Back at my apartment, I related the morning’s events to Carol. She took it all in stride.

“So, what am I going to do now?” I wondered aloud, when I was done.

Carol said: “you could always become a private investigator.”

“Might help with the monster hunting but I’m not sure it would pay the bills…”

“Oh, I can take care of all that - I inherited most of the Mercotti fortune, remember?”

I looked at her with one eyebrow raised. “That money won’t last forever…”

Undeterred, she continued: “I grew up on those old novels, remember? Chandler, Runyon, Gardner - and most of them had sexy secretaries to remind them when bills were due and to screen out some clients…”

“You are overqualified for that job,” I mused. “But what’s in it for you?”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Oh I can help you with some investigations - I’ll high tail it out when the fighting starts but I can be useful until then. And there are at least three more artifacts out there - maybe some of them will help me help you more.”

“Still sounds like a bit of a one-sided deal, with everything coming out in my favor…” I mused. “There has to be more in it for you…”

She moved closer, placing one of each of her slim hands on my shoulders. “Ever hear about something called a ‘kept man'?” She asked with a twinkle in her eye.

I had heard the term, sure, but was curious to see where this was going. “I might have. Would you care to elaborate?”

She giggled. It was a cute giggle. “Well, I pay your expenses, and you pay me with little things like this,” and here she kissed my right cheek.

“Or maybe this,” as she planted another on my left.

“Or maybe even…” I didn’t let her finish this one as my lips met hers. It was as magical as it had been that first time, back when we were teens. And I should know - I now have magic.

What, you want more? Maybe someday I’ll stop being a gentleman and put the x-rated version out there somewhere.

And, of course I did open an agency, and I do have more adventures.

And there are more artifacts. And monsters.

But for now, well, I AM a kept man and the boss is calling…