Elias had made the mistake of thinking that a quiet mansion with only Ashwin to annoy him for a few hours meant peace.
He was wrong.
He stared across the cold sun-drenched sitting room, porcelain teacup held halfway to his lips like a shield, his expression somewhere between resignation and disbelief.
"Tell me again…" Elias said slowly, voice edged with suspicion, "Why are you here?"
Ego Numen, head of the Numen Conglomerate, demigod in a suit, and Victor's infinitely smug father, lounged like the estate belonged to him, which, technically, it did. A dark grey three-piece suit framed his lean form, silver cufflinks glinting with the Numen crest. He was far too comfortable, legs crossed, one hand draped over the armrest as if he were halfway through a wine tasting and not currently invading his son's fiancé's privacy.
"Because," Ego replied without missing a beat, "you are the only one who makes me feel like I'm truly leisureing while talking."
Elias blinked.
