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First Meeting

They were just two young adults pitted together in the everyday circumstances of life. That, and maybe a little intervention from her father.


She couldn't remember how they started. How a young botanist (Yes, she studies plants, mind you) barely at the age of twenty-three ended up engaged to a thirty-three year old surgeon was beyond her. Their story was unlike the others. There were no rainbows. No sparks. No fireworks. No magic. They were just two young adults pitted together in the everyday circumstances of life.

That, and maybe a little intervention from her father.

The first time she met him was in her father's workspace. She couldn't really say it was her first time seeing him since they already encountered each other a number of times in the halls Olympus. Yes, it was a ridiculous name for a hospital but as if anyone could change Zeus' (Yes, she had a bad habit of calling her father by his first name in her mind) decision once he made up his mind. Anyways, they were only brief glances. She doubts if he ever takes the time to wonder who the young woman in the flower stall is. And she, well, she hardly cares. Her father was convinced that he had the best team of doctors—her half-siblings included— who barely reached thirty-five, and it was just what she needed to feel apprehensive whenever some of them were around.

She was a botanist working as a part-time florist in Olympus.

For Zeus, it was vice versa.

And yes, she might have daddy issues and a tinge of mild insecurity around her brothers and sisters but hey, wouldn't anyone be the same? When your dad is the chairman to a world-acclaimed hospital and your mom is a well-known pharmacist, expect the worse for your passion and career.

"I am not going to England, dad." She said formidably. "Regardless of how much you want to get rid of me."

"That's not what I meant, Persephone. " Zeus said with caution knowing the moody temperaments of women all too well. "All I'm saying is that you're young. And it's not too late to become a doctor, you know."

"Really, dad? Doctor, doctor, doctor is that all you ever talk about?"

"Look here, missy—"

And just right there Zeus was cut off. Was it because he ran out of things to say? Oh, how she wished! The door creaked, a foot appeared and so did the rest of the body, five seconds after. A man—tall, masculine and handsome—came to Zeus' office, in a scrub suit, without knocking. Persephone couldn't help but raise a brow at how natural it seemed for this person to barge in the room of the chairman. They were having one of those father-daughter confrontations. And she was thinking of actually storming off after Zeus' lengthy speech.

She wasn't much of a fan of foul words but really.

What the hell, dude?

"Zeus, I need Mr. Sahara's medical history emailed to me by seven—Oh, am I interrupting something?"

Well if you actually knocked and keep that clipboard away from your face for twelve inches maybe, you would know the answer to your question! Persephone would've liked to say. Fortunately, Zeus got in the way before she uttered anything she'd most likely regret later.

"I'll make sure it'll arrive at your desk before three, Hades."

Oh, so he's a special one, isn't he? First name basis with the boss.

"Thanks." Hades said before making a motion to leave.

"Hold on for a second, Hades." Zeus gestured for him to take a seat on the couch. Persephone stared at him coldly. 'Do you really need to place him beside me?' Hades complied, taking precautions to keep some space between him and Persephone. "I hope you'll excuse me from taking some of your time, but I think my daughter prefers another person's opinion apart from her father's."

"It's no trouble, Zeus." His voice was sonorous—deep but calm. "What do you have for me?"

"I'm encouraging her to go England." Zeus said proudly.

"You are forcing me." She retorted.

"I am not forcing you, I'm strongly advising you—"

"Dad, you're forcing me to go to England just as how you're forcing me to go into medicine."

"Ah." Another voice said in slight interjection. Zeus glanced at him, awkwardly. Persephone glared. "That's how it is, fighting with daddy over your career choice?"

Persephone could see her father smirk in the background.

Oh no, this man wasn't going to get the best of her…regardless of how much justice that scrub suit had done to him.

"Excuse me?"

"Forgive me for my earlier term, perhaps it's better for me to rephrase it?" He said absolutely oblivious to the coal he was setting on fire.

"I prefer you to keep your nose out of family business."

"Little girl, I'm not exactly excited on hearing your qualms against Zeus you know."

"Then you should have left."

"I was politely asked to be here."

"Then I'm politely asking you to leave."

"What are you, currently? If it wouldn't be so much to ask that is."

"A botanist."

"Actually, she's a florist, Hades—"

"Part-time, dad! Part-time!"

"Then where's the problem?" Zeus gave him that incredulous look he usually reserves for Eris and Persephone. In a more familiar language that look would mean, 'are you kidding me?' Hades turned from Zeus to Persephone. A smile—not broad but genuine—was painted across his face. "I thought you were one of those pampered types who depended on their father's income for their own."

"Hades, are you really consenting her—"

"On being a botanist? Why not? She studies plants Zeus, she just happens to be really fond of flowers. It's not a typical job but you can't expect all your children to take a syringe do you?" Persephone couldn't believe what she's hearing. Is this real? Is this man real? "And what's wrong with a part-time job?"

"You're my finest, doc. I wanted you to take my side." Zeus complained as he rested his chin on the base of his palm.

Hades took the cue. Just before he stood up though, a hand was offered to him—a fair, smooth and relatively smaller hand compared to his own.

"Persephone." The young lady said clearly happy with the turn of events.

"Hades."

And with that, the door was once again shut close leaving a satisfied Persephone and a mildly irritated Zeus inside.

Her dad had the best doctors.

She'd have to agree.


Thanks for reading!

Yours truly,
Ms. Reen