Page 22 of Flowers Near Me

“That’s not an answer.” Persephone’s tone was firm.

“No, it’s not a marriage contract but it shares similarities to a pre-nup.”

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Persephone drew in a slow breath.

“Why?”

“Why what? Why is it similar to a pre-nup?”

Persephone nodded.

Charon tilted her head. “Shared assets mostly. This is the way of the gods. They protect what is theirs.”

Persephone leaned one arm on the table to turn to face Charon. “I’m failing to see how I’m the threat here. What would I take? I could do as much damage as an inmate could to a high security prison. Beyond trying to escape, there’s no real harm I could cause.”

Charon tapped her fingertips on the paper. “You’re the asset. If you walk away, you’d be taking the one entity he wants.”

Persephone buried her face in her hands, trying to massage her temples and banish the ache blooming there. Lack of sleep was now catching up to her. She almost asked,Why didn’t Hades approach me outright?But she knew the reason. She’d never agree to work with him willingly. But why did he wantherand not someone else?

“No offense, but he has no idea whether or not I’m an asset. I’ve never worked with anyone from Underworld Unlimited before.”

Charon’s gaze went to the ceiling. She counted with her fingers as she listed, “We know you oversaw the successful rollout of the area’s first grocery delivery service. Within the first six months as operational director you increased DB’s logistical efficiency by 300 percent. Every new system you’ve implemented enterprise-wide was fully functional at least ninety days ahead of schedule with minimal operational impact. You’ve brokered contracts with Olympus’ most difficult gods and goddesses when they’ve refused to work with anyone else, and you’ve exceeded profit projections every quarter regardless of which department you oversaw.” Charon shrugged at her. “You might as well spin gold, Persephone.”

Somehow this psychopomp assistant knew more about Persephone’s resume than her sister did. “How do you know any of this?”

Charon gave her a confused look. “There aren’t many secrets among the gods.”

Shifting forward in her chair, Persephone pondered Charon’s comments. “So why am I the spokesperson and not Chief Product Officer?”

Charon smiled widely. “Would you accept the position of Chief Product Officer forFlowers Near Me?”

Not so fast.This was Underworld Unlimited. She had no idea how they handled a position like that one, and she wasn’t about to take on more responsibility here to help Hades. “Spokesperson sounds fine for now.”

Time passed with relative ease given the circumstances. Charon patiently explained the terms whenever Persephone had a question. Perplexed by Charon’s calm demeanor, Persephone studied the psychopomp’s mannerisms and decided Charon was too skilled to show a hint of concern. In fact, the only sign that Charon may have found any of this odd was the way her fingers kept brushing the small torch charm hanging on her necklace.

After placing the entire contract into a thick folder, Charon said, “I think this will betooeasy for you.”

Persephone stilled. “You sound awfully sure.”

Charon’s fingers lightly traced the small charm at her throat. “Let’s just say… you wouldn’t be here if Hades thought youcouldn’tdo it.”

A casual statement, one that made Persephone’s stomach turn.

Then why do I feel like I’ve already lost?

CHAPTER TEN

SMOKE AND MIRRORS

PERSEPHONE

After the detail-intensive meeting with Charon, Persephone lay on the canopy bed in the guest bedroom that would be hers for the next six months. A backlit bubble glass wall stretched from the floor to the high ceiling behind her, casting a pale blue glow across the soft comforter.

Cut honey-hued Teddy Bear sunflowers stood in a white flute vase on the bedside table. Persephone stroked the fine petals with her fingertips and drew in a slow, deep breath. Her mom used the bittersweet flower to decorate culinary dishes back home.

Laura had laughed off her request to file a police report, but replied to every question and concern she’d texted in her several-paragraph-long messages. How Laura wasn’t unnerved, she didn’t know, but her sister’s acceptance helped her own. Albeit in a tiny way.

Rubbing her eyes, Persephone swore aloud when she looked at the black smudges on her fingers. She hopped off the bed and washed her face in the en-suite bathroom. Floral filigree lined the edges of the porcelain sink, tub, and shower. Plush cotton towels were folded neatly and placed around the space, and Persephone lingered on each one as she moved about. Duplicates of every bath and beauty product she owned were packed into a linen closet.

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