Chapter 14.
Maia
I paused in front of the temple, seriously considering turning around and bailing on the meeting with Penelope.
I didn’t want to see her, not after I made a fool of myself.
Why was I always attracted to the wrong people?
Of all the people I could be drawn to, why did it have to be Persephone? The Persephone.
“Your Darkness?” Stephan said, pausing next to me. “Everything alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine. I’m going in but you don’t need to come with me.”
Surprise flitted through his eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I nodded, glad he didn’t ask for an explanation. I walked in by myself, mentally preparing my apology for how we left things last. Hopefully, her opinion of me hadn’t fallen too much.
I arrived to an empty meeting room and with a glance at the large clock above the hearth, I sat down on my throne. I didn’t have to wait long for the door on the other side to open and my traitorous heart fluttered when I saw Penelope.
The butterflies quickly died when her gorgon assistant followed her in and I sank back in my chair, disappointed that we weren’t going to be alone. Maybe that was for the best though.
“Hello,” Penelope said, sitting down across from me. She held out her hand for her red planner, not once looking me in the eye. “My apologies for being late.”
“You’re not late, I was early.”
“You’re kind. Let’s start right away. Do you have the reports for me?”
“I do.” I handed her my folder, making sure our hands didn’t touch accidentally. “I also have a proposition for you.”
She finally looked at me, intrigue flashing across her face. “I’m listening.”
“After we talked about the Terminal, I spoke to my advisors to see if we could hire more people but we don’t have the budget for that.”
Penelope scoffed lightly. “Why am I not surprised?”
“I wasn’t finished yet. I don’t think the issue is the lack of staff. I’ve observed the Terminal and crunched the numbers. There are plenty of people doing nothing or doing things badly. There’s no communication, the rules in the handbook only work on paper, it’s just so inefficient.”
“I’m aware, you don’t need to tell me that.” She clicked her pen impatiently. “You said you had a proposal? What is it?”
“A training program that both sides attend together, particularly for the workers at the Terminal. On top of that, I want to create a singular body of authority.”
“There is a singular body of authority, it’s you.”
“No, I mean a joint one. One that has representatives of both sides and that your people and my people have to report to. I know it’ll take time to introduce a new system but I’m not in a hurry. We have plenty of time to figure this out, right?”
Penelope stared at me, her expression unreadable. She crossed her arms tightly across her chest, her eyes never leaving me. “You’re asking a lot from my side but I can see the benefits. What is in it for you though? What you’re suggesting sounds like a loss of power for your side.”
I knew she was going to ask me that question.
“I’m not here to squabble about power. I want to do what’s right for the denizens of the Underworld.
I had my advisors draw up the numbers and create a plan for this project.
It’s all in the file, please look at it and tell me if you can see this working. ”
The other woman gingerly touched the folder and nodded. “I will. I want us to work together on things.”
“Me too.” I glanced at her hovering assistant, wishing she wasn’t here so I could speak freely.
Penelope noticed and handed my report to her. “Can you get this to my advisors?”
“Right now?” the gorgon asked, the snakes in her hair lowering curiously.
“Yes, right now. I’ll see you back at the Mansion,” Penelope said, her tone gentle but commanding at the same time. It was clear there was no room for discussion and with a slight bow, her assistant left through the heavy door on their side.
Locked in tense silence, Penelope and I stared at each other for a moment. Not able to take the awkwardness, I rose from my seat and pretended to check out the massive clock above the hearth. It was easier to compose myself with my back towards her.
The rhythmic ticking of the clock soothed some of my nerves and finally, I turned. Penelope was exactly where I left her, seated in her throne with the authority and confidence that would give the original Persephone a run for her money.
She broke the silence first. “I’ve been meaning to thank you for the coffee. It was a wonderfully thoughtful gift.”
“You’re welcome, you said you missed it.”
“I do.”
“I’ve asked the person who fulfils my Overworld orders to stop by your Mansion before she passes on the list. Please make use of the service as much as you want.”
