Sirenz - By Charlotte Bennardo Page 0,53
to my neck, my shoulders. I shrank back, but not before he felt the weird padding on my arms. He didn’t seem to notice. His hands moved up into my hair, drawing me closer to him.
The phone on his belt buzzed. Reluctantly, we parted. He closed his eyes and threw his head back in exasperation before looking at it.
“Reynaldo. I have to get back,” he said morosely. “And Mr. Romanov changed his plans. I’ll probably be gone the rest of the day. I’ll text you as soon as I can.”
I nodded, and reached up a hand to run it through his hair. He gazed at me for a moment before his lips reclaimed mine. I was torn between not wanting it to end and hustling him back to Arkady so Shar and I could ransack his office.
“I’ll leave first,” he said, pulling away reluctantly. “We really need to do this again.”
I gave a little wave as he pushed through the stairwell door. Then I counted to sixty, replaying the last five or so minutes in my head, before leaving as well.
Demeter was at the reception desk when I went back in.
“Margaret, a word.”
“Sorry,” I whispered, patting my scarf. “I’m not feeling well.”
“Save it, dearie. We both know you’re perfectly capable of talking. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure no one interrupts us.” I heard the doors bolt.
“What do you want, Demeter?”
Her look was disapproving. “What kind of friend are you? Leaving Sharisse to toil away while you have a rendezvous. She hasn’t had much fun since you’ve been saddled with your mission. You got Jeremy—what did she get?”
I knew where this was going and I didn’t answer.
“She could find happiness like you—and you’d both be free.”
“With Hades?” I retorted. “I don’t think your daughter wants Shar anywhere near him, and I know Shar doesn’t want his attention.”
“Persephone is young and rebellious.”
“She’s a big goddess. I think she can take care of herself.”
“I liked it better when you minced your words, Margaret. Those who go toe to toe with the gods stumble and eat dirt. Some become dirt.”
Demi raised her hands and all the doors opened—I’d been dismissed.
I found Shar finishing up the thank-yous.
“That’s it, the last of them,” she sighed, leaning back after she’d rubber-banded the last stack. “Make it to the bathroom okay?”
“Yeah,” I said, and left it at that. She didn’t need to be enlightened on current events—my interlude with Jeremy might annoy her, and my conversation with Demeter would definitely depress her.
About an hour later, Jeremy left with Arkady. As soon as they got onto the elevator, Reynaldo grabbed his hat and scarf and dashed off toward the stairwell.
“Date with Andre,” Shar explained. “He told me all about it while you were out. He was totally stressing over what to wear, what to say.”
“He’s always having a conniption,” I grumbled. “But look, Jeremy told me that he and Arkady might be gone for the rest of the day, and if Reynaldo is on a long lunch …”
“Let’s not waste any time.” Shar got up. “So, when did Jeremy tell you this?”
When I didn’t answer immediately she sighed loudly. “Bathroom?”
I turned three shades of red and nodded.
“Whatever.” She flicked her hair and quickly strode away.
Down we went to Jeremy’s office. Shar looked around cautiously before going in.
“We’ll start here—you check the desk, I’ll do the computer,” she ordered after we’d slipped through the door and shut it behind us. I found nothing in the drawers, and had just shut the last one when the office door opened.
Callie stood in the entrance, her right hand still on the doorknob. A techie tool bag was slung over her shoulder, and in her free hand she clutched an extra-large bag of chips.
We froze, and she stopped dead, seeing us. Her dark, bug-like eyes narrowed as she looked from me to Shar.
“What are you two doing in here?” she demanded, in her high and grating voice.
“Trying to find Mr. Romanov’s schedule, why?” said Shar, looking nonplussed. “What are you doing in here?”
Callie looked taken aback. “I, uh, always make my rounds when Mr. Romanov goes for his mud baths. I have to do the back-ups.” She looked ready to bolt or scream for help.
“Well, we have to review his schedule for new treatment options. We couldn’t do it while Jeremy was working, and this is the only computer we have access to, but I think the program froze. Can you help us?”
“Morons,” Callie said. “Next time, call me when something like this happens.”
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