"It's incredible," I said.
"I wanted merfolk performers too, but Aphrodite talked me down," he said."Something about it feeling like it would undermine the point of the event."
I laughed."I'm not sure whether it's safer to disagree with Poseidon or Aphrodite."
"You can find out now," he teased, turning me and gesturing towards where a gorgeous blonde woman was giving some of the workers last-minute instructions.
My eyes widened.I liked to think that I was a confident person.But there was confidence, and there was meeting a literal goddess of beauty.
Poseidon placed a comforting hand on my back and drew me over to her.Aphrodite turned to look at us and flashed us a winning smile.
"Good, you're here," she said, presumably to Poseidon.
"I'm on time," he said.
"Just."
"Aphie can be a bit of a perfectionist," he said to me.
The goddess laughed."It's what I'm known for.Oh, you remember Damien, right?"She gestured to a man with sandy hair."If you hear Aine talk about it, I stole him from Jinx."
"And what do you call it?"Damien asked.
"That I gave you an offer you couldn't refuse."She beamed at him in a way that made it clear their relationship was more than just a work one."I like my events to be the best, and Damienisone of the best in the organising business.Besides, Aine can still hire him, she just has to pay me to do it."
Poseidon chuckled."You've never changed."
"I have," she responded."Just not in some things.Also, I'm sorry, I should have introduced myself.I'm Aphrodite.Aphie to my friends, so not to Poseidon."
"Rude," he muttered, though I assumed it was a joke when he'd already called her that.
She held out her hand to me.
"Laila," I responded as I took it and gave it a shake."Which is what my friends and enemies call me."
Aphrodite laughed."I like her."
"So do I," Poseidon responded, looking at me with a softened expression."She's been an inspiration for the menu tonight."
My cheeks heated in response to his words.In theory, I'd known what I was getting into when I'd decided to flirt with a god, but it was still surreal to hear him saying those kinds of things when I was just me.The gravity of the situation I'd found myself in truly hit.I was here as Poseidon's date, but that meant I was here as the organiser's date.The whole evening was about him, which meant that people would be talking about him.
And so they'd be talking about me.
I took a deep breath and tried to calm my nerves.If I wanted to keep dating him, then this was something I was going to have to get used to.And I reallydidwant to keep dating him.He was everything I'd ever looked for in a partner, and more.I hadn't expected to find someone who viewed food quite the same way I did.
"Your guests are about to arrive," Aphrodite said."So I'd suggest getting yourself into position in order to greet them."
"Who made you the boss?"he murmured.
"You did when you hired me.Now do it.I'll make sure your date is cared for."
He mumbled something under his breath, but still remembered to lean in and kiss my cheek before doing what Aphrodite said.
"You know, that took less convincing than I thought," she mused as he left."You must have been good for him."
"I don't think that's me," I responded."Just Poseidon being himself."
"Hmmm, we'll see.Anyway, he'll be done in about twenty minutes, then he's yours until food service is about to start."
