Page 62 of Flowers Near Me

“In public. I won’t utter a disparaging word about her in public ever again. Would that satisfy you?” His gaze flicked to her mouth.

She tipped her head, trying to be nonchalant. It was surprising he’d agree to that so easily. “I think so.” Curiosity took over. Would he change his approach with the game to win now that there were stakes? Or was he truly that unlucky?

“You sure you don’t want to add something for yourself?” There was a regretful look in his eyes.

“I’m sure.”

He released an audible sigh. “May luck favor me this time.” He handed her the cup full of dice and the scent of his power filled the room. The same tickle of magic she’d felt in the car when they’d bargained for the first kiss brushed the back of her neck.

As Persephone considered her choices after rolling, Hades’ phone pinged. He glanced at the screen then set it down face up.

She removed the one seven combination and asked, “Everything alright?”

“Hecate’s making progress. Says she needs more time but should be able to figure out what caused the app’s issue.” He looked down at her roll. “Ah, looks like you’ve got a head start.” Four fives stared up at them.

“Yes, I’ll take it. And that’s great—Hecate’s close to figuring it out.”

Persephone won again but with a smaller lead than the previous two games.

He shrugged one shoulder and gave a dismissive wave with his hand. “You got me again. I won’t slander your mom.”

Victory didn’t feel as sweet as she’d expected, but in a tiny way, she had done something that could work in her mom’s favor.

“One more game?” he asked as he took Persephone’s empty mug.

“Sure, one more. Grab me a water please?”

“My pleasure.” He reached into the fridge and unscrewed a bottle of mineral water. “Think about your wager this time. I’m going all out.”

The hairs on the back of her neck rose. “Oh?”

Carrying her drink, he handed her the bottle then settled back in his seat. “Oh yes. Something big.”

One side of her mouth lifted. “I’m not making any major life changes because of a game’s wager.”

He leaned forward, coming closer but still out of arm’s reach. “No? What about arealdate then? Where you don’t put on an act or force a smile because you think someone is watching.”

She cleared her throat. “I’m doing those things because we have a contract. Don’t make it sound like I’m fake when I’m doing the job thatyouassigned me.”

He licked his lips and the fact that she tracked the movement made her bite the inside of her mouth. He said, “The contract was the only way you’d give me a chance.”

“And to get back at my mom.”

His face fell but he took a slow breath. “There are more sinister ways to do that if I’d wanted to. That’s not why I want you here.”

She leveled him with a stare and felt a surge of magic within her. The pungent smell of jasmine and vanilla made her eyes water and her skin tingle. “I can’t help but wonder at the timing of things given that we’d just overtaken your reported profits last quarter. It’s the kind of game you gods love to play.”

Now the smell of cedar and leather overwhelmed the space. “Little goddess, if that’s what you need to tell yourself so you keep me at arm’s length, so be it, but I will close the distance. Last quarter wasn’t the first, hundredth, or even thousandth time Demeter’s Bounty outperformed Underworld Unlimited.”

Was that true?To be fair, she hadn’t kept score until she’d worked in the distribution department. That was only a few years ago so perhaps he was telling the truth. Her mom wanted her employees to be hungry for success, Persephone had heard her say as much in their board meetings. Maybe Demeter’s organization fared much better than she thought?

“Okay, here’s my wager. If you lose, then onceFlowers Near Mebecomes profitable, you have to sell it to Demeter’s Bounty. All of it, including rights to all IP, no exceptions. And at a fair market price too.”

Hades perked up. “Deal.” He held out his hand to shake hers. She met his palm, and he promptly tugged her forward and laid a slow kiss on her knuckles. His eyes watched her the whole time. “In fact…” He lowered their joined hands to rest on his knee. “I’d give Demeter’s Bounty the app right now, for free, if you agreed to become Underworld’s CEO. You could start whenever you wanted.”

It was equal parts tempting and ludicrous. She gaped, trying to gather her thoughts, unsure how to respond. Any hope she’d held for reclaiming the app after he’d acquired it had faded as soon as she was in his SUV, riding away from her former life. Would she want to be Underworld’s CEO without the app? This should’ve been an easy no, but now she wasn’t so sure what her future held. Maybe a CEO position at Underworld Unlimited even without theFlowers Near Meapp could be a good thing for her?

She pinched the bridge of her nose and clamped her eyes shut for a few breaths. “What would happen if I tanked the company?”Fates, am I actually considering this? Surely not. I’m simply curious how far he’ll take his bluff.

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