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Shadow of deceit

Athena Stanford is a 21-year-old orphan living in the bustling city of New York. She is jobless and lonely, but she catches the eye of Caleb Martin's, a charming and successful businessman. After a whirlwind romance, Caleb confesses his feelings for Athena, and they become a couple. However, their happiness is short-lived when Caleb develops a nervous problem that requires an expensive operation. Determined to help the man she loves, Athena takes up various jobs to earn money for Caleb's operation. Her journey leads her to the Elite Restaurant, a prestigious establishment owned by the wealthy and powerful Liam Steele. During her time working at the restaurant, Athena encounters Luke Steele, a notorious playboy known for his perverted interests. Luke becomes infatuated with Athena and starts pursuing her relentlessly, despite her clear rejection of his advances. One fateful day, Athena stumbles upon a beautiful ruby pendant and impulsively decides to sell it to cover Caleb's medical expenses. Unbeknownst to her, the pendant actually belongs to Liam Steele, who values it dearly. Determined to retrieve his precious possession, Liam seeks out Athena, but rather than taking her as a slave as expected, he becomes intrigued by her resilience and independence. Meanwhile, the Steele family faces internal turmoil when Logan Steele, Liam' brother, discovers that Luke has betrayed him by sleeping with Logan's fiancée, Jaden Ravenwood. Seeking revenge, Logan sets his sights on Athena, using her as a pawn to inflict pain upon Luke. With the help of his loyal bodyguard, Flynn Martin's, and devoted right-hand woman, Sandra Scott, Logan begins a dangerous game of manipulation, which further complicates Athena's life and fuels tensions within the Steele family.

FamodunOluwasegun · Adolescente
Classificações insuficientes
49 Chs

Chapter Six

"You knew about this Flynn". I whispered but stopped when Luke stared at Athena in concern, I turned towards her direction and she was actually crying, I guess I was too lost in curiosity I didn't notice her.

Luke and I rushed to her, I cleaned the tears from her cheeks because Luke couldn't get close to her, he was feeling guilty.

"What have you all turned me into?". She stuttered to me, this wasn't what I wanted. Now she think it was all a planned work.

"Athena, it wasn't Luke". I said trying to explain but she continued sobbing even louder.

"You are triplets, you three manipulated me". She said to me.

"I have nothing to do with that,all I did was get you here and I want my gem, nothing else. If you don't bring it to me that clearly meant you belong to me which you didn't, so you are mine and Logan would pay for touching you!" I said, Flynn moved closer to me like he wanted to explain himself but I wasn't ready for any of that.

"Not a word from you Flynn". I said before stomping out of the room I turned around and Luke was behind me.

"Luke you can't face him". I said pushing him backward a little.

"And why can't I?".

"Because you are at fault, me and you know what you did that warranted to all this happening". I said to him .

"Logan shouldn't have done this still, Athena was innocent when he took everything away from her". I still can't believe Luke was feeling pity for Athena.

"Are you really in love with Athena?" I asked.

"I don't know Liam, she does things to me no woman have ever done and I felt so hurt when I saw her crying earlier ". He replied. This bastard was in love and he had to pick Athena of all the woman he had wasted around with.

"You are in love with her, let me take the fight to Logan. Stay with Athena and make her trust you, that should be your first step in getting through to her". I said to Luke who gazed back at me for a little while before nodding.

I can't let him follow me to Logan or else this fight would get more heated than it already seems and all this because of a lady.

I asked around for where Logan could possibly be and the dumbass was still in the VIP bar, he was supposed to leave after doing that.

I walked towards his vip session and he was laughing out loud with few of his friends, I walked up to them and he stops laughing staring at me.

"Brother". He called out, like we usually called ourselves any of that. The others stared at me, I know they couldn't identify me because of my mask.

"Logan you better have a good explanation for what you did". I said ready to deal with him in the presence of his friends if he doesn't reply me sincerely.

Liam Steele POV

"What do you mean?". Logan asked dismissing all his friends and now leaving the both of us alone.

"Athena" I mentioned and he immediately frozed with the glass on his hands.

"You know her?". He asked a bit confused.

"Why did you touch, she belongs to me?". I asked, I can't say Luke love her because Logan won't admit his mistakes that way, but claiming her would be my only chance.

"That's impossible, she can't belong to you". He said dropping his wine glass on the table after emptying it.

"Do you know the consequences of touching what belongs to me?". I asked with a devilish smirk on my face. So he could understand I was being darm serious.

"She doesn't belong to you but Luke". He opposed.

"And that was why you slept with her against her will?". I said moving closer to him so I could easily aim at him.

"You are lying to protect Luke, you know what Luke did to me and I am only paying him back for everything and now you want to support him because it's him" he did it and is not even feeling any bit of guilt for Athena.

"And besides she enjoyed every bit of it and was actually the one who insisted on most of the things I did with her". What was Logan turning into?.

"She belongs to me and how did you get to her?" I asked Logan. I know Flynn was involved in all this but it would easier to punish Flynn with Logan words.

"I had my way ". He whispered.

"Logan!!!!". I yelled making him startled at my reaction.

