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Orel didn’t understand. He sold Nihal’s products as easily as breathing. What Cetus needed was a clone of Orel, or Orel himself. “How did you find your business partner?” Cetus demanded.
Orel ducked his head. “Well, that’s kind of a long story. I was doing a favour for a friend, there was this speed dating thing, a shot of cupid venom and Nihal and I…we had a Valentine’s Day picnic, and one thing led to another…”
Cetus’s mouth dropped open and he couldn’t seem to close it. “You spiked her drink at a speed dating event? Does she know?”
“I put venom in a glass of water that we both drank, and she watched me dose the glass while I explained exactly what cupid venom can do. Neither of us guessed that one shared drink would bring us together, but the universe works in strange ways and I know I have no regrets. Well, as long as I bring this cake home to Nihal, I won’t.” Orel patted the box.
“Is that where Claw met his Human pastrychef, too? At a speed dating event?” Cetus pressed.
Orel shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s possible. They might have even been there the same night I was. But that’s the thing about cupid venom – it helps you focus on what’s important, on the person who’s your perfect match. You tend not to pay much attention to anyone else, once it hits the bloodstream.”
“What’s the going price for a shot of cupid venom?”
Orel held up his hands. “No. I will not enable this sort of nonsense. Cupid venom consumed with full consent is one thing, but I will not have you going to some dating event and spiking someone’s drink. Not only is it illegal, it’s morally wrong. And even if you did, it’s not a love potion. All the venom does is enhance a person’s perception, so if they’re not the right person for you, it’ll only make that clearer for them. Rejection will be swift and brutal. You’re my friend, and the last person I’d want to see that happen to. So no, I will not sell you a single drop of venom. But I will call my contacts at the Arena, and get you an appointment to show off your cakes. How long do you think you’ll need to bake something so heavenly they won’t be able to resist it?”
“A day,” Cetus said grudgingly. “But it won’t matter. Every job interview, any situation where I have to put myself out there, I get so tongue tied that I can’t get a word out. I’m telling you, it’s pointless. That’s why I need a business partner to do the talking for me. That’s what I need your venom for. Not for them, for me. So I can find them!”
“And I’m telling you, you won’t get a business partner until your business is already successful. Nihal already had a business partner when I met her – Vulcan, the owner of Forge. Claw’s bakery was already doing well. You need to win this contract, and…you know what? The Saturnalia will be the perfect place for you to find a business partner. Everyone in the Colony will be there, and they’ll be eating your cake, so they’ll already love you.” Orel knocked back the rest of the rum in his glass, wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and continued, “I’ll tell you what. I’ll set you up with a meeting in two days’ time. You bring your cakes and secure the contract. On the night of the Saturnalia, I will give you two shots of venom, which should cover you for the night. Once the cakes are served, you take the first shot – you, and no one else – and start networking. All you’ll have to do is ask people if they like the cakes, and give them your business card when they say they do. If the perfect person for you pops up, you’ll know.”
Cetus didn’t want to do it. But if that was Orel’s condition to giving him the venom and helping him find a business partner…it was worth the price. “It’s a deal. Set up the meeting, and I’ll start baking.”
Orel jumped to his feet. “You will not regret it, my dude.”
Somehow, Cetus doubted that, but he regretted a lot of things, and he still did them anyway. Maybe this would be worth it.
Chapter Five
The Arena foyer was crazy, with people milling about everywhere.
“You here as a fighter, or a monster?” the security guard at the door asked.
Cetus hugged the box of cupcakes to his chest. “I have an appointment with Achilles,” he stammered. At least, that’s what Orel had told him. Orel might be full of stardust, which meant Cetus would be back where he started, but he hoped he’d told the truth. After three days of zero sales, Cetus was willing to try anything.
“Name?”
“Cetus from the Sweet Teeth Cake Shop.”
The guard’s eyebrows shot up. “The Boss wants you sent up straight away, as soon as you arrive. The shark shifter, right? Here’s your VIP guest pass. I’ll get you access to the Boss’s private elevator over there. His office is on the top floor.” He pointed.
This was almost too good to be true. Cetus hadn’t even had to open the box. Then again, he hadn’t met the Boss yet.
When the elevator doors opened, Cetus couldn’t help but stare. He’d expected offices, but the whole floor was one big open space, with a wall of windows overlooking the Arena. One wall was covered entirely in wall screens, each showing a different angle of the Arena or the building below. Achilles wasn’t just the Boss – he was the unrivalled god of the Arena, as omniscient as any deity, with a view like this.
“Are you the shark shifter?”
Cetus blinked. Enthroned on a huge wing chair, with an equally large man on the chair beside him, was the Boss.
Back when he was working in a brothel on Tito, this was the kind of man his clients wished they were. Physically powerful with a presence that made you want to obey. Of course, a man like this didn’t need to visit a brothel. Ever.
Wordlessly, Cetus nodded. Then he remembered the box and thrust it out in front of him, his hands shaking as he tried and failed to lift the lid.
Achilles jerked his head toward his companion. “Patroclus, take the box down to Lamia. Without eating the contents. Tell her to confirm the final numbers she needs and comm me directly.”
Patroclus didn’t have the same threatening aura as Achilles. Probably one of the reasons he wasn’t the Boss. The moment the box was in his hands, he flipped it open, then let out a low whistle. “Do you know how long it’s been since I had good cake? Stars, you are so mean. At least Lamia will let me have one. Maybe more than one…” He let out a dramatic sigh and sauntered into the elevator.
“What species of shark?”
Cetus swallowed, turning his eyes back to the Boss. “Tiger.”
