The Key to the Oleander

Chapter Six - Ace

As Athena walks down the driveway I can't help but stare and admire her. She's wearing a simple red dress and black short heels and as she gets closer I notice she's wearing red earrings as well.

I open the door for her before getting in the car and turning my keys, starting the car.

"Where are we going?" She asks once I start driving.

"I've seen your place, so I'll show you mine." I flick the left blinker on.

"You have your own house?" She asks in surprise.

"Mansion." I correct her, turning the steering wheel. I look over at her and see her staring down at her dress with regret.

"You look gorgeous, Athena." Her face softens, and I can tell that brought her comfort.

"Ace..." I can barely hear her voice, she says my name so quietly.

"Yes, love?" I watch as she fidgets with her red painted nails. My heart skips a beat at the suddenly new nickname.

"My mother introduced me to another man that I could possibly marry and I met him today." I try to stop the urge to pull over on the side of the road and demand to know every little thing about him but as hard as it is, I continue to drive, hiding my panic.

"Who is he?" I ask, trying to sound as casual as I can.

"Miles Clarke." She cringes as she says it. At least I know she isn't exactly happy with it either.

"That one actor's son?" I ask in disbelief. She nods and begins to laugh, a real laugh. Not one of those fake laughs from all the girls I've met that think having a 'cute' laugh will make me like them more.

"What?" I ask, confused.

"He kissed my hand and it was all slobbery." She lets out after she stops laughing. I can't help but smile, her smile is contagious, her emerald green eyes light up as she laughs. She's absolutely beautiful.

"What?" She asks. I realize I've been staring at her. I shake my head and look back at the road.

"Nothing." I see her frown in the corner of my eye but she stays silent and looks at the road in front of her.

I park when we arrive before glancing at her. She's looking at the mansion in complete awe as if she doesn't live in a mansion herself. I find it quite amusing.

She follows me silently up the driveway and inside, her face lights up even more.

"You act as if you don't live in a mansion yourself." I say what I've been thinking.

"My parents never have been the type to decorate." She doesn't look at me, instead she looks and walks around freely.

I hear her gasp from another room and immediately rush over to her. I relax when I realize that she has only found my husky, Sky.

She leans down, cupping Sky's face in her hands. Sky licks her face, making Athena pull away, giggling.

"I've always wanted a dog. I didn't expect you to be a dog person." She breaks the silence, petting Sky's back.

"Well, surprise." As Athena's about to answer, her phone begins to ring.

She frowns. "It's a random number." She answers nonetheless and puts it on speaker phone. Thank the Gods she did.

"This is Athena, right?" Athena immediately tenses up.

"What's wrong?" I mouth out silently. She holds her finger up to me which I take as a cue to stay silent, I shut up.

"Yes, this is. Who gave you my number, Miles?" She looks at me as she talks. I clench my jaw at the sound of his name.

"Your mother. So, I was wondering if you'd like to go out sometime this week. Is that alright?" He sounds confident which I'll gladly end.

"She's busy." I say, putting my hands over hers so we're both holding the phone.

"Who is this, Athena?" He asks. I roll my tongue against the side of my mouth. Why am I so upset about this?

"Ace, prince of Nethilor." Athena responds for me. He stays silent, the only thing we can hear on the other side of the phone is shuffling noises.

"Your other option?" He asks finally. I'm only an option to her?

"Yes. Now why don't you go and kiss and spit on some other girl's hand?" I snap back before hanging up. She stands still.

"You're not seriously going to consider him, right?" I scoff.

"Ace... I need my husband to have self control, which you certainly do not." I flinch at her words, she notices making her face soften. "I may be considering him, but if I had to pick right now on the spot I would choose you." She sighs softly.

"You're only saying that because you don't know him yet." I say quietly.

"I want to go home." She whispers. I want to say, "You've only just gotten here." But what I really do is nod and head to the front door.