“Not that it’ll do me much good if no one can know I have talents,” I grumbled.
“The further we get from that incident, the less likely it will be for people to suspect your new powers might also mean my powers are back.”
That perked me up. “How much longer, do you think?”
“I don’t know. A month or two, maybe? By the time we figure out your strengths and start specializing your training, certainly.”
“So, maybe a few more months in marketing?”
“Let’s say the first of next year.”
It was October, so I thought I could survive that long. “Do you have any idea what my strengths might be yet?”
“It’s hard to tell from the basics. You do seem to be pretty analytical with the spells, so you might be able to help me in Research and Development.”
“I think I could cope with that. And I happen to be on the boss’s good side.” I smiled at him. “In fact, I think I might already have him wrapped around my little finger.” I wasn’t normally a flirt, even with my boyfriend, but having magical powers had done wonders for my confidence levels. I hadn’t realized how unequal I’d felt in this company and with Owen. My previous magical immunity had been special and valuable, but being magical was something else entirely. Now I felt powerful. Being able to make myself look like a lingerie model had somehow made me feel like one, even when I wasn’t using the illusion.
“Since I’m not your boss yet, would it be improper for me to invite you over to dinner tonight?”
“Considering that my grandmother is cooking it, I think it counts more as a family thing. Is she driving you crazy yet?”
“No, not at all. It just feels weird for me to come home to a home-cooked meal when it’s your grandmother doing the cooking.”
“I’m sure she won’t be around much longer. Just be sure to remind her how well my lessons are going so she’ll know she doesn’t have to make sure I learn to use my powers the right way.”
We reached the point where we had to go our separate ways to return to our respective offices. “Okay, then, I’ll see you after work,” he said, taking my hand for a quick squeeze before heading off.
I walked with a jaunty spring in my step back to my office, feeling like I should have a perky pop tune following me on the soundtrack. Not too long ago, I’d hated my job and had despaired of ever finding my place in the company. Now I was having a blast learning to do magic.
True, I still hated my job, but that job was now a cover story, so it was less painful to face. I didn’t know where my eventual place would be, but still, magic! That made it a lot easier to get out of bed in the morning.
I bounced into my office and asked, “Were there any messages for me?”
My assistant, Perdita, looked me up and down, smirking ever so slightly. Only then did I realize that returning to my office after a long “meeting” with a bounce in my step, a glow about me, sparkling eyes, and a flushed face probably gave entirely the wrong impression, especially since my boyfriend worked at the same company. I immediately imagined that she was picturing Owen and me in a janitor’s closet somewhere, and that mental image made my face flush even more, which made me look even guiltier. I wondered if I could get Rod to give me a signed note saying that it really had been a meeting with the Director of Personnel. After all, training did count as a personnel matter.
“No messages,” she said, raising one slanted elven eyebrow.
“Good, thanks,” I said. “We’re making real progress on that magical training program we’re putting together. I mean, Rod and I are putting together. That’ll be our next big launch.” Feeling my face grow warmer and warmer—which was infuriating, since I didn’t have anything to feel embarrassed about—I made a beeline for my private office.
Then I realized that something was odd. Perdita had said only two words to me, which was very much unlike her. In fact, those had been the only two words she’d said to me all day. She hadn’t said anything when she’d arrived that morning, and she’d only nodded an acknowledgment when I’d left for my training session and told her when I’d be back. Normally it was impossible to stop the flood of words from Perdita, and she drove me crazy from offering to do things for me.
I stopped and turned back. “Is everything okay?” I asked.
She shrugged and didn’t quite meet my eyes. “I’m fine,” she said before bending down to focus on the doodle-covered notepad on her desk.
