"Tell me again, what did you call that man?" Athena and Yelizaveta stood not far from the chaos. It was very late at night, the streetlights were dim, and there was no one passing by. It was truly eerie.
"Brother." The girl in her early twenties answered innocently. Unfortunately, that answer resulted in a frown on Athena's beautiful face.
"How many older siblings do you have?"
Yelizaveta looked at Athena like an alien. "Are you really stressed after your failed marriage? Of course there's only one! There are only two Zhestkiy siblings." Athena, who still couldn't believe it, touched her cold hand to the tip of her chin, watching the tall man wearing a full suit. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, while he draped the brown jacket over his shoulders. The muscles in his arms moved as his hands moved.
Unconsciously Athena swallowed her saliva.
"Is he your cousin? I heard there are a lot of Zhestkiy families here."
Yelizaveta narrowed her face as she took a deep breath because her friend and personal assistant still couldn't accept the facts. "What do you want to hear from me? Aleksei is also my cousin, I have many cousins, but the man in front of me is not a cousin, a distant relative, or my father's illegitimate son, he is my biological brother, we were born from the same womb, Nikolov Zhestkiy!" Yelizaveta raised her voice.
"Are you sure that's Director Nikolov?"
"Of course, you think it's the ghost?!" At that moment, Yelizaveta decided to give up. What good would it do to serve Athena?
Meanwhile, Athena couldn't take her eyes off the commotion just a few meters ahead. Five men were facing a tall, handsome man. Despite being outnumbered, the man didn't seem fazed; he simply dodged and occasionally threw a punch, sending the gang of thieves crashing to the ground.
His face was indeed very similar to Director Nikolov, but many things about him were completely different from the Nikolov Zhestkiy she remembered. Director Nikolov couldn't defend himself, let alone fight, and countless problems had arisen during her time working with him because of that. Meanwhile, the man in front of her seemed to be a skilled fighter. Did he train in martial arts?
"Come on, what are you doubting? Haven't you been with my brother for four years? You should be the one who knows best if it's really Brother Nikolov." That's the problem, because her subconscious, her feelings, and everything else realize that it's her boss for four years, but her brain can't accept it all.
"Three years is a long time. I changed, you changed, do you think my brother can't change?"
Perhaps not wanting to worsen the situation, Athena didn't speak anymore and simply stood there, guarding Yelizaveta, in case any other plotters attempted to attack. All the while, Athena was observing Director Nikolov in front of her.
Not long after, a black car stopped near them, and several men in black suits got out. They worked silently, capturing the hardened thieves who no longer had the energy to resist. "Get them out of here." Was Nikolov's order to the men in black.
As Nikolov turned around, looking at them, his gaze fell on Athena for a few seconds before turning to Yelizaveta. "Little sis!" Yelizaveta wanted to hug her brother but was stopped by Nikolov himself.
"My body is covered in sweat and dust, you shouldn't hug me—" Unconcerned, the girl still ran towards her brother's embrace, hugging him tightly as if never wanting to let go. There, Nikolov smiled, returning his sister's hug.
While Athena worked as Nikolov's secretary, the siblings weren't very close, let alone hugging each other. This was because Nikolov was very serious, his moods constantly changing, and he was a workaholic. He didn't have time to pay attention to his sister.
"Sorry I'm late. You must have been scared," Nikolov said, inhaling his little sister's scent—the scent of home he missed so much.
Yelizaveta shook her head in Nikolov's embrace. "The past three years have made me used to it." That statement made Nikolov speechless. Not wanting her brother to be sad, the black-haired girl quickly changed the subject. "But it doesn't matter. Secretary Athena is always with me. She is extraordinary! If it were Secretary Athena, then I wouldn't worry! She fights like a bear, she bites her prey like a crocodile, and coils them like a python!"
"Are you complimenting me or insulting me?" Athena said disapprovingly behind the younger woman.
Now Nikolov's gaze focused on Athena who stood with her arms folded. The night air was so cold, but for some reason Nikolov's gaze at her made her heart pound until she no longer felt the cold.
Who wouldn't be nervous? Meeting the boss they'd worked under for four years, only to not see each other again after such a horrific incident? Either too excited or awkward, she wasn't sure if Nikolov still remembered her.
"Yes, you're right. Secretary Athena has always been amazing." Nikolov said in a voice that sounded very sincere, accompanied by a smile that was no less sincere on his handsome face.
Athena froze, for four years, she had rarely seen Director Nikolov smile sincerely, even with Miss Tiffany whom he had been chasing for months. His smile had never looked sincere from his heart.
A flat face, or an angry face is a characteristic that is always attached to the boss.
Athena snapped out of her reverie and approached the siblings . The blonde woman politely bowed, a gesture she had become accustomed to when meeting Nikolov. "Long time no see, Director." She said formally.
"Hahaha, yes. It's been a while since we last met, Secretary Athena." Nikolov replied with a laugh. "But perhaps you don't need to call me director anymore, because I'm no longer Director Nikolov, your superior." Nikolov said, his face still calm.
"Old habits die hard, I hope you understand." She wasn't boasting; her body, her mind, her tongue, naturally spoke and acted formally in front of Nikolov. After all, it had been three years.
Nikolov Zhestkiy, who was usually so unpredictable, still had no idea what Nikolov Zhestkiy looked like now. Everything she knew about her boss now seemed foreign again. Look at how relaxed the director's face was, in stark contrast to Director Nikolov's constantly furrowed brow.
Don't forget that Nikolov Zhestkiy laughed earlier when he answered her words.
The calm face then changed. "If you still can't get rid of that habit, it looks like you'll have to be my secretary again, Secretary Athena."
.....