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The white dress shirt he wears, sleeves rolled up to the elbows, has the top two buttons open. I can see some skin, and I close my fists to control the urge to open the rest one by one.
"Did you lie when you said you weren't together anymore?"
I seriously consider telling the truth about the dating scam, but I don't want to embarrass Otis in front of the person he views as his rival, even though, truth be told, there is no rivalry at all. On a planet where Ares Kostanidis breathes, I will never be able to pay attention to another man.
"No," I say simply, but he doesn't look satisfied and grabs my chin to make me look at him.
"I’m taking you home."
"What?" That's not what I was expecting to hear. I was super excited about Madison's idea of us going to SIN.
"My sister-in-law got it into her head that she wants to go dancing at SIN, and my brothers will go with their wives."
"And you?"
"It's my place of work."
"Well, have a nice time, then," I say, letting go of him and heading for the door.
"Say goodbye to Eleanor and the rest of the family," he commands, as if I were a little girl.
I don't know what irritates me more, that he thinks he can boss me around, ordering me to say goodbye to his family, or that he’s decided that I can't go to SINwithout even consulting me. I know, however, that standing up to him alone is a bad strategy. I need an ally. Or two.
I run up the stairs, without looking back, and almost collide with Cici and Madison.
Brooklyn says goodbye to me, as does her husband, who is holding one of the children on his lap, already asleep. The rest of the troop is taken away by their bodyguards.
After they pass us, Madison says, not at all discreetly, "She knows about our plan." She nods to Cici, who smiles. I feel like I'm part of a secret society working on a conspiracy.
"Know what?" I say, pretending ignorance, and she rolls her eyes.
"About you and Ares."
I open my mouth to deny it, but then close it.
“Be cool, he's coming,” she whispers to me.
"He wants to take me home."
"No way. I got it." She smiles the biggest smile, which I'm sure must work on Zeus, but I don't think it will have any effect on my guardian. "Ares, I asked Serenity to come with us to SIN and?—"
“No," he says with his usual arrogance, cutting her off.
"Why not? Are you saying your club isn't a respectable place?"
"Have you explained to her what SIN is about?"
Madison shakes her head, and I can tell she's trying not to laugh.
"What are you talking about?" I ask.
"Could you excuse me so I can speak privately with my ward?"
"No," they both say, almost in chorus.
"Let me explain," Cici says. "SIN is a place to fulfill sexual fantasies, but without the sex itself, unless you are with a steady partner."
I try to pretend that hearing this is no big deal. I summon all the training I received at the German boarding school and keep my expression calm, but inside I am experiencing a turmoil of emotions.