25

Cara

I follow Eros back into the house, up the central staircase, and into his wing of the mansion. Lycus remains behind with the car and obnoxiously reminds Eros about their upcoming meeting.

"What's so important he keeps talking about it?" I ask as Eros pauses outside of his office door.

"We're in the middle of replacing the business we lost when you threw money in the face of the dockworkers' union reps," he says mildly.

I clear my throat and try not to turn red. "Right. Sorry about that."

"No, you're not. Come." He walks into his office and I follow.

On the desk is a cardboard box. It's out of place in the otherwise pristine room. Big bookshelves with leather bound volumes flank either wall, and a huge window overlooks the grounds and the city beyond. A full bar covers the back wall with a wide selection of brown liquor.

"You pulled me from work just to look at a box?" I ask.

"Among other things." He hands me a phone, the newest Apple model, and I arch an eyebrow at it. "I had one