Dark Revenge Of An Unwanted Wife: The Twins Are Not Yours! - Chapter 224

Chapter 224: The Secret Room
For a second, Athena didn’t know what to say or do. She sat, dazed, confused, just watching the president, who had a thin smile on his lips.

Athena immediately felt a surge of anger rise within her, a desperate urge to slap that smile away, to dash the president’s head against the wall. Maybe then, he would take this seriously. Maybe then, he would show his cards, and not keep wasting her time.

Did they put a clown in this seat, or what? She wondered, exhaling softly afterward as she relaxed back into the chair. If he wanted to play rough, then he should play rough. If he wanted to reason with her, well, he should go ahead with that. Why the back and forth? And why did she feel this was all a game to him?

Athena held back from cussing out loud; she hated games—especially those where she wasn’t winning, where she wasn’t the initiator. She pressed her lips tightly together as she watched the president saunter gallantly to his seat, acting as if he had no care in the world, as if he weren’t aware that she was irritated.

She couldn’t help but wish that Gianna had followed her here. Maybe things would be different; her best friend always had a way with people.

“How do you feel, Doctor Athena?”

What now? Athena thought, struggling to hold back a scoff. She didn’t know how long she could keep it in, however, how long she could respectfully remain calm before the highest official in the country.

“I asked you a question, Doctor Athena…” The president continued after a moment of silence.

Yet, Athena said nothing. He thought he could irritate her, push her up against the wall? Well, he should prepare to have a taste of his own medicine.

President or not, she wouldn’t tolerate nonsense!

She smiled widely thereafter, when the president’s jaw slackened for a nano second before it righted itself again, when he realized she was playing the game too.

“I see that’s how you want to play it,” He said, nodding his head slowly, before standing up again.

Athena didn’t respond, though she raised an eyebrow when the president smiled.

“You live up to the research, Doc. That’s good; you can hold your own ground. Follow me.”

Athena’s brows knitted together as she watched the president walk to the eastern side of his office, where a huge painting of the country’s slogan and history was hanging.

“Aren’t you coming?”

“Coming to what? You want to walk straight into a…” Athena paused, looking at the wall, her eyes widening slightly when she saw some telling signs on the creamy surface: there was a room behind that wall!

“I see you are as observant as your friend said,” The president remarked, still smiling.

Athena’s eyebrows furrowed further. “Friend? What friend?”

The president shrugged. “The answers you seek are on the other side of this wall.”

Still, Athena didn’t stand up. She wasn’t about to follow a strange president into nowhere. She had her family, her patients, and her companies to worry about.

President George raised his hands. “I promise you will not be harmed. After all, you are the key to curing this disastrous disease ravaging the country. What would be my gain in killing you?”

Athena shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe to put me and my cure away so that you and your friends can make money off your sick citizens?”

The president’s mouth fell open in surprise for a moment before he laughed loudly, holding his belly. Athena thought she had never seen a president so free and loose. Wasn’t he taught some etiquette?

“You really think I’m behind the Gray disease?” President George asked, still laughing.

“Maybe,” Athena replied, finally getting to her feet.

Worst came to worst, she had sent a text to Aiden. He would come to her rescue if things went south.

“Let’s head in then, Mr. President. Let’s see the secret you are hiding.”

The president nodded, smiling, and turned back to the wall. Tapping some spaces on the surface, which would look ordinary to a bystander, he pushed the painting to the right. As the door began to open, he stepped back.

Athena tsked as she saw a hallway emerge—neat and well-lit. “Well, who would have thought there was a secret passage in the presidential office?” She mused as she stepped into the space, followed by the president. The walls closed behind them.

“It is known only to the presidents and the secret operations, mainly for escape should there be a need for that. But this is an important meeting, and I don’t want to be interrupted, nor do I want any case of leakage,” The president explained as he led the way. “I’m sorry for earlier… I was just bored.”

Athena said nothing to that. She rather looked around the secret passage, amazed at the well-constructed passageway.

She inhaled deeply as the corridor started to widen. Very soon, she would meet the secret operations personnel, along with whoever else would be around for the meeting.

A few seconds later, they emerged into a wide space, a larger office more akin to a boardroom, featuring a long table with comfortable chairs around it. Already people were waiting.

“All these are secret operations agents?”

The president shook his head. “All except one. There is Minister…”

“Minister Thomas, Minister of Health. I know him. He helped clear my name when things had gone south at the hospital.” Athena walked straight to the man who stood as she approached, offering him a firm handshake.

“Pleased to see you here, Athena. I see the president has acquainted you with everything now…”

Athena shook her head. “No, he hasn’t.”

She turned to the other people clad in black suits—who were seated around the table—to greet them, when she stopped short, her jaw dropping in shock. “Aiden?”

Her grip tightened on her bag as a wave of betrayal washed over her. “Wha…” She shook her head in disbelief, especially when Aiden said nothing to her, instead focusing on the president.

So, Athena turned to the president. “When you mentioned my friend, that was him, right…”

“Yes, but…”

“What is he doing here?” Athena cut in sharply, her emotions flaring. “Since when has he been working with you?”

Athena’s mind raced as she tried to recall any time Aiden had let it slip that he was working with the president and not with her. And for what? Money?

She shut her eyes as anger mixed with pain gripped her heart. He knew almost everything about her, if not everything. He knew the location of the lab and how her research worked, to an extent. Since when had he been betraying her?

Athena fisted her hands, refusing to tear up in front of the people before her. Instead, she glared hotly at the president, ignoring the tremors that rippled amongst the agents.

One of them, a hefty man who approached her from the side, seemed ready to correct her errors or put her in her place. Athena wasn’t sure, but she knew she wouldn’t back down without a fight.

“One more step, and you are a dead man,” She threatened, ready to use her bag as a weapon.

The unknown hefty man halted, looking at the president quizzically.

“Stand down, Colt. Everything is fine,” The president said.

Colt pursed his lips, glaring at Athena with narrowed eyes. He had read about her, but so what? She couldn’t disrespect his president.

His jaw slackened the next second, his fists balled tight as Athena called the president by his name. What was wrong with this woman?

“George, aren’t you going to answer my questions?”

Colt expected the president to call her to order, especially since her friend had remained silent since his arrival, but the president merely sighed.

“Athena, if you had allowed me to speak, you would have known that Aiden was hired today. Yes, we’ve been trying to recruit him into the team, but he only sent back a positive reply today, and I’m guessing it’s because he got wind of what we are about to do here. If anything, that man is as loyal to you as anyone could be.”

Athena bit her lip, glancing at Aiden, who was now looking at her with disappointment reflected in his eyes. His next words confirmed her thought.

“You really think I would betray you? And for what? Money?”

Athena sighed and ruffled her hair, growing tired, which caused her bun to become messy and loose. “I’m sorry. But you can’t blame me.”

“You would have at least let the president speak.”

Athena opened her mouth and then shut it. Yes, she should have. She had let her emotions run their course again. “I’m sorry, Aiden.”

She turned to the president. “I’m sorry, Mr. President.”

President Walls waved her apology away. “That’s okay, Athena. And the offer still stands—call me George.”

Athena chuckled softly. “I think I’ll leave the offer pending for now. Can we get to the meeting proper?”

“Of course…” The president said, pointing to the only vacant seat at the table. “Have a seat, Athena. Welcome to the secret operations unit.”