Chapter 126: Shooting Practice Bang! I flinched, startled by the abrupt sound. Geez! No warning at all. Athena giggled, cocking her shotgun. "Why so jumpy, Cat?" "When you said we should hang, I didn’t picture guns and targets." "Come on, this is fun! And I’m thrilled you called." She went back to tracking the balloon in the air before shooting at it. Athena had good aim. The way she would cock the gun and fire made it seem like she was working with the force or something. It made me wonder what could have happened to me if that gun had been real. I shook my head to get rid of that thought. "That’s five, better keep up or you’re buying dinner." I rolled my eyes, taking my gun, not having it in me for this kind of activity. It was all set up for me, and all I had to do was shoot and cock every once in a while, but I’m lost. How do I shoot the balloon from this distance? "Isn’t it too far? Is there a way to bring them closer—" "Just shoot, Cat!" "You make it sound easy!" I closed one of my eyes as if this would make it any easier. Bang! My entire body shook from that release, and the balloon was hit, so close, but it didn’t deflate. "Wow! For a first attempt, you’re really good at this." "Thanks for making me feel better," I deadpanned. "So how was your week so far?" she asked. "Did you miss me? Did you think of me?" "No." "Awwn...!" I fixed my ear muff. "I just spent the whole night trying to explain to my grandfather that I’m not starving myself. I told him I got promoted, but he still worried I’m living under a bridge or something." I hated having to lie, but I didn’t have a choice. "Just tell him you’re married." Athena shrugged like no big deal, but it was for me. "For one year that is..." I froze. "I-I don’t know what you’re talking about." "Relax, Cat, I know about the contract. After the equestrian, of course, it wasn’t that hard to figure it out." I didn’t know if I should feel relieved or alarmed by this, but if she had known the entire time and hadn’t tried anything, then that means she was cool with it. "Ares has a pattern of doing things; it’s how he copes." "Cope?" She smiled. "Yes... he needs order and structure, without it he’s not in control, and he always needs to be in control." Figures. "That’s all, businessman, isn’t it? I’m not surprised." "You signed a sex contract, didn’t you?" Goosebumps rose on my skin. "How did you—" "Ares doesn’t dive into intimacies without it." I hated the squeeze in my chest. "Just for swift pleasure. Shocked?" "I’m shocked, alright. Who drafts out a contract for a one-night stand?" She giggled. I swallowed a lump in my throat. I mean, I have set up dinner reservations while working as a secretary, and I saw it as a completely normal thing... but this is so... so...! Hell! I don’t know what to think about this! However, one question stuck with me and probably the only thing I gave a shit about at the moment, and not his sex pattern. "H-How do you know my sex contract is different?" "Because, my sweet Cat... You’re his addiction." Bang! I flinched when she pulled the trigger, feeling all kinds of emotions. "Ares hasn’t been with a woman for five years, though," she said all of a sudden. "What?!" I snapped my broad eyes to her. First, that was confusing, and second, I clearly recalled calling the restaurant for two. "I set up dinner reservations," I clarified. "Did you?" She cocked her gun. Were they never a romantic dinner as I envisioned? This doesn’t make any sense; neither was Athena. Yeah, sure, five years of abstinence. What was he waiting for? The Holy Grail? "Are you attending the All Hallows’ Gala?" I asked, hoping to change the topic. "Well, it won’t be so much of a gala without me, would it?" "Right... I forgot you never miss... You’re always awarded the Outfit of the Hallows." "Who else would?" Cocky. "The theme for this one is the ’30s. I’m looking forward to it." "There’s a theme?" "Don’t worry June June got us covered. I had him prepare our dresses after the masquerade ball. I hope you haven’t added anything on that ass." "Athena!" I gasped. She cackled. "That’s not funny." "Haha! You should have seen your face! Don’t worry, by the time June is done with you. Ares won’t be able to take his eyes off you." "I prefer his eyes get pierced..." I cocked my shotgun. "I don’t wanna be his eye candy, but a thorn." Bang! Dammit, I missed it! But this is getting addictive by the minute. "Given all the negatives, it seems like you and dearest brother are having a squabble." "Nope! There’s nothing to squabble about." I tracked the balloon, this time determined to hit my target. Bang! "Yes!" I jumped. "That felt good!" "I made the right call to bring you here. Look at you shooting targets like you have done it several times." "Alright, don’t let it get to my head." "But it already is! Now you feel like you can take on anything and nothing can stop you." I do admit it felt just like that. "Channel that for the gala and use it. I’ll give you something... defy him, but know your limit, push but not too much. At least that will make his mind twist and break the pattern." "You sound as if you don’t like this pattern of his..." "Never did." She sounded hurt. Bang! "He doesn’t view people as humans but as things to be used as tools and pleasure. I’m the exception, of course, and I guess you’re too. You’re his wife." She raised her shotgun for another target. "We both have different impacts to make." Bang!