“I should check to see if Terri called.” She crawled out of bed with a touch of sadness growing in her heart. She hated to admit that she would have to see them go, but eventually she would. Her last wish would go either to Terri or to free them. If she helped Terri, the genies would have to return to a bottle. If she made a wish to free Mark and James, they’d undoubtedly leave her within a week. They’d spent centuries cooped up. She had little doubt they’d want to enjoy their freedom. And they should.

  “Valerie?”

  She’d almost reached the door, but stopped and turned to face him. “Yes?”

  He hurried off the bed and came to stand in front of her. “If there’s something on your mind, perhaps you can share it with Mark and me. We may be able to help.”

  Worries plagued her mind, but she wasn’t about to share them with either man. She didn’t want to disappoint them if she had to use her last wish to help Terri.

  “I’ll be okay, but thank you.”

  He lifted his hand and as he reached for her cheek, she stepped back to avoid his touch. Confusion claimed hold of him and he pressed his lips together.

  “I really need some caffeine.” Before he could say another word, she twisted and left the room.

  Val’s heart ached, as if someone had jabbed a knife in it. He’d treated her with nothing but pure kindness and she’d rejected him. She felt horrible and ill. To ease her mind, she reminded herself they’d leave her the minute they could.

  A delicious smell of coffee and eggs drifted into her nose on her way to the kitchen. Although she no longer felt hungry, she’d make an effort to eat.

  She turned the corner and found Mark standing in front of the stove with a spatula in his hand. A wide grin spread on his face as his eyes met her.

  “Hungry?”

  “Uh…a little.” She turned to the phone on the counter, trying to hide her lie. The red light remained immobile, indicating she had zero messages.

  James strolled into the room. He walked straight to the coffee maker without glancing her way. “Have a seat. We’ll bring everything to you.”

  After he had poured the dark liquid into a cup, he set the coffee pot back on the burner. Val took the full cup off the counter as he turned to grab it.

  “I can fix this. Thank you, anyway.”

  She passed him and set it on the counter on the other side of the refrigerator. The time had come for her to stop counting on them to do everything for her.

  “Is there something wrong?” Mark asked.

  She grabbed the milk from the refrigerator and let the door close on its own. “No. I’m waiting on Terri to call me. I’m anxious to find out about her meeting with management.”

  “Is that it?” James asked as he folded his arms across his chest.

  She stirred in sugar and milk with her coffee. “I’m worried, that’s all. There’s really nothing you can do to help me.” Even though she spoke the truth, guilt pressed upon her. She believed in being open and honest with her friends and lovers, sharing and expressing her innermost thoughts. But what was the point if her lovers were going to leave soon and she would never see them again?

  “Are you worried for your friend?” James asked.

  She took a sip of her caffeine drink then gave him a nod.

  “She’ll be fine. You wished her luck with her meeting.”

  “Yes, but everything has a price, a consequence. She’s going to ask them to give me my job back. I fear she will have to pay a steep price for me.”

  James shook his head. “Everything will work out. You’ll see.”

  His fine choice of words offered her little comfort. Sure, life would balance itself, but she feared she’d have to work harder to find the right balance.

  Sighing, she sipped more coffee and leaned against the counter. Mark pressed the spatula into the dish on the stove while James stood with his attention directed towards her. For over a minute, no one spoke a word.

  Mark turned his head and gave James a shrug. “Something is wrong,” James said, then directed his attention to Val. “I can feel it in my soul.”

  His twinkling eyes sent a dagger to her heart. Holding her cup of coffee, she turned away from them. She didn’t want to break down and cry. She’d recently regained her confidence and determination, thanks to them, and was able to face all the problems in her life with her head high. Heartache would eat her alive and bring her back down if it made it too deep into her heart. She needed to put distance between them to prevent such misery.

  Steps away from the dining room table, the ring of the phone brought her to a halt. She spun with her cup in hand and the brown liquid nearly spilled over the edge. Carefully, she stepped back into the kitchen. After the second ring, James lifted the receiver. He handed it to her as she reached him.

  “Hello?”

  “Valerie, you are not going to believe what has happened.” Terri sounded excited, too keyed up.

  “What is it?” She set her coffee on the counter.

  James moved to the other side of the kitchen, across from her. He leant back with his hands on the counter behind him.

  “I can’t believe it. It’s incredible. A miracle. You have to meet me.”

  “Meet you? Where?”

  “Here at work.”

  “I don’t have my badge to get in.” Val headed to her bedroom.

  “Call me when you get here. I’ll come down and escort you in.”

  Val hurried to her closet. “Can you give me a hint as to what is going on?”

  She giggled. “No, but trust me, you’re going to freak out. Hurry up and get here.”

  Val tugged a shirt from a hanger. “I’m getting dressed now. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  “See you soon.”

  Val hit the end call button and headed for her dresser. She set the phone down then grabbed a bra from one of the drawers. As she removed her tank top and dressed, she pondered about Terri’s sudden excitement. She’d said it was a miracle. What had her claiming such a thing?

