Chapter 2

First, though, she’d email Adrian with the new chapter. Adrian was her best friend and the sole person trusted with Tess’s writing; he was gentle and honest, and she’d known him for so long he was practically a part of her. Tess wrote a short introduction (which was mostly a rant about the insane amount of time it’d taken her to choose a name for one of her characters) and attached the document.

As she leaned idly back in her chair, Tess thought about her future bagel toppings and nothing else. Once Adrian had emailed back, she would run down to the store and spread so many toppings on the bagel that she’d never feel hungry again.

Tess smiled as she scanned her emails again, waiting for a response. Her eye caught on something and she froze. Oh no.

She hadn’t sent her writing to Adrian. She’d sent it to Colette.

This was terrible. This was embarrassing and stupid and made worse by the fact Colette had made it very clear when Tess started that she was never to submit anything to her. It would make their professional relationship difficult when (not if) Colette refused.

If Tess was the sort of person to swear, she would have. As it was, she had a limited time to fix it, since she knew Colette checked her emails after every meeting, and there were three minutes left until her meeting with Mr. Jacobs ended. Three minutes to delete the email.

Tess fiddled around with the setting of her inbox, but to no avail. While she could delete the copy on her end, it would still come up on Colette’s computer. Tess might not have been a tech genius, but she knew enough to know she’d need Adrian’s help.

She shot him a quick email, careful to check the address before sending it.

Adrian,

S.O.S! I accidentally sent an email for you to the boss-lady! I need your help, and, if she sees it, a necromancer, because I will actually die of embarrassment.

Not even a minute passed before Adrian replied. Luckily, he worked in the I.T. department of the firm, so he had the exact expertise necessary to fix the problem.

Don’t worry, I’ll be over in a jiff—right after I finish laughing. Seriously, though, you need to take a computer class.

Tess slumped back in her chair, her head in her hands. Through the window into Colette’s office, she could see Mr. Jacobs packing up his briefcase and preparing to leave. Colette shook hands with him, a tight smile on her face, and he walked toward the door. Tess stared as Mr. Jacobs pressed down the handle and left.

There was still time, barely. Maybe Colette would take a lunch break, or go do something else—maybe there was still time for Adrian, who only worked on the floor below, for Pete’s sake, to get there. Unfortunately, Tess had no such luck. Colette sat back down and turned to her computer with an expression of boredom.

Tess watched her anxiously as she scrolled down the page. Something flickered across her face—surprise, anger, confusion, it was hard to tell—and Colette stood up again. She poked her head gracefully around the door, lips pursed, and focused all her icy attention on Tess.

“Tessa,” said Colette, “are you free a moment?”

Somehow, despite knowing what was going to happen, Tess jumped. “Uh, yes, Ms. Sylvestre,” she stammered. Colette gestured to the door and Tess entered.

The office was sleek and well designed; very minimalist, with clean black furniture and white walls. A floor to ceiling window covered the back wall, giving them a view of the entire snow-covered city, and a balcony wider than Tess’s desk area made that view accessible. She’d only been invited in once, for her final interview for the job, and the room was no less impressive than it had been back then.

Colette asked her to take a seat and Tess obliged. She was stiff and awkward, her ears already red and her forehead already coated in a light sheen of sweat, but Tess was already planning her explanation. She was sure that, as long as she made it convincing, Colette would understand.

“So, you’re probably wondering why I called you in today,” said Colette. Tess nodded, though she’d thought they were both on the same page about the email. “Well, I was wondering…have you got any plans for the holidays?”

Tess started. “I’m sorry?”

“Have you got any plans for the holidays?”

“No, I heard you alright, I’m just confused.”

Colette made what might have passed for a smile among snakes and leaned forward, her hands clasped neatly in front of her. “I have an…opportunity for you. A proposition, if you will.”

“I mean, in theory, yes,” said Tess. For all her lack of tech skills, she wasn’t stupid. Whatever Colette was talking about, it had nothing to do with the email—this was something else entirely. “Whatever you need, I’m here. I mean, that’s kind of my job, isn’t it?” Tess laughed nervously.