Tags:
Drama,
Fiction,
Paranormal,
Young Adult,
Teenager,
teen,
teen fiction,
greek mythology,
hades,
Shoes,
coming-of-age novel,
paranormal humor
guys at raves and concerts and clubs, but never someone like him. Friends I was always able to make easily, but not boyfriends. I never got the kind of admiring glances Iâd seen guys throw at Shar, and I found it hard to believe that Jeremy was different. I knew my own feelings; the image of his face lingered in my mind since the night at the pizzeria, and the reconnection only intensified things. I couldnât get his eyes, his lips, his voice out of my mind.
Then Reynaldo burst into the reception area as if his trousers were on fire.
âThere you are! You two, copy room. Ã ndale ! I need the five hundred copies of the programs for tomorrowâs runway show collated and folded, pronto. Theyâve just been delivered by the printer. When youâre done, let me know. Oh, thereâs just too much to do!â he cried, ushering us away. Jeremy smiled at me and gave a little wave. Shar pressed her lips together and said nothing as we trooped after Reynaldo to the copy room.
âPoor Margaret isnât feeling well. Laryngitis, I think, isnât that right, dear?â Demeterâs voice chimed in the hallway behind us.
âDonât breathe on me, I can not get sick!â Reynaldo squealed and covered his mouth and nose. He thrust us into the copy room and scurried away, screaming, âSomeone bring me antibacterial wipes!â
âYouâd better get started,â Demeter sang. She hung in the doorway and glanced at us haughtily. âIt doesnât look like youâll be leaving here for quite a while.â
We were surrounded by boxes of programs. Without giving her the satisfaction of a reply, I turned away and got to work. Two hours later, everything was collated, folded, and stacked.
âI need to stretch,â Shar grumbled, flexing arms and legs.
âMe too. I want to get a latte before we get sent on some other petty errand.â
I led the way to the kitchen. We had just stirred the sugar into our cups when Reynaldo burst in, his sharp, black-outlined eyes glaring at us.
âThis is no time for a break! Did I say you could take a break? Oh!â He fanned his face like he was going to faint. âWe have to move fast, ladies! Get yourselves straight to the Purple Salon. V á monos !â He clapped his hands and hustled us out the door. He glanced at his watch and his face registered panic.âCome, come!â
Down we shuffled to the Purple Salon. When we were all in, he shut the door behind us. The room was a sty. Pins, paper, fabric scraps, pencils, and coffee cups were all over the floor, and the walls were lined with rolling racks of clothes, all sealed in plastic garment bags. In the center of the room was a dais with a drape around it.
âBehold House of Romanovâs summer collection! Isnât it divine?â He didnât wait for an answer from us. âAs you can see, this place is a mess! Jeremy is going to bring Mr. Arkady down to approve the accessories before tomorrowâs runway show. I need you to clean up and get out before he comes in. Mr. Romanov does not like anyone around him. Iâll pop in and give you a one-minute warning.â He patted his chest like he was having heart palpitations and flew out the door, his hand still thumping. He needed to self-medicate.
We surveyed the room.
âWhat bomb went off in here?â Shar said, propping the glasses on her head. She started picking things up off the floor and throwing them in the garbage. âBut did you hear what he said? Arkady is coming down here! We might actually see him!â She walked over to the dais and stared at it. âWhat do you think this is?â
She pushed the drape back, revealing a platform upon which stood a dress form draped in a silken sheath.
âWow,â Shar breathed. âThis must be their anchor piece. Itâs amazing! Itâs â¦â
â⦠a beige dress. Those glasses are really starting to affect
John Maddox Roberts
Nick Gifford
Gina Cresse
Elizabeth Bear
Don Marquis
Amy Asbury
Tenille Brown
C. L. Murray
John Creasey
Henning Mankell