Athena's Jewel (Aya Harris Collection 2)

“You only meant vampires or the wealthy or… devastatingly sexy men?”

I tore my eyes from his and glued them to my purse. Maybe if I shut my mouth for two minutes, I could start this thing over.

“Please, I was only teasing you.” He slid a little closer on the black leather seat. “It is a perfectly reasonable question. Let me explain.”

There wasn’t much distance between us anymore. Only a few inches of safe space. If I slid away, he might get offended. Instead, I settled with cautiously looking up at him.

“The museum has been around for years,” he continued. “Before Mr. Jones owned it, a little chap named Wells used to run it. It had half the collection it has now and was in poor repair. Still, I loved that place and its dark corners. I used to visit every day, before I was forced to relocate out of town for business purposes.”

I nodded. Michael Wells was well-known to me. He had authored several of the research books catalogued in our storage room. His mother had been a banshee and his father a human. It was an unfortunate pairing for Mr. Wells during those times. Tensions between humans and supernatural creatures had been at an all-time high. I imagined he had trouble making friends and delved into his work to make up for the loneliness.

Mr. McAllister pulled the open champagne bottle from a tub of ice and poured himself a refill. “Thirty years later, I was glad to return home. When it came to my attention that Mr. Jones was interested in selling the place, I jumped at the opportunity.”

I waved away his attempt to refill my glass and instead pulled out the charts from my purse. “I’m glad to know you’re so fond of the place, Mr. McAllister.”

He grimaced. “Please, call me Trent.”

“Trent,” I repeated. “Because I have a lot of ideas on how to increase traffic, make our displays more interactive, and attract the populace that we’ve been unable to reel in. Namely, the supernatural.”

He smiled at me as if I were telling a joke. “And you’re going to make that happen for me?”

I swallowed hard. There was no point in delaying t

he inevitable theme of our meeting. “Not exactly. I want to make that happen for us. I want partial ownership of the museum.”

He leaned back into his seat, amusement written all over his face. “Ownership? Why would you want that?”

“For the same reason as you.”

Was it so ridiculous to think someone like me could have the same attachments to the place as him? The Museum had been my home and refuge during some of the hardest years of my life. It held a special place in my heart and I wasn’t going to abandon it so easily.

“And you think you can handle owning a business?” His eyes flashed as the limo turned the corner and headlights went past. “Owning a business with me? This isn’t some doll house. It’s an establishment that’s going to take some tough calls to whip into shape. Are you sure you’re ready for something like that?”

My ears buzzed with anger. Who did he think he was?

“Excuse me, but I know more about this business than anyone. I’ve been running it, almost exclusively, for the past three years. No one knows it better.”

In my hands, the charts and notes I’d prepared for tonight crumpled beneath my anger. Despite my fierce response, Trent had the audacity to laugh again. As much as I hated him laughing at me, I had to admit it was a pleasant sound.

“My apologies.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I guess I underestimated you, Aya. It sounds like you might make a wonderful partner.”

Relief flooded through my veins. Now, we’re getting somewhere.

“Good, because I want to show you some specific charts I’ve put together…”

“Wait a second.” He held up a finger. “When I say you’d make a wonderful partner, I don’t mean mine. I don’t work with anyone. That’s my rule. And I’m afraid I can’t break it for you, no matter how much I like your spirit.”

My jaw dropped. “What do you mean? Surely, you can make an exception.”

“Nope.” A grin pulled at the left side of his face. “Never. Business partnerships have always ended in tragedy for me. I won’t make that mistake again.”

I closed my eyes. This was not going the way I had planned.

“Oh cheer up,” he said, drawing my frustrated glare. “I’m going to give you the raise you deserve and you can implement as many of those ideas as you want. It’ll still be like you owned it.”

No, it wouldn’t. Not even close. This was what I had set my sights on for the past year, if not longer. That place belonged to me. I could feel it in my soul. Now, Trent McAllister was going to lock it up and keep me out of the partnership because he didn’t play well with others. Trent could kiss my harpy butt.

“Thank you very much, but I think I’d rather end this business meeting here.” I stuffed the papers back into my purse. So much for that. “I see no point in going to dinner if you’re never going to change your mind.”