  As Val slid off her pyjama bottoms and tugged on a pair of blue jeans from the drawer, she considered the possibilities of Terri’s excitement. Maybe management had promoted her. Perhaps she’d convinced them to give Val her job. Or maybe management had decided to advance Terri and her friend would hire back Val. Whatever the reason for the upbeat mood, Val suspected it pertained to her since Terri had asked her to get there as quickly as possible.

  “Is everything all right?” James asked.

  Val twisted around to find him standing near the bed. “Yes. I have to meet her at the office. I’ll come back after I find out what’s going on. She seemed very excited.” She rushed back to her closet and grabbed a pair of shoes.

  “Should we wait here for you?”

  “Yes. But if I need you, can I call you?”

  “Of course.” He offered her a kind smile, and her heart warmed.

  She walked up to him and gave him a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you for being so kind to me.”

  Before she could step back, he grabbed her arms, tugged her to his body and claimed her lips. Within seconds her body came alive, aroused from his hungry kiss. She wanted him, wanted to stay with him and Mark for as long as humanly possible. Maybe she’d get the chance now, but she had to hurry and meet Terri to find out.

  She placed her hands on his warm, solid chest, and gently prised her mouth away. “I’m sorry, but I have to go.”

  “If you need us, don’t hesitate to call. We will do anything for you, Valerie. Anything.”

  His strong, passionate gaze confirmed his words. They’d helped her so much already, and yet they were willing to give more. They were truly amazing men, one of a kind.

  She took a step back and lowered her arms. “You and Mark mean the world to me. I hope I’m able to help both of you one day.” Maybe today if she was lucky.

  “You’re a very kind woman. I’m honoured to have met you, and I know Mark feels the same. If I could hold you in my arms and care for you forever, I would. I hope you get what you are seeking, what you long for, with or without a wish.”

  Her eyes became teary. If she didn’t leave, she would break down and cry. She lowered her head, and turned away. “I have to go.”

  Mark was slicing the omelette in half when she stopped at the kitchen counter. She disliked leaving on such short notice, especially since he’d prepared breakfast for her.

  “I’m sorry, Mark, but I have to go.” She grabbed her purse and keys.

  “It’s all right. James and I will eat it. I’ll fix something when you return.”

  She planted a kiss on his cheek, just as she had done to James. “Behave while I’m gone.”

  He chuckled. “We don’t have a choice since you won’t be here. But when you get back…”

  She stepped back out of the kitchen. “Game on.”

  His eyebrows rose and she laughed softly.

  “See you in a bit,” she said and gave a goodbye wave.

  Val left the apartment, skipped down the stairs, and walked briskly to her car. The bright sun warmed her skin and forced her eyes into slits. Shielding her eyes, she glanced up and saw a clear blue sky above her. Beautiful weather for a happy day—at least she hoped it would be a cheerful one.

  She settled into the driver’s seat, lowered the windows then headed for the main road. The traffic had died down, since most people started their jobs between eight and nine. It took twenty minutes to reach the office from her apartment complex. After she had parked in a spot on the lot, she called Terri and announced her arrival.

  Val walked into the lobby of the office building and stopped near the front desk. She waited with her attention pointed at the elevators. Terri appeared within a few minutes. Her high heels clacked loudly after she stepped from the elevator. She wore a short, navy blue skirt and matching blazer with a white blouse underneath. She greeted Val with a wide grin and bright eyes.

  “You’re going to flip out after I tell you the good news.” She curled her arm around Val’s then tugged her towards the elevator.

  “What’s going on, Terri?”

  They stepped into the waiting elevator. Terri pressed the button for the twelfth floor.

  Val immediately faced her friend. “Why are we going to twelve? You work on the eighth floor.”

  “I have to show you first.” She continued to maintain her energetic smile.

  Lips pressed tightly together, Val stared at her friend. What did she have to show her? Only management worked on the top floor.

  The ding of the elevator announced their arrival. As the doors opened, Terri waved Val onwards. “Come on.”

  Val followed Terri’s quick stride down the hall, passing the check-in desk along the way. When the young woman sitting behind the counter raised her head, Terri waved her hand in the air. The lady smiled at them.

  As they continued down the hall, Val wondered if she was about to walk into a meeting. She hadn’t dressed for one, nor had she put on makeup or fixed her hair properly. If she had to face management looking the way she did and ask for her job back, Val suspected the big bosses would simply laugh at her.

  “Please tell me I’m not walking into a meeting.”

  Terri stopped at the last door on the right and withdrew a key from her blazer. “Oh no, I met with management earlier.”

  More confusion clouded Val’s mind. She didn’t have a clue what Terri was up to and it was driving her crazy.

  Terri unlocked the door and pushed it open. She walked into the large office and stopped in the middle. Val followed her inside with slow, hesitant steps. Windows along two walls enclosed half of the office, which was as big as her apartment. Not far from the left end of the room, a wooden desk faced away from the view of the city. A bar with stools took up most of the space at the other end of the room. In the centre, behind the bar, a flat screen television hung on the wall.

  “What do you think?”

  Val twisted to find Terri with her arms outstretched.

