Chapter 7

Chapter

Seven

HEPH

I wish Perseus would just let me drop this dumb bitch off a cliff somewhere and be done with it. It’d be so easy to frame one of her father’s many enemies. It’d never come back on us, and Perseus would get the money he is owed. Just one word, that is all I need, and I will take care of this the easy way. Hell, I don’t even need a word, just a nod. One nod, and all this bullshit will be over.

But Perseus loved Freya. Even in her death, he will remain loyal to her, like I will remain loyal to him. So it’s time to get to work.

It only takes me a few minutes to find Athena. She is sitting at the kitchen table eating one of Mrs. Medea’s signature omelets. I shoot Mrs. Medea a glare. She shouldn’t be feeding the traitor. She should be starving her out.

“Good morning, Heph, isn’t it?” Athena’s cheery voice rubs me the wrong way.

“It is. So what’s your plan today, princess? Going to rob anyone else of their inheritance? I mean why should they just be grieving the loss of a loved one when they can also be grieving the loss of their home and livelihood?”

“Well, we all need hobbies.” She smiles sweetly before taking a sip of her coffee. I can see why Eros is so into her, but I’d still rather see her silky brown hair sinking under the surf.

“You didn’t answer my question,” I say as I nod at Mrs. Medea, who is offering to make me an omelet .

“Was it a question or an accusation?”

“Both.”

“I have to get this place ready for a party.” She sighs. “I don’t suppose you are willing to be helpful?”

“Depends on what you need?” I’ll help you jump in front of a bus .

“Well, I need to hire a planner, start getting the grounds ready, and talk to the staff about what I need done inside, and?—”

“Oh, poor little princess, so much work to do to plan a simple fucking party. Life is so hard, isn’t it?” Ridicule is dripping from my words, and I know she hears it. Her back straightens as she glares at me.

Mrs. Medea puts a plate in front of me, and I take a few bites, not really tasting the meal. Being this close to this… thing has put me off my appetite. Mrs. Medea steps out of the room to no doubt get out of the line of fire. She already told Perseus that she was staying out of it. Her job is to care for the house and the people in it. Nothing more.

“Throwing these events, especially on such short notice, is a lot of work,” Athena says as she texts something into her phone. I hope it’s Medusa-related, and Paris will catch it.

“I know you have to go order other people around all day.” I roll my eyes. “You wouldn’t know a hard day’s work if it bit you in the ass.”

She looks up from her phone, an eyebrow arched. I haven’t frazzled her one bit, and I’m growing annoyed and frustrated by the steel wall that surrounds this woman. “You don’t know anything about me.” There’s a challenge in her voice.

“Don’t I? I know you have only ever worked for your daddy. And I am sure the shit that whatever he makes his daughter do to earn her pocket book money is rough. I’m guessing he offers you as a signing bonus to clients. And I’m sure that takes a lot, but don’t compare what you do on your back with what the rest of us do.”

Her chair scrapes against the tiles as she stands. I expect her to go run off because I’ve been mean. What I don’t expect is her closed fist slamming into my nose hard enough I hear a snap.

I’m up in a second with her throat in my hands, holding her against the wall. I’m not hurting her, I’m under strict orders from Perseus not to, but that doesn’t mean I am going to let this little bitch get away with breaking my nose. Blood is dripping down my face, and I intend to use it to help drive my point home.

“You do not belong here. Pack your shit and leave before this gets any uglier. ”

She smiles. The little bitch gives me a wicked grin that makes my cock twitch with interest.

“I drew first blood. Why the fuck would I leave now?” She has more fight than I gave her credit for. It’s no matter, I’ll stamp it out quickly enough.

“Because, princess, this is no place for little rich girls. I don’t play nice.” I press my body against hers in an obvious threat. It’s empty, but she doesn’t know that.

“I don’t play at all. Get your fucking hands off of me.” Her knee comes up, but I block it before she makes contact with my balls.

“Bad, girl,” I growl, and for just a second, I swear her body responds to mine. She likes this. I’ll be sure to let Eros know, but my job is to torment her, not seduce her.

“Fuck you,” she bites out.

“Nah, brat isn’t my type. I like my women a little less desperate.” I let her go and take a step back, before turning and grabbing a towel for my nose.

It smarts, but it’s not too much blood. Maybe she didn’t break it. Perseus enters the kitchen before she can say anything.

“What’s going on here?” he asks.

