Dark Revenge Of An Unwanted Wife The Twins Are Not Yours novel Chapter 223

Chapter 223: Meeting The President II

"Doctor Athena, welcome. Did something happen, though? You took more time to come in than I thought necessary..." President George Walls spoke, standing up from his seat, as Athena walked majestically into the room.

"Good morning, Mr. President. I’m truly sorry about that, sir. There had been a case of emergency at home that I had to sort out—or rather, tried to sort out—before coming into the office. I apologize for that. Thank you for your patience, too," Athena responded calmly and politely, not seeing the need to inform the president that she had taken a few pictures with his overly excited secretary.

"I hope all is well, though? Do you need to reschedule this meeting?"

Athena shook her head, furrowing her brows. "Not at all."

She stepped further into the office, pondering if the president was truly humble, as people said he was, or just downright naïve—a tool in the hands of those who had put him there.

Holding back a sigh, she settled into the seat he gestured for her to take and looked around the office.

The office was grand and imposing, exuding an air of power and professionalism. High ceilings loomed above, and large windows let in an abundance of natural light. The walls were adorned with intricately crafted wooden paneling, and the polished hardwood floors gleamed.

Before her was a large, ornate desk, behind which sat a leather-upholstered chair—his chair—impressive in stature.

She herself, was sitting on a high-backed chair, one of the pair of high-backed chairs for visitors, which offered comfort tremendously.

A striking marble fireplace stood on one side, while built-in bookshelves stood on the other side, holding a variety of decorative items, including flags and works of art reflecting the nation’s history.

"So, how are you doing, Doctor Athena? That’s a fine suit you have there," President George started jovially, dragging Athena’s attention back to him.

"I’m fine, Mr. President..."

"Just call me George. I think it will make the communication easier."

Athena bit her lip, wondering if this statement was peculiar to her or if this was the normal behavior of this handsome man.

Standing at six feet and a few inches tall, President George had a strong, imposing presence. His thick, expressive eyebrows framed piercing eyes that seemed to bore into those he looked at. His nose was straight and perfectly proportional to the rest of his facial features, while his full lips was curled now into a charming smile.

His dark hair was neatly styled, and the strong, chiseled lines of his jaw, the smooth, unlined complexion of his, suggested a life of good health and prosperity. It was easy to see why Gianna had been fangirling over him.

Still, what president tells his citizens to call him by his name? Athena inhaled softly, slightly taken aback by the request. She looked at him steadily, yet didn’t see any lust or suggestion of interest in her; rather, he appeared genuinely curious about her and their impending conversation.

"Was that a huge request to make?" President George continued in Athena’s silence, sitting down. "Well, I get that a lot..." He said with an over-exaggerated sigh, reclining deeper into his chair.

"But it’s what I want, though. The term ’president’ can be quite heavy on one’s mouth when speaking and all, and since this is a private meeting, I just thought there was no need for formalities. So, just call me George. Is that okay, Athena?"

Athena paused, then nodded. After all, wasn’t she meant to obey the president in such little matters?

"Good. Now, let’s get down to business. I invited you to talk about your medical research..." President George began, going straight to the point. "You turned down my two requests yesterday, and I would love to know why first, before we proceed to other matters. Don’t worry, the soundproof quality of this room has been turned on."

Athena inhaled softly again, pleased with that statement. This was it; presenting her case to the president of the country.

"Firstly, I apologize, George,"—calling the president by his name still sounded odd in her mouth—"for turning down your requests yesterday. But honestly, it was inevitable. One, I don’t need the security detail, really..."

"And why is that?" The president cut in calmly, folding his arms across his chest. "You don’t trust the government, I presume?"

Athena pursed her lips, meeting the president’s gaze for a moment before nodding. "I don’t trust the government. There are many politics involved, and I don’t want that around my research. Hence, why I turned down the security detail and the order to turn over my research to the state."

The president unfolded his hands and placed them on the table, starting a steady beat on the surface with his index finger a few seconds later. "I see. So, my orders don’t faze you?"

Athena raised her left eyebrow, waiting for the other shoe to drop. It seemed that the group who had left the office earlier had done their job successfully. So, why had they kept long faces?

"I’m waiting for your response, Athena..." The president continued.