  “About this office? It’s big.”

  Terri chuckled. “I know. Isn’t it great?”

  “Sure.” From the corner of Val’s eyes, she gave Terri a suspicious look. “Whose office is this?”

  Terri lowered her arms and stepped closer to Val. “Would you believe me if I said this is your office?”

  Val’s heart jumped. “What?”

  “This is your office, and mine is across the hall.” The same excited grin from earlier made another appearance.

  “But… How?”

  “I met with management and provided them with a long list of facts and reasons to rehire you. They were floored with what I gave them.”

  “And they just said ‘We’ll give her a job’?” Val couldn’t believe management would give her such a luxurious office, let alone reinstate her position so quickly. Nothing came that easy.

  “They couldn’t give your old job back to you because they’d phased out positions. They were going to hire two new managers, so they asked me if I thought you would be qualified for one of the openings. Without hesitation, I said yes. Then they gave me the other spot because they said I had the guts and determination to handle it.”

  Val stood mummified and she felt certain her eyes were ready to pop out of their sockets. Her heart raced. Could it be real?

  “They laid me off and now want to rehire me as a manager? And they’re making you one too?”

  Terri giggled while she nodded. “And the position comes with a very nice condo about fifteen minutes from here. I told them I wasn’t interested since Sam and I are getting married.”

  Val blinked and shook her head. “Did you say the job comes with a condo?”

  Terri gripped Val’s arms. “You and I will be working together as managers, and you get to move into a new condominium in two weeks.” She gave Val a small shake.

  It all seemed too unreal, like a dream. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I’m sure.” Terri turned and walked towards the desk. She picked up a piece of paper and brought it to Val. “I even have the email confirmation letters. One is for you and one is for me. They sent one to your home account, too, but I told them to forward me a copy and I’d make sure you received it.”

  Val took the papers from Terri’s hand and read them. Both contained the current date and congratulated them on their recent promotions. Val’s letter was longer as it included information about the condo, such as the address and date she could begin moving into it. The letter even specified she didn’t have to pay any rent as long as she remained employed with the company. Near the bottom of the letters, they’d listed a salary. Val gasped at the amount.

  “Are you kidding me?”

  “What?” Terri stepped to Val’s side to look at the letters.

  “Did you see the salary on here? It’s twice as much as I made before.”

  “It’s all real. We start in a month.”

  Val found herself speechless. Nearly all her worries were gone. She had a job making double her old salary and a free home. Talk about a well-spent wish for her friend.

  “This is incredible.” Excitement filled Val’s soul. She no longer had to concern herself with looking for a job or a place to live. In her new spot, she’d have plenty of cash to buy a new car and live well, saving as much money as she could. Life seemed perfect. And, sadly, the deal seemed too good to be true. There had to be a catch.

  Val lowered the papers. “What do we have to do in our new positions?”

  “We’ll be working on projects to expand the company. They said we would have to work over some nights and weekends occasionally, but never more than fifty hours in a week. And if we did work that much, we couldn’t the next week.”

  Manager positions required more responsibility. Val was more than capable of handling the task. And if she had to work extended hours, she would do it without a second thought. Once again, Val thought something was missing.

  “Is there anything else?”

  Terri shook her head. “Nope. That’s it.”

  Val took a deep breath as she considered whether or not to accept her new opportunity. If I turn it down, I’ll have to continue searching for a job and a home. And there’s no guarantee I will find a job in a reasonable time. If I accept the position, I’ll have to take the chance something could go wrong. I could turn out to be like a lottery winner who blows all their millions of dollars and files for bankruptcy within a few years. I want this new job, but can I handle it? I have a solid work ethic and I have a vast knowledge of the company and processes. I helped many co-workers and they considered me their ‘go to’ gal. I’m qualified, so why not take the job? I’m more than capable of being a manager.

  “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

  “It is, Val. We could really help this company grow. I know we can make a difference. We’ve always worked well together.”

  Smiling at her friend, Val said, “Okay, I’ll take the job.”

  Terri threw open her arms and let out something similar to a scream and a squeal. She embraced Val in a hug. Together they laughed with joy.

  “I’m so happy. Everything will work out. You’ll see.”

  “I’m sure it will.”

  A sense of relief flowed through Val. She still felt a touch of fear, but her confidence was much stronger. She would work hard to make sure she didn’t fall flat on her ass and wind up broke like the lottery winner.

  Terri withdrew an object from her pocket. “Here’s the key. We don’t start for a month, but you’re welcome to come at any time to get it fixed to your liking.”

  Val took the key from Terri’s fingers. “Do I need to respond to their email?”

  “Oh, yeah, you do, so they know you have officially accepted the position. I sent them my response before you arrived.”

  The minute Val returned home, she’d log in and reply.

  “Anything else?”

  “Nope.” Terri pushed up her sleeve and glanced at her watch. “Oh crap, I’m supposed to meet Sam for lunch. Do you want to come?”

  “No, I’ll stay here a few more minutes before I head back home.”

  Terri gave Val one last hug. “Call me if you need anything or have questions.”

 

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