The MacKenzie Problem

Chapter 1

Most stories start with a simple "once upon a time". This statements fills us with eager anticipation, as we begin to imagine the mysteries and romance that will be revealed. Will there be a swan that turns into a princess, a damsel who falls in love with her rescuer or the much loved knight on a noble stead. Well my story doesn't include princesses, magic or horses and it is certainly not a fairy tale. Is there romance, well that you'll just have to wait and see for yourself.

Anyway back to the present, no I'm not in some faraway land, where gumdrops grow on trees and ladies never fart (uh I mean pass wind). No I'm at work, currently being yelled at by my boss.

"I have to what?", I carefully articulated to the person sitting opposite me. Callum stood, "I said, Miss Mackay that your next article's focus is Jade Mackenzie", he said with a look daring me to argue.

I twisted my brown hair around my finger, taking a deep breath before I answered him. "How can I do that sir?", I said as I leaned forward in my chair. He dropped his eyes sighing and then looked back up with a smirk and his eyebrows raised, "well my dear, use your imagination, that is why my father hired you", he stated before he stood, pushed in his chair and swiftly exited the room.

My head began to feel heavy and before I knew it I was being roused by a hand roughly shaking my shoulder. I looked up to see the smiling face of Axen. His smile was contagious and suddenly we were both grinning at each other, fully aware of how ridiculous we looked.

His face was taken over by a concerned look as he put his arm around my shoulder. The weight of what had just happened took over and I felt my head fall into my hands again. After a few minutes of self-wallowing I looked up to see that Axen was still in my office, standing on the other side of my desk.

When he saw that my eyes were open again, he came back over to where he had been standing and put his hand on my shoulder. I looked at his hand, he blushed sheepishly removing it and sitting down where Callum had been as he had delivered the news.
"So what happened Addy?", Axen pointlessly asked as by now the whole office obvious would of heard. Playing his game, I took a deep breath and then looking into his beautiful blue eyes, "he gave me Jade", I sighed. Axen's face filled with concern, and his arm returned to my shoulder, however this time he avoided my gaze I noticed with interest.

"It's okay Addy, I'll help, you know I would do anything for you", he murmured in to my ear. His lips so close to me sent a shiver throughout my body and I blushed crimson as he pulled me closer to his chest. Relieved that he had mistook my reaction as a sob, I rubbed my eyes and pulled away from him.

He held out his hand as he stood up, "ready to face the world, Miss Mackay?", he teased a big smile on his face. "That I am, good sir", I responded with a cheesy smile of my own. That I am, I thought to myself as I shut the door to my office.