The Demigod's Reckoning

Chapter3: The Demigod's Reckoning

Chapter 3: A Distraction Worth Pursuing

The conference room buzzed with muted conversations as Theo sat at the head of the long, polished table. The space was bright, sleek, and intimidating—designed to exude power and success. The investors sat on either side, hanging onto Devon’s every word as he presented their newest AI project.

Theo, however, was barely present.

He leaned back in his chair, his sharp suit impeccably tailored, every inch of him exuding an air of control. Yet his focus wasn’t on the pitch, nor on the men and women nodding enthusiastically across the table. His thoughts were elsewhere—back to that book.

A pen rested lightly between Theo’s fingers as he twirled it absently, the soft click of the pen cap marking the only movement from him. His other hand rested on the arm of the chair, his long fingers tapping against the leather surface in an uneven rhythm. His face was calm, unreadable, but his eyes betrayed the storm inside.

Devon, ever the professional, carried the weight of the presentation with ease. His voice was smooth, practiced, as he laid out Chronos Corp.’s latest endeavor—a groundbreaking AI system designed to revolutionize global commerce. Charts and graphs illuminated the sleek screen behind him, highlighting the company’s stellar track record.

“And as you can see,” Devon concluded, gesturing toward the final slide, “the return on investment speaks for itself. Chronos Corp. has consistently delivered above and beyond expectations, and this project will be no exception.”

The investors exchanged looks of satisfaction. Some nodded approvingly, others murmured their agreement. Devon’s charm and confidence had done their job.

“We’re ready to proceed,” one of the investors said, leaning forward to sign the contract in front of him.

One by one, the others followed suit. Pens scratched against paper, sealing the deal.

Devon stepped back, allowing himself a moment of pride. He turned toward Theo, who remained silent, still spinning his pen between his fingers. Devon cleared his throat lightly, signaling Theo to step in and close the meeting.

But Theo didn’t move.

The investors, noticing their CEO’s distant demeanor, glanced at each other awkwardly. Devon sighed, plastering on a polite smile as he stepped forward to salvage the situation.

“Thank you for your trust in us,” Devon said, shaking hands with each investor. “Theo and I look forward to delivering results that exceed your expectations.”

The investors nodded, offering respectful goodbyes to Theo, though he barely acknowledged them. Instead, he stared at the empty space ahead of him, his mind clearly elsewhere.

Once the last investor left, Devon turned to Theo, his patience wearing thin. He crossed his arms and leaned against the edge of the table, his eyes narrowing.

“The last time I saw you like this, you were chasing some artifact halfway around the world,” Devon said, sipping from a cup of coffee he’d grabbed on his way in. “And now, here you go again—ignoring everything right in front of you. New opportunities, Theo. Focus.”

Theo, still holding the pen, finally set it down with a soft click. His expression remained calm as he leaned back further in his chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin.

Without looking at Devon, he said, “Call Mrs. Grayson.”

Devon paused mid-sip, blinking in disbelief. “What?”

“Call Mrs. Grayson,” Theo repeated, his tone firmer this time.

Devon sighed, setting his coffee down with exaggerated care. “Theo, come on. You’re seriously going to let this book distract you from everything we’re working on?”

Theo finally looked at him, his piercing emerald eyes unwavering. “If you don’t want to, I’ll do it myself.”

Before Devon could protest, Theo stood abruptly, his long strides carrying him toward the door.

“Wait—Theo! Hold on a second!” Devon scrambled after him, grabbing his coffee cup at the last moment. “Fine, fine. I’ll help. But you owe me for this.” He grumbled as he followed Theo out the door, taking one last sip of coffee. Before leaving, he pointed dramatically at the cup and muttered, “I’ll be back for you.”

The two descended to the lower floors of the building, where the administrative staff worked. The atmosphere shifted noticeably as Theo walked through the open-plan office. Employees greeted him with a mix of respect and awe, their movements quick and efficient under the watchful gaze of the CEO.

Theo, for his part, remained composed, his stride confident but unhurried. His calm demeanor only added to his mystique, and several staff members couldn’t hide their admiration. A few young women exchanged hushed giggles as he passed, their faces flushing when he glanced in their direction.

Devon noticed and rolled his eyes. “You’d think they’d be used to seeing you by now,” he muttered under his breath.

Theo ignored him, his focus entirely on one person.

“Mrs. Grayson,” he said, stopping in front of her desk.

The older woman looked up from a stack of paperwork, adjusting her glasses as she registered the presence of her boss. “Oh, Mr. Stavros—uh, I mean, Mr. CEO. How can I help you?” she stammered, clearly caught off guard.

Theo’s expression softened slightly. “Leave that work for now. Go home. But take me with you.”

Both Devon and Mrs. Grayson froze, their jaws dropping simultaneously.

“What!?” they exclaimed in unison, their voices echoing through the office.

Devon recovered first, stepping forward with his hands raised. “Wait a second, Theo. You can’t just demand to go home with someone out of nowhere. What’s this about?”

Mrs. Grayson looked equally bewildered. “Sir, I don’t understand. Why—why would you want to come with me?”

Theo’s calm demeanor didn’t waver. “I need to see your daughter,” he said simply.

“My daughter?” Mrs. Grayson echoed, blinking rapidly.

Devon rubbed his temples, muttering under his breath, “Here we go again…”

“Yes,” Theo said, his voice patient but firm. “The book she wrote—I need to speak with her. Immediately.”

Mrs. Grayson hesitated, glancing between Theo and Devon. “I mean… I suppose I could call her? But she works from home, and—”

“No need,” Theo interrupted. “I’ll go with you.”

Devon groaned loudly, drawing the attention of nearby employees. “Theo, do you even hear yourself right now? This isn’t normal behavior. You can’t just barge into someone’s life because you’re curious about a book.”

Theo turned to him, his gaze steady. “I’m not curious, Dev. I’m certain.”

“Certain about what?” Devon shot back, exasperated.

“That this is important,” Theo said simply.

There was no arguing with that tone—it was the same one Theo used when he’d made up his mind. Devon threw up his hands in defeat. “Fine. But if this turns into another one of your wild goose chases, don’t expect me to bail you out.”

Mrs. Grayson still looked uncertain, but she began gathering her things. “If you’re sure about this, sir… I suppose I can take you to Zhariah. She’s home today, working on her next project.”

Theo nodded, satisfied. “Thank you.”

As Mrs. Grayson prepared to leave, Devon leaned against the desk, sipping his coffee once more. “I swear, if I miss lunch for this…” he muttered, earning a small smile from Mrs. Grayson.

Theo, unbothered by his friend’s grumbling, stood ready, the book and its mysteries at the forefront of his mind.

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What does Theo hope to find in meeting Zhariah? And why is he so certain that this is more than coincidence?