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His smile grew a little pointed as he shrugged. “I like to be accommodating. So sorry if I kept you waiting. I make a point of being on time to things, but I must’ve…” He checked the chunky watch on his wrist. “Oh, would you look at that. Early.”

Oh, game on. I shrugged demurely. “It’s no problem. I was only waiting about ten minutes.” Might as well fudge it a bit, seeing as he wouldn’t know. “I usually show up early to appointments. To be accommodating.”

He narrowed his eyes slightly at me. “Good to know. Shall we?”

“Yes.” I realised with a jolt that I had completely ignored Lipa, which wasn’t like me at all, so I stepped around var Rorik to hold out my hand. “Hi, Lipa. Nice to see you again.”

“Hi Anita.” She tucked her tablet under one arm and shook my hand with a smile.

“So,” I said briskly as I turned to make my way to the reception desk, assuming var Rorik would follow. “Let’s see if the space is suitable for what you have in mind.”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” he asked, but I ignored him as I smiled at the receptionist.

“Anita Chaudhary of Feris Events, here to see Loria fir Bulek,” I told her, referring to the events manager.

Her yellow eyes flared with a touch of fear at my name, no doubt remembering the two days of constant calls.

“Of course,” she said quickly, grabbing three passes. “She’s waiting for you in the conference room. Floor twenty.”

I took the passes and handed one each to Lipa and var Rorik. Lipa and I looped the lanyards around our necks, whereas var Rorik stuffed his in his pants pocket. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Of course he wouldn’t want an ugly lanyard ruining the look of his sharp, expensive suit. Or maybe he didn’t want to mess up his flawless hair by pulling something over it.

He and Lipa followed as I walked over to the elevators and used my pass to call one. I was kind of surprised by how reticent and well-behaved he was being. Demiurgus were known for being dominant and sometimes overbearing, but even if they weren’t, I assumed he was. I’d half expected him to elbow me out of the way and give the receptionist a big, cocky smile as he let her know that the Nuni var Rorik was in the building.

The elevator was empty when the doors slid open, and we all stepped on without a word. Then I was subjected to the infuriatingly delicious scent of him—of his cologne, anyway. It wasn’t overpowering, but its crisp, subtle scent was inescapable in the enclosed space.

His arm brushed mine as he shoved his hands in his pockets. One foot tapped a few times before he seemed to make an effort to stop it. I glanced up when he cleared his throat after a few moments of silence.

“So—”

“Sir, Mr Povlik has emailed asking if he can rearrange your call at four,” Lipa spoke up from his other side, eyes glued to her tablet.

His ears fluttered. Looking away from me quickly, he addressed her. “It’ll have to be tomorrow. I don’t have time today.”

“Of course. I’ll check tomorrow’s schedule.”

She bent her head back over her tablet as he rocked on his heels, seeming very interested in the elevator buttons. After another five seconds of silence, he cleared his throat again.

“So—”

The elevator dinged as it came to a sudden stop, doors opening smoothly a second later. Pursing my lips to hide a smile, I stepped out and waited for them to follow.

“Ms Chaudhary?” A demiurgus lady in a fitted suit was striding toward us with a beaming smile. “Loria. Lovely to meet you.”

“Hi. Thanks again for fitting us in.” I shook her hand and gestured at var Rorik and Lipa. “This is—”

“Mr var Rorik,” she interrupted, shaking his hand enthusiastically. “Wonderful to meet you. Congratulations on the award for the nesthouse—so well deserved. I was lucky enough to see it before the residents moved in. It’s absolutely stunning.”

He let out a smooth chuckle and drawled, “Thanks, Loria. We were up against some stiff competition, but…” He shrugged, clearly trying to look at least somewhat humble and failing spectacularly.

“The placement of the windows to let in just the right amount of natural light and highlight the view of the river?” She shook her head. “Just inspired. And that sumptuous deeproom with the underground spring. It really felt like I was in Deep Earth. I never wanted to leave!”

She laughed lightly as var Rorik preened, smoothing a hand down his tie.

I cleared my throat and gestured to Lipa. “And this is Lipa, Mr var Rorik’s assistant.”

Loria finally noticed her and stretched out a hand. “Hi there. Nice to meet you.”

I glanced at var Rorik in time to see him glancing back at me before he looked away quickly and stuffed his hands into his pockets.