Page 36 of Dancing for the Minotaur

He shrugged again.

“It was one of the few domiciles I saw that seemed big enough for me.”

“Oh, well that makes sense.” She nodded. “You are a, uh, really big guy.”

“As most Monstrum are,” he said, nodding back. “Come–let me show you my office.” As he spoke, he led her down a wide hallway toward a set of open double doors. “I have been using this suite as my place of business while I am on Earth.”

Terra stepped through the double doors and stopped, her mouth hanging open.

“Oh,” she breathed. That was all she could manage.

The office consisted of three connected rooms, and every available horizontal surface seemed to be covered in paper.

Stacks covered the enormous desk. More sat on a conference table and there were boxes on the floor. Folders were piled on two chairs and several stacks leaned precariously against a wall. One had apparently collapsed recently, which explained the trail of papers Terra had seen near the front door.

There were also several large computer screens mounted on the wall, each displaying different charts, shipping manifests, planetary maps and strings of numbers.

The contrast was bizarre–high-tech intergalactic commerce surrounded by enough paper to run a small government agency.

Terra slowly put her purse down on a nearby stack of paper.

“What happened in here?”

Taurex looked slightly sheepish–a strange expression on such a huge male.

“Nothing happened,” he protested. “This is how I keep my records.”

“What? All over the place?” she asked, looking around. “Never mind,” she added, when he started to talk again. “I can see you need some help–let’s see what we can do.”

She walked to the desk and picked up the first sheet she saw. It was an invoice to Cameron Corp. LLC for three cases of diamond-tipped drills from Berkeron Six and the amount made her eyes go wide. Looking at the date, Terra saw it was three months old. She held it up to Taurex.

“Did your customer pay this yet?”

Taurex came closer. He leaned over her shoulder, and Terra suddenly became acutely aware of his size and the heat radiating from his big, muscular body. Not to mention his scent–God, why did he smell so good?

She took one subtle step sideways, trying to get upwind of that maddening leather and male musk scent.

Taurex either didn't notice or politely pretended not to. He studied the invoice for a long moment.

“I believe so,” he said at last.

“You believe so?” Terra raised her eyebrows. “They owe you over three million dollars. You need to know for sure if they paid or not.”

“Yes,” I’m aware of that.” He shifted from foot to foot, looking uncomfortable.

Terra frowned up at him.

“Where are your receivables?”

The big Monstrum looked confused.

“My what?”

“Accounts receivable,” Terra said patiently. “The money customers owe you.”

He lifted his hands, palm up.

“I have records in the system,” he offered.