1 1. Meeting Brothers - Part 1

"There's no other love like the love for a brother. There's no other love like the love from a brother."

~~~

Athena was meeting her brother Matteo today. She got out of her beautiful BMW M8 and entered the Cafe. Yesterday she received a call from her long-lost brothers asking her to come back. Athena didn't want to be back in their life. They would be much happy without her. But the brothers convinced her to give them a chance. She still somewhere cared about them even though they were the ones who abandoned her the first. Now she was used to getting deserted.

It did not prepare her to meet all of them. So she met Matteo at a local cafe near Hale Hospital, where she was working as a neurosurgeon/psychiatrist. Brain study was one of her passion. Also, it helped a lot while dealing with business.

She was not happy seeing them. Somewhere in her heart, she blamed them for what she became today. She was nothing more than a broken girl. She was no longer the bubbly pumpkin her brothers adored. She was now a cold, smart, independent doctor. At least that's what her brothers thought.

When the brothers found out Athena is here in New York. They were overjoyed. They finally found their sorellina, their sister, their light- the one that made them feel alive. They couldn't find much about her as she moved to New York only seven months ago. She was first in London. They did a background check on her- they wanted to know her, know who she is.

When the brothers found out about Athena and the fact- that she has been working here at, New York branch of Hale Hospital as a neurosurgeon, they were proud of her. Their angel has grown up to be an independent, successful woman. They were eager to meet her. When they called, her brothers felt emotions they never felt before.

Vincent was nervous. He was a man who was never nervous while signing million-dollar deals or killing mafia leaders, was eager to hear her voice. Matteo was the best negotiator of the Mafia, and the Business world was afraid that he wouldn't be able to convince her. Finn, the sadist of the Mafia who didn't have a heart. His heart was beating a million miles an hour to meet her. Ace, the reckless one, was calmly waiting for her.

It disappointed them when she said she didn't want to come back. They were expecting it. At last, they left her. But after a little convincing, she agreed to meet one of us. We decided to let Matteo meet her first because he was the most convincing and soft brother. They all wanted to meet her, but they didn't want to overwhelm her. The best they could do now was to wait - to wait that Matteo can convince her to be back.

She hadn't met the brothers yet, but had them wrapped around her fingers already.

She was calmly meeting Matteo. Athena took a deep breath and entered the Book Cafe, which is owned by her friend Chloe. She met Chloe while working at Hale; she needed her daily caffeine supply, and Book Cafe had the best coffee to offer. Being in multiple 6-13hr surgeries, she needed coffee a lot.

She knew who her brothers were. She knew them because she had their memories with them while she was five. Also, because of who her brothers were. The Florentino brothers- were well known in the business world. Self-made billionaires and highly reputed at that. They were the rising tycoons. Same for the Underworld.

How Athena is involved in Underworld is for her to know and you to find out.

When she entered the Cafe, she looked at Matteo, who was wearing a casual black outfit. He looked nervous- he kept glancing at the watch, While waiting for his pumpkin to arrive. Athena cleared her throat to make her presence known.

Matteo looked up to see his pumpkin. She looked beautiful. She had black hair, put together in a bun. Athena still had those enchanting grey eyes, plump lips, and cute little freckles. She was wearing a white blouse and green office pants, with a trench coat in her hand. Dressed as a professional doctor. But now, she looked like a mature woman, not the five-year angel he knew. His eyes soften at the memory of his 5yr little sister.

The atmosphere was getting more awkward, so she broke the silence. "Hello Matteo," she voiced. In her smooth, professional, impersonal voice. He got up from his seat and helped her sit by pulling her into a chair. Gentleman, she thought.

Matteo was nervous would be an understatement. He has sweaty palms. Matteo had prepared a conversation in his brain already on how to convince her. The way she spoke, it looked like she didn't want to beat the bush around so he straightforwardly said, "Umm, so hey, I should introduce myself. I am Matteo, your second oldest brother, and the COO -she cut him off and said, "COO of the Florentino companies. I know, get to the point, I have a surgery planned."

"Well, Athena, I am sorry that we left you with our mother. We have our reasons, I will tell you as the time comes. We want to tell you we love you and miss you. We want you back. All the other brothers want to meet you. Please come home, sister," Matteo finished.

She stared at him. As if she is trying to read him. After around 30seconds. She said, "okay, I will meet the brothers. I have a shift in 35mins. How about tonight, dinner? My shift ends early at 6 pm." He nodded vigorously in agreement.

While they talked, Athena sipped her espresso while Matteo drank his black coffee. They shared a comfortable silence and then left. Matteo went to pay the bill. Chloe said it was in the house. After looking at his confused expression, she explained she was Athena's friend and was happy that she finally found her brothers.

Matteo gave her a grateful smile and left.

When they went out of the cafe, he adored her car. "BMW M8, nice choice pumpkin," Matteo said. "Thanks," came her simple reply. She left for the hospital and Matteo for the Mansion.

After the conversation with Matteo, Athena was confused when she reached the hospital. Today was a pretty chill day for her. She just had a brief meeting with my chief and had to look over some outpatients. Only her thoughts are full of her brother Athena. She was nervous, confused, angry oh boy, it was a complete emotional rollercoaster.

She was in deep thought about the conversation she just had. She could say that Matteo is the mama bear already. When she told him she knew he is the COO, he looked shocked. Plus, he spoke with softness and straightforwardly. She gave him pretty robotic answers. She didn't care about showing him my emotions when he asked her to meet the rest of them.

She just stared at him, analyzing him. He looked honest and pleading. (Perks of being a psychologist) When Athea agreed on meeting the rest of the brothers, he nodded vigorously. She thought for a second that the poor head was going to fall off. He seemed excited. Athena was not. When he walked her out, she could tell by his eyes he adored her car.

t's was now 6 PM and her shift has ended. Before meeting her brothers, she asked her trusted to keep her identity hidden from her brother and people working from them. So that they know her as Athena, the child prodigy and a successful neurosurgeon.

Her hacker Maya said, "I am so sorry, A, your brothers found out about you," Athena smirked. "Maya do you think anyone can find me without my permission.." Athena said, leaving the blanks. Maya shivered at the thought of how she knows everything.

Athena doesn't trust them enough with her real self. She also asked my trusted to tell her about her brothers. Athena asked them to tell me their company role and their names and age. She wanted to know them as a person genuinely and not judge them by a piece of paper based on a background check. New for her, she thought.

She always did a background check on everyone while she is working at Hale. Even Chloe (cafe owner). Well, as per her assumption, her dearest brothers have already done a background check on her. She hated when someone did a background check on her. But it was understandable.

She was at the exit, and she could see Matteo standing there, waiting for her. She texts him. (They exchanged our numbers at the cafe.) She told him she is bringing her car so text her the address. He said they could drive together. But Athena politely refused. She followed him to the Wilson mansion. Taking a deep breath, Athena gets down from my car.

And saw the royal mansion in front of her. Beautiful architecture, she thought. She looked at the surroundings in awe, also to remember various blank spots.

She could sense four guards behind the bush and pillar. She was trained, too. She guessed they were for security purposes. She has two of her guards follow her, as well. She always needed protection. Her identity was too important. Her guard, Stephan, warned her to stay calm while meeting her brothers. If Athena lost her temper, Florentino would perish. Stephan cared for her like a brother. He has seen her struggle, how she survived.

She didn't show any of her emotions to anyone. She had mastered covering them over these years. Matteo directed her towards the door, she nodded in agreement. She moved gracefully towards the house.

She moved like she owned the goddamn place. Her confidence impressed Matteo. Well, he didn't know that she ruled the goddamn world.

~~~