My Divorced CEO Wife Is Begging for Me Back

Chapter 7

Conan flicked the ash from his cigarette and started walking again. He didn't look back.

Behind her, one of the guards stepped forward.

"Miss Dutcher, should we..."

"No!" Athena snapped, her eyes following Conan's retreating figure. "Don't you dare interfere."

She had never been dismissed so casually in her life. And she certainly wasn't accustomed to men walking away from her.

"Wait!"

She hurried after him, moving quickly enough to block his path.

Conan stopped, his brows drawing together. His confusion soon gave way to irritation.

"What now?"

"You're really leaving just like that?" Athena asked, folding her arms. "I haven't even had dinner."

"Then go and have dinner."

"With you."

He stared at her as though she'd said something ridiculous. "Miss Dutcher, I don't know you."

"That's easily solved. We can get to know each other today." She smiled, seemingly unfazed by his impatience. "I know you're Rhea Voss's husband, and I also know you're about to divorce her. So, technically, there's nothing wrong with us having dinner."

"Technically?"

"Exactly. Besides, I've looked into you."

That made him pause.

Athena took his silence as an invitation to continue.

"You're a good man. You've been married for three years, and despite the way your wife's treated you, you stayed loyal. You can cook, you're considerate, and you seem to know how to take care of people. Those are qualities I want in a husband."

Conan looked at her without interest. He was beginning to wonder whether she'd mistaken his patience for an invitation to pursue him.

Athena, however, wasn't finished.

"Of course, there's one little problem."

"Let me guess. I don't make money?"

Her smile widened. "See? You're clever. That's the only thing I found lacking. But that's not a problem. I have enough money for both of us."

Conan almost laughed.

He had spent three years being treated as though he were incapable of providing for a household. Apparently, Athena had decided she could solve that problem by purchasing a husband.

"Even if I'm getting divorced, I have no interest in becoming another family's live-in son-in-law."

Athena's cheeks warmed. For once, her confidence seemed to slip.

"Who said anything about that? I only want you to have dinner with me."

"I'm not interested." 

"One million."

Conan continued walking.

"Five million!"

He didn't slow down.

Athena gritted her teeth. "Ten million! I'll pay you ten million just to have one meal with me!"

Conan finally stopped.

He turned around, one eyebrow raised. "Ten million?"

Athena's expression brightened immediately. She had known it! No matter how stubborn he pretended to be, money could move him. Perhaps he wasn't entirely hopeless after all.

"Yes. Ten million. Is that enough to convince you?"

Conan regarded her for a moment before a faint smile touched his lips.

"Well, since you're being so generous, I suppose I can spare some time."

Athena nearly clapped her hands. "Wonderful! I knew you weren't unreasonable. Come on. I'll take you somewhere worthy of the occasion."

"Where?"

"The heaven on earth. Sky Rock Hotel!"

Conan raised an eyebrow.

Sky Rock Hotel.

He knew the place rather well. In fact, the hotel was part of his family's hospitality chain, one of the many businesses under the Ashworth Group. He hadn't visited in years, but he knew exactly what Athena was planning.

"Isn't that a little excessive for one meal?" he asked.

"Excessive?" Athena scoffed. "You clearly don't know the kind of establishment we're talking about. Sky Rock is the most luxurious hotel in Milan City. Getting a reservation there isn't something ordinary people can do."

Conan said nothing.

Athena interpreted his silence as amazement and happily led the way.

****

The moment they arrived at the entrance of Sky Rock Hotel, Athena's excitement became impossible to contain.

The grand glass doors reflected the hotel's magnificent exterior. Uniformed attendants stood on either side of the entrance, while luxury vehicles arrived and departed beneath the impressive canopy.

Athena adjusted her coat and turned to Conan.

"Before we go inside, there's something you should know."

He glanced at her. "What is it?"

"Sky Rock has six levels of VIP membership cards: Silver, Gold, Platinum, Black Gold, Supreme and Legend. Each card grants access to different facilities and dining areas."

She lifted her handbag slightly, looking rather pleased with herself.

"I went through a lot of trouble to get my Black Gold card. Do you have any idea how difficult that was?"

Conan glanced at the card peeking out of her handbag. "Not particularly."

Athena ignored his response.

"The hotel has twelve floors. Silver members can only dine in the lobby, while Gold and Platinum members get access to their designated floors. Black Gold members can access the higher dining facilities, and Supreme members enjoy even greater privileges."

She leaned closer, lowering her voice as though revealing a closely guarded secret.

"But the seventh and eighth floors are something else entirely. They're said to be reserved for the wealthiest and most powerful people in the world. You can't simply walk in because you have money. You need the right membership."

"Is that so?"

"Of course!" Athena gave him a knowing smile. "I've heard that even some of the wealthiest families in Milan City can't get access to those floors."

She glanced at his plain outfit and shook her head playfully.

"Don't worry. You don't have to feel embarrassed. Not everyone gets the opportunity to dine somewhere like this. I'm sure Rhea never brought you here during your marriage."

Conan looked at her. "Why would you think that?"

Athena laughed. "Come on. You were a live-in son-in-law. Do you honestly think she would spend that kind of money on you? Anyway, you're lucky you met me. I'll make sure you experience things you never could with her."

Conan's expression remained unchanged.

"Today, I'll take you to eat on the eighth floor."

Athena's smile froze.

For a moment, she wondered whether she'd heard him correctly. "The eighth floor?"

"Yes."

She stared at him, then burst into laughter.

"Conan, don't tell me you're still upset about my little joke. I know you want to impress me, but there's no need to make promises you can't keep."

He didn't bother arguing. "Shall we go?"

"Wait. You really think…"

A mocking laugh interrupted her.

"Well, well. Look who we have here!"

Conan turned.

Daven was approaching with a sneer, his eyes moving from Conan to Athena before settling on their joined path toward the hotel entrance.

"Conan? What a surprise. I never imagined I'd find you here."

He glanced at the hotel's grand entrance and chuckled.

"Did you come to admire the building from outside? Or are you hoping someone will mistake you for a disguised honourable guest and let you in?"

Conan's expression cooled.

Daven stepped closer, clearly enjoying himself.

"I heard everything. The eighth floor? Really? Do you even know what kind of people are allowed up there?"

He shook his head with exaggerated pity.

"Some habits are difficult to change. You spent three years pretending to be a wealthy son-in-law, and now that your marriage is over, you're still trying to act like someone you're not."

Before Conan could respond, another voice cut in.

"Daven, what are you doing?"

Rhea had been sitting in the car when she noticed him approaching someone. Curious about what was happening, she stepped out and hurried toward them. The moment she recognized her estranged husband standing at the entrance of Sky Rock Hotel, her expression changed.

She had no idea why he was there, but she wasn't about to let him embarrass her in front of Daven.

"You..." she began, almost defensively. "What are you doing here, Conan?"

Before he could answer, Athena suddenly slipped her arm through his.

"I brought him here!"

Rhea blinked, her gaze dropping to Athena's hand around Conan's arm.

Athena smiled brightly. "Actually, he's going to give me a treat."

"What?"

"A dinner on the eighth floor of the magnificent Sky Rock Hotel!" Athena announced, lifting her chin proudly. "Isn't that exciting?"

Rhea's eyes widened.

She looked at Conan, then at Athena, struggling to process what she'd just heard.

The eighth floor?