Page 30 of The Devil and His Goddess

I took my coat off and hung it up with my bag. I grabbed my notebook and pen out of my belongings so I could take plenty of notes as we went overDancing in the Dark.

Mandi suddenly appeared by my side, leaning her shoulder against the neighboring cubby. The smirk she wore was all venom, and it was amplified when she tilted her chin higher. “Lead inDancing in the Dark.That’s cute. Did you hear? I got the lead inSwan Lakethis year.”

I tried to keep my face flat, even as irritation pricked at my insides. “I heard. Congratulations.”

She laughed and shook her head. “Don’t play sweet with me, Harper. I know it burns you up inside thatIgot Odette and you didn’t.” She looked me over from head to toe with a curl of her lip. “You even stooped low enough to suck up to Perseus. Hoping you can ride his cock to success? Just know it’s not going to work. You aren’t the swan anymore. You aren’t Perseus’s top dancer.Iam.”

I let every word roll off me. I’d learned many years ago not to give Mandi’s attitude and acrimony any weight against me. So instead of gawking or crumbling under the iciness of her insults, I smiled at her.

“I love my role. I don’t need yours.” I grabbed my coffee, notebook, and pen and turned to fully face her. “And one more thing.Heaskedmeto dinner. If you have an issue with his interest in me, you can take that up with him.”

I walked past her without another word or glance, because unlike her, I took no satisfaction in seeing her shocked or annoyed. Trying to compete or be mean to each other didn’t interest me. Mandi insisted on acting like we were still in middle school, and I eagerly awaited the day when she’d finally grow up.

I checked the assignment sheet in the main hall and found thatDancing in the Darkwould be gathering in meeting room one. I walked down that hall and found the room still vacant, as expected. There were still 25 minutes before this started. I plopped down in a chair at one of the tables, which were arranged in a U-shape, and opened up my notebook to a blank page.

“Hi, Harper.”

I looked over my shoulder to find Drake coming in with hands full of what looked like wall scent plug-ins. His shirt was tucked into his beige pants in the picture of cleanliness, but his brown hair was just as unruly as always.

“Morning, Drake,” I greeted with a warm smile.

He returned the look with a sheepish grin and continued his trek to a nearby outlet where he worked to exchange the old scent with a new one.

“So,” Drake started, throwing an almost cautious glance at me as he squatted near the plug. “You went to dinner with Mr. Mavros last night?”

My eyes widened before I could stop them, and I stammered, “H-How—”

“I heard some girls talking about it in the hall,” he added quickly, refusing to meet my eyes as he replaced the scent with a winter fresh one. “I’m sorry. That’s nosy, huh?”

Itwasnosy, and I hated that Mandi was already spreading the news like wildfire. It wasn’t her business who I had dinner with. But I also couldn’t deny how it looked—me going out with our new boss. That sort of look was just what Mandi needed to smear my image with the rest of the company. I could practically hear her sing-songy voice spreading the lies now.

She can’t make it on her own merit. She has to seduce the boss to get what she wants.

You better get used to corps de ballet. Harper will make sure only she and her friends get the good roles now.

I hated admitting it, but I had a lot of fun with Perseus last night. It was strangely easy and comfortable to talk and laugh with him. I begrudgingly could see potential for something there, but as much as I was drawn to him, he was one temptation I couldn’t give into. Doing so could ruin my dance career.

“It’s okay,” I finally said to Drake as I picked at the lid on my coffee. “Yeah. We went to dinner.”

He nodded and stood to carry the trash to the little trash can in the corner of the room. “Are you two dating?”

“Is that what Mandi is saying?” I asked, and I cringed when I realized how harsh my voice came out. The guilt only increased when Drake flinched. “I’m sorry, Drake,” I apologized softly. “I’m not mad at you. I just … No. I’m not dating Perseus. It wasjustdinner.”

Which I’llneverdo again.

Drake’s tense shoulders eased, and he smiled in relief. I felt horrible for making him think I was angry at him. I couldn’t blame him for being curious, and I knew he wouldn’t be the only one. I was probably going to be putting out fires for a while thanks to my lust-induced error.

Voices drifted closer to the closed doors, so Drake gathered his stuff and gave me a quick goodbye before slipping out. I sipped on my coffee as the masculine voices neared the room.

“Yeah. I’m kinda shocked. The song came so suddenly, and just when I was feeling it, fucking Leo showed up with his bullshit.”

“Bastard. When you get back home—”

The door opened, and Perseus appeared in the doorway. The minute he saw me, he stopped whatever he’d been saying to smile.

“Well,” Perseus drew, coming into the room. His golden waves were pulled back in a bun at the back of his neck, showing off the dangling dagger earring he wore in his right ear. He wore dark slacks with a dark gray button-up. His heavily ringed fingers finished rolling up the sleeves to his elbows. “You’re early, Goddess.”

I straightened in my seat and ignored the nickname. “Good morning, sir.”

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