Page 49 of The Deception: Hercules Valentine and I

When there’s no more hot dog to eat, I stand. Dread grips me as I clutch my stomach and walk to the glass lobby to test my theory.

Wait.I stop just as the doors slide open, and I tug on the lapels of Hercules’s coat.I’m still wearing it.

I look up at the sky, relieved. And then I laugh at myself for getting all worked up. Guilt is making me crazy. The elevator opens for me, and I ride up.

When I enter Hercules’s office, he’s not at his large desk. I take a moment to admire the cityscape rising behind his chair. I didn’t notice it when I first walked into to his office, because other than Lake’s painting, he was all I could focus on.

After all of these years, I still like him a lot.

I pull one lapel of his coat to my nose and inhale deeply. “Mmm,” I say as his scent fills my nostrils. I could smell Hercules every day for the rest of my life.

Finally, it’s time to leave. Since I’m not fired, I have a lot of work to get done. I carefully take off his coat and hang it back on the coat-tree. Before walking out, I stand in front of Lake’s painting. It’s a masterpiece. I can’t believe she’s such a great artist. But more than that, I can hardly believe Hercules paid half a million just because he liked my tits.

I snicker as I shake my head. It’s crazy knowing that Hercules Valentine is sexually attracted to me, the nerd from high school.

While returning to my pod, I realize that I dodged a bullet in the park. I have to watch what I say to Hercules and everyone else. I finally understand what’s at stake if I’m recognized. When he finds out that I’m Paisley Grove, he’ll feel betrayed. And then Hercules will banish me from his life forever. I have to figure out a way to never let that happen.