92 New Hires
Athena sat at her office desk, looking out the window at the urban sprawl beneath her. The skyline was a mix of gleaming steel and glass buildings interwoven with patches of greenery, a landscape that reflected both the chaos and beauty of life. But her mind, at the moment, was stuck on a singular thought–Ewan’s carelessness.
Why hadn’t he dropped by for his check–up and treatment commencement as they had agreed?
He had promised he would, and she had thought that they were on good professional terms after their last conversation. Not that she cared about him as a person; it was just… strange.
Day after day went by without a word from him–no text, no calls, not even a simple inquiry about how she had made it home that night. Athena pushed aside the nagging thought that perhaps he had been manipulated again to think she was the villain.
But then that was his loss. She concluded. She wasn’t surprised either; Fiona had a way what seemed innocent and twisting it into something altogether malevolent.
of taking
Yet, a flicker of concern coursed through her–a nagging reminder of the little time he had to treat himself. Would he really give up on the treatment?
She stood up and gazed out the window, taking a deep breath. The city was alive with movement; honking cars, bustling pedestrians, and street vendors peddling their wares ensured
that life was never dull.
Her thoughts drifted back to her latest project–she needed to hire a couple of medical professionals to bolster the capacity for patient care, ensuring they could serve the growing clientele effectively.
Herbert had been good to his words, but so far she hasn’t been pleased with the offers coming in through the company’s website.
Just then, a light knock at the door interrupted her contemplation. It swung open slightly, revealing Clara stepping in with an earnest expression.
“Excuse me, Doctor Athena,” she said, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I just wanted to inform you that the hiring process has officially begun for the new medical staff. I’ve been going through resumes and arranging interviews.”
Athena’s heart lifted slightly at the news. “Thanks, Ciara. I appreciate your diligence on this. Let me know if you find anyone promising.” A pause. “On second thought, Send them in.”
Later in the afternoon, after going through several initial interviews, one candidate arrived who piqued her interest. He entered her office with a nervous air, fidgeting with his tie as if it were a
noose.
Something about him felt familiar, although Athena couldn’t piece together why.
He looked like the quintessential ‘nerdy‘ doctor type; shy, dressed in a slightly oversized blazer,
82 Now Hires
and adjusting his thick–rimmed glasses as he shuffled his feet, avoiding eye contact.
“Dr. Finnley?” She asked, referring to the name emblazoned on his CV.
“Yes, please call me Finn, he replied, his voice soft but steady. He had a boyish charm, and his apparent anxiety only made him appear more endearing.
“Alright, Finn. Let’s get started,” she said, opening her folder of questions. “Tell me about a particularly challenging patient situation you’ve encountered in your training and how you
handled it
Finn took a deep breath, visibly calming himself as he launched into his story. “I was once working in the emergency room when a young girl came in with a severe asthma attack. The attending was preoccupied with another case, so I had to take the lead. I immediately started administering a nebulizer while simultaneously checking her vitals…”
As he shared the experience, Athena couldn’t help but admire his articulate response, each detail painting a picture of his critical thinking under pressure.
By the end of the interview, he had not only met her expectations but had also provided thoughtful and insightful answers to every question she posed.
Although she still couldn’t shake the nagging feeling of familiarity, she felt compelled to give him a chance.
“Alright, Finn,” she said with a smile. “I think we can work with you here. Welcome to the team!”
His eyes lit up with a mixture of relief and gratitude, and he muttered an enthusiastic, “Thank you! I won’t disappoint you!”
As he left the office, she couldn’t shake the sense of unease pooling in her stomach, but she brushed it off.
Perhaps it was just nerves about bringing someone new into the fold.
Yet she resolved to keep an eye on him all the same–his nervous demeanor could work well in patient care but might have its drawbacks as well. She made a mental note to continuously assess his performance in the coming weeks.
An hour later, Athena paid a visit to Kendra’s guardian.
The sight of the latter’s steady progress filled Athena with immense relief. “Stella, you’re looking better every time I see you!” she exclaimed, a wide smile breaking across her face.
Stella smiled widely. “It’s all thanks to you, Doctor Athena. Thank you so much.”
Athena waved the words away with a soft chuckle. “Can you sit now, without feeling dizzy?”
