Game of Deception

Walking to a Lion's Den

Skylar looks one more time at the mirror to see if he's presentable enough. Well, not that he has to since he's the son of Aphrodite for goddess' sakes but he just wants to make sure.

"You look gorgeous." Skylar turns and he grins when he sees Johnny right at his bedroom door.

"You didn't even knock." He points out.

"It's my privilege." Johnny shrugs. "I'm driving you to the office today. Are you ready?"

Skylar grabs the folder at his bedside table. "Yep. I'm excited."

"Don't be so confident though, I read that your prey is a real lady killer. Seducing him won't be so easy." Johnny reminds. "You might have aced your interview but meeting him is the real deal."

"It's like you don't even know me." Skylar rolls his eyes. "This will be a piece of cake."

Johnny drives Skylar towards the company. Before getting off the car, Johnny holds onto Skylar's arm. "What is it?" the younger asks.

"Something feels weird." Johnny says. "Do you sense it?"

"Sense what?"

Johnny looks around. "Nevermind... but be careful."

"You're being paranoid." Skylar chuckles. "I'll be fine. Kai Hernandez is just another one of my targets."

"But just to be sure..." Johnny tugs him closer. Skylar thought he was messing around but the elder's gaze says otherwise. Skylar knows he's just worried so he allowed him to pull him close.

Johnny pulls him in for a kiss. Skylar's grown used to is so he lets the elder take the lead. Johnny pulls away with a satisfied grin on his lips. He swipes his thumb onto the younger's bottom lip before letting him go.

"Good, now you're all covered up with Eros' pheromones. You're attractiveness is skyrocketing right now." Johnny says.

"If I get jumped, I'm blaming you." Skylar waves him goodbye as he left the car.

"Update me, I'll head over to my target as well." Johnny says.

Once he was gone, Skylar heads straight into the company building. As expected, heads were turning as he made his way towards the receptionist.

He internally curses Johnny. He didn't need Eros' pheromones. He already catches a lot of attention normally, he doesn't need more of it. Right now it feels like everyone that lands their eyes on him is mentally undressing him. He only asks for Johnny’s help when he's facing difficult targets but the elder seems persistent with helping him today.

Johnny is also the number one reason on why he became such a good kisser. When they became partners, Skylar is nothing but a complete novice and Eros' son trained him for almost everything. Everything except s*x though. Because unlike Johnny, Skylar doesn't need to have s*x to maintain his powers. That's one of the differences between Aphrodite and Eros' powers. That is also why Skylar doesn't need to go all the way with any of his targets.

"Good morning, I'm here for Mister Kai Hernandez, I'm his new assistant." Skylar greets the receptionist.

The receptionist instantly blushes upon seeing him. "Oh... wow." she breathes out.

"I get that a lot." He mutters under his breath. "So, may I know where's the office of Mister Hernandez?" he asks.

"He prefers to be called sir Kai since Mister Hernandez is his father." the receptionist reminds. "His office is at the fifteenth floor."

Skylar thanks her before heading towards the elevator. He fixes his I.D and checks if his files were complete. He presses the fifteenth floor button and waits.

"He's here." Kai drawls. "I'll need end the call for now, Blaze." he says.

"How can you tell that he arrived though? He has always been subtle with his previous targets." Blaze asks.

"He's probably at the receptionist by now. I feel it getting stronger. His pheromones are overwhelming. I think he got help from Eros' son." Kai scowls. "It's pretty dumb of them."

Blaze chuckles. "This Skylar kid is practically walking into the lion's den. You have good skills at picking up a demigod's pheromones so it's practically a wrong move."

"It really is but that doesn't mean I'm completely immune to it." Kai scrunches his nose. "I haven't even personally seen him but I'm already intoxicated with his scent."

Blaze gives him a thoughtful look. "I packed some pills that will make you immune to Eros' pheromones. I asked from one of Asclepius' kids."

"You're always so prepared, Blaze."

"I saw this coming." Blaze shrugs.

