“If you called to tell me how amazing your ski vacation is, I’ll take a hard pass. It’s late, and I’m grieving a lifetime of mediocrity while trying to slip into a sugar coma,” I grumbled into the phone.
My best friend and coworker at the agency, Sage, made a tsking sound and asked, “Cake or candy?”
“Neither. Cookies. I baked an army of gingerbread men and then ate their heads in protest.”
“Savage. Those were innocent victims.”
I pressed a hand against my stomach as it rumbled and twisted from too much flour and sugar. “My developing heartburn says otherwise. But I’m awake now, so you might as well tell me, how are the mountains?”
Sage hesitated. “That’s why I’m calling. There’s a bit of an issue. It’s a long story that involves an avalanche that might—sort of—be my fault, and now I’m stranded inside a remote ski village for the foreseeable future.”
“How was an avalanche your fault?”
“That’s not important. What’s important is I need a huge favor. I’m supposed to work on my next case this week, but since I'm trapped in a winter-not-so-wonderland, I want you to cover for me. Upper management already cleared the case transfer, and the research is done. All you have to do is read the case file, work a little magic, and deliver a Christmas miracle! Easy peasy.”
I rolled upright and clutched the phone tighter, the breath catching in the back of my throat. “Upper management is going to let me take a case?”
“I put in a good word for you. It’s a trial run, but completing this job will put you in line for a promotion. Christmas miracles are the gold standard at the agency. You’ll be a shoo-in. Plus…” Sage paused for effect. “The office next to Simon’s is currently vacant. It could be yours in a matter of weeks. He'll definitely take notice of you then. First, you'll share a wall, then a meal. Next thing you know, you'll be sharing a penthouse overlooking the harbor.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and fist-pumped the air.Don’t ever discredit a fortune teller, especially one named Madam Destiny.
“You’re the best Sage. I’ve never been so happy for an avalanche.”
Sage groaned. “Well, I’m glad someone’s happy. I’m the one snowed in. Go into the office on Monday and collect my case file. You won’t be sorry, and we can celebrate your new office and future boyfriend when I get back. Oh, and Del?”
“Yeah?”
“Try not to murder any more gingerbread men.”
I stifled a grin. “Deal.”
***
A blast of icy air slid under my scarf as I hurried toward the steel and glass tower of my office building. From the outside looking in, we sold antique novelties, but we really granted wishes, broke curses, and performed miracles.
Our Holidays Division, Christmas specifically, was our busiest branch composed of our best agents. I’d started a few years ago in a different division and had worked my way up to Holidays. Now if I could score an agent’s promotion, I’d finally be living my dream.
Agents got to work in the field, helping people and bettering their lives, while I was currently stuck in the office documenting case outcomes and performing basic administrative tasks. If someone needed paperclips or there was an odd smell coming from the break room refrigerator, they called me. And we were witches, so some smells coming from that thing were vile.
Nodding at the young woman working the reception desk, I weaved through the cubicle jungle with a spring in my step. The spring faltered when my cube mate Agatha popped her perfectly coifed head above the half wall separating our spaces. Her cherry-red lips smacked together and formed a sickly sweet smile.
“Delia! You’refinallyhere. There’s a whole cart of poinsettias that needs to be delivered to each agent's office. I’d do it myself, but I just had my nails done. I’d hate to chip the paint.” She wriggled her inch-long, red and green sparkly nails in front of her nose. “Besides, you’re never busy with anything important.”
“Actually, Agatha, I’ve been assigned a case. I need to brush up on the file this morning.”
Agatha wrinkled her nose. “They never assign cases to low-level witches. Don’t lie to get out of plant duty.” With a smug look, she reached for a pair of earbuds, popped them into her ears, and focused her attention on her laptop. The muffled melodies of Christmas music filled the cube as Agatha iced me out.
“I won’t be low-level for long,” I muttered while unwinding my scarf and shrugging out of my coat. I dropped my bag and looked longingly at my laptop before heaving a sigh and heading toward the poinsettias. The case could wait a few minutes while I unloaded the cart.
Vibrant red leaves greeted me, and I brushed off Agatha’s snarky attitude. Things were looking up. I finally had a case of my own. This would be my last time passing out holiday decorations. Next season, I'd be the one receiving them.
I pushed the cart forward, frowning when it wouldn’t budge. Shoving harder only made it shuddered a few inches, and nearly toppled a plant onto the carpet. I rebalanced the poinsettia, checked to make sure the wheels weren’t stuck, and then leaned all my weight into the cart.
Little-by-little, I made my way down the hall, delivering potted poinsettias to lucky agents. A sheen of sweat made my silk blouse stick to my skin, and I blew a wayward strand of hair out of my face as I shoved the cart as hard as I could, trying to reach the last office.
The cart bucked, loosening a wheel and sending it rolling through the open doorway. I peeked inside the dimly lit office. Of course, it was Simon’s, and I breathed in the faint, lingering scent of his expensive cologne. His office was sparsely decorated with a mahogany desk and a set of sleek black leather chairs. A bookcase lined one wall, and the other was dotted with framed certificates. But the pièce de résistance was the giant window overlooking the city. The view from this side of the building was incredible, especially in the evening when the sun dipped below the skyline and the city lights twinkled.
Looking over my shoulder to make sure the coast was clear, I tip-toed inside Simon’s office to search for the missing wheel. The blasted thing had rolled underneath his desk, forcing me to contort my body to reach it.
