Page 72 of Flowers Near Me

Eurydice gave a small smile and nodded. “Thanks. I hope we figure things out fast before the team loses hope.”

“You will.” Persephone squeezed Eurydice’s arm. “Let’s get you back to your lunch.”

With a soft chuckle, Eurydice opened the door, and Persephone followed her through.

“I’ll catch up with you soon,” Persephone called out as she headed towards the hot beverage counter where the unopened box housing her sandwich sat.

Lunch in hand, she scanned the main office space, looking for Hermes. She checked her phone and released her breath when she saw a message from him.

Hermes

All good! THX!

When she looked up from her phone, Persephone’s breath caught in her throat. Hades stood barely a step away, arms crossed, his shadow looming over her like a storm cloud.

“Photoshoot in the conference room?” he asked, suspicion lacing his voice.

“Perfect lighting.” She shrugged, despite her pounding heart, and forced a calm smile. In a desperate attempt to convince him, she tried to push a calming warmth from her chest using her magic. She lifted her sandwich and asked, “Lunch?”

He studied her, then nodded. “Join me in my office.”

Her stomach twisted, but she managed to keep her shoulders relaxed as she walked past him.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

THE ICE IN HIS VEINS

HADES

The blue-tabbed folder on his desk held proof: Demeter had meddled with theFlowers Near Meapp, infecting it with a virus Hecate aptly named “snake bite.” Its magic spread like venom, slowly poisoning the app from the inside. Demeter had planted a beta tester to sabotage his project, a revelation confirmed after the traitor was granted immunity by Hades’ legal team.

But now, a bigger problem loomed. Persephone had snuck Hermes into the building and distracted the development team. Hades clenched his mug, ice spreading over the ceramic. His power, laced with anger, threatened to burst through the walls. Yet, across from him, Persephone seemed unfazed, eating her sandwich. How did she remain so unreadable?

Hades took a breath, his fingers drumming on the folder. “I have news.”

Persephone’s eyes narrowed. “Yes?”

“It’s aboutFlowers Near Me,” he said, his voice low and measured. “We know what the problem is, and Eurydice should be able to fix it.”

She nodded, her expression cool and collected. “That’s good to hear. Will it be a quick fix or a bigger issue?”

Hades studied her. “We’ll know after I speak with her.” Her floral scent drifted toward him—usually pleasant but now bitter on his tongue.

“Good thing you and Eurydice have worked in the shadows together before,” she added, her voice laced with sarcasm. Beneath her calm facade, there was fire.

Hades rose, shedding his suit jacket and draping it over his chair. “Speaking of old friends,” he said, his tone darkening, “was it nice seeing your former assistant?”

Persephone paused mid-bite, eyes flickering. “Come again?”

“Hermes.” Hades sank back into his chair, crossing his ankle over his knee. “Did you enjoy catching up?”

She swallowed, nearly choking. “Right. Yes. It was fine.”

Hades’ lips pressed into a thin line. “Persephone,” he said, his voice dropping into a growl, and she shivered. He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, eyes locked on hers. “Tell me why you cleared the dev team out of the break room. Therealreason.”

She exhaled sharply. “The lighting was good. I wanted a picture.”

“Try again,” he said, his voice sharp enough to cut. His anger was palpable, the temperature in the room dropping further. “Why did you help Hermes access Sophia’s phone?”

---