"But where is the fun in that?" Kai grins. "I'm willing to play along with his game."

The son of Athena also saw this coming so he simply exhales. "As long as you get to bring him here at camp in one piece. I'll call you again later." Kai simply salutes with two of his fingers before ending the call.

As if on cue, he hears a knock on his door. Kai didn't need to ask who it was, he can tell that it's Skylar... or in this case it's Shixun since he's using a different name. "Come in."

The door opens and he sees his secretary guiding Skylar inside. Skylar thanks the secretary before closing the door and heading in.

Kai was stunned for a moment as he looks at his new assistant. He truly lives up to his name as Aphrodite's son. Jet black hair, pale skin, long eyelashes, kissable lips, the list just goes on.

"Good morning sir. I'm Seth Prince." Skylar greets once he was in front of his desk. "It's nice to finally meet my boss." he reaches out his hand.

Kai slowly stands up. "My pleasure," He accepts Skylar's hand and he nearly smirks when Skylar trembles.

If Skylar is using his powers, he'll use his too. Skylar's playing dirty by taking advantage of both Aphrodite and Eros' powers so Kai used Ares' powers as well. Being the son of the god of war, Kai inherited the dominating and threatening aura that his father uses when in battle. That power alone made his enemies in Sparta kneel before him.

Kai is curious though... will the goddess' son kneel for him?

Skylar flinches away from the handshake but he instantly gives Kai an apologetic look. "I-I'm sorry."

Wow... Kai just made Aphrodite's son stutter.

Kai takes a seat again, Skylar takes his folder out. "I brought my files, by the way. They told me to show you in case you want to change your mind."

Kai waves him off. "I went through your files the moment you passed your interview so there's no need. However..." Kai leans forward and laces his fingers together before resting his chin on them. "Are you sure you can protect me enough? I know you'd work well as a personal assistant but you're my bodyguard too."

Skylar slightly tilts his head and looks at him. "I don't think you'd need protecting though." he muses as he checks Kai out. "But who wouldn't risk their life for a man like you?"

Ah, he's a dangerous one indeed. Two can play at that game.

"I'll need you more as an assistant than as a bodyguard anyways. I'd feel guilty if your pretty face ever gets harmed because of me." Kai fires back.

Skylar looks genuinely surprised with how easily he flirts back but he looks satisfied. "Any orders for me yet?" he asks.

Kai opens his desk drawing and takes out a folder. "Have these signed then bring them to the finance department, keep the yellow copies stay with me while the blue ones are the receiving copies. Ask my secretary if you have more questions."

"Understood." Skylar nods before leaving his office.

Once Skylar was gone, Kai calls Blaze once again. "I supposed you already met him?" the son of Athena inquires.

"Yes I did. I'm trying to lead him on for now. He probably thinks I'm an easy target for now." Kai tells him.

"You're supposed to have a bad temper so don't be too nice on him so easily." Blaze reminds.

"His pheromones are a bit in control of me for now that's why I'm nicer than usual."

"I think Skylar hasn't met a lot of demigods his whole life." Blaze muses. "Other demigods could sense fellow demigods."

"Cut him some slack!" Someone interferes from Blaze's side. "Yo, Kai!"

Kai grins when he sees his Chad, the son of Hephaestus who also happened to be his best friend, appearing beside Blaze. "Madame Aphro's son has only been with one demigod his whole life and it's been only six years since he discovered that the goddess of beauty is his mommy so of course, he doesn't know how things work yet."

"That still didn't stop him from abusing his powers though." Blaze interferes. "He's a conman, a thief and that is a crime punishable in both Earth and Olympus."

"Oh Zeus, please don't tell me the kid is gonna get a death sentence." Chad winces.

"He never killed or hurt anyone so no." Blaze shakes his head.

Chad sighs in relief. "Anyways Kai if you could rank all of Madame Aphro's kids including Skylar, who is the prettiest?" he asks.

"Skylar, no doubt." Kai answers.

"Really? He's prettier than Irene? Sandy? Jennifer? Even Joshua or Erwan?" Chad curiously asks.

