That’s right. I was. “You’re a fan of Muffin Top, huh?” I said.
Priya and Eleanor both blinked at me in surprise. I glared at Pri. How quickly she’d forgotten I’d evolved into social Ash.
“I only recently started going there.” Eleanor tapped the logo on the latte cup. “That’s my design.”
I’d misjudged her. No, I’d dismissed her skillset entirely. It was a timely reminder that people had facets and clarity was key. Would I be able to see Adam clearly? I was still furious at him for leaving us and suppressing my magic—and desperate to see him again. Why couldn’t I pick one emotion and commit? Would I be able to reconcile all his facets when I finally found him? And what would happen if I couldn’t?
“The logo is super cool,” I said, flipping open the lid on the top bakery box and proffering its goods.
Eleanor smiled and helped herself to a muffin. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” I wrangled my keys out of my pocket and unlocked the door to Cohen Investigations, spending the next ten minutes arranging and re-arranging the muffins, donuts, and scones on random platters scrounged from our shared kitchen. I’d grabbed mismatched mugs and some spoons as well.
When my attempts to exquisitely plate the goods still looked like I was hiding evidence of food theft, I gave up channeling Martha Stewart and dragged an extra chair into the office so all five of us could sit.
Ten more minutes until anyone was expected. I flipped through A Study in Scarlet, but it didn’t yield any more clues than the other forty-two times I’d perused it. With a long-suffering sigh, I dropped into my chair, my hands folded primly in front of me and my leg jiggling.
Priya winged a stress ball at me. “Quit it. You’re rocking my fancy desk.” Her phone rang. “It’s my House cyber crew.” Answering the phone, she walked out of our office.
Rafael was the first one to arrive, at five minutes before the 10AM start time. Today’s ensemble consisted of another bowtie, this one blue to match his shirt, over which he wore a light brown vest and matching plaid tweed jacket.
Under other circumstances, his early arrival would have been a good omen of where we stood, but though he smelled like tea and first edition novels, he looked like this was the last place in the world he wanted to be.
I waved him to a seat. “About the other night—”
“Unless your other team members are tardy,” Rafael said in his poshest and most clipped voice, “they will be arriving at any moment. There is no reason to hash out your shortcomings when it is imperative that you conduct yourself as befitting a Jezebel.”
“My shortcomings?”
Priya strolled in. “Well, hello, professor. Welcome to the colonies. I’m Priya.”
Rafael got this befuddled look as he shook her hand. “You’re not what I was expecting.”
“I hope that’s a good thing,” she said, with a toss of her hair.
Jesus. Kill me now. Wasn’t there some sister code about chicks before Dickensian-looking extras who your best friend had snacked off of? I might have made a mistake in not getting her up to speed on what had gone down between the two of us. Not down. There had been no going down on anyone. It was a business transaction. I mentally winced. Hostile takeover?
“Pri,” I said, “could you give us a moment?”
“No need.” Rafael studied the copious amounts of food laid out on the desks. “Are you expecting rather more of us than you said?”
“Muffin Top is an exceptionally good bakery and I’m very hungry,” I said. “I don’t fault them for having such enthralling products, but if I did get too attached, I’d hoped I be honest about how badly I craved it. Admitting the problem is the first step.”
A muscle in Rafael’s jaw tensed. “Good thing my willpower and self-control is top notch. I doubt I’ll fall prey to the same temptations you do.”
I gasped. How dare he pin this all on me? Priya shot me a weird look.
Levi showed before I could respond, right on the dot of ten. He was in his most suited-up House Head self, complete with cuff links, tie, and leather briefcase.
“Levi Montefiore, this is Rafael Behar,” I said.
“The man who’s contracted our services,” Rafael said. “I must say, I was surprised you agreed to take on this fight. Most wouldn’t.”
“Most don’t have a stake in it.” Levi set his briefcase on my desk and tossed his suit jacket over a chair. Any other territory he wanted to mark? “Chariot is undermining my House. I don’t take that lightly.”
“So long as you realize that your House is only one concern in a global problem,” Rafael said. “If it comes to gaining an edge on Chariot or actively protecting your House, I trust you know exactly what decision my Jezebel and I will have to make.”
“I wouldn’t dream of impeding our quest to annihilate Chariot,” Levi said, formality cutting off him in sharp edges. “And she’s not your Jezebel.”
“Right. We’re a team, so I guess technically I’m everyone’s Jezebel.” I rolled my eyes. “Can we please pretend like we’re listening to me?”
“Then it’s a pleasure to be working with you,” Rafael said to Levi.
Their handshake was a touch longer and more forceful than necessary.
Person most likely to upend harmonious vibes of new team = X.
Do not solve for X.
Priya jumped in and hit Rafael with her infallible charm, asking him all kinds of questions about England and his move here. His expression remained vaguely suspicious, like he wasn’t used to talking about himself.
“Any reason you’re channeling a Jewish grandmother with all the food?” Levi dragged the chair with his jacket draped over it up next to mine and opened his briefcase. “There’s nothing to be nervous about.”
I closed my eyes briefly, inhaling the comforting smell of his oaky amber scotch and chocolate magic scent. Calm rolled over me. Then the unbidden taste of Rafael’s cool, clear magic rose on my lips, and I
