Misfortune Cookie by Casey Wyatt Read Free Book Online Page A

coffee.
    “Good morning.” His eyes, not hidden behind those annoying glasses, darted to the corner where the kitchen table stood.
    The hair on the back of my neck rose and my skin prickled. Brody, who’d been at my heels, hissed and ran through the cat door, escaping into the yard. Wish I could follow you, little buddy , I thought when I realized we had unexpected company.
    “Radiance Ashworth.” A neatly dressed woman in a plain navy suit jacket with a cream colored shell underneath was seated at the breakfast table. Her shiny black hair was coiffed in a French knot and her skin was smooth and luminescent. If I had to guess her age, she didn’t look a day over thirty, yet her eyes and regal bearing told me a different story. The wisdom of ages peered at me through her focused gaze, as if she was much older than she looked. Weariness, maybe even bitterness, shone through her measured study of me.
    Tough crap if she didn’t like what she saw. I took a seat across from her and offered a thin smile. “I’m sorry, we haven’t been introduced.”
    “I’m Joanna Evans. Think of me as your new boss.”
    Luca’s hand landed heavily on my shoulder, giving it a warning squeeze. “I was planning on making my report to you this morning.”
    “I’d rather meet the new heir myself.” Again, her disappointed gaze raked me up and down. “She won’t last the month.”
    “Hey! I’m sitting right here.” The assessment rankled me. What did she expect in one day? Xena, Warrior Princess? “Does your organization have an employee suggestion box? Because I’d like to make one.”
    Luca hissed out a long breath. “We will begin training today.”
    Joanna nodded curtly. “See that you do so. She needs to be up to speed. We have too many pressing issues to coddle her.”
    “Wonderful. A quick employee orientation would have been helpful last night.” I know, the tone was a bit snide, but I’d had it with the attitude. “How about we start with you telling me more about this new job?”
    “What else do you need to know? Your life has been promised per the contract made by your ancestors,” she said.
    My ears perked up at that. If there was a contract, then that meant loopholes. Or even an ‘out’ clause. “Can I see a copy of that contract?”
    Joanna stiffened, her knuckles tight around the coffee mug. “The agreement is ironclad. There is no need for you to see it.” She glared over my shoulder at Luca as he placed a plate of steaming pancakes on the table.
    I loved pancakes, but at the moment, my appetite had vaporized. I stared out the window into my backyard. Julian was crouched down petting Brody. Or trying to anyway. Touch or no touch, the cat loved the ghost. He obediently trotted after Julian as he made his way toward the house.
    Julian peered inside the back door window. Fear flashed across his face, and he vanished. I couldn’t blame him for not wanting to meet the dragon lady. Since she was part of the spirit world, I presumed he’d be visible to her.
    “Ms. Ashworth, am I boring you?” Joanna’s peeved tone alerted me that I was missing conversation.
    “No. Please continue.” I folded my arms and gave her my undivided attention.
    For the next few minutes, she proceeded to tell me what I’d already heard from Luca. Behind the noble-sounding words, Redeemer, higher power, service to humanity, I heard: My mortal life was over. I was a slave until I died and the next Ashworth heir took my place. Her finality and smug certainty about the situation made me want to scream and break objects for good measure.
    I know I should have used more finesse, but I’d had it with the lack of answers. “How do I get out of this deal? There has to be more to this?”
    “Promotional opportunities are available to entry level Redeemers.”
    “Nice to know I have an official title and like any wage slave, I can move up in the ranks.”
    Luca made a choking sound and shot me a dark look.
    Joanna gave me a dark