"In my eyes, yes." Kai says. "Or it's probably the pheromones talking."

"I doubt it, I've seen a picture of him and damn I wish he's been here at camp ever since." Chad sighs. "A face like that could start a war like Helen did."

The son of Athena visibly rolls his eyes at him. "Anyways just proceed with the plan, Kai. He needs to let his guard down and trust you but don't be too easy because Eros' son will be getting updates from him as well." Blaze reminds.

"Got it, I know what to do so don't worry."

It's definitely a good day for Skylar. He definitely made a good impression with Kai earlier. He didn't expect his boss to flirt back with him so quickly but Johnny's help made things even easier for him. It was so easy to make a good impression with the other employees as well. He was all smiles as he got the papers signed.

After routing around the office for almost two hours, he returns to Kai's office. His boss was currently talking to an employee when he enters.

"Thank you for approving the design, sir Kai." the employee smiles seductively before leaving the office. Skylar didn't miss the sway of her hips. He was suddenly reminded that Kai is a lady killer but it's not like that matters. Once Skylar starts with his seducing, it's game over.

"They're all signed and organized sir." Skylar hands Kai the folder.

"Thanks Seth." Kai places the folder back in his drawer. "I don't have a lot of work to do today so how about you eat lunch with me outside?"

Skylar resists the urge to smirk. Oh this is too easy. "I'll just eat at the canteen, sir."

"I insist, it's my treat."

"Okay, if you insist sir." Skylar smiles at him.

They had lunch together with some of the team members on the project that Kai is currently working on. Skylar felt a bit foolish for expecting that Kai will take him out alone but it's fine because that only gives Skylar more people to charm.

Skylar didn't have a lot to do during the afternoon. A few clients called and he had to do some errands every now and then. Kai already has a secretary so there's not much to do for him and he has no complaints about that.

"By the way Seth," Kai calls as they were getting ready to leave.

"Yes sir?"

"Have you packed?"

"Packed? Are we going somewhere?" Skylar asks.

Kai gives him an amused smile. "You're moving in with me, haven't you read the contract?"

"O-oh? Johnny didn't tell me..." He mutters.

"Johnny? Who's that? Your lover?"

"No! He's not." Skylar defends. "He's the one that recommended the job to me. We're friends."

"That's good." Kai nods. "Let's go, shall we? Turn off the lights and lock up."

Skylar follows him not long after. "What do you mean by that's good sir?"

"It's good that you have no lover." Kai answers as they step in the elevator. "At least no one will freak out once you live with me."

"You don't have to worry about that." Skylar assures.

"You may move in tomorrow since it's just your first day. Don't forget."

Skylar nods excitedly. Living with Kai is basically an open invitation for him. Johnny will be happy to hear it.

"My friend will be picking me up at the bus stop. I'll see you tomorrow. Have a good night sir." Skylar tells him.

Kai nods at him. "See you."

Skylar checks where Kai was headed. A car stopped by in front of the main entrance. A driver steps out before assisting Kai to come in.

Nice car? Check.

Nice office? Check.

Nice clothes? Check.

And obviously, there is more where that came from. Johnny was already waiting for him by the time he arrives by the bus stop. They stopped by a restaurant for dinner.

"So, how's your first day?" Johnny asks.

"You didn't tell me that I'm moving in with him." Skylar says. "It looks like I'll get things done quick."

"I wanted to surprise you. How was he?"

"He's... extremely attractive." Skylar points out. "When I first shook his hand, I trembled and I don't even know why." Johnny c***s at eyebrow at him. "There's something about him that just seems so... commanding?"

"The son of Aphrodite trembled?" Johnny smirks.

"I can't believe I did but that will be the last time. Once I'm living with him, he'll be the one trembling for me." He confidently says.

"That's what I'd like to hear. How long do you think this will last?" Johnny grins.

"Give me a week." Skylar raises his glass.

"Go get him pretty boy." Johnny clinks their glasses for a toast.