Page 89 of The Deception: Hercules Valentine and I
Uncovered
Paisley Grove
Iwatch Hercules put on his pants. He’s not staying. Maybe it’s because my bed isn’t as remarkable as his. I don’t know. However, I can’t help but feel that he just came over to my place for sex.
“What are you doing Friday night?” he asks as he puts on one shoe.
“I have no plans,” I say, hoping he’ll ask me to come over to his place.
“I have a business dinner to attend. I want you to be my date. Are you up for that?”
I stop myself from showing him panicky eyes. “You think that’ll be okay? Us being seen together at a business dinner?”
“You’re right.” He stands up tall. “I think I’ll ask Lilith.”
“No,” I say before I even realize it.
Hercules smirks. I’m jealous, and he knows it.
“I’ll go with you.”
“Good.” He puts on his other shoe. “I’ll have a car pick you up at eight.”
“That’s Friday, though,” I say, wondering if I have to wait that long to be with him in an intimate way again.
He bends over and initiates a tender kiss. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I’m blinking slowly and thinking even more slowly as he strolls out of my bedroom and then out of sight. Then I hear my front door open and close. He’s gone.
What the hell was that?
* * *
The next morning,when I make it to the lobby, I see Hercules, and my heart dances. But he’s standing with Lilith and two other people, engrossed in conversation. Disappointed, I look away from them and walk to the wild, wild elevators.
“Lark,” Hercules calls before I make it to where everyone is forming flanks and getting ready to fight their way into the next elevator that opens.
I look in his direction. He’s waving me over. I gladly take off in his direction.
* * *
On the way upin his executive elevator, he’s still talking to Lilith about this quarter’s expenses. I doubt he realizes he’s staring at me through the metal panels in front of us while speaking to her. His gaze is probing, though. I wonder what he’s looking for.
“I just don’t understand his role,” Lilith says. I don’t think she notices Hercules staring at me.
They’re talking about Achilles. Apparently, Hercules’s older brother has been micromanaging her, and they haven’t agreed on much.
“He’s CEO,” Hercules says.
“But I thought you were CEO,” she snaps back.
“Of the family.”
“But is this the family, or is this the business? Do I have to deal with this man? He’s impossible, Hercules. I’m doing everything right, and he thinks it’s wrong. You hired me because of my forensics skills.”
Finally, Hercules snatches his stare off of me. “Lilith, you’re levelheaded and tough. Kick his ass.”
She looks dumbfounded. “Kick his ass?” She takes a quick glance at me. I think it just occurred to her that I’m with them. The two other people that they were talking to didn’t ride up with us.
“You know what I mean, Lilith,” Hercules says.
“No. I do not. And I do not want to kick his ass. I want…”
Not only is Hercules waiting for her to finish whatever she was going to say, but I’m in suspense too. Usually, Lilith is genial and wears a pasted-on smile. This is the first time I’ve seen her rattled, and she’s pretty angry.
Finally, Hercules sighs when it’s clear she doesn’t know what she wants. “I’ll talk to him, okay?” The elevator opens, and he holds out an arm to keep the doors from closing.
I exit first, then Hercules steps out and after that, Lilith. The two of them walk in the opposite direction.
I almost feel like crying when I walk to my pod alone.What sort of game is Hercules Valentine playing?
