Sirenz - By Charlotte Bennardo Page 0,47

to water. It was very hard trying to wipe my eyes underneath the sunglasses. Meg’s proliferating plumage made me doubly cautious about looking at people. I’d definitely gotten the easier gift to deal with, but it was getting harder to be around her.

As soon as we got back to the office, Reynaldo was waiting, impatiently tapping his foot.

“There’s a priority client in the Yellow Salon. Go offer her something.” He took his salad and brownie. “I’ll be in to assist her in a moment. I simply have to get some food before I pass out! Maybe I’m hypoglycemic! Oh!”

“Go wolf down that lump of chocolate,” muttered Meg when he was out of earshot.

I shook my head. “He’s such a drama queen. C’mon. We’ll drop the lunch order in the kitchen, find out what the client wants, and hit a coffee shop if we have to. Neither of us can make coffee that’s drinkable.”

The Yellow Salon was empty.

Meg’s head swiveled around. “There’s no one here. Maybe they’ve already taken care of whoever it was?”

“Good. One less thing we have to do. Let’s go.”

“I’m not done with you.” The voice slid like cold steel along my spine. Out from a dressing room came Blondie from the deli. And her little dog, too.

“What?!” I asked.

Her jaw clenched and her eyes hardened. “So, do you frequently seduce happily married men? Flirt and take advantage of their weakness? Wheedle gifts and who knows what else from them?”

“I don’t chase after any married men!” I responded indignantly. “I’m only seventeen! I don’t even have a boyfriend!”

Meg leaned closer. “Shar, married man, gifts out of thin air. Think!”

It was like a slap to the head.

Hades. And now the happy little wife. What was her name …

“Persephone! It’s a regular family reunion,” quipped Meg in my ear. “At least she’s being forthright.”

“Oh jeez,” I gulped.

Persephone gave us a glacial look, then lounged seductively on a striped yellow satin chaise. “Why is my husband, Lord of the Underworld, brother to Zeus, giving you, a stinking, lowly mortal, gifts?”

“Uh …” Sorry, Sharisse can’t talk now, she’s brain dead.

Meg jumped. “Shar never asked for anything from him. She wants nothing to do with Had—your husband.”

Well, it was mostly true, but I still couldn’t speak. Thank God Meg defended me while I continued to stand there, drooling on the yellow and sage-green carpet.

Persephone was unimpressed. She sprang off the chaise and waved an identical Tiffany’s ring in front of me.

Hades, you idiot! Giving two women the same ring! We both should slap him.

“Liar!” she screamed at Meg, then turned to me. “You’re using your wiles and cheap charm on him. Why would he want you when he has me, immortal goddess and Daughter of Demeter? Who put you up to this? What god? I command you to tell me what your interest is in my Hades.”

Those intense green eyes, so like her mother’s, bored into me. I could hear myself sweat. Slowly, she stroked her dog, which whimpered when she paused for too long.

“It’s a working relationship only. Nothing personal. On my part. And I avoid gods whenever I can. At all costs! I swear!” I held up the scout’s honor sign. She didn’t have to know I was never a Girl Scout.

“It had best stay that way. Any step over that line and you will regret it for the next, oh, eternity. Am I clear?” Persephone’s voice was shrill.

“Yes ma’am!”

“Margaret, get me champagne, chilled, with a strawberry, and a plate of fresh fruit. Have your friend get me spring water for my pet while we wait for Reynaldo. Go!”

We scuttled out of the room in different directions. I knew I had to get Persephone what she wanted quickly, but I also had to have a moment alone to stop shaking. Just a minute, and then I’d be able to function. I couldn’t go to the kitchen, the water cooler, or the ladies’ room; my only option was the supply closet. Fine. If that’s what it took for a few seconds of peace and safety, then that’s where I was headed.

For a closet, it was pretty big. There was actually room enough that I wouldn’t feel claustrophobic. Plopping down on a carton of TP, I leaned back and inhaled deeply.

“Hiding, ma Sharisse?”

I jumped. If I couldn’t find peace in a supply closet, then the world was doomed. I ran for the door, but it wouldn’t open.

“No need to run away,” said Hades smoothly. “I won’t harm you.”

I had to face him. There