Things are going well. The job came too easily. They believed my story about wanting to reconcile with my father, but they think I’m foolish to want that.

I work hard to find information for Hades, even though it’s not my main job. But I still haven’t been able to get close to Zeus and find any exciting secrets. The business plans I come across are not very interesting to Hades.

At the moment, he’s satisfied with what I’ve sent him, but I can tell he’s becoming more impatient whenever we meet face to face. That doesn’t happen often because he doesn’t want Zeus to discover I’m spying on him.

Today is just like any other day, where I’m running errands for the others as the newest member of the team. Even though I’ve been with the company for three months, there are now others who have joined, but I’m still considered the newest person among our group of assistants and temporary workers. We’re always assigned different tasks for various groups within the company, serving as an extra helping hand when needed.

Sometimes, a few team members get to assist Zeus, but I haven’t been given that opportunity yet, and it’s incredibly frustrating.

If only the others were too busy to assist, then maybe I would be chosen to help Zeus and gather the information Hades needs to settle my debt. A questionable idea of how to manipulate the situation arises, but I quickly dismiss it. I’m in this position because of past bad decisions, and intentionally causing harm is going too far. There’s no need to darken my soul more.

Damn it, I need to find something and soon because I am getting a bit worried my shitty luck would run out, leaving me with nothing but a big shit show.

“Hey Meg, how’s the report going?” Frank leans back in his chair, appearing bored. Despite having a lot of paperwork to do, he acts as if he has plenty of time.

I glance back at my computer. “I’m doing okay, but I still have a lot of work left.”

He shoots me a fake sympathetic look. “Well, you better make sure to finish on time today.”

“Why?”

I don’t care, but I’m here to gather information. Even though he’s a lowly assistant like me, Frank enjoys gossiping and spends most of his breaks trying to impress those higher up and from various departments.

“Well, it seems the big boss is throwing a party and has invited a lot of workers from the building, including us assistants,” he smirks, acting like he knows everything. “You know what that means?”

It takes effort to not roll my eyes at his know-it-all tone.

“What?” I ask once more. I might as well go along with it and milk him for information.

“That means there will be free food and drinks. I’ve heard they’ll also be giving out some freebies, and important people from other companies will be there,” Frank drones on. “Hell, maybe one of them will notice my greatness and offer me a higher position with a big pay raise.”

He laughs and looks at the mirror on his desk. He fixes his heavily styled hair, but nothing short of a big disaster could mess it up. It definitely gets people’s attention, but maybe not in the way he wants.

I could criticize him for hoping to get ahead, but since I’m also trying to climb the ladder to get closer to Zeus, it depresses me. I refocus on the words on my screen.

I see an alert on my screen. It tells me there’s an email. I look at it and it’s from my old email account. I logged into that account a few months ago, not thinking much of it. But I found a couple of emails from a certain wonder boy.

I wonder how he got my email three months ago after he left me, but I’m glad he reached out. I’m too scared to see him again, so I read his messages when they arrive. They bring me peace in this life of lies I’m living.

I click the new email and begin reading.

From: Herc

To: Meg

You’re likely busy, but I hope you’re eating well and taking care of yourself. Sorry for nagging, but seeing your fridge that day makes me worry that you’re not eating enough. I almost sent my mom with cooked meals, but I stopped because it might cross one of your boundaries.

So, my question for today is: What kind of food do you like? I personally love moussaka. It’s a layered dish with creamy sauce, potato slices, aubergine, and minced lamb baked together. It’s really delicious. If you haven’t tried it, maybe one day you’ll let me cook it for you.

Later, Herc.

I’m trying to stifle my laughter. He’s so innocent. In every email he sends, he asks me a question about me, and sometimes shares a bit about himself.

No matter how much I consider ignoring him for his own good in the future, there’s just something about him that makes me want to become the man he sees.

Workers walk past, smiling at me and saying hi. Even though I hardly allow myself to get close to them, there are moments when I start feeling a part of this world again. I know it’s because of Herc’s insistence on not giving up on me. At the same time, his way of respecting my boundaries is sweet, but also frustrating. If he were in front of me, I would kiss him passionately and never let him go.

I don’t understand these feelings. We haven’t seen each other since the day he left, but with regular emails, I feel like I know him better than anyone who has ever entered my life, including my family and my ex.

What does he see in me? Am I truly worth all this effort? I desperately want to believe that I could be.

Replying to his emails is always difficult because I haven’t opened up to anyone in years, so I struggle to find a starting point.

From: Meg

To: Herc

Wonder boy, I adore pizza. It’s quick, convenient, and delicious. You’re correct, I’m busy, yet I find myself prioritizing your message over my work. Does this make me a lousy worker? We have a company dinner party tonight, and honestly, I have no desire to attend, but I must. Have you been busy lately? I hope nothing serious has happened. Or perhaps you’ve been out there, saving lives, rescuing people, and sweeping them off their feet? I bet they would swoon if you did that.

Meg.

I hit send and resume working, but another ping notifies me of another incoming email. I dread it being work-related, but it turns out to be from wonder boy.

From: Herc

To: Meg

Oh, so you swooned, huh? Don’t worry, you’re the only one I want to sweep off their feet. 😉 I’ll let you get back to work and send you another message later. Perhaps one day you’ll let me show you in person how I can make you swoon again. Have a good rest of your workday, Meg.

P.S. Try to enjoy the work party.

Later, Herc.

A smile appears, and I quickly hide it with my hand.

Maybe I can open up to him. He makes me feel worthy of his attention, and though it frightens me, I long to rekindle hope.

***