Stella nodded, and sat up. “Do you want to talk to me? Is it about the favor?”
Athena shook her head. “Just checking in on your level of progress. About the favor, we’ll discuss it when you are discharged.”
Hopefully Chelsea will be around by then. She didn’t understand why her friend was keeping the
test results from her.
D! Now Hires
Uniwe meet again… “The latter had said, when she had insisted on the results.
Stella nodded gratefully. “Alright then. Thank you so much.”
Suddenly, Athena’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out to find a message from Alden:
1 finally found a driver for you. Come downstairs.”
“Looks like I’ve got to run,” Athena said to Stella. “I’ll check on you again soon, alright?”
“Of course,” Stella replied warmly. “And tell Kendra, I said hi!”
Athena nodded with a smile, before making her way downstairs, her thoughts wandering to Aiden and the level of trust that had built between them over the past years. He had become an invaluable ally in many aspects of her life, and she hoped the driver he arranged would be
reliable.
As she stepped outside, she spotted a man waiting beside her sleek black sedan.
He was tall, with an athletic build, which made him appear capable and professional. He looked well put together, maybe not as polished as Aiden typically was, but he seemed competent enough. He didn’t look much older than her either.
Is this the driver? She wondered, judging him with a cursory glance as she approached.
“Hello ma’am! Doctor Athena, right?” he said, flashing a friendly smile that seemed genuine.
“Exactly. And you are?” she inquired, extending her hand for a shake.
“Jake,” he replied, shaking her hand firmly yet appropriately. “Aiden arranged for me to drive
you.”
“Nice to meet you, Jake. Aiden said you came directly from headquarters?”
“Yes, I did. I’m looking forward to working with you,” he said, maintaining eye contact, which gave her the impression he was attentive and earnest.
Just then, she noticed Aiden stepping out from the shadows. Seeing his ardent concentration on the phone in his hand, she was sure he had stepped aside to make or answer a call. Was it from
the team?
“Good afternoon Aiden.” Athena greeted him as he was close enough for a side hug.
“Good afternoon, Miss Athena… I see you’ve met Jake.
Athena squeezed her face, not pleased with the title Aiden had conferred on her. However, she knew he was doing it for the enlightenment of the driver. He couldn’t have Jake calling her by
her name alone.
“Yes, I have. Athena answered, glancing at Jake again.
The male was looking away to the horizon, subtly giving them the required privacy to talk. She appreciated that, but it was enough.
She moved some steps away, knowing Aiden would follow.
“Is this driver okay?” He asked, as soon as they were out of earshots.
H
02 New Hinch
Athena mused aloud. “He seems decent.”
“Jake is qualified,” Aiden reassured her. “But we can find someone else if you’re uncomfortable”
“No, it’s fine. I trust you,” She said, willing to push through the subtle tension. “I’ll give him a
chance.”
She didn’t think Jake would be able to replace Aiden, but she had to make do with him, because Aiden needed to travel to be with his daughter for Christmas.
Perhaps, he might even retire completely from serving as her driver.
The thought unsettled her, but she pushed the feeling away. She refused to be selfish.
“Athena…”
“I’m okay, Aiden. This was bound to happen.” She paused, after a deep sigh. “I’m sure you’ve put a lot of work into this, so I’ll trust him to do the work. It might take a while, but the kids and I will cope.
Aiden exhaled harshly, and patted Athena’s arms. “Don’t worry, Athena. I’ll be back before you
know it.”
Athena was pleased to hear this, but she kept the stoic face intact. Aiden could be quite gloatful. But Aiden knew this of course. He smiled, and ruffled Athena’s hair to her chagrin. “Hey!!” He chuckled, and moved away from her glaring eyes. Just then a text dropped into his phone. Thinking it was from the team, he opened it.
A frown appeared on his face when he saw the text message was from Ewan.
“Hello Aiden, can you send me what you have on the gang that kidnapped Athena, just as we discussed?
“Is everything okay, Aiden?”
Aiden held back a hiss, and nodded to Athena’s question. “Everything is fine. Let’s go.”
Howbeit, as they walked to the car, Aiden sharply sent a reply to Ewan.
“That won’t be necessary, Ewan. We have everything covered. Just focus on running your company and managing your fiancée.
