Eros by Helen Harper

coffee. She saw immediately that her employer had written further instructions underneath her own note. Skye was confused. The study looked out onto the corridor which led from the east wing to the kitchen and she could have sworn there hadn’t been so much as a shadow pass by. It was possible she’d been so engrossed in her work that he’d walked past and she’d not noticed but still…
    Shrugging to herself, Skye read his latest words.
     
    The land is interesting to me. I think it would be a good site for a new resort to encourage more tourists into the area. This will help boost the local economy. Please proceed with the purchase.
     
    She frowned. Did he mean he was going to bulldoze what was left of the temple ruins in order to build a hotel? Unimpressed at his lack of social responsibility, she scribbled:
     
    I agree the land is interesting and the local area could do with some investment in order to boost the economy. However, as a site of historical significance, perhaps it would be best to find an alternative location for your plans.
     
    Back in the study, she did some research and came up with a number of places ripe for development. They’d probably be better alternatives because they had improved transportation links and were more picturesque – and therefore more appealing to the tourist market. She wrote out a list and put it back in the kitchen.
    When Coop came back and read her words, he grinned. He was only interested in buying the land because it used to house a temple which had been dedicated to his mother. Buying it would make her furious and he felt it was time he got a little of his own back on her for ganging up against him with Zeus. Not that being invisible was proving to be any hardship, of course. And he had to admit, he was slightly taken back that his apparently shy and mousy little house guest was taking him on and arguing the toss. Perhaps she wasn’t as meek as he’d initially thought. Deciding to see how far he could push her, and have a little fun himself, he wrote down some more notes.
     
    No. Much as I appreciate your research, this site is by far best suited to my plans. It will be an easy matter to have the old rocks pushed into the sea so that the land is cleared to build on. I think a casino would work well. We can create the Las Vegas of Europe!
     
    Skye was horrified when she read that last part. The Las Vegas of Europe? On that quiet, pretty little plot of land? Instead of the last remnants of an ancient building which had stood there for centuries? She didn’t stop to think before she scrawled down her next words.
     
    Monte Carlo has that area covered already. You simply cannot destroy Italian heritage in that way. It’s completely irresponsible. As a forward-thinking and respected businessman, you need to take a step back and consider the bigger picture.
     
    When she read over what she’d written, she blushed. She’d only just started working for this man. She’d not even met him. And yet here she was, admonishing him as if he were a child. She considered scoring everything out and simply agreeing to his demands, but then decided the issue was important enough to make a stand. At least writing down her argument was easier than doing it in person, even if it did seem incredibly strange.
    The next time she went back to see his response, all there was to read was a terse Fine. She gnawed at her lip, wondering whether she’d burnt all her boats and he’d decided she wasn’t suitable as a personal assistant after all. Thinking about how strange the last forty-eight hours had been, Skye figured that wouldn’t be a bad thing entirely, even if getting fired from two jobs in less than three days would have to be some kind of record. The elusive Mr Kamadeva, however, made no further reference to the altercation in any other missives.
    It was later in the day, when she’d almost finished the typing, that the doorbell chimed, a long, loud sound that reverberated through