Unamused Muse (Mt. Olympus Employment Agency: Muse Book 2) by R.L. Naquin

world.”
    Their grins had faded, and their faces had taken on a more intense, almost needy look.
    My discomfort turned to concern—almost pity. I wondered if they were ever allowed outside the mansion. “If you like, sure. You know, you don’t have to stuff me, though.”
    Otis nodded. “Of course, of course. Maybe just a few sandwiches next time. A nice soup.” He tapped his chin in thought. “Or some cupcakes. Do you like cupcakes?”
    I wiped my mouth and tried not to burp. “I adore cupcakes. But honestly, I’ll come visit. You don’t have to bribe me with food.”
    They made a fuss over me on my way out, and Otis insisted on wrapping up several sandwiches and a plastic bowl of fruit to send with me. On the way back to the office, I wondered if they did the same thing when Kris or Parker dropped off the dry cleaning.
    I had to admit, the pomegranate thing had been kind of funny. Of course nobody was trying to keep me there forever. A girl had to eat, so that whole thing about not eating in the Underworld had to be an old wives’ tale.
    Another cold chill ran down my back, and I had to pull the golf cart over. I clutched the steering wheel with both hands while I waited for the feeling to pass. Parker and Kris lived in the Underworld, not in temporary housing like I did.
    How many pomegranate seeds had they eaten?
    How many sandwiches?
     

Chapter 5
    I kept my worries that I’d eaten my way into permanent Underworld residence to myself for the rest of the day and all of Friday. Phyllis asked me several times what was wrong, but I wasn’t ready to talk about it. If I was stuck there, I didn’t want to know. Not yet, anyway.
    The whole thing was probably silly, anyway.
    When Saturday rolled in, all worries about my future blew away. My only concern was getting through my date with Max.
    At least I wasn’t totally on my own. Despite my rarely running into my dorm mates, Donna and Nadia had somehow gotten wind of the wedding date with Max.
    They swarmed me.
    “Quit fussing.” Nadia tossed her red braid over her shoulder and scrunched her face in concentration. “Your eyeliner needs to be smudged. Hold still.”
    My eyes watered as she flicked a brush below my lash line.
    Donna held up two dresses. “What do you think, Nadia? Is the black mini too much for a daytime wedding?”
    The other woman stopped decorating my face and examined the dresses. “Yeah. Go with the blue one. I like the fluttery skirt. Good for dancing.”
    My heart thudded. “Dancing? There’s going to be dancing?”
    Nadia rolled her eyes and grabbed my chin to keep my head still while she applied blush to my cheeks. “Of course there’s going to be dancing. It’s a wedding.”
    Donna hung the blue dress on the bathroom door. “None of the shoes you brought work with Nadia’s dress. I’m putting the other one back in my closet and finding you some shoes.” She disappeared with the black dress.
    I’d brought a few outfits of my own down to the Underworld, but none of them had passed muster with these two. The idea of making me over and sending me off like Cinderella had them acting as if it were their life’s work. The fate of nations rested on my spaghetti-strapped shoulders.
    The end result was worth getting pushed around. The dress fit perfectly and swirled when I spun, my makeup looked natural—me, but amplified—and my short spiky hair lay in soft waves like a halo. They’d done a much better job than I’d have done on my own.
    Obviously pleased with themselves, they gave me one last inspection and cleared out of the bathroom, as if they’d never been. I flipped off the light and returned to my room to wait.
    “Well, let’s see,” Phyllis said, waving a branch. “Give me a spin.”
    I spun, trying not to roll my eyes. “Do I meet with your approval?”
    “Spin faster.” Phyllis was always bossy.
    Humoring her, I spun several times, as fast as I could. The filmy dress spread around me in a cloud, then settled