“I want him gone.” Athena points at me.

“Nothing,” I answer Perseus, ignoring Athena as I pour a cup of coffee for him and one for myself and make his coffee just the way he likes.

“You need to leave my house. Now!” Athena demands.

I set down my coffee, about to lay into her again when Perseus turns on her.

“No,” he says simply.

“This is my house.”

“Not yet, it isn’t.” Perseus is in her face, his fists clenched at his sides, but he’s controlling his temper. “This house is still half mine until you screw up and lose it. Freya also stipulated that all of us get to live here. All of us have free rein in this house. I live here, Heph lives here. Eros lives here, and Paris will always be welcome to come and go as he pleases. If you don’t like it, then give up your claim and leave.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” She pushes him back, and I am on my feet in an instant in case she tries to take a swing at him. Athena doesn’t attack him. She doesn’t even leave the room. She steals my cup of coffee and sits back at the table, pulls a planner from her bag and a tablet, and starts typing away on her phone like I found her. “I will be spending the day planning this next party. If you have any allergies, please let me know now so I can make sure the caterers can put it in everything.” She levels a look at Perseus and me.

“I have shit to do,” Perseus says to me. “You good here?”

“Yup.” I take a seat at the table in front of Athena. “I’m just going to help the princess plan the party. Make sure she doesn’t kill you with shellfish.”

“Awe, no shellfish? What a shame,” she says, staring at her screen. I look behind her and Perseus winks at me. Normally, driving someone crazy isn’t my idea of a good time. But maybe this could be a little fun. There isn’t really anything I won’t do for Perseus. I owe him everything.

The rest of the day I make sure I am wherever Athena is like an annoying fucking shadow.

She wants to hire a grounds crew. I tell her no. We have a grounds crew. They just need a list of what needs to be done.

“Just give me the list, and I will get it to them,” I say with a smirk.

“No, you won’t.” She doesn’t even look up at me. “You will toss it away, and nothing will get done.”

“Are you saying I’m lazy?” I lower my voice issuing an obvious challenge. She takes the bait just like I knew she would.

“No, I’m saying you’re dishonest. I’m saying you’re a dick who doesn’t give a fuck what happens to anyone but himself. So no, I will not be accepting your help.”

I cross my arms and wait just a beat. The grounds crew are here and just outside the door. It’s their morning routine to fill up their water bottles and get some coffee before they start the day. I know this, but Athena doesn’t.

As soon as I am sure they can hear us clearly, I say, “Look, princess, this house has a full staff. The grounds crew we have will take care of everything you need. They are the best at what they do. You just need to let me know what needs to be done.”

“Everything,” she snaps. “Everything needs to be done. And the best?” She huffs. “Hardly. Best at being incompetent maybe. The grounds are a mess. The hedges are overgrown and shabby looking, the lawn desperately needs to be mowed and?—”

“I’m sorry Miss, but Freya preferred the grounds to look wild. She had us tending to the plants to see they were healthy, and the gardens in the very back,” Myra, the head of the ground keepers, says, her daughter Polly behind her grabbing her skirts and hiding from Athena. “But if there is anything you would like changed, we just need to know, and we will handle it. My crew has been tending this house for almost five years. There is no better crew for this estate.”

Athena turns her eyes on me, her face growing bright red and her teeth grinding as she realizes I set her up. I knew they were there, and I let her walk right into that.

“I’m sure that won’t be necessary, Myra,” I butt in before Athena can say anything. “Athena is just new and over her head. Keep doing what you are doing. We will let you know what needs to be altered. Don’t worry, you are not losing this job.”

“N-no, of course,” Athena stammers. “I’ll let you know as soon as I have that list, but can we start with the back patio area. I want to have it open to guests for the first party in a few days.”

“Of course.” Myra takes her daughter and practically runs from the room.

“You know I hate you, as does everyone else in this house,” I say as I take a seat on the counter. “And you just made Myra’s daughter, Polly, cry. Once that gets around, the staff will hate you, too. Why don’t you just leave now and save yourself the trouble? I can’t imagine anyone is going to want to come to your little party, anyway.”

Athena takes a step toward me and leans in. Her eyes are locked with mine. “I’m glad you hate me.” She glances down at my lap, zeroing in on my cock beneath my pants that suddenly hardens as if this vixen is Medusa herself and can turn anything to stone. “But something tells me that hatred makes your dick hard.”

She then turns and stalks out the door.