The next thing I knew I was hammering on the door. There was a scuffling sound on the other side, and Ria opened the door, looking shocked. She was dressed in loungewear, with mussed up hair and smudged make-up that seemed to be from the day before.
“What are you doing here? I know I missed our appointment, but it’s highly unprofessional to turn up at my family home...”
A voice called out from somewhere in the flat behind her. “Who is it, Maria?”
“No one, Grandmother. Go back to your talismans.”
Despite the background of family chaos and Ria’s rumpled appearance, I couldn’t stop myself blurting it out. “Apollo sent you to me. Why?”
She stared at me. Her voice was flat. “We are not having this discussion here.”
“Fine.” My mouth was a tight line. “I’ve got a car. We can have this discussion in a secure location.”
“Are you going to kidnap me?”
I realized I was probably exuding the energy of a kidnapper. I relented. “No. I just want to ask you some questions.”
“What will happen if I don’t comply?” She raised an eyebrow.
I was stuck. I couldn’t really threaten her, nor did I want to, I now realized. This had been stupid, unplanned. If Apollo was tracking my every movement, then he’d be laughing at how badly I’d handled this situation.
“Fine. I’ll come.”
“Okay. Get in the car.”
She didn’t look happy. “Get in the car,please.”
I sniffed indignantly. “You’re not in a position to be correcting me.”
“No, but I’m in a position to go and get changed. Unless you want to transport me in my pyjamas through the traffic jams of New York City.”
Once again I was forced to relent. “You have five minutes.”
“Ten. Minimum. Get in your car, I’ll meet you there.”
The door closed. Just before it shut completely, I caught a glimpse of an elderly woman approaching, draped in fabrics and jewels. I was already getting the feeling I didn’t want to trifle with Ria’s grandmother. I backed off and sat sullenly in the back of my car.
It was fifteen minutes until Ria joined me. She’d realized my threats were empty, of course. That’s what being a deep-down nice guy got you – lack of respect. That was one of my problems.
She had managed to transform herself in those fifteen minutes into the Ria I’d met. Business Ria, with her suit and tamed hair. It was reassuring. This Ria was easier to resent than the pyjama-clad young woman being called by her grandmother.
I looked her over pointedly. “I’m not taking you for an interview, you know.” I waved to the driver to start moving. He knew where we were going.
“Yeah, well, you aren’t taking me for hangover brunch, either.”
Apparently that would have been an outing that elicited pyjamas. I briefly did wish we were going for brunch, instead. Then I remembered my fury and betrayal and put all thoughts of brunch out of my mind.
We pulled up at a secret building I had rented and secured on the outskirts of the city. It would operate as a safehouse if I ever needed one. Except now it had been breached, since I had necessitated privacy for my interrogation of Apollo’s spy. Never mind, I had plenty of other safe houses.
“We aren’t at your office, are we?” Ria’s voice was flat and unimpressed.
A pang of hurt struck my chest, then morphed to anger. I don’t know how she could be so flippant with me after she’d betrayed my trust. “Like I said, I’m not taking you for a job interview.”
“I’ve left a note under my pillow for if I go missing. You definitely don’t want the wrath of my Grandmother to fall on your head. She’ll put a curse on you.”
“She can go ahead. I’m sure I’ve got a fair few curses on me already.”
“Oh, boo hoo. The billionaire is sad sometimes. Truly, his life is tragic.”