Chapter 31

31

Two days after the concert, Persephone sat sipping designer bottled water in a robe and watched people backstage at the fashion show. Hades’s friend, Hermes, had just come out with a new line of resort wear, and Persephone had been roped into modeling it.

Hair and makeup done, she sat backstage bored out of her mind and half listened to the models’ gossip.

“I met Orpheus last night,” one of the women was smiling smugly into the mirror. Stunningly beautiful with sky high cheekbones and pouty lips, she was playing with her blonde hair. Her friend, an equally lovely brunette with wide eyes, leaned closer.

“What? Where?”

“At an after party, duh. He was luscious.”

“So did you talk to him? What did he say?”

Persephone leaned forward too, curious.

“Well, he didn’t say much. You know he’s refusing to play the rest of his nights? He said he thought it was too dangerous.” The model shook her head at the mirror. “I told him he was being silly, and that his art needed to be shared. I think I inspired him.”

Persephone swigged her water bottle and wondered if she should comment.

“We had a more private conversation after that.” Model number one smirked.

“Oh, my, gods,” the brunette squealed. Persephone rolled her eyes.

“I definitely gave him a few more reasons to stay and fulfill his contract.”

Persephone decided she’d had enough. “What about his fiancée?” she broke in. Orpheus would have proposed by now and she knew Eurydice would say yes. The way those two had looked at each other…

The two models stared at Persephone like she was speaking Greek. “You know, the one he writes all the songs to,” Persephone persisted. “Did he mention her at all?”

“Sweetie, most men don’t mention their significant others around me. I guess, around me, they’re less significant.” The beauty flipped her hair over her shoulder and her eyes went back to the mirror, preening.

Persephone wanted to bitch slap the model until the woman made proper eye contact during a conversation. Instead, she jumped up. “I need more water. Do you want anything?” Without waiting for a response, she strode off toward craft services.

She heard the women gossiping about her as she left. They didn’t bother to lower their voices.

“I don’t know how she got this job at all. I mean, she’s fat.”

“Her husband landed it for her. He’s a crime boss and probably killed someone to get her in.”

“Probably.”

Persephone walked with head held high, her posture perfect, focused straight ahead. She had to stop to let three young fashionistas rush by with a rack of clothes. Another young hair stylist, his hair in a mohawk, caught her eye from his place behind a model’s chair. He smiled sympathetically and she grinned back. She recognized him from Hermes’s spa, Metamorphoses, where she was a regular.

The spread of food at craft services mocked her queasy stomach. She grabbed a bottle of coconut water instead and found a place to sit near the sound system on the outskirts of the activity.

Try as she might, Persephone couldn’t keep the model’s words from bothering her. She didn’t care what people called her; it was Hades she was worried about.

He hadn’t come home last night. Since Orpheus debacle at the club several days ago, Persephone hadn’t seen her husband. She was used to his long business hours. Hades often went for a late-night swim in the penthouse pool, but at least he’d come home and lie down for a few hours before donning his suit again at dawn.

This morning she woke up beside his untouched pillow. And the papers reported the rumor that Orpheus’s concerts would be canceled. Thanatos officially denied the report but she knew it wasn’t making Hades’s job easier.

The night after the concert had been… Persephone lifted a hand to her neck just at the memory of it. They hadn’t done anything like that for a long time and then two sessions in one night… She felt her face flush.

Out of the corner of her eye, Persephone noticed she wasn’t sitting alone on the outskirts anymore. A woman all in black had strutted over and slouched against the wall nearby. Her black hair fell around her face in a short, blunt cut. With her faded jeans and her scuffed boots, she looked like a photographer, except she didn’t have a camera. Persephone wondered for a second whether she was a model; she was pretty enough, though she didn’t look happy about it.

Arms crossed and wearing a frown, she surveyed the scene with Persephone and moved close enough to comment, “I’m so over these bitches. Cat walk, more like catty-walk.”

“Are you a model?” Persephone asked politely.

“Please,” the woman huffed. “I’m not one of those brainless bimbos. Like I’d be seen trotting my bare ass down a runway. Do I look like an idiot?”

Persephone’s lips quirked into a smile and then flattened out as she waited for the woman to notice who she was talking to.

“Oh, shit, I’m sorry.” The woman realized Persephone’s catwalk-ready hair and makeup. “Blast, I’m always putting my foot in my mouth.” She turned and stuck out her hand. “I’m Athena.”

“Persephone.” Persephone shook Athena’s hand. “Pleased to meet you. So, if you’re not modeling, what are you doing here?”

“Favor to Hermes. The pretty, bronzed dick head. I did his whole web platform and he wanted me here to make sure I got the vibe right.” Athena went off cursing, calling Hermes several more colorful terms while Persephone sat silent in shock.

“Are you mad at him?” Persephone finally asked.

“Mad at Hermes?” Now Athena seemed shocked. “Not at all. I’m here, aren’t I? And I’m going to his party tomorrow. Are you coming?”

“To his party? I don’t think I’m invited.”

“Ah, of course you are. I’ll ask Manny.”

“Manny?”

“My pet name for Hermes.”

Persephone reigned in her laugh.

“Oh, I nickname anyone I like. Yours would be easy. Persephone Bora.”

“So you’re a website designer,” Persephone changed the subject desperately.

“Programmer, hacker. Website design is something I only do for close friends and ex-lovers.” Athena hopped up on the heavy cases for the sound equipment and swung her legs.

“I see.” Feeling mischievous, Persephone asked, “Which one is Hermes?”

“Huh?”

“Which one is Hermes—a close friend or ex-lover? Or does a lady not kiss and tell?”

Athena barked out a laugh. “Oh, honey, I’m no lady. Truth is, he’s both.”

“Oh?” Persephone let her eyebrows rise at this tantalizing gossip.

Athena shrugged. “It was late, I was working. He called me a genius.” A hint of red tinged her cheeks. “That always gets me,” Athena muttered. She shook her head forward so her hair fell over her face.

“Are you blushing?” Persephone teased, amused to find a chink in the gruff woman’s armor.

“He’s a slut, though. Everybody’s had him. And we weren’t good for each other. We’re better as friends.”

As if on cue, Hermes went by, looking harried yet suave in a grey suit.

“Manny!” Athena shouted. Everyone backstage paused to stare at her. “Is Persephone invited to the party tomorrow?”

“Of course, Athena. My love. Now please shut up. Makeup!” And he rushed off into the lights.

Athena chuckled, shaking her head so her short hair fell around her face.

“See, told you. You’re invited. Come to the party.”

Persephone’s mouth was gaping open at this point.

“Oh, come on. Do you want me to beg? Ok, I will. Please, come to Hermes’s party. I need someone there to talk to. No one understands me.” Athena fake pouted.

Persephone couldn’t help it, she laughed.

Athena looked slyly out from under her black helmet of hair. “Oh, so the perfect facade does crack.”

“You’re funny,” Persephone told her. “I like it.”

“Glad to be of service. Are you coming to the party?”

Persephone sighed. “I’ll ask my husband if we have anything going on.”

“Good, clear your schedule. Besides there’s a hottie or two there I want you to meet.”

“Athena,” Persephone gasped. “I’m married.”

“Not for you! For me, dumbass.” Athena huffed and blew her hair out of her face. “You can give me tips on how to woo him.” She grinned and wiggled her eyebrows.