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wall and began to walk down the hall, stopping when he'd gone a few feet. "Come on. Let's go get some lunch before we meet the beast." He smiled and August's belly dropped. Doren was lying. He was good at it, but he was lying regardless. And August had no idea what to make of that.
    He shut the door and walked up the hall to where Doren stood. They walked the length of it together. Then Doren shocked the hell out of August by grasping his hand at the door to the stairwell and holding it all the way down to the street.

Black Magic
Woman
August
    It had been stupid, going to such a public place at such a busy time in the day, and they rushed into Anton's office building, laughing, as they passed the surprised security guard. "Pick one," Doren whispered into his ear and August pointed at the youngest in a handful of squealing girls. She was maybe ten, with long honey hair and a pair of unfortunate glasses. She'd be a beauty when her parents finally gave it up and let her learn the wonders of contact lenses. Doren reached past the hustling officer and took her pen and book, scrawling his name elaborately on a flowered page, before lifting his hand to his mouth, kissing his index and middle finger and touching them to her cheek. Undeniable adoration lit her face and they left the group on the sidewalk, squealing and calling out their undying love. August laughed at him as they passed the elevator, the self-satisfied and smug look on Doren's face not nearly as much of a turnoff as it should have been. "You know you left a lot of jealous fans out there."
    Doren grinned and motioned towards the door to the stairwell. "Always leave them wanting more, Auggie. Always leave them wanting more."
    "Stop calling me—"
    "Quick now," Doren said, cutting August short with a smirk. "Lest we rile the man for being late."
    Anton's office was immaculate: gleaming stainless steel and rich, black leather complemented polished oak furniture. Three desks sat empty, and the room was so silent that it echoed with the quiet. August walked to the window that took the place of exterior wall, from waist to ceiling and all the way across, and stared out at the busy street below them. His father's office had always seemed enormous. In comparison to what they were standing in, it had been nothing but a storage closet. "My God," August mumbled to the glass, "this office is ridiculous."
    Doren chuckled. "This isn't even the office, Aug. This is just the reception area."
    He grinned at August's frown of surprise and was about to say something further when he was interrupted. "Doren. Doren, my awesome, wonderful Doren. What a pleasure to finally have you here at home base."
    August flinched away from the window in a reaction that felt instinctual, his skin all but crawling at the sudden appearance of the impressive man who had just walked in the room. At least, he assumed the man had just walked in the room. August was pretty sure he hadn't been there when they came in, but his entrance had been cat-like in silence and stealth. He was striking, the kind of man Guy would have gone gaga over: tall, built like a sculpture, with impeccable taste in clothing and jewellery. He all but screamed of good taste and the love of fine things.
    He stalked past August confidently and extended his hand to Doren. "I trust the hotel meets with your liking?"
    "Anton," Doren shrugged coolly, eyeing Anton's hand before giving it a half-hearted fist bump. "It's fine."
    Anton smiled and drew his hand back. "Wonderful. And my security guard tells me that you've left a crowd in your wake. Very good; by tonight the whole city will know that Doren has arrived."
    August stood back against the window, waiting for direction and as if reading his mind, Anton turned and stared. "I'm sorry, refresh my memory?"
    Even though every nerve in August's spine screamed at him not to, August hurried forward, knocking his knee on the corner of the desk and wincing in pain while trying to pretend it hadn't