Page 93 of Cursing My Cheating Husband

The enchanted door sensed my presence and unlocked itself. I pushed it open and carried Anya inside as Maddox followed.

“I can’t believe it!” I clutched her closer. “I was afraid this would never happen.”

Anya’s head pivoted as she took in the office. “I guess that’s why I don’t see a space prepared for me.”

“I thought about setting something up, but honestly I was afraid I would jinx it if I was too presumptuous…”

“Well, I never had any doubts,” Maddox said as he crossed to his desk and pulled a luxurious cat bed out of the bottom drawer. “Where should we put it?”

My tears had been coming under control, but the fact that he had been so confident in me brought them right back.

I set Anya down. With my hands free, I pulled Maddox close and kissed him.

Anya was circling the bed warily, not settling in yet. “How did you know to expect a cat? What if I’d been a raven or an owl?”

“There’s a bird perch in the supply closet.” Maddox took my hand again. “When you told me the familiar would only show up when you found your real purpose, I knew I had to get ready for them.”

I kissed him deeply, trying to communicate everything I felt. When I pulled back, his eyes were bright with happiness.

“The bed is close to acceptable,” Anya announced. “It’s not quite soft enough.” She rubbed her head on the cuff of Maddox’s sleeve. “This is soft enough. Take it off and line the bed with it.”

Maddox started unbuttoning his shirt.

I laughed and caught his wrist. “We need to be professional. Front office staff cannot be shirtless.”

Anya sighed heavily. “I think shirtless male staff would be great for our branding, but you know best. The bed will do.” She addressed Maddox. “I’m pleased you didn’t argue with my command. I take it Callie has explained the hierarchy to you?”

“Hierarchy?” he said, confused.

“Yes, the one in which I rank above you. Obviously, Callie is in charge, but it is traditional for a witch’s mate to serve her familiar.”

“Oh, I had no idea.” He paused. “But Callie’s one of the first witches to ever settle down with one man. How can it be a tradition?”

Anya gave Maddox a dark look. “Every tradition starts somewhere,” she said icily.

I had to look away to keep from laughing. I loved her already.

My heart rate picked up when I realized it was time for the final walk-through before opening the doors. As Maddox made sure his reception area was all set up, I went through the consultation and casting rooms and confirmed everything was exactly as I wanted it.

I returned to the main waiting area to find myself loving Maddox even more, for how gamely he was attempting to engage with Anya.

“So, where do familiars come from?” he asked her.

Anya’s ears flattened.

“I mean, before your witch finds her purpose. Are you suspended in a magical realm somewhere, waiting to be called?”

“What? Magical realm?” Anya replied, baffled. “I was working in marketing.”

I jumped in before they could continue. “Marketing! Great! We could use your expertise here. I’d love to not have to rely so much on foot traffic and how common betrayal is.”

“Honestly, those two should be enough,” Anya pronounced. “But if you want to be proactive, I have selective telepathy that lets me home in on specific emotional states. I can locate the nearest people feeling betrayal and heartbreak.”

“That sounds like an intense thing to experience,” I said.

“It is, but I have to turn it on. I mostly leave it inactive.” Anya gave what I could only describe as a shrug. “Honestly, I’m glad to have a meaningful use for it. I can read minds, and all I was doing with it was monitoring focus group reactions to toothpaste commercials.”

She pointedly turned to me. “Shall I try it now? Are you ready to open for business?”