CHAPTER 17: GO BACK

Athena lay down on the bed and was about to sleep when her phone vibrated. She looked at the caller ID and found an unknown call. She knows it will be CamZ, so she reaches for her phone and answers it lazily.

"Any update?" She asked.

"Yes, I just gave you a call to let you know that I'll forward these files to Boss Z." CamZ knows that this mission is crucial to Athena's revenge. She admired her determination and self-control. Boss Z doesn't want to give this mission to them because he is concerned about Athena. From the beginning, their boss knew that the only reason Athena joined the organization was because of her desire for revenge on the Baltazars.

She traced him secretly. When she found out about Benjamin Baltazar's nephew, Anton Baltazar, she insisted on taking the mission and promised to restrain herself and collect the information they needed. Although she can fight and use guns, she won't dirty her hands for these people. She never killed anyone though she fought hard for her safety and escaped on every mission.

Their job is to collect top secret information from their targets. After they got the information they needed, their boss handled the rest. She usually doesn't care about what will happen to their target after they get what they need because they know that the information is highly kept and executed secretly due to its sensitivity and for the country's security. But this time, she wants to see the outcome of the uncle and nephew.

They committed many crimes, from stealing other people's property to murder and illegal drugs. An eye for an eye is not her ideal retaliation. He killed her parents, and she doesn't want him dead like them, but she wants him to experience life in isolation with no contact with the outside world. Torture him with their ghosts until he loses his sanity.

"Okay, thank you," she was tired and wanted to take a rest before Marco returned.

"Well, good night," CamZ sensed that she was tired, so she let her go although she still had something to discuss with her. Athena needs to report with them, but it seems like the man was holding her up.

"Good night," she said while massaging her feet. What made her tired was not the climbing from one balcony to another but the heels she wore earlier. She never wears heels though she wears dresses. She always pairs it with sneakers or flat sandals.

At the ballroom

Anthony Perez returned to the ballroom to personally report what he had seen in the room to Marco. He walked in his direction and saw that Marco was busy discussing with other people in business. He waited until Marco excused himself, and Anthony followed him. Marco entered the lounge and sat on the couch. Anthony stopped in front of him.

"Sir, the woman was nowhere to be found." When he saw Benjamin Baltazar's embarrassing appearance in his hotel room, he was perplexed on how that strange woman could tie Mr. Baltazar.

"Okay," Marco was astonished when he saw the pictures that Anthony sent him. This woman is not simple. 'Bea..' he thought. That woman's back view is similar to her Bea, who was sleeping in their room at this moment.

"I'll head to my room," he said. He stood up and left the lounge without looking back. Anthony knew what he needed to do, so he followed him out and returned to the ballroom.

Marco went straight to their room and saw Bea sleeping on their bed. He then went to the bathroom and took a quick shower. After drying his hair, Marco did not bother to wear his robe and lay down beside Bea. He pulled her closer to him and kissed her head before he closed his tired eyes. Though Marco has his eyes closed, his mind thinks of the woman in his arms and the woman's back in the ballroom. He had some suspicion, and he regretted not taking the initiative to get closer to that woman. He would likely find out if his doubt made sense if he did.

Athena felt his movement but chose to ignore him. She's too sleepy to be bothered.

Athena woke up early the following day. She put her robe on and went to the balcony with her phone. Athena closed the sliding door behind her to have some privacy and not disturb Marco in his sleep. To her surprise, she found CamZ on the other balcony next door.

Drinking her coffee, CamZ winked at Athena, who was in shock in front of her. She changed the room last night, and it happened that the room next door to where Athena was staying was vacant. Their balconies are only six feet apart.

"Good morning, pretty woman," she teased. CamZ has been up since five o'clock in the morning. She knows that Athena will be up early today too. And she would like to surprise her.

"What happened to your room?" She said in a low voice. She was about to give her a call to talk, but apparently, she moved next door. Their distance is not that far, so they can talk to each other in a low voice.

"I thought of changing rooms, so I can easily talk and see you," she said, still teasing her.

"Well, you're right," she agreed. It is more convenient for them to see each other this way.

"So..." She paused, contemplating if she should ask.

Athena got curious about what was bothering her but opted to wait on what she will say.

"Boss Z wants you to go back," Boss Z treated all of them as his children. But everyone knows that Athena is the one closest to his heart.

Athena was saddened when she mentioned Boss Z. He encouraged her to grow generally like other teenagers. Revenge is not the answer for everything. But she was so persistent. He made her a promise that she won't dirty her hands because of her desire for vengeance. He then trained her to be a spy.

They live next door with their target, which happened to have a daughter of the same age. He brought her to act like her daughter in a foreign country. His purpose is to let her see what her profession will be in the future.

When she had given free access to their target's house, he instructed her to open her eyes and ears. She was not comfortable spying at first because she felt like betraying her new friend. But he made Athena understand that their job is to collect vital information to protect their country and people.

"I understand," she said sadly. She's torn between Marco and the organization. Before she met Marco, she already had a plan to leave the organization and be free. She got what she needed with Anton Baltazar. But apparently, there's still Benjamin Baltazar and is the real culprit with her parents' demise. Athena's mind is changing into staying with the organization until Anton and Benjamin get their punishment for all their wrongdoings to her family and others.

"I'll let you know if I make my decision," her heart is breaking with the thought of leaving Marco one of these days. She knows she has to go one day, but she doesn't want it to be sooner. She wants to drag the day to be with him longer.

"Okay, we'll be waiting for you," CamZ knows that she fell in love with the man she was with when she was in the restaurant. Though she has never been in a relationship, she knows the feeling of leaving someone you love.

It's been her dream to be a spy like her mom since she found it out. She felt heartbroken when she had to run away from home to escape from his dad's house. Still, she wants to follow the path that her mom walk-on.

"Thank you," Athena replied. She turned to her side and watched the rising sun.

"You can always count on me," CamZ knows that she has to remind her of that each time.

"I know." She replied without looking at CamZ.