Flashback by Ella Ardent Page B

lonely for long.
     
    * * *
     

 
    Chapter Four
     
    Athena made a hasty trip to her apartment,
relieved to find that there was no one apparently watching it. Its
contents were untouched. She packed quickly, because there was very
little she needed.
    She changed her clothes, choosing a classic
suit and heels instead of her usual outfits. She coiled up her hair
and used more muted colors for her make-up, going to elegance
instead of drama. She was surprised to see an echo of her
grandmother reflected in the mirror.
    Her glimmer of an idea began to take
shape.
    She arranged to meet Julius at the closed
restaurant, the one where she had originally interviewed Joanna.
The building belonged to Athena, although it was registered in the
name of one of her corporations. There had been a developer
interested in the property for a long time. As soon as the Plume
was closed and there was a good chance of Athena’s official assets
becoming inaccessible, Julius had followed their plan and called
the developer.
    Athena was very glad to have such good
partners. Rex had kept his word to destroy the files, even at risk
to himself. Julius always remembered plans that had been made.
    She would miss them both.
    The street was quiet when she arrived, but it
was never busy in this part of town. The quiet had been much of the
property’s appeal. A spring wind restlessly chased some litter down
the street and Athena asked the cab driver to return in half an
hour for her.
    There was no sign of Julius, but she hadn’t
expected anything different. He’d be inside. Sure enough, the door
was already unlocked.
    Athena stepped inside and surveyed the space.
The inside had changed. Some walls had new holes in them, and the
electrical box was open. Athena assumed this was from the buyer’s
inspection, yet more proof that Julius had worked fast. There were
heavy lines drawn on the floor and a pair of sawhorses supported a
sheet of plywood as a makeshift table. Julius was spreading the
contracts there. He glanced up and quickly hid his surprise at her
changed appearance.
    Then he held out a fountain pen. “All you
have to do is sign here and here.”
    Athena smiled. “Always traditional,” she said
with appreciation. The pen was warm from his hand, and she cast a
glance over Julius. He was dressed in a neat pinstripe suit, his
tie perfectly knotted, his Italian shoes polished to a gleam. A
gold watch shone beneath the French cuff of his shirt and she
noticed, as always, that he wore no rings.
    “Thanks for coming out here to meet me,” she
said as she took the pen.
    “You know I would go anywhere for your
convenience,” he replied and Athena glanced up with surprise.
    “Anywhere?” she echoed and Julius colored a
little before he looked back at the contract.
    “You’ll notice the terms of payment are very
prompt,” he said, sounding brusque. “I used your Swiss account for
the deposit, assuming you’d be able to access it more readily.”
    “You’re right, as always,” Athena murmured as
she scanned the contract for the sale. She moved closer, knowing
she didn’t imagine that he caught his breath. Once again, she was
surprised by how powerfully it affect her to notice her influence
on others. She liked people, and she found the people she liked
sexy.
    Athena realized that she could never commit
to just one man or woman. Variety was the spice of her life. She
asked Julius a few questions to clarify the details, then began to
sign where he indicated.
    “Thanks for being so proactive, Julius.”
    “It was always your insurance plan,” he said.
“I just hoped I was right that it was time.”
    “With the Plume in ashes?” Athena smiled at
him. “Come on, Julius. You had no doubt.”
    He smiled back at her. “No. But I thought you might have doubts.”
    Athena signed the last page with a flourish.
“No. It’s over. And maybe it was time for it to be over.” She
looked around the space. “I’d originally thought to establish