When exiting the car, Zeus's mansion looked even grander in the sunlight. I hadn't realized it was more of a castle. It was stacked five stories high, and the dark hand-placed stones shined with vintage authenticity. It is breathtaking, from the six-foot-long double windows to the grand double-entry front doors—the dark cherry wood with red with vintage gold knockers.
This place must have been worth a fortune. Were we still in New York? Or is this Canada? I fell asleep both times on the journey up here from the distance. Both doors opened before I went to the front, and Zeus appeared behind them. Was he waiting for me at the door like a puppy? The excitement in his eyes when he saw me was almost cute. Still, his eyes weren't smiling like his lips were. It's as if it was all practiced over and over again. How many times have you faked that smile? How many women have fallen for it? How naive did you think I was? I knew you saw the pregnancy test, but I didn't know how to approach the situation in a manner that wasn't so blunt.
"Ivy!" Zeus greeted me with a warm embrace and a peck on the cheek.
"Hi," I smiled, "I didn't expect you to be so happy to see me."
"Of course I am!" he beamed while looking down at me, "Come in!"
I examined the vast amount of luxury cars parked all over his property, "Are you having a party or something?"
He looked back at me with the devil in his eyes, "I'm always having a party of some sort, Ivy. It's important to keep up appearances when you have a [prolific part to play in many people's lives."
Many people's lives? Who did this man think he was? Royalty? He guided me inside and up to the fourth story of the building. Was it always this massive in size? I don't remember it being this huge; then again, I was coked out and drunk.
The mile-high ceilings and gothic chandeliers down every hallway made this place feel deadly as if it would consume you if you didn't run. Almost as if your soul could be trapped for eternity. Zeus's aura made it even more creepy. It's still breathlessly beautiful.
We stopped at two large black doors with a lion's face carved into the handles. Zeus unlocked the doors and gestured for me to go inside. I froze in fear when veering into the fireplace-lit room. My mouth dropped in awe of its magnificence. The gothic four-poster bed with the black lace canopy, the ceiling-high pressed red velvet curtains, and a portrait of Medusa hanging above the flames.
"This will be your room," Zeus stated while gently placing the key in my hand.
I looked down in excitement mixed with other emotions I struggled to process. I'm not ungrateful; I'm more nervous than anything.
"Thank you," I whispered while looking down at the key.
He placed a white envelope in my other hand. I opened it to see copious amounts of hundred dollar bills inside. My jaw dropped longer than before
"A hundred thousand," Zeus clarified.
My eyes widened, "I-I-"
"A bonus for showing up and not running away," he smiled.
My heart began racing in my chest; this was very overwhelming. I started seeing silver flakes swirling all around me, followed by a tugging pain deep within me. The fire crackling from the flames became muffled as the walls began to breathe. I felt my heartbeat pounding louder and louder as a loud ringing hurt my ears. My face grew numb along with the rest of my body. My visions surpassed vertigo, and everything turned black.