Page 3 of Flowers Near Me

CHAPTER THREE

OLYMPUS’ SWEETHEART

PERSEPHONE

P ersephone knocked twice on the painted door of her sister’s red brick townhouse. Twisting the handle, she stepped over the threshold with an eager, “Hello!” and hung her overnight bag on a burnished bronze wall hook.

“Aunt Sephy!” Helena squealed, racing from the kitchen to the foyer. Her small arms hugged Persephone’s waist. Persephone hugged her back, then reached past her niece’s shoulder to place a handful of pale pink peonies and a to-go box onto the lacquered credenza. Helena released Persephone with a giggle. A sparkle from the chandelier above reflected in the little girl’s brown eyes.

Stroking the silken strands of her niece’s straight black hair, Persephone said, “I brought your favorite flowers today. Look.” She gestured her head towards the bouquet.

Helena’s eyes widened as she hopped to retrieve her gift. “Thank you!” With her arms full, she sprinted down the hall.

Laura, Persephone’s half-sister, called, “We’re in the kitchen.”

“So glad it’s the weekend,” Persephone shouted back and lined her pumps next to her sister’s tennis shoes.

She wrapped her hair into a low bun, then grabbed her bag to drop it in the nearby guest bedroom before joining Laura and Helena in the kitchen. While both Persephone and Laura had their mother’s long, light brown hair, Persephone looked more like their mother with her green eyes, olive skin, and tall frame. Meanwhile Laura had her father’s dark brown eyes, ivory complexion, and the gentle curves of motherhood.

Tall windows overlooking the tree-lined street cast a golden glow on the white countertops and warm wood cabinets. Laura plucked a glass vase from a live edge shelf as Helena bounced on her heels, the pastel peonies bursting from her grasp. After filling the vase with water, Laura trimmed the ends of the flowers and handed them back to Helena. The little girl got to work arranging them on the table in the breakfast nook.

Turkish cloth in hand, Laura swiped fast circles over the countertop and blew a lock of hair from her forehead. “What’s in the box?”

“Chocolate cake. I had a dinner meeting.”

“A dinner meeting? Or a date?” Laura raised her brows.

The edges of Persephone’s mouth lifted. “Not a date. I bought an app from a developer named Eurydice.” It was nice to finally be able to talk about it with her sister after keeping it hush for so long.

“Another app?” Laura’s brows raised. “What’s this one do?”

Persephone pulled out her phone from her pocket, opened the app, and turned the screen towards Laura. “It’s a mobile flower market. Anyone can upload a photo of flowers they want to sell, and buyers can search for flowers in their area.”

Laura held Persephone’s phone in her hand, swiping through the products. “Won’t florists hate it?”

“No, because they can list on there as well. It’s meant to help them offload surplus stock. In fact, I got Helena those peonies from a local florist who had leftovers from a custom order.”

Laura handed Persephone her phone and asked, “Are you an early investor then?”

“More like a partner and brand ambassador.”

Laura’s brow pinched. “Does Mom know?”

Pulling a glass from the cupboard, Persephone filled her cup with water from the fridge. “I’m going to surprise her with the signed contract.” She almost couldn’t believe her luck. To acquire technology like the Flowers Near Me app was a feat for the gods, let alone a simple mortal like her. Demeter would be proud.

Laura set plates and forks on the counter and opened the satin ribbon tied over the black to-go box.

“You won’t believe which god showed up at the restaurant, though,” Persephone said.

“Who? Poseidon?” Laura cut a slice of cake, setting it onto a plate.

Persephone was quick to shake her head. “One of the brothers but not that one.”

“Zeus?”

Persephone took the offered cake slice from Laura. “No.”

Laura’s knuckles turned white as she gripped the cake knife. “Hades ?”

“Yes.”

Mouth agape, Laura asked, “Did he talk to you?”

“Get this, he sat at the table when Eurydice left to take a phone call.”

Laura’s hazel eyes stared back. “What did he say?”

“Not much. It seemed like he just wanted to introduce himself. He asked what I thought about Olympus and how Mom’s doing. He knew who I was. I’d thought for sure he didn’t know me or would pretend he didn’t.”

“What makes you say that? Aren’t you famous now as Demeter’s business-savvy daughter?”

“Demeter’s shadow is more like it.”

Laura laughed. “Have you read the articles about you?”

Persephone shook her head. “I’ve tried not to.”

“Awe, maybe you should. They’re calling you Olympus’ newest sweetheart.”

“Oh Fates. That makes me sound annoying.” Persephone rubbed the bridge of her nose.

“I don’t think so. Everyone assumed you’d be cold like Mom but you’re not and they’re surprised.”

Persephone’s shoulders slumped. “They just don’t know me yet.”

“True, but Mom can be a real bitch.” Laura’s expression turned sly. “Anyway, is Hades handsome in person? Or just photogenic?”

“No, he’s handsome and knows it.”

Laura scrunched her face then with a loud exhale said, “Well, if you said anything he didn’t like, I’m sure you’ll hear about it from his team.”

Laura was right. They’d run an article claiming Demeter’s daughter had said something offensive or unsavory to the mogul. Baldfaced lie or not, whatever served their purposes, they’d publish it.

She started running over every syllable that had passed her lips. She’d been careful. She knew she had. But with Hades, careful was never enough. Her stomach twisted, the rich chocolate cake turning bitter on her tongue.