The Transfiguratus Diem

6. Donations and Death Traps

Carly gained more than enough attention regarding her appearance that morning, the young woman having arrived in the office every day for the past four years in her leathers and boots. She casually explained about her bike being stolen and all in the office agreed that nothing could replace the heirloom. By lunchtime, a collection had been passed around the entire floor and the three floors underneath and once it returned to Carly's manager, the jar was fit to bursting with crisp dollar bills and shiny quarters.

"Take it." Stacy urged, holding out the tin. "I haven't counted the amount, but I still have the rest of the building to collect from."

Carly's eyes widened at the sight, yet still she pushed the tin back to Stacy with open palms. "I couldn't possibly take all this!" She gasped as a few of the teetering bills on the top floated to the floor.

"Girl, take it willingly, or I'm gunna pour it in your bag." Stacy warned, her lips pursed. The look on her face told Carly she meant business, so the woman conceded and took the jar. "Better. Count it, put it in your bag, then return the empty tin. I am off to lunch." Stacy threw her handbag over her shoulder and typed a few keys to lock down her computer before pausing in front of Carly again, a single finger pointed in the young woman's direction. "You look stunning by the way."

Carly smiled and felt a warm blush spread across her cheeks. "Let me know if there are empanadas today." Stacy nodded and winked before leaving Carly to cover the lunch shift alone, something she had done many times before. Although now, she was left holding a large tin full of money and no way of safely storing it.

Sighing, Carly picked up the few bills that had fallen to the floor before making her way to the cupboard for some elastic bands and an envelope. She made sure to write office collection on the front of the envelope in an effort to avoid suspicion should she be pulled over. And then she counted.

Bills, bills and more bills meant Carly had nearly six hundred dollars in her hand before counting the loose change. Someone had even thrown in a fresh one-hundred-dollar bill, a single crease through the middle of the paper. She bound the bills together before advancing to the coins, but before she could tip them out upon the table, her computer across the room binged, alerting her to a new email.

Carly approached quickly as she flicked her hair from her face. Leaning over rather than sitting down she opened the email app and felt herself gasp at the sender of the newest unread email.

"Use the VIP elevator. The code is 5774. I have a gift for you."

Carly audibly scoffed, her eyes narrowing at the audacity of the message. Her gaze travelled to the email of the sender once more and she resisted the urge to throw her keyboard at the screen. Instead, she pursed her lips and sat before she read the name aloud.

"H.O.Reed@Spacertune.co.uk..... The asshat."

Carly sucked her teeth, clicked reply, and instantly began to type. The keys clacked loudly and rapidly as she spoke the words to herself.

"Asshat. Why in the ever-loving fuck would I ever want a gift from you?! Unless it is my bike, I don't wanna know. Unlike your father who left you nothing but misery and grief, my father left me that bike so that I would never be in want or need of a lift from a stranger. It was his way of protecting me, even when he couldn't. So, unless you have my bike in pristine condition in that lonely little penthouse of yours then I suggest you get on your knees and kiss my ass."

Without another thought, Carly clicked send and instantly regretted the action, but it was too late. Her message arrived in Harrison's inbox seconds later and was opened almost immediately by the man. Carly took a few breaths to calm herself as Harrison could only sit, the words of her email heavy on his mind.