Chapter 8
EIGHT
Card Of The Day:
Embrace: Two of Swords (rev) | Release: The Moon
Tuesday
Getting ready for work at five in the morning seemed a little excessive. Especially when I’d spent the evening with Luna tearing my life apart.
Okay, that was an exaggeration.
I had faceplanted at nine o’clock since I’d started drinking immediately when I walked in the door just after five. Things had gotten a bit fuzzy before Luna put me to bed.
In the end, there was one thing I remembered.
Wands.
Lots and lots of freaking wands.
Normally, I was excited to see them in readings. They described me in a nutshell. A little wild, a lot of fire, and brimming with ideas. But fire and PMS? Yeah, that wasn’t what I wanted to hear.
Or more, what I didn’t want to face.
Wands also could burn.
I’d put myself in the shower before my eyeballs were all the way open and went right to my drafting table to settle myself down. I’d been dreaming of that blasted cat and my little fox all night. This was one thing I didn’t have to fight. Art was always my solace.
A little rejuvenating tea to get the toxins out and my pencils and paint would get me right. Then I could deal with Preston.
Maybe.
I dabbed my brush in the fresh glass of water and watched the water bloom with crimson. The gray cat had snuck into the drawings again. I followed my intuition and let him do his thing.
Sylvia was just as pissed as I was about the intrusion. She chased him around the apartment, creating chaos.
I stayed bent over my table for so long, my back screamed for mercy, but I still kept working. I drew panel after panel of the silver fox trying to urge the cat back out the open window. Instead of reacting, the cat simply sat there cleaning himself, ignoring Sylvia’s antics.
“Watermelon Sugar” blasted into my subconscious and I swore.
For once, I’d been up early enough to be on time for work, and here I was, still in my damn towel.
I stabbed my paintbrush into the glass jar and got most of the paint off, rolling it into a damp cotton towel to clean later. I slammed my watercolor tins shut then sprinted for the closet.
Luckily, since most of my wardrobe was black, it was easy to pull out something to wear. I went with a black sundress with a smattering of daisy appliqués on it, nude heeled sandals that wrapped up my calves, and a short black jacket that fell right below my bra strap.
Black lace and cotton for my underwear since my little apartment was already hot. Today was going to be a scorcher.
Hopefully, not personally. That fire energy needed a bucket of cold water right about now.
I snatched my watch off the charger, glad that Luna had so considerately peeled it off my arm before she put me to bed.
“Five minutes. Crap.” I ran across the room to my altar and snagged a few citron and silver chains and my heavy amethyst pendant.
I had a feeling I’d need all the help I could get walking into that office this morning.
Hair and makeup was going to have to wait. My thick ebony waves were going to be too hot later, but that was what messy buns were for.
I stopped at my kitchen table and found a note leaning against my favorite crocheted bag.
I figured you would need a little help with the morning.
Xoxo,
Lu
Inside my huge black bag were my glasses, emergency bag, deck of tarot cards, and snacks. As well as my favorite sloth tea diffuser and three baggies of tea. There were two more pouches on the bottom of the bag, but I didn’t have time to look closer.
“Bless you, Lu.”
Taking no chances, I folded up my backup ballet flats and tucked them away in my purse. Then I grabbed the bag and flew out the door. Driving would take longer than walking with morning traffic. Never mind trying to find a damn parking spot in Kensington Square.
I cut through the shortcut and was glad to see the kids weren’t outside playing today. The sun was too hot for blacktop kickball. They were probably down at the community pool.
I faltered as the bakery came into sight.
Bribe?
Nope. No way was I testing the gods again there.
I crossed the street to the Shaws’ office building and hurried inside, my heels clicking on the tiled floor of the lobby.
Dread filled my belly as I took the elevator to their floor. Seventeen after the hour.
Late again.
I glanced down at my hands and groaned. I was still covered in paint and ink. “Way to go, Ry,” I muttered just as the doors opened.
The elder Shaw was waiting for me. Or the elevator. But he got me.
Ugh.
“Miss Moon, you are late.”
“Aware.”
The older man—who looked far too much like PMS in a slimy, slick, distrustful way—arched a brow at me. “No excuse?”
I flipped my heavy fall of hair over my shoulder. “Would you believe it if I had one?”
His chin lifted. “I understand you’re only a temp, but two days in a row is unprofessional.”
“How do you know I was late yesterday? I don’t punch a time clock.”
He said nothing.
PMS had ratted me out. Good to know.