Penelope raised one of her perfect eyebrows. “Really?”
“Yes. There’s no reason why you have to be deprived of anything. That’s your right as the living.” I gathered a breath. “I also wanted to apologise again for my behaviour when we saw each other last.”
“There’s no need.”
“There is. I acted rashly and impulsively and I don’t want to mess this up.
I know how important it is for you that the Hades takes their role seriously and I do.
Therefore, nothing should happen between us.
Not that I think something is going to happen, I know what I’m feeling is one-sided, but I just wanted to clear things up. I want to be the Hades you deserve.”
A little smile tugged Penelope’s red lips up as she gracefully rose from her chair. “And I appreciate that. I appreciate you.”
“I’m glad, that’s so important to me.”
“Good.” She joined me by the hearth, standing just a little closer than necessary. “And it’s not one-sided.”
A blazing heat awoke in my stomach and my knees grew weak from her intense gaze. I forcibly swallowed the lump in my throat. “It’s not?”
“No, but I agree with you. Nothing should happen,” she said, her voice low.
“So we’re in agreement.”
She nodded, stepping even closer. “Exactly.”
The air crackled with anticipation and as much as I wanted to kiss her, I knew it was a bad idea.
My breath hitched as our lips brushed together, the charged tension awakening all the butterflies in my stomach.
There was barely a hair of distance between us and yet, I couldn’t bring myself to bridge the gap.
“We shouldn’t,” I murmured, trailing a finger up her slender arm.
She released a little sigh, her warm breath tickling my skin. “We shouldn’t.”
“I should go,” I said, not moving a muscle. I couldn’t if I wanted to. Her presence erased any rational thoughts and left me with an overwhelming desire that wouldn’t let me out of its grip.
Penelope moved some of my hair over my shoulder, exposing my neck. She brushed her hand over my collarbone and up to my jaw, her touch searingly hot. “Or…”
Unable to resist, I closed the minuscule gap between us and crashed my lips on hers.
Her breath hitched and her arms immediately tangled around me, pulling me flush to her.
Encouraged by her enthusiasm, I parted my mouth, desperate for more.
After months of dancing around each other and denying my feelings, I was losing all my composure and control.
The other woman sucked my bottom lip in and she moaned when our tongues met. Her hand found the zipper on the back of my dress and I jolted back, breaking the kiss. “We shouldn’t.”
She sucked in a breath, not able to hide the disappointment flashing through her eyes. “You’re probably right.”
“Not here, anyway,” I blurted, completely undermining everything I just said.
Amusement flickered through her darkened eyes. I was standing so close, I could see the silver flecks in them. She leaned in for a slower more intimate kiss, her mouth warm and supple. “Where then?”
Looking at the beautiful woman in my arms, I knew it was futile to try and resist. I wanted her, more than I wanted anything else in the moment. I could deny myself but it wouldn’t stop whatever this was, only prolong the chase. Eventually, we’d end up in this exact position, I was sure of it.
“Somewhere more appropriate,” I said, suddenly acutely aware of our surroundings.
She released a crystal laugh. “I believe this is where the original Hades and Persephone had their honeymoon. Where else would be more appropriate?”
“Right. We’re Hades and Persephone.” The reality of the situation washed over me and I took a reluctant step back. “This is never going to be uncomplicated, is it?”
“It can be, if we make it so.”
“But it won’t be.” I adjusted my dress and flattened my hair so it didn’t look like someone just ran their hands through it. “Not if we jump in impulsively and mess things up.”
Penelope gathered a breath, the haze slowly disappearing from her eyes. “You’re right. Why don’t you come over for dinner so we can talk about this? We’ll sit at a normal-sized table, have that nice red wine I promised you, and we’ll talk.”
I nodded, relief softening the tight knots in my stomach. “I’d like that.”
She briefly touched my hip before stepping back, breaking the spell she had over me. “It’s a date.”