"Have you ever heard that those who remain silent consent, little sister?"

"No, sometimes people who are silent are so because they don't like arguing with idiots, Peyton. Go to hell."

I slam the phone down, and I'm shaking so much that I have to lean against the wall to keep from passing out. I don't even realize that the door has opened and Dionysus has walked in, until I feel my boyfriend's protective arms around me.

"What’s wrong?" he asks, worried.

I cling to him like a lifeline. "Nothing, I just need to sit down for a bit."

He picks me up and lays me down on a couch, then sits next to me.

I open my eyes and see that his face is tense. "How did you find me? What are you doing here?" I ask.

"Elina told me where you were. I came to surprise you, but in the end, I'm the one who got one when I found you almost passed out against the wall. What happened?"

"Peyton called me. She's in New York and wanted to see me."

"Your stepsister."

I agree, nodding my head.

"It wasn't just that. What else did she do?"

Even though I'm embarrassed to even mention it, there's no reason to protect her. "She wanted me to invite her to lunch. She found out I work for you, and apparently she thinks she has a chance of winning one of the ‘three single Greeks,’ as she called you. She is crazy."

"Were you jealous?" His expression clears for the first time.

"No. You're mine until told otherwise," I say, and he growls, lowering his head to kiss the curve of my neck.

He seems very pleased with my display of possessiveness.

"I was angry at having any kind of relationship, however remote, with that human being, if she could be called that."

"I'll assign bodyguards to look after you, just in case anybody tries to get close."

"It’s not necessary. Nobody knows about the two of us. I'm not at risk of kidnapping or anything like that. I'm a nobody, Dionysus."

"Don't talk that kind of shit, Cecily."

"It's the truth. I think if I went to the newspapers and said I was your girlfriend, they would laugh."

"I haven't revealed anything about our relationship yet because I'm respecting you until you're ready, but my patience is running out."

"What does that mean?"

"Sooner rather than later, we will tell the family that we are together. Don't think we'll be secretly dating forever. Neither of us are teenagers anymore. We are free. There are no obstacles.”

There are many obstacles, starting with the truths I hid.

"Are you angry? I liked the last time we had make-up sex. It's a shame we're here and not in your office."

"Don't tease me, Cecily. I can strip you naked in seconds and bury myself in you without giving a damn if we get caught."

I feel my pulse quicken. "Take me home, then. Or rather, let's go back to the penthouse. That way, I'll be able to moan loudly when you take me."

In an instant, he's on his feet and pulling me into his arms. "You have no idea what you're doing to me, do you? You don't know how crazy I am about you."

"Show me. I'm yours."