Newly Broke Heroine!

Ch. 7: Hall Street Wagers

A day later, Fiona went along with Greg to the bank, where she knew that she was going to have to dig deep into the savings she had that she normally set aside for fun stuff. Nights in the town, treating hot guys–or chicks, as might be the case–and wish list items like the jacuzzi she wasn't getting any time soon.

Today, she found herself in this stone abomination of a building, tapping her fingers impatiently on a mass-produced desk that looked like it came from a bargain bin store. And it was a desk that was already well-used. The banker, a tall avian female with white feathers, a dress blouse, and black slacks gazed at the papers with piercing blue eyes, frowned as she pulled open a few folders. The rustling of crisp pages only served to irritate her. This place needs digital banking! Why haven't they gotten that here yet? Oh right, a faraway world where tech and magic overlap.

"Miss Swiftheart? Thank you for being patient, but I think I need to speak to my manager. According to this record, your account is on hold," the secretary said with a tap of her clawed fingers on her desk. She didn't look thrilled about this either. And if she wasn't happy, the wood creaking with the force Fiona pressed her fingers into the desk edge was a bad sign for the world, too.

Greg put a reassuring hand on her shoulder and reminded her that she should focus on not losing her cool. She let out a measured breath, and smoothed her frizzy hair behind her ears. "I'm sorry, why is my account on hold? I have a rather significant business purchase I need to make, and it's a time-sensitive matter."

"I would not know. The manager would. Please excuse me." the secretary got up with a click of clawed feet and vaulted up to the second floor with a flap of her massive black wings. The motion sent Fiona's hair flying, and she had to fix it again.

"Barry is behind this," Fiona snarled. "That guy has it out for me! I know this is his doing, he's abusing his power! What did I do to ever piss him off?!"

"Fiona, account holds can happen for a variety of reasons," Greg assured her. "It might be someone who tried to take your money, tried to impersonate you, or tried to cash a bad check, or even a clerical error. Please don't jump to conclusions."

"I can smell the grease coming off of his hands on this one, Greg," she said through gritted teeth. "He wants my stuff, and is cheating!"

"Fiona, this might be bordering on paranoid–" he started to say, but there was a flutter of massive wings. Two avians descended to the floor in a delicate arrival on the polished dark marble. Fiona brushed away an iridescent black feather that landed in her hair. The banker was a slightly older bird with a faint gray feather mask on his face, along with piercing golden eyes, and adorned in a fancy white jacket and leggings. He reached out a clawed hand and winced when Fiona shook his hand with a crushing grip.

"Miss Swiftheart, my apologies for this mix-up. There appears to have been a mishap on the registry floor. Your money is safe and secure with us, and our relayed banks throughout the Unified Kingdoms," he assured her with a light bow. "This was a clerical error, nothing more. Someone had tried to transfer funds out of the kingdom, and they locked out the wrong account. We should be able to clear this matter soon."

"Oh, that's wonderful to hear!" Fiona said with a measure of relief. "How long before I can make a withdrawal?"

"Oh, not long. A few weeks."

Greg held a blank stare with the secretary, and Fiona's jaw opened and her eyes bulged at this inconvenient news. Smashing time was imminent now, and she wanted to give these thieving magpies a second chance–which was ironic, because they almost did look like magpies. "Mister..." she looked for a name tag on the manager, but none was present.