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I didn’t think that was too unreasonable. We were an architecture firm, for fuck’s sake. If we held our ten-year anniversary event in a building designed by someone else, we’d look like chumps. Besides, our buildings were the best.

Although I guessed I appreciated that the list she’d sent were all demiurgus-made buildings and demiurgus-owned businesses. A conscientious detail, though it was her job, so I wasn’t going to point it out or anything.

A new email popped up, making my fingers twitch around my phone. Before opening it, I switched over to my messages and fired one off to my nutritionist, because my gut was going all weird again.

Something in the new diet plan not agreeing with me – can we set up a call ASAP?

Before opening the email, I sat up and switched on my bedside lamp, then took a long drink of water, hoping it would settle my stomach. It didn’t, so I got up and slipped on my silk robe before carrying my phone and bottle into the kitchen.

After dumping some electrolyte powder into my water, I took a breath and opened the email.

Dear Mr var Rorik,

I understand. However, as Rorik + Stimis Architects designs residential and mixed-use projects, my concern is that we will come up against the same problem as the Blackgrass. Generally, the rooms suitable for events in mixed-use buildings are on the smaller side.

Best,

Anita

My nostrils flared as I gulped down my water, then slammed the bottle down and hammered out a reply.

That’s not true. We design residential and commercial. I just oversee the residential projects. Felik oversees commercial.

It took a good five minutes for her to respond. Not that I counted or anything. I sat at the kitchen island, drumming my claws restlessly as I sipped my water, lunging for my phone when it finally dinged.

Mr var Rorik,

My mistake.

HA! God, I bet she hated having to admit to being wrong. I bet her stupid cute nose had scrunched up, full lips pursing as she sat there struggling to think of how to admit she’d made a mistake. I bet she’d frantically gone on our website to check that I was telling the truth. Honestly, I was a little shocked by the oversight. She seemed to have done her research on us before. Maybe she was tired. It was pretty late. I should’ve gone back to bed already. I should be asleep, basking in the knowledge that I’d gotten one over on her.

Here is a new list of potential venues designed by Rorik + Stimis Architects, the email continued. Hopefully some of these might be suitable.

There was a new list underneath, which meant she had gone to our website to have a look at our projects. Feeling smug, I scanned it and typed out a response.

Let’s try the first three on the list. I’ll block out an afternoon so we can get it done. Monday? I trust that won’t be too short notice for you.

It was Thursday night, which meant she’d only have tomorrow’s business hours to arrange viewings for all three venues. I’d only suggested Monday because I kind of wanted to see how she’d respond to such a tight deadline. Honestly, Monday would be a pain for me. Well, it’d be a giant pain for Lipa, who would have to spend all day tomorrow clearing my schedule for Monday afternoon.

I said a silent apology to her and made a mental note to make sure she took some vacation days soon. Maybe I’d buy her a new plant for her desk. She had a lot of them, but I couldn’t actually remember if that was because she liked them, or if I’d seen one on there one day and just assumed she did, so I’d kept buying them for her as an apology whenever I was a total ass.

Either way, people liked plants, right? They were just a nice decoration that needed a splash of water every now and then. I had a lot of them in my nesthouse, although I did have a housekeeper who came three times a week and looked after them for me. But mine were all thriving, so… Couldn’t be that hard to look after.

I tapped immediately on the new email when it came through, mouth twitching as I read it.

Mr var Rorik,

Not too short notice at all. I’ll send over the details for all three viewings by midday tomorrow at the latest.

Regards,

Anita

Midday at the latest, huh? Setting herself a tight deadline there. We’d just have to see if she managed to deliver.

I had a quick look at my calendar to see what I had scheduled for 12 p.m. on Friday—a catch-up with Felik to go over the new contracts. Awesome. I could just let him drone on about how much sex he’d had with Bavia this week while I kept an eye on the time and counted down to noon, with an email reminding Anita about the viewing details already drafted and ready for me to send at precisely 12.01 p.m. if she didn’t deliver on time. Just to piss her off.

Grinning evilly, I downed the last of my water and sauntered back to bed.