Chapter One
Apollo, ancient god of many things, was in love. That was a common state of affairs for him. He’d been in love a thousand times throughout numerous lifetimes, but as he always ended up single again, he decided many moons before that love really wasn’t worth the effort.
Which was why he wasn’t going to do anything about his latest love interest – it would be a waste of time and a tragedy for all concerned. But daydreaming about the individual did help alleviate the intense boredom Apollo was feeling.
He was supposed to be listening to his sister Artemis as she went on and on about something. It might have been finances. The conversation would definitely have been business-related, but as Apollo rarely got asked for his opinion, it’s not as though he had to pay attention. Not when thinking about a certain tall, dark personage who seemed to walk around with his own personal light show was far more appealing.
“You’re not listening to me,” Artemis snapped, her tongue as sharp as the suit she was wearing, cutting through Apollo’s thoughts.
“What would be the point?” Leaning back in his chair, his feet resting on his desk, Apollo shrugged. He was wearing a suit, too, only because he didn’t have any desire to listen to Artemis’s lecture on appearances. He’d heard that one far too many times. Hell, he could repeat it back to her, word for word, if he felt inclined. “You aren’t asking my opinion on anything. The company is running perfectly. I’m not sure why you came in to talk to me at all.”
Artemis’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve been very distracted lately,” she warned.
“That’s my nature.” Apollo’s smile was completely fake. “I have no head for business, and you know the only reason I’m here is because I have no desire to spend my time on Olympus.”
“Are you seeing someone?”
“I’m seeing you right now.” Apollo flicked a hand in his sister’s direction. “I saw Janice at her desk when I came into my office. I saw Roger at the coffee shop earlier when I stopped in for my drink order. Darling Betsy drove me in this morning because nothing will convince me to get behind the wheel of my car, and I know you said how important it is not to just translocate into the office. And then there was…”
“You know what I mean. Your…” Artemis wrinkled her nose. “Your sex life. Who are you seeing in that regard?”
Apollo yawned. The sun shining through his large picture window was relaxing. “No one at all, and I find I’m appreciating how peaceful that way of living can be. I sleep alone on a cloud-filled mattress – I can spread out, scratch my balls, never have to worry about someone complaining about the crumbs in my bed. I can even snore, if I feel so inclined, snore to my little heart’s content, without someone moaning they couldn’t sleep because of the noise. Why would I want to do anything to change what is already a perfect existence?”
Artemis’s eyes narrowed. “That does not sound like you at all. Have you seen something in your prophecies – another tragedy perhaps?”
By the Fates, does she actually care?But Artemis hadn’t finished talking.
“Your exploits were fine back at the beginning of time, but in modern society anything you do can impact our business, and I won’t allow that. If you’ve seen something, you need to tell me about it immediately.”
“Don’t tell me you believe the crap written about us.” Apollo yawned again. Just thinking about his mattress had him wishing he’d stayed in bed. It truly was a divine mattress. “I may be the god of prophecy, but as no one has asked me for guidance in centuries, my skills are decidedly rusty. It’s not like I talk to my reflection in the mirror, asking myself what I see about my own life.”
“Maybe you should.”
“Why?” Apollo flung his hand toward the window. “I’m a sun god as well, but Helios does a perfectly good job driving the sun chariot without my input and has done so for a millennium. Even if he took a day off, which I know he does frequently now that he’s hooked up with his bear shifter, the sun would still rise and set the way it has since inception.
“Music is also my purview, but I don’t see you asking me about my abilities with a musical instrument, or if I’ve inspired any new songs lately. Most modern people don’t even know what a lyre is. If people want healing, they go to a medical professional, and I can’t think of a single reason why this domain needs another plague. So, why should I worry about my ability to prophesize when that’s not useful either?”
“You could…”
“I could what?” One thing Apollo was good at was interrupting his disapproving sister. He’d had plenty of practice at that. “You run the business. I’m fine with that. If you asked me to run it with you because you think you can use my powers of prophecy, then why haven’t you asked me to read your life? Huh?” He twitched his fingers in his sister’s direction. “You’re the actual balls of this business venture, not me.”
“I do wish you wouldn’t be so crude.” Artemis’s disgust was written all over her beautiful face. “There is nothing wrongwith wanting to be independent, and running a business in this modern world is seen as the epitome of what it means to be successful. As part of the ancient pantheon, there is also nothing wrong with using the gifts we were blessed with and worshipped for to further our cause in modern times.”
“Then you should’ve opened a garden stall or a hunting shop.” Apollo waved his forefinger at his sister. “Are you interfering in mortal affairs in the name of business? You know that’s not allowed. In fact, it’s expressly forbidden.”
“I have no interest in mortals.” Artemis sniffed. “Ergo, no wish to interfere, as you call it. Running a business, however, means there are times when I, or should I saywe, need to present a public and civil face to other businesses, so that this business can prosper.”
Behind Apollo’s relaxed posture was a shrewd brain. “What do you mean,we? My name is on the website, along with a brief bio your HR department drew up. I come into the office at least three days a week since you let me have the office with this gorgeous window. I sign the letters you put in front of me, and in all other matters, I defer to your judgment and have been happy to do so publicly since you started this business. How much more ‘we’ do we need to be?”
“There is one little matter…”
“Oh, no.” Apollo frowned as he shook his head. “Are you making appointments for me again without checking if I’m free first? I’ve told you numerous times I won’t act as your PA, your boyfriend or husband, manservant, or potential investor again. How about you start filling those slots with… Oh, I don’t know…real people?”
“No, no.” The flash of worry crossed Artemis’s face so fast, Apollo almost missed it. “You’d be representing the company inyour true capacity as part owner – meeting with the owner of another company.”
“I’m half-owner of this company.” Apollo’s correction of his sister was automatic, but every hair on the back of his neck was standing up and waving. Artemis always conducted meetings with business owners and potential investors herself, claiming Apollo was too flighty to present the serious image she wanted the company to maintain. It was a true assessment, so Apollo didn’t take offense. “Who is this business owner you want me to meet on your behalf, and more importantly, why don’t you want to take that meeting yourself?”
“The person is a wolf shifter.” Artemis shuddered.
