you are fond of saying, is not the best teaching found through action?”
“I ain’t gonna expose an apprentice to an unknown danger when she’s already dealin’ with enough as it is. You knew the risk of puttin’ her with me in the first place.”
That drew Dani’s brows and lips down. Risk? What kind of risk could the old man pose? Besides spitting or hacking on her, that is. The way he hobbled around made her afraid he’d break a hip the next time he lifted his cart.
Destin stood and came around the desk, placing himself between them. Despite only being an inch or two taller than her, his nearness made Dani feel like she’d shrunk a foot.
“I am decided, Benjamin. We each do our part in this.” He smiled at Dani, revealing clean, straight teeth. His eyes held an electric hue. “And you, my dear? How have you been enjoying your time with us so far?”
She fought to not squirm and wring her hands. She once more became aware of her myriad smells, greasy hair, and sweaty palms. How could he stand being near her? She wanted to tear her skin off and scrub herself down to the bone.
His smile widened. “Don’t fear. I appreciate honesty above all else.”
Ben snorted, but Destin remained focused on her.
“It’s been …” She swallowed again. “Messy.”
Destin’s laugh ricocheted through the room. It jolted her, bringing another wave of shame. She’d never be clean. Not on her own. She was sullied to the core, and couldn’t do anything about it.
“Is there anything I can do to soothe this difficult transition for you?” he asked.
“She misses her lizard,” Ben said.
Destin blinked. “Indeed?”
Through simmering humiliation, Dani murmured, “Just a pet. I take care of him. He’s probably really hungry.”
“While I sympathize,” said Destin, “we do not allow Cleaners to keep pets. They are often sources of pestilence and filth.”
“But …” She despised her whimpering tone. “He’s cute. And funny, and smart … and …”
Destin placed a hand on her shoulder and she flinched. Not because she disliked the touch, which felt warm even through the gloves and suit, but because she feared his palm might come away soiled.
“There is a reason cleanliness has always been close to godliness.” He kept his hand on her, rubbing a few hairs between his fingers, an oddly comforting, yet mortifying gesture. “Soon enough you will come to see the greater purpose the Cleaners can give you, and the honor it is to serve the Pantheon. A creature such as this … Tetris … would only serve as a distraction. I’m sure an intelligent woman such as you knows the many bacterial strains reptiles carry. Salmonella. Campylobacter …”
His litany sounded uncomfortably familiar, and Dani’s resistance slowly buckled under it. She bowed her head, feeling like a speck of dirt he could flick off his suit at any second. She was a wretch. How didn’t she understand before? The Cleaners had saved her from a worthless life and given her a chance to achieve true significance. They had every right to toss her aside right then, and she’d beg to be given another chance.
A tiny part of her mind raised a hand. Excuse me? Exactly when did we become this guy’s little *****?
Indignation sliced down her brainstem and stiffened her spine. Sucking a deep breath through her nostrils, she snapped her head up and glared at Destin.
“What kind of **** are you trying to pull? I already feel bad enough, as it is. Who the **** do you think you are?”
Destin’s eyes lost their shimmer.
Ben chuckled behind her. “Good on yah, princess.” He moved between them, making Dani shuffle back. “Lookee here, Destin. It’s been a long day, a’ight? We’ll let you get back to signin’ all those big, important papers.”
Destin stared past Ben, fixing Dani with … not icy eyes, but they definitely had some slush in them. She struggled to meet that gaze, but kept glancing aside, cheeks aflame. So much for asking about the decontamination room.
Then his thin smile returned, and his amiable personality clicked back into place.
“I look forward to hearing that this problem is resolved.” He moved back around to his chair and settled in. “I am sure you won’t disappoint me.”
With that, the Chairman bent back to his papers. Ben blew him a wet kiss and headed for the elevator. Dani followed, and they rode back down to the bright hall. As they stepped out of the window and into the garage, Ben glanced at her appraisingly.
“Anyone