Page 31 of Flowers Near Me

Her eyes went back to her phone screen. Still no reply from her mom.

She tried distracting herself with reading but nothing was sinking in. Sighing, she reached for her phone and began scrolling through social media, pausing at images of Hades, always with someone new, someone gorgeous. Her heart sank before she quickly locked her phone and shoved it back into her bag. Soon, she’d be another one in the mix. The thought startled her because she had no reason to care. So what if Hades moved on after her? It’s not like they had real feelings for one another. This was a business arrangement.

Today was the first weekday of her imprisonment with Underworld Unlimited and she was already antsy. Next week, she’d go into the office to meet the team, but she wasn’t sure what she’d do between now and then. She ought to embrace the quiet, knowing that as long as she was idle it meant shewasn’thelping Hades. But habits formed over her entire professional life had her fingers itching to dosomething.Even if meant helping the arrogant god.

Besides, she needed to speak with Eurydice. How had she read that situation with the developer so incrediblywrong? Hadn’t Eurydice been excited to work with Persephone? Technically, they still would be working together, but the circumstances were unfortunate, and they needed to talk.

Shaking off those thoughts, she threw on some athletic wear and headed to B10, ready to clear her mind and fill her time.

Lights flickered on all around the gymnasium once the elevator doors opened. Pine wood slats framed the large gym and mirrored sections ran along the sides. The air was crisp with a slight chill and the scent of wood stain. Even by the gods’ standards, it was an impressive underground facility.

Persephone set her bag down on a bench near the track. Headphones in, she walked two laps before turning up the volume, then jogged. Translucent, backlit privacy screens surrounded the clay track. She sprinted the straightaways between the bends covered with a scant layer of sand.

Whenever her chest hurt and her mouth tasted copper, she’d slow her pace. Once her breathing evened out, she sprinted the straightaways again.

Why hadn’t she heard from her mom? It wasn’t like Demeter to blow her off. And what did this mean for Persephone’s career? As hard as it was to admit, her mom was the keystone holding her professional future together.

When she slowed to a jog, she checked her phone.

Charon

Good morning! You have a lunch reservation with Hades at 11:30 a.m. at a new restaurant uptown. Need anything?

Persephone stopped as she typed her reply, feeling more like a sidelined housewife than a new app’s spokesperson. She wasn’t used to a morning free of meetings, reports, and calls.

Persephone

All good. Thank you!

She stretched, gathered her things, and headed back to the apartment to shower. On her way she texted Hermes. There was nothing to do here so why not check in on her former assistant?

Persephone

How’s the team doing? Tell them I miss them.

She rushed through her routine, then put on the black midi dress Charon had laid out for her.

Her phone buzzed.

Hermes

We miss you. Your mom is MIA.

She rubbed her temples and tapped quickly. Demeter wasn’t an ‘MIA’ type of boss. Something was wrong.

Persephone

No one has seen her? Her PA?

Three dots appeared, then a reply.

Hermes

She’s canceled all meetings for this and next week.

Persephone pressed her fingers to her bottom lip. This didn’t sound right. Her mom rarely canceled meetings so why had she canceled two weeks’ worth? She wanted to call her mom but the conversation they needed to have was not one she wanted anyone to overhear—especially not Hades’ team. And he made a point to remind her that her phone activity would be monitored while she was on his network.

Persephone

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