9

9

Amber

My uncle clearly wasn’t pleased with my response.

“Anyway, what’s done is done,” he said curtly. “Let’s focus on what matters now—how can we save the company? How do we lift the mortgage? That’s what we need to be thinking about.”

But my father wasn’t ready to let it go.

“You should’ve thought about that before you went behind my back. I don’t give a damn about the company anymore. Sit and think—if you can find a way, good for you!”

He stormed out of the room, leaving his untouched breakfast behind.

Grace turned her bitter glare toward my uncle like it was her father’s land that had been sold.

“I can’t believe this! Unbelievable! You know what? Why don’t you sell this duplex too and save your sorry asses? Of course, my husband’s the idiot here—you’ll keep hiding things from him for years! Shame on you. Seriously!”

For the first time ever, I found myself agreeing with my stepmother.

What my uncle did really wasn’t right.

At the very least, he should’ve told my dad.

Maybe then he wouldn’t be feeling this humiliated now.

“Stay out of this, missy,” my uncle snapped. “If you’re so concerned about your husband, go check on him. Go on.”

Maria quickly stepped in and approached Grace.

“Come on, Grace. Let’s go outside and get some fresh air,” she said softly, clearly trying to smooth things over.

Dean and Eva were just as shocked as I was.

Our peaceful breakfast had taken a sharp, dramatic turn.

I stood up and said quietly, “Enjoy the rest of your breakfast, everyone,” before heading to my room.

After getting dressed and coming back downstairs, Dean was waiting by the door.

“Where you headed?”

“Job interview.”

“Where is it?”

“It’s written here. Do minibuses go that way?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll drive you.”

“You’re the best, my dear Dean!”

Just as we were heading out, Eva caught us by the door, emerging from the kitchen.

“Hey! Where are you going without me?”

“I’m just taking Amber to her interview. I might stop by the Grand Bazaar afterward. Want anything?”

“I want orcik candy.”

“Ugh, now I want some too. Save me a share, Eva.”

“Best if my brother just gets a whole pack for you too,” Eva smirked.

I didn’t even notice Cara had joined us until I heard her voice behind me.

“Then that makes it three packs of orcik candy.”

“Three witches, three candy orders. Let’s get out of here before this turns into a bigger expense,” Dean said, guiding me toward the door.

Claire—my grandmother—stopped us just before we left.

“Do you have any spending money, sweetheart?”

“Claire, we’re not that broke. I still have my student credit card.”

Sure, it was maxed out, but still…

“Take this twenty anyway,” she insisted, pressing a folded bill into my hand.

“May God open good doors for you, my child. May your face always smile, and may evil never find its way to you.”

My sweet grandma.

“Amen,” I murmured sincerely.

How could I not say amen to a prayer like that?

If only she’d thrown in a “May everything you touch turn to gold” too.

Though honestly, gold’s at $110 a gram these days…

At this rate, if I ever get married, no one will be able to gift me even a single gram.

On the way out, I saw a cat and rushed toward it, only to trip over a stone and land face-first on the lawn.

My clothes were covered in dust. I stood up, brushed myself off, and kicked the stupid stone in frustration. The cat had already run away.

Dean and Eva came into the yard a few minutes later.

“Ready to fly through Lubbock traffic on a motorcycle, my lovely Amber?”

“Wait—Dean, how did you even get your motorcycle here? Don’t tell me you rode it all the way from New York.”

“I know a few truckers,” he said with a smug grin.

Eva poured water behind us as we left—her way of wishing good luck.

Finding a place to park the motorcycle was a nightmare.

Broadway Avenue felt like it held all of Lubbock in one street.

Pushing through the crowd, I teased Dean.

“Why don’t you ask your trucker friends if they’ll hire you? Since it took you seven years to finish your degree with a master’s, they better not let you slip away.”

“Oh, come on! You’d think I was the only one who ever took that long. You sound just like my dad. You are his niece, after all.”

“Eva and I started college two years after you and still graduated the same year. Just admit you’re lazy.”

“Lazy? Please. The professors had it out for me. That’s the only reason I didn’t graduate on time.”

“Sure… that’s what they all say.”

Dean scowled and picked up his pace. I had to jog to keep up, cursing him in my head with every step.

Things like:

Lumbering ox, musclebound caveman, stubborn cow, lazy alley cat…

I’ve phased out the harsher insults from my vocabulary.

My profession doesn’t exactly smile upon foul language.

And besides, calling someone “stupid” outright? Technically, even that could be defamation. Even if it’s just in your head.

“Dean! I’m tired!”

“We’re here already.”

“This building? When you said ‘Metro Tower Business Center,’ I imagined something else.”

“This is the Metro Tower Business Center. If you’re going to work here, better get used to it, Miss Amber.”

“Yes, my dear Dean!” I mocked, rolling my eyes.

The first thing I noticed while climbing the building’s steps was the flower shop at the entrance.

“Ohh look, there are so many stores in here! This job could be perfect for post-work shopping sprees.”

“You talk like you’re already hired.”

“I trust Lucas. He wouldn’t send me here for nothing.”

“I thought you two broke up?”

“We did. But we’re still friends.”

“Modern people… I swear.”

We got in the elevator and started heading up.

“Wait—why are you coming with me?”

“I want to make sure this job is actually decent.”

“What am I, five? You want to hold my hand and walk me to my teacher too?”

“Actually, that sounds reasonable. Give me your hand.”

He reached for me, and I smacked it away.

“Let go of me, idiot.” Then I spotted the sign: Cloud Nine Café – Rooftop.

“You should go have some ice cream up there. I’ll come find you when I’m done.”

“Fine, fine.”

Let’s see if Mr. Adrian will actually hire me.

I was already starting to stress.