Athena’s smirk widened as she defiantly stared him down, her arms crossed as she leaned back in her chair. "Feel free to try. Let’s see who hits the ground first."
Another male ssmate intervened, restraining the angry man and forcing him back into his seat. With a scoff, he dismissed Athena’s challenge. "You? Just because you found someone totch onto, you think you’re superior to us all now? Ha!" He sneered, letting out a disdainfulugh. "Do you honestly believe that your sugar daddy or whoever you’re with would dare go up against our families? They’d discard you in a heartbeat."
Athena shrugged casually. "Well, you won’t know unless you try," she retorted.
Hera couldn’t suppress a chuckle at Athena’s nonchnt demeanor, though she recognized it was hardly the appropriate time given the tense atmosphere in the room. Despite being outnumbered 17 to 2, they remained unfazed. Athena knew they were in a secure environment; if things escted, they could always call security to intervene. Besides, Athena was more than capable of holding her own in a verbal sparring match against any of them, collectively or individually.
Annoyed by Hera’s chuckle amid the room’s tension, a female ssmate spoke up in a condescending tone. "Hera, we all know you probably settled for being a kept mistress after Alexi dumped you for the princess of the Briley. So what, just because you gained some poprity on social media, you think you’re superior to us?"
Hera refused to back down, fully aware of their attempt to emotionally wound her by bringing up Alexi and his infidelity. "I never imed to be better than any of you. But sometimes, actions speak louder than words," she responded calmly, her charming smile momentarily captivating the attention of the male ssmates, causing them to momentarily forget their anger.
The girl who spoke caught Hera’s implication and erupted in anger. "What are you insinuating?! Are you suggesting we’re uneducated?!"
"I never said that, but if the shoe fits..." Hera shrugged, adopting Athena’s nonchnt attitude, which only seemed to irk them further. The enraged woman’s eyes welled up with tears, prompting the other females to console her. They attempted to unite against Hera and Athena, but their words seemed to fall on deaf ears. The two remained unaffected by their verbal assault, leaving their detractors growing increasingly frustrated.
Amidst the palpable tension, Alexi was ushered into the room by one of the staff, offering a momentary respite from the heavy atmosphere. As he stepped inside, his gaze immediately found Hera, seated serenely amidst the tumultuous environment. He couldn’t help but notice how the eyes of the other men in the room lingered on her face and body with unmistakable desire.
He was instantly incensed at the sight of someone eyeing his woman. Marching straight to Hera’s table, he took a seat beside her, determined to assert his presence. The scent of her floral perfume enveloped him as he settled into the empty seat, causing a lump to form in his throat. He adjusted his posture, trying to maintain hisposure amidst the unexpected surge of emotions.
He attempted to diffuse the tension by steering the conversation towards their achievements, drawing upon his ability to read the room and navigate social dynamics, honed from his interactions in the entertainment industry. His adeptness allowed him to seamlessly integrate with the others at the table. Whenever someone aimed a snide remark at Hera, he swiftly intercepted, deflecting it and shielding her from any potential harm. Observing this, the rest of the table found his behavior peculiar, considering the well-known history of Alexi and Hera’s breakup and theplexities that entailed.
The men at the table understood Alexi’s reluctance to let go of Hera, and many silently supported his decision. After all, who among their peers didn’t have a secret lover or two? They envisioned a future where they, too, would choose to hold onto someone like Hera—a wildflower, both beautiful and strong. Now that Hera was free from Alexi’s grasp, they saw an opportunity to test their luck.
Reflecting on their high school days, they couldn’t deny the allure of Hera. Her beauty was unmatched, and she had been the object of admiration for many throughout their school years. This fact had only be more apparent with time.