The Divorce

Chapter 10

I could tell that Gabriel's grandmother definitely did not like me, the way she kept looking at me, every time she did that her knife was also in the air and I felt like if Gabriel wasn't in the middle of us, there was a good chance she would stab me with it.

But why?

The woman glared at me, if I looked anywhere, so I kept my head down staring at the slab of beef on my plate. It looks unappetising. Why did the guys get fish and I get beef?

I cut into the meat, trying a small piece, lathering it in the gravy.

"So Athena how are you doing?" Richard asked. 

"Oh Athena, like named after the goddess?" I asked, trying to join the conversation. Athena turned to look at me, her grey eyes staring past my soul, once again her knife in the air as she pointed at me.

"I wasn't named after the goddess, the goddess is named after me." she said, with every word the knife inching closer in my direction. 

"Oh,  yes of course." I said, trying not to roll my eyes at the old woman. Did she realise that she was eight four and that Athena the goddess was probably much older if she was still alive. 

How blaśe of me to think that this great goddess was named after another actual goddess, bow down queen.

Did she have to stare at me like that?

"So what do you do? Apart from depend on my grandson to give you money." she waved the knife again. Every time she lifted that knife up, I could see my life flash before my eyes, it didn't help that the it was a very sharp steak knife. 

"It's my job?" I said, Gabriel paid me because it's my job, I looked at Gabriel, starting to get irritated with why his grandmother was integrating me. Generally I stuck by the respect your elders rule, but from the moment I entered the room, the old woman did nothing but glare at me. 

What did I do? Was it because I was late? It wasn't my fault.

Something, or someone kicked me under the table.

Richard? I look across at Richard who was mouthing something to me. I had no idea what he was saying. I leaned in closer, thinking i could hear him better but he wasn't even saying anything. He was simple just mouthing something.

I mouthed back 'what' because i had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.

Athena started speaking in Greek, and I could see Gabriel nodding from the corner of his eye, before he casted me a look and looked back at his grandmother shrugging and muttering something back in Greek.

Was there a language he didn't know how to speak?

The courses continued, and so did my annoyance of why I was being asked the most bizarre questions. Like I said, I was generally nice to my elders, but this was one elder that was just getting on the wrong side of me. 

It was finally the dessert course, or so I thought I would be free but the plates were cleared and more food was brought out. This time a very long platter of fruits, cheese, crackers and more dessert wine. 

"That colour is horrible on you."

"Thanks, I wore it just for that." I said as I took another sip of my twelfth glass of wine. How was I not on the floor already. Perhaps the anger and annoyance in me was keeping me going, man I had to get paid more for this.

A warm hand wrapped around my wrist, it was strong, yet the touch was gentle. I looked over at Gabriel, how seemed to have a concern look on his face, but surely not. Gabriel was never concerned, he was just angry. It was my turn to be angry tonight through, I could have just ordered room service and eaten fries in my bed.

Oh wait, this drafted place doesn't have room service or hot chips, just crisps, packet boring crisps. 

"What?" I asked realising he was still holding my wrist.

"I think you've had enough dear."

I scoffed shrugging his hand off when I realised something, did he just call me dear? Nope, that was just me. Maybe he was right, I think I did have too much.

I downed the rest of the fruit wine, whatever it was, it was gorgeous. I had to give it to the old woman, she had exquisite taste in wine.

"Where do I pay?" I asked. I wanted to leave, so whilst I asked the question, I turned around and left, "Excuse me." I said realising I hadn't excused myself, but the waiter just looked at me confused. 

"Yes how can I help-," I didn't let him finish as I rushed up the very confusing stairs, definitley regretting this drafted dress. I couldn't fucking breathe.

I struggled into my room, kicking off the dumb heels that Richard made me wear and slammed the room door shut.

"God I hate this dress." I unzipped the back of it, my body, finally free from the binding material burst into it's natural state as I flopped onto the bed staring at the ceiling. I think the wine is finally catching up, for I could see stars on my ceiling instead of them being in the sky.

Perhaps they were lost, perhaps they were not. I closed my eyes, the sensation of floating coming into my mind, oh no, I know this feeling. I should sit up and drink water, yet my body didn't want to. It was far too comfortable on this mattress and I just wanted to grab all the layers of the blanket and snuggle in. 

I let myself float, as everything was finally going away from me. I didn't care, I didn't have thoughts in my head, I was just floating in the water. The water was warm around me, almost like it was hugging me and I rolled over to my side when I heard a voice.

"Are you awake?"

"No." I muttered, knowing that voice.

"But you replied."

I sighed opening one of my eyelids, struggling against the bright light in my room. I could see Gabriel, the door half open, as he stood in the door way. He had lost his jacket and the top two buttons were undone, which meant dinner was definitley over.

"What do you want? I hope you're going to be paying me overtime every fucking hour I'm here like you agreed." I muttered. I closed my eye as Gabriel walked into the room.

"Why can't you just use your normal door, isn't it weird to go through the bathroom." I kept talking. I felt the light suddenly disappear, his body blocking out the lights.

"Your phone is ringing."

"Let it ring." I said. I had no intentions of working at whatever time it was. The wine was definitley getting to me as I had no idea what he said next. I felt something grabbed my upper arm, and not gently as I was forced to sit upright.

"Ow! Can you not man handle me Gabriel." I snapped opening my eyes. 

His grey eyes were narrowed at me, ah, that familiar face was back. He had something in his hand.

"Drink it."

"Poison?" I joked as I reached for the water glass. I didn't want to drink it, I had no intention to drink it but the moment the cold water was against my lips, I drank it like a thirty camel in the hot Sahara dessert.

"Yum. Is there sugar in this water?" I asked. 

Gabriel grabbed the empty water glass turning around walking towards the main door. 

"Your dress is unzipped." He said.

"Yeah I know, I need to breathe right?" I scoffed, tell me something I don't know. The lights went off and I was finally collapsed back onto the bed closing my eyes.

"I quit." I muttered. 

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