Page 35 of Dancing for the Minotaur

“Earth bureaucracy is confusing,” he admitted. “I have done business on many worlds, but your planet has them all beat when it comes to legal intricacies.”

Terra bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling at the big Monstrum’s obvious confusion.

“I can probably help with that.”

He looked genuinely relieved.

“I am hoping so.”

His expression made her feel better. She’s spent the whole drive downtown wondering if there really was a job waiting for her or if Taurex had just lured her here to dance for him again.

But judging by the paper trail alone, there was definitely work to do.

Taurex led her deeper into the penthouse and Terra immediately forgot about the papers because she was too busy looking around.

The apartment was enormous.

The main living space alone was larger than her mother's entire bungalow in Seminole Heights. One wall was made completely of windows, offering a panoramic view of downtown Tampa. The furniture was modern and expensive-looking—deep leather sofas, low stone tables, sleek chairs—but there wasn't much of it. Everything was arranged perfectly, almost like a furniture showroom.

There were no family photographs, no framed pictures or knickknacks. No throw blankets tossed over the sofa or magazines lying around. Nothing personal at all.

Apparently her new boss was a minimalist.

Well, that was fine with Terra. She lived in the daily clutter of a house filled with two school-aged kids. No matter how often she picked up, there was always somebody’s shoes or books or toys laying around. It was nice to be someplace neat and tidy for a change.

The kitchen, when they came to it, was equally impressive, with dark cabinets, pale stone countertops and appliances that looked as though they belonged in a restaurant. There was an enormous refrigerator that Terra suspected cost more than her car and a dining table large enough for twelve people.

But again, everything looked unused. The penthouse was beautiful but strangely empty.

“You live here alone?” Terra asked before she could stop herself.

He nodded.

“Yes.”

“All the time? I mean, you don’t have a wife or a girlfriend or…”

She trailed off, blushing. She didn’t need to know those things about him to work for him!

“Sorry,” she muttered. “I didn’t mean to be nosey. That’s none of my business.”

Taurex shook his head.

“No, please–I don’t mind. And to answer your questions, I have no mate. There are no more females of my kind for me to mate with,” he answered.

“Oh, that’s sad,” Terra said, really meaning it. The poor guy must be lonely.

He shrugged, his broad shoulders tensing the fabric of his expensive linen shirt.

“It is the way it is for all the Monstrum. We lost our females when we lost our universe to the darklings.”

“Oh, of course.” Terra nodded. “I was just wondering why your, er, apartment seems so empty. It doesn’t look every, uh, lived in at all.”

“Probably because I prefer to stay aboard the Monstrum Mother Ship,” Taurex told her. “I only rented this residence because it is convenient for my Earth business. I stay here only one or two nights a week.”

So that explained it–the penthouse wasn’t his real home, it was just a place to sleep between meetings.

“Wow, so you rented one of the most expensive penthouses in the city just to do business once in a while?” Terra nodded at the vast marble fireplace that looked like it had never even had one fire in it and the luxury furniture that didn’t even look like anyone had sat in it.