Ask Jake (Book One of the Whisper Series)

Eight: The Good Witch

Darwin seems happy to see me. He must be hungry.

I call my mom and fill her in on the latest news. She tells me about a new book club she really likes and that my sister thinks she might be pregnant. Rene' and her husband have been trying to get pregnant for years and it makes me happy that they have finally received some good news from their doctor. They will be amazing parents and I can't wait to be Aunt Gilli.

Checking my email to see if Angela emailed me back I see one I ignored from Phil earlier. There is always a chance its work related. With dread, I open it.

I missed you at work today. I hope you're feeling okay. - p ;-)

Ugh. I type back:

I'm not yours to miss. I'm fine. Leave me alone. Sincerely, Gillian Kelly

But, I don't send it. It's too mean. Phil's not a bad guy; he just won't give up. I delete my message and choose to ignore his.

*****

The next morning, I wake earlier than usual, and feel completely refreshed. I am pretty sure I did not dream about anything. I feel great, like a weight has lifted. After opening my bedroom curtains, I notice an ominous sky, like it could snow.

Snow? That would be so great.

I flip on the news, then the shower. Steam is coming out of the bathroom by the time they give the weather report. Sure enough, the weatherman says we are going to have a blizzard tonight. I squeal in delight, while tossing my rob aside and jump into the shower.

I love it when it snows in Manhattan. The entire city shuts down and everyone is supposed to stay at home. I know I am completely selfish in my love for such a disaster; I revel in it is because it does not affect my life one bit. The only way I can be affected is if the power in my building goes out, then I'll be cold. Other than that, everything functions the same. I don't mind having to walk to work if the trains are closed. However, I love the excitement that such a storm creates around the city.

I turn on some music and sing in the shower, while I lather and rinse. I cannot remember the last time I sang in the shower.

Dressed and ready for work, I decide to check my email. There is one from Angela and I debate whether or not to open it now, or after I get to the office. I turn my cell phone on looking for any new texts while I try to decide.

I open the email:

Jill, Come see me in the morning.

Angela Whethersbee

Editor and CEO, Whisper Magazine

This can't be good. She hates it. I'm going to have to rewrite my article into some smut-filled thing that I hate, as usual. To make matters worse, it's a column, so the first one sets the tone for the all that follow. Hating the first one, means hating them all.

I pick up my phone and start to text Adam.

Wait. Don't text Adam. Text Roxy. I say to myself.

ME: *Damn, have to go to Angela's office this morning. *

ROXY: *So the blizzard's coming early? Ha. *

ME: *If I don't have a job later, will you take the cat? He eats too much. *

ROXY: *No.*

ROXY: *Maybe Angela's going to tell you to write from your cat's perspective this time. LOL*

ME: *That's ridiculous and completely possible. *

ROXY: *GG is having a blizzard party later. Wanna go?*

ME: *You know I do.*

ROXY: *Good Luck. Don't eat the apples :).*

I took my time getting to work. Walking through the city while everyone panics over the up-coming blizzard makes people watching much more interesting. Christian groups are handing out blankets to homeless people on the street and I hear one man complaining that the pigeons won't have a blanket. They give him two blankets, hoping it will help.

There are a lot of people with bags full of food rushing back to their place to get ready for hibernation. I should probably do that, buy some food. I have protein shakes and cat food. I dismiss the idea when I realize it's enough to survive a few days, if needed.

I get to the office, drop my bags on my chair and change my shoes to office appropriate heels. Turning to go to Angela's, I practically slam into Phil, who's standing in my doorway. Without thinking, I hold my hand up, letting him know not to speak to me as I blow passed him. Why won't he leave me alone? 

I happened to notice that he was wearing those cowboy boots that he only wears when he's going out after work. Maybe he has a date. A girlfriend for Phil would make my life so much easier. That would great for all of us.  Just because I am not attracted to him does not mean someone else might be. I wonder if he's tried online dating? Would it be weird if I suggested it to him?

Angela's reception area feels cold. Monica see's me and smiles. "She's been waiting for you."

"What, really? Oh no," I gulp.

Panic sweeps in and I don't have time to deal with it. Did I take too long to get to work? I should have taken the train.

"Go on in."

Why is Monica so happy? I wonder. She can't possibly enjoy seeing people get tortured.

Angela is busy changing her shoes when I walk in. "I had to walk to work today. My driver's wife had a damn baby and she wouldn't let him drive into the city in case they close the bridges early."

"Sorry," I say in a small voice and curse the pending blizzard that I was so happy about this morning.

"Okay." She looks up. "Don't just stand there. Take a seat."

Even when she offers me a seat, she' curt and to be honest, kind of bitchy. It's intimdating and admirable at the same time. She exhibits the most amazing amount of confidence and strength.

"Oh hell," she says, looking at something on her shirt. "Don't go anywhere! I'll be right back." She walks into her executive bathroom.

What the absolute hell? I can not take the anticipation of what she is about to tell me. Anxiety is building up, making my ears ring and my stomach hurt. I close my eyes and open another mental box. I have to concentrate hard to calm myself down.

"Are you fucking sleeping?" I hear her yell, back at her desk.

"Oh, no just thinking about something," I half lie, trying to recover.

"Okay, well, I read what you sent me last night, and I have no changes." My jaw drops and I feel my mouth open. I am too shocked to know what to say. She continues, "I sent it to the design department to have them set the text. Make sure you get with them today in case half of them can't get here tomorrow. This one is a smaller than what I am looking for over the next few months. This month we were slipping it in, instead of a half page piece of shit that made me want to vomit," she says. She throws a pad of paper across her desk, seeming angry at the writer for the article she x-ed. "Hopefully, you'll get actual letters starting next month. I'll give you as many pages as you need, but what's more important than pages is to keep it damn interesting." I can still feel my jaw open.

"Well, do you have anything to say?" she asks.

"Thank you?" I reply.

"Don't thank me, you're the one that did all the damn work. I can't believe you made that impossible deadline and a day early. It's hard to impress me Ms. Kelly!"

Whoa, she just complemented me? I am floored.

"Now, get back to work. You've got your job cut out for you. You'll see. This is the calm before the storm." She's shoos me out the door. As I am about to leave I hear her call out to me. "One more thing."

"Yes?"

"I agree, most of the good ones are fuckin' gay." I picture Adam in my mind and I wonder if she is picturing him too. She picks up her phone and waves dismissing me.