"All I wanted to do was get back at Luke for what he did and to be honest I have no regrets whatsoever, because I did what I thought was right ". He replied still sipping his wine like my words had no effects on him.

"You took everything from Athena was that right?," I asked Logan who chuckled.

"What did she have that I took away, she was already finished and an orphan with no future, she was the perfect person for the job. Next time Luke won't make such mistakes anymore". Logan won't feel sympathy, I never knew he was this hurted with what happened years ago.

"Why couldn't you confront Luke about it, Athena belongs to me!".

"She doesn't, that I am sure of. You are only doing this to protect Luke which isn't right, that bastard has no pity when he steals something away from you. I am only learning from him".

"Flynn would pay dearly for disobeying me, I hope you would he happy about that and the minute I find out you are trying to talk or get close to her, that say you started what you can't end". I warned before leaving his presence.

What can I possibly do to Flynn, I was about to enter thee hotel session when I saw someone familiar on the news.

Sarah, she was shot on the leg in an hospital after posing to be a doctor, why was she there. I know she is very malicious but what could possibly link her to posing as a doctor and getting shot?.

I rushed into the room where Athena was and to my surprise she was having a conversation with Luke, smiling.

I cleared my throat to make my presence known to them and Flynn.

"Liam, did you find Logan". Luke asked, and Athena stared at me innocently.

"Flynn, can you give me a full report on where you picked up Athena, when and how come Logan got to her". I requested from Flynn.

"She…". He stammered.

"The minute you lie, you would see what I am capable, I understand you know the kind of things I am capable of". I said to Flynn who was quiet, I have dealed with him so many times I can't he still favored over me. After everything I have done for him he still wants to betray me.

"I am sorry Liam, he made me do it". Flynn pleaded, I knew he was behind everything that happened.

"Logan did it". I said to Luke who stood up immediately.

"And you are this calm about it!!" Luke yelled.

"She still owes me I can't hate my brother fir a girl who sold something important and priceless from me". I said, I Know it would hurt her feelings but it's the Truth.

"You know how important she is to me". Luke said.

" Well not to me and I hope you aren't forgetting the fact that she is now my slave". I said to Luke. Why was she being so quiet, she should at least say something.

"Did you shoot someone, Athena?." I asked Athena, something about that news just didn't seem right.

"I didn't mean to, she was sleeping with the guy who made me sell your gem". She said.

"I would buy her from you". Luke offered, I stared at Athena for a while, she was beautiful and I know I had no interest in her but I find her interesting and she still has a huge future ahead of her and staying with Luke, or marrying him would hinder all that.

"I can't sell her to you, she is already mine". I said to Luke.

"But you have no use for her".

"I can't sell her to you, I would train her in our business ".

"You can't put into that kind of business, you know how dangerous it can be".

"Luke, there is nothing you can do about it. She is all mine and I would teach her everything she has to know, did you even see the news ".

"What does the news has to do with this?". Luke asked and Athena seemed more nervous.

"This naive girl you are trying to protect shot Sandra and a patient". I pointed out the true fact to him, if Athena was well trained she could do a lot of things in our line of job and Luke would be an hindrance to her talent.

"She wasn't in her right state of mind". What was wrong with Luke, if he keeps showing his true feelings for Athena out in the open, he would only make Athena able to manipulate him.

"But she knew what she wanted. It's final, you can't tell me what to do to my slave so back off, I already warned Logan to stay away from her so you should do the same despite the fact that you love just for my sake please let her go ". I said turning back at Flynn.

"You don't work for me anymore, I think you would be safer with Logan ". Flynn knelt on the floor immediately with his both hands together.

"Punish me instead, I couldn't say no to Logan you know I can't say no to any of the Steele triplets ". Flynn pleaded.

I stared at Athena who seemed like she was still on the verge of tearing up.

"Athena doesn't seem to forgive you from the looks of it and you almost tried to cause a conflict between us by obeying Logan commands despite knowing the consequences".

"I couldn't say no, please forgive me. Sarah too was in all of this and she got shot" Flynn said, I bit my lips in disappoinment. I really wanted that to be between the both of us, after seeing them on the news and investigated and found out he was Athena sweetheart who betrayed her, but all this was really Logan plan and he fell for it.

"What do you mean by Sarah, Sarah is a doctor". Athena asked while Luke just stared at her confused.

"The Sarah we know isn't a doctor" Luke said making matters worst.

"Who is she". Athena asked.

"Athena, you don't have to know about it. Just let it be dont hurt yourself more ". I said. But she walks past me and towards Flynn.

"You were the taxi driver?". Athena asked, was she just realizing everything.

"I am sorry". Flynn whispered.

"You took me back to the hospital and followed me as Liam guard, you made me go to that bar". Athena continued.

"If Sarah was a fake it means, she seduced Caleb and I was meant to come back at that exact time". Athena said now tearing up than usual.

Luke wanted to go to her but I pulled him back.

"We can't hide it from her let her figure it all out herself, that is the only way she can be stronger ". I whispered to him.

"Everything was a plan work by Logan ". She continued her hands now in a fist, she must really be angry.

"I was used and manipulated by Logan, everything that happened to me was all a fake". She said slapping Flynn on the face, she has potential I know what I saw in her, she would be a good fighter.