Athena Dankworth never believed in panic—until today, when it slammed into her like a tidal wave.
Athena had built her life on precision; every move was calculated, and every goal was meticulously planned. She never wavered, never lost control. But today, for the first time, she felt the ground shift beneath her, realizing that her flawless plan had cracks.
The sight of her own handwriting stared back at her from an old, leather-bound diary she hadn't opened in years. Her sharp, confident scrawl listed Ten Goals Before Thirty, each bullet point a promise to herself.
Eight were boldly ticked off: the largest oil and gas empire in Europe, a spot on Forbes' list of the world's richest, and a legacy that would be discussed in boardrooms for decades. But it was the last two that stopped her cold.
"Married by 30. Had all my children by 30."
Athena's gaze lingered on the empty checkboxes. And then her eyes locked onto the calendar sitting on her work desk. Her heart sank as she counted down the days. Four months. That's all she had left to achieve the two remaining goals on her list, the ones that mattered so much.
Feeling a surge of panic, Athena snapped the diary shut, shoving it across the sleek, marble surface of her desk. She pressed her palms flat against the cool stone, breathing deeply as the city skyline glimmered beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows of her penthouse office.
Her empire stretched as far as her view, but the silence mocked her. The wealth, the accolades, the power; none of it mattered at that moment. How did she miss something so important? The pressure was suffocating, and for the first time in a decade, Athena felt like she was losing control. And that was unacceptable.
She grabbed her phone, dialing the only person she trusted.
"Valerie, are you somewhere private?" she asked as soon as the line connected, snatching up the phone from her desk, her voice sharp as she began pacing the space. "I found something; something urgent and I need you. Now."
"Athena, slow down," Valerie replied, her tone exasperated, confusion evident in her voice "I'm at work. Can this wait?"
"No, it can't," Athena snapped. "Find somewhere, now! This is urgent. I need you!" she insisted, her panic rising.
Valerie sighed. "Fine. Give me a minute." The muffled sound of footsteps and a door closing followed. "Okay, I'm in the restroom. This better be good. What's going on?"
Athena hesitated, sitting down, gripping the edge of her desk. "Do you remember that diary we wrote in when we were teenagers? The one with our life goals? Ten things to achieve before 30?"
Valerie furrowed her brows thinking. "Vaguely. Why?" she asked, trying to understand why it was urgent.
"There's a problem, Valerie." Athena's voice wavered, her panic palpable, something Valerie wasn't used to hearing. "I have two goals left unticked, and my 30th birthday is in four months. How could I have missed it?"
Valerie leaned against the sink, raising an eyebrow. "Athena, are you serious right now? You've achieved more than most people dream of in a lifetime. So what's the big deal if you haven't ticked two things on the list?"
"Come on, Valerie. These goals matter," Athena insisted. "Marriage. A child. They're part of my plan. Until those two things are ticked, I remain unfulfilled. I just smash every one of my goals."
Valerie laughed, the sound echoing in the empty restroom. "You can't plan those two things, Athena. You've got to let life happen."
Athena's jaw tightened. "That's not how I work, Valerie, and you know it. I didn't get here by just letting things happen. I am here today because I make things happen."
Valerie stared at her reflection, her amusement fading. "So, what? You're going to find a husband in four months? Or will you ask some random man to marry you? That would be crazy."
Athena's lips curled into a smirk, though her eyes betrayed her desperation. "Nothing is impossible when you're a billionaire."
"Oh, come on, Athena. Being a billionaire won't magically get you a husband. Unless, of course, you plan to buy one," Valerie teased, chuckling as she waited for Athena to laugh along. But silence stretched between them.
Athena's eyes lit up with amusement. "That's actually a great idea. This is why you're my best friend."
Valerie's laughter faltered. "Wait… what?" Her voice wavered between disbelief and nervous humor. "Athena, I was joking. You can't just buy a husband. That's crazy; impossible even."
Athena leaned back, a slow, knowing smile spreading across her lips. "Who says I can't?" she shot back. "I have resources, connections. If I want something, I get it. This won't be any different. And I won't just buy any husband, I'll buy one who fits my perfect plan."
For a moment, there was silence. Then Valerie muttered, "You're actually serious."
"When are you coming? We have work to do," Athena said.
Valerie scoffed in disbelief. "You are unbelievable."
"Wait until you see what I have planned," Athena said, swiveling her laptop to glance at the flyer on her screen she had been working on during their conversation. "Meet me in my office. We'll talk more when you get there."
Thirty minutes later, Valerie stormed into Athena's sleek office, dropping her bag onto the chair with a thud. "Please tell me you've come to your senses—that the whole 'buying a husband' thing was a joke."
Athena didn't even look up. "Why would I joke about something as important as my future?" Her tone was calm, deliberate—dangerously serious.
Valerie's stomach tightened. "Athena…"
Athena gestured to the seat across from her. "Sit. We have work to do."
"Oh, Athena. You are crazy," Valerie said as she dropped into the chair, crossing her legs. "So? What's this genius plan of yours?"
Athena's eyes lit up as she turned her laptop toward Valerie. "I came up with the perfect solution. Look."
"Knowing you, this must be one of your crazy ideas that ended up working," Valerie said, shaking her head as she leaned forward, squinting at the screen. "A healthy husband wanted urgently?" She recoiled, laughing. "Athena, this has to be a joke."
"It's not a joke," Athena said, dead serious. "I need a healthy husband so I can have healthy children. Did you think I was going to just buy anyone?"
Valerie stared at her, waiting for the punchline. None came. "You're actually planning to buy a husband? You are serious?"
Athena leaned back, arms crossed. "I've built empires, Valerie. I've negotiated billion-dollar deals. If I can control markets, why shouldn't I control my own destiny?"