, incapable of moving from their clutch until they say you can.
Athena and I are both curvy and muscular. But I go to the gym to fit into the ballgowns and to burn calories I consumed at last night’s party. She works out so she’ll never need a man to kick someone’s ass because she can always do it better. We may look the same, but nothing is similar between us. Athena possesses something I don’t… Command.
I’m diamonds. She’s daggers.
I attend banquets. She pays for them.
I sleep with the wolves. She howls at the moon right before she shreds her prey.
Athena is a goddess nobody wants to fuck with because she has the devil backing her bet.
She swipes at the corner of her mouth as if she just drank blood from someone’s neck. “Last I checked, you weren’t on my calendar for the day. Is there something I can help you with?”
“I know you’re probably busy,” I begin as I take a seat across from her. I’m trying my best to give off the confidence needed for me to be in this room.
Her eyes narrow. “I am.”
Buzzing with regret for even coming, I know I have to continue on. No turning back. “I was hoping I could talk to you about something important.”
“You couldn’t have just texted me?” She looks over my shoulder through the glass windows of her office at her secretary. I didn’t stop to ask permission to enter, and it’s clear by the way Athena glares through the window that her secretary is in deep shit for not playing pit bull.
Knowing I’m running out of time, and Athena’s patience will only last so long, I ask, “Have you spoken to Apollo at all?”
“Of course I speak with my brother. We run Medusa. We can’t exactly do that without speaking.” She releases an audibly loud sigh. “Can we just get to the point, please? I have a board meeting I need to prepare for.”
“Our marriage is…miserable. For the both of us. And I was hoping you could help me. Speak with your father about allowing a divorce.”
She smirks, closes her laptop, and leans back in her leather chair. “And you thought I’d help you, why?”
“If anyone can make Troy Godwin change his mind on anything, it’s you.”
Her smile remains, but there is a sinister darkness in her eyes. “You knew the rules when you spent an ungodly amount of Godwin money on a wedding dress, dry chicken, flowers, wedding photos with fake smiles, and champagne. Divorce is not an option. A Godwin will be a widow, but never sign divorce papers. You know this.”
I nod. “I do. I did. But…” I take a deep breath. “We’re not even friends anymore. We’re enemies.”
“Enemies can make the best lovers.”
“Surely, you want to see your brother happy. He’s not.”
“Then make him happy.”
“It’s not that simple.”
Athena rubs her temple as if my very presence is giving her a migraine. “It is. Suck his dick, spread your legs, continue going to those charity luncheons you attend, spend his money on expensive clothes and jewelry you’ll only wear once, and shut the fuck up. Pretty damn simple if you ask me.”
When I open my mouth to argue, she cuts me off.
“And before you spout words of love and romance to me,” she begins, rolling her eyes, “know that you’re speaking to the wrong person. I will not approach my father with anything regarding you, because I agree with the family dictate. When you said those vows, you agreed to be a Godwin until you’re in your grave. It’s our rules, and we didn’t exactly hide those terms from you. So stop being a rich, spoiled wife who wants to run away with half of everything like the other rich bitches you lunch with.”
“I don’t want anything. I’ll leave with the clothes on my back if it means—”
Athena stands, places her hands on her desk calmly, and says, “This conversation is over. Sorry you wasted your time coming downtown to discuss this with me. But if you don’t mind—”
“Athena, please. Your family doesn’t even like me. You didn’t think I was good enough to marry your brother to begin with.”