“Not the only way you’ve been unprofessional,” he added as if I’d not questioned him at all.
I could literally feel every one of my vertebrae locking into place as I stood up straighter. “Is that right?”
“April is an exemplary employee, and my son took her word that you would be a good fit. She was clearly mistaken.”
Isaac Shaw was not as tall as his son, and I could stare him directly in the eye. “I’m doing a favor for both of you. And believe me, the fact that April is one of my very best friends is the only reason I walked in these doors at all.”
“Then perhaps you should turn around and walk right out. You aren’t responsible enough to show up on time, and you’ve already shown your propensity for public displays. Who knows what else you might do to besmirch our firm?”
“My propensity?” I took a step closer until I was definitely far too close for comfort, but my temper always got me into trouble. “Oh, honey, I think you’re doing the besmirching all on your own.”
Crimson raced up his neck. “How dare you.”
“I don’t need you, darlin’. You need me.
There’s a difference when there’s that kind of power exchange.
Then again, you probably don’t understand those kind of roles since you and Admin Barbie had to sneak off and feed each other shrimp by the fire on the other side of town so your wife wouldn’t find out. ”
Elder Shaw had the same jaw tic as his son, but I didn’t find it at all intriguing.
Nope.
Now I just wondered how much shit I had to shovel to make him break. I really wanted to see him break.
Preston’s door crashed open, bouncing off the hinges. “What is going on out here?”
I took a leisurely step back and readjusted my purse on my shoulder. “I was just quitting.”
“What? Why?” Preston crossed the room. “You can’t. I need you this week.”
“You’ll make do.” His father smoothed a hand down his tie, as if I was some lint to be brushed away.
Preston raked his fingers through his hair. “I will not. We had an agreement.”
“Things change. I don’t like the atmosphere.”
That was an understatement.
Preston turned to his father. “Having this sort of conversation in the foyer is a bad idea. What if I had a client in my office?” He glanced from me to his father and back again. “And you are late, Miss Moon.”
“Even later now that Pops decided to give me a dressing down.”
Crimson was heading toward five-alarm-fire red. Now the flush was overtaking his cheeks too. “I—Preston, you need to take care of this immediately. This…this woman is not fit for this law firm.”
“Ah, but it’s okay for you to be the oldest cliché in the book? That’s fine. Again, I don’t need to be here. I was doing Preston and April a favor.”
“She’s the one in the wrong here. I will not stand for this.” Isaac turned on his heel and started across the room.
“Dad? Please stop. We need to discuss this. You can’t talk to my employee like that.”
“Me? She’s the one who verbally accosted me. Twice!”
“I feel like I verbally accosted him more than that.” I crossed my arms. “He will not belittle my accomplishments.”
PMS adjusted his tie, then smoothed it down much as his father had before dipping his hand into his pocket.
“First of all, Miss Moon is not your employee to fire. You have your own admin to take care of your,” hello, pregnant pause, “personal business. You both need to calm down and think rationally.”
“Calm down?” My purse slid down my arm to thud onto the floor beside me. “I didn’t start it. I realize I’m late, and I apologize.”
Huh, who knew I had an apology in me right then? The things you learn.
“I was working—yes, working,” I added with a sneer when Isaac gave me a withering glance. “I have a business of my own.”
“And what is it that you do?” Isaac crossed his arms.
My smile was slow and wide. “I’m a professional tarot card reader and artist.”
Isaac’s gaze slid down my dress and crystals then drifted over my handmade bag. “I see.” Disdain dripped from his voice.
I tipped my head, my dark hair tumbling forward as I picked up the chunky amethyst that was hiding inside my dress and pulled it out. “Oh, and I’m a witch.”
Sort of. More of a kitchen witch, but he didn’t need to know that.
“Dear God. This is who you hire?” Issac glared at his son. “Are you insane?”
To Preston’s credit, he didn’t break his father’s stare. “Dad, you cannot judge anyone for their religion or their profession. You should know better. That is not what this law firm is about.”
My eyebrows rose. Did Preston just defend me?
Whatever. Too little, too late. Working here was obviously a mistake.
One that I was about to rectify.
I stalked to my desk and took the crystals I’d brought in from the little stone pedestal along with the tea diffuser I’d left behind.
“I don’t have time for this nonsense. I expect her gone, Preston.”
PMS clenched his hands at his sides as his father strode off to his lair. “My office, Miss Moon,” he said through gritted teeth.