Athena's Jewel (Aya Harris Collection 2)

"Are you sure you don't want to talk to him again?" Angel asked for the twentieth time that evening. "At least one more time? I'm sure he'd reconsider your offer. You're the only person who deserves to own this place."

I ran a hand over my loosely curled hair. What was done, was done. Mr. Jones had sold the museum to a stranger. I could feel my grip on the place loosening by the second. It was no longer my place, to dream about owning it.

"You know I can't," I told her.

Thankfully, Johnny showed up at that moment with our drinks.

"When will this pathetic little party start?” He handed Angel and me a glass of white wine, then sipped from his glass of red. "I've seen livelier funerals."

They were at the museum with me, keeping me company, although it felt more like babysitting. It was the official announcement of Mr. McAllister’s new ownership. Mr. Jones had invited his posh friends and was expected to introduce Trent at any minute. I hadn't spoken to Trent since returning to Arcana. I wasn't even really sure I still had a job after the way our dinner had ended.

"You can't complain about a party with free booze," Angel teased. "And handsome men. I think I'll go hook one right now."

She wandered away through the small crowd, her eyes set on a statuesque man in a sports coat hanging out by the enchanted stuffed monkey. Next to him sat Roni, the demon possessed doll in a glass case. Angel had taken the time that morning to dress Roni in a frilly pink and white lace monstrosity of a dress. The demon inside those porcelain cheeks fumed in her cage, her glass eyes burning holes into the head of every guest that dared to pass by.

My eyes scanned the crowd until they settled on Gideon, working his way through to me with a whiskey in his fist. His gaze met mine and we both smiled for the smallest of moments.

Neither of us had talked about what happened at the Ranch. Maybe it was best just to forget. His boss still hadn't eased up on his edict, and nothing would change until Nicky was behind bars. We were a long way from the possibility of a relationship.

"I think he's about to start." Gideon leaned in close, his breath already warm with the scent of alcohol. "I saw Mr. Jones heading for the microphone."

A moment later, we could hear Mr. Jones tapping on the microphone, testing it with a quick one, two, three. Despite the fancy suits and dresses that surrounded him, Mr. Jones was dressed in his customary khaki pants and button up shirt with a Hawaiian print. The small party quieted down at his fumbling and gave him their attention.

"No use in delaying the inevitable," Mr. Jones quipped with a little snort of laughter. "As you all know, I am retiring from the Supernatural Museum business. It has been a wonderful thirty years, but I must shove off. New shores and worlds await me. The museum deserves management that can put in the time and devotion it needs."

He scanned the crowd with a huge smile that curled up the ends of his white bushy mustache. Suddenly, it came to me how much I would miss that man. He might have been ridiculous, but he was a good human being with a kind heart. If it hadn't been for him taking a chance on me, I might never have found a job I loved so much. It was thanks to him that I'd spent these last few years of my life so happy.

"On that note, I'd like to introduce the new owner of the Arcana Museum of Supernatural and Occult," Mr. Jones continued. "Here he is - Mr. Trent McAllister."

Polite applause followed his announcement. Trent walked up to the microphone, his expensive suit a perfect contrast to Mr. Jones' casual clothes. Upon his appearance, I felt Gideon stiffen next to me. By the way he shuffled his feet and glanced at me, I could tell he didn't like the pale and classically handsome man that would soon be my boss. Luckily for him, he didn't know anything about our kiss.

"I'm terribly flattered," Trent said into the microphone. "I remember coming to this place as a kid. It was a place of wonderful objects that captured the imagination of even the most cynical humans. No one can walk through these doors without feeling an iota of childlike excitement. That is why I am here today, and why I want to devote my time to the Arcana Museum of Supernatural and Occult."

I took a giant sip of my wine. It was a pretty speech. He sounded sincere - maybe even a little nostalgic. Part of me wanted to like him and his ambitions for the place, but a larger part of me hated him for tearing my dreams out from under me. I'd survived a secret mission and this was what I got? Dumped into a life with no more dreams or hopes?

I shook my head to clear it. That wasn't fair. I had a mother again. A mother who I still held complicated feelings for. She had left me to straighten her affairs up at the HQ and meet with my father. Nicky was something we'd discuss another day.

Her role in the Ranch had left me conflicted. I hated that she had gone along with that horrid setup for so long. But at the same time, I recognized how hopeless she had become, and dependent on her role as protector for the women. Maybe we could mend our relationship, be a family again. I wasn't sure, but it was a spark of hope.

"I also want to make an announcement while I've got all your ears," Trent continued. He unbuttoned the top of his suit jacket and leaned closer to the mic, flashing his pearly white vampire teeth. "I'm not the only new owner of Arcana's Supernatural Museum. I was recently approached by an investor who I believe will take this place to extraordinary heights. That investor is Aya Harris."

My jaw fell open at the sound of my name. Trent smiled at me and beckoned me to join him at the front. With numb feet, I managed to stumble forward and smile like a fool next to him.

"Aya has been curator for the museum for the past three years. She has a love for this place that I could never replicate. We will move forward as partners in this endeavor, conquering the supernatural world one artifact at a time."

Mr. Jones, Johnny, and Angel, all beamed back at me from the crowd. Gideon clapped along and smiled too, although his was less certain. I could hardly breathe. Maybe sharing the museum was less than ideal, but I was now officially part owner. I could call the shots. It was nothing short of miraculous.

"I hope this pleases you," Trent whispered in my ear, brushing his cheek against mine and sending tingly chills down my spine. "We didn't leave on the best of terms, but I reconsidered your offer and decided I'd be a fool to decline it."

I pulled back and fixed him with my most serious expression. "You swear that's the reason? That you're not just saying that to try and get into my pants?"

Trent chuckled, his breath minty on my face. "I'm a businessman. I don't make business decisions to assist my love life. If I say you're a smart choice, I mean it."

He seemed sincere. There was no hint of irony or chauvinism in his tone. Just pure and honest truth.

"But..." he added. "This doesn't change what I said in the car, although I do apologize for how things went down. You're very beautiful, Aya Harris, and it will be hard not to let that distract me from our work."

He blinked and left me staring blankly at the crowd. Snapping out of my shock, I saw Gideon sneaking out the exit. He had on his customary leather jacket which hugged his muscular back just right. I ran after that jacket and caught up with him on the street, tugging on his shoulder until he stopped.