Page 45 of Flowers Near Me

With a quick bob of her shoulders, Charon replied, “I’m fairly good at retrieving people. We have several mutual friends so I’d imagine it wouldn’t take long.”

“Good to know.” Persephone’s comment trailed off and she put her fingertips to her pursed lips. Charon was better than she let on.

“So… would you like me to setup a meeting with your mom?”

Should she? Would her mom appreciate the effort or be disappointed that Persephone needed others to advocate for her? “No, that’s alright. Hermes could make her meet with me if it were an emergency. I’ll wait for when she’s ready.”

Charon gave Persephone a contemplative look. “She’s angry withyou?”

“I think so. She hasn’t responded to any of my messages. And since I’m no longer her employee, I can’t use a work meeting to lure her out either.”

“I’m sorry. I’d assumed she’d be upset with Hades. Not you.”

Shrugging, Persephone said, “She means well. I know she cares, and I can’t imagine it’s been easy on her.”

A producer shouted for Persephone from the hallway leading to the set. She handed her purse to Charon and held her head high. She hadn’t checked to see what else Hermes had to say and now she’d determined to put her mom out of her mind for the rest of the day.

The director hadPersephone arranging flowers and pretending to use a phone to snap photos. The task that felt more tedious with each passing minute. She scanned for Charon but only caught quick glimpses of the woman flitting around the set. Hecate appeared instead, lounging in a director’s chair with effortless grace, her sandaled feet draped over the armrest, the silky train of her skirt pooling like liquid moonlight. Strands of her dark hair floated as if lifted by an unseen breeze, a testament to her ethereal magic.

“When are you done today?” Hecate called out.

“Not until later,” Persephone replied, adjusting a stubborn rose. “But if we wrap quickly, I might have a few days off. Why do you ask?”

“I wanted us to grab lunch.” She inspected her nails, and wisps of plum-colored smoke curled from her fingertips, carrying a sweet, soothing fragrance like lavender and butter cookies.

Persephone’s nose crinkled in delight. “Is that smell from you? Or is someone baking lavender shortbread?”

Hecate tilted her head. “You can smell my magic?”

“Of course. It’s amazing,” Persephone said, fussing with the flowers again. “Can’t everyone smell it?”

“No, not everyone,” said Hecate as she gave a feline smile. Before Persephone could respond, the director called out, “Clip the flower stems a bit, Persephone.”

She picked up the shears, but her gaze met Hecate’s, who seemed ready to ask a question, her crimson lips parting before she pressed them shut. “What’s wrong?” Persephone asked.

Hecate cleared her throat. “Nothing. You have keen sense for magic.”

Keeping her shoulders loose, Persephone replied, “I’ve been around it my whole life.”

“It’s in you,” Hecate replied. Based on what Hecate had shared with Persephone—that she had helped Demeter to consume a field of poppies which led to Persephone’s conception—the goddess and her were magically linked. Just like she could sense the intricacies of her mom’s power, she would recognize Hecate’s as familiar too.

Hecate asked, “Enough about my magic. How does it feel to be done with filming all the speaking parts?”

“It’s a relief. I never want to see myself on video again.”

Hecate laughed. “I heard you’ve done a great job. The only one that’s complained about any of it is Hades and that’s only because it’s kept you busy and away from him. You know… he’s watched then rewatched all the footage of you. I’ve caught him drooling at his computer screen too many times to count.”

She couldn’t imagine Hades drooling, ever, but the thought of him transfixed, watching her made her face grin and stomach flip. Despite her healthy fear of the god, she enjoyed his attention. What Hecate said couldn’t be true. When she’d hugged him on the golf course, he’d frozen in horror. He just knew how to appear doting when the moment called for it.

Persephone replied, “He’s probably regretting choosing a brand ambassador who lacks on-screen experience.”They should’ve picked Aphrodite.

“Not a chance. He’s so besotted he thinks you can do no wrong. It’s quite entertaining to see the mighty Hades act like a lovesick fool.”

Persephone tried to laugh off Hecate’s insinuation but the memory of their golf date lingered. She thought back to the gentle way he’d taught her to swing, and how his touch had set fire to her veins. A burst of leather and evergreen in the air pulled her back. The camera was still recording so she schooled her features to try not to look like a swooning idiot. Maybe it wasn’t as one-sided as she thought.

Hades’ deep voice called out from behind the monitor the director had told her was called a video tap. “Go back ten seconds. Yes, right there. That’stheshot.”

From her peripheral, she caught the outline of Hades’ broad shoulders as he stood next to a seated Hecate. Immediately, her treacherous heart started to thud.

---