Bruised Ego

The phone call took fifteen minutes.

Athena made sure of that. 

She smiled when she saw Fiona's red scrunched face and hard eyes, when she noticed Fiona's quaking limbs. 

She wondered if she should fake a call, maybe stretch it for twenty minutes, to see how long Fiona's facade would last. 

Fifteen minutes didn't seem long enough again. 

After all, hadn't she knelt for hours in the rain, under the strict orders of Fiona and her mother?

So, she had the right to make another long call! 

However, she had some work to do. She also had to pick her children from school.

"How are you feeling, Fiona?"

Fiona stamped down the urge to flare and cuss. She rather sighed, as if she was near the gates of death.

"Athena, I feel sick, to be honest. I'm sorry for kneeling in the first place. I should have asked for your permission. Can I stand? I think I will die if I stay in this position longer."