Choices, Love, and Magic (Complete)

chapter 22

The receptionist had opened the New York City portal and sent me through it with some tips and, just like the cabbie, a "Good luck."

Now I was standing in the Big Apple. I was surrounded by bright lights, people, cars, and all-around city life. So I got to work.

First item on my to-do list, get work. I coasted through the streets, searching for help wanted signs. Finally I saw one in the window of a modeling agency. I fixed my clothes inconspicuously with magic and walked to my second receptionist's desk of the day.

The lady behind the desk, in one word, was....crisp. Her hair was in a tight bun, her eyebrows were perfectly plucked, and she was wearing a lady's business suit in black with a light pink blouse beneath. That and she looked like she never smiled in her life.

But I needed a job, so I made my beanie disappear and hoped I was professional enough. Walking confidently to the desk, I waited for the receptionist to turn to me. When she did after a moment, I informed her coolly,"I'm here for information about the assistant's position."

She handed me a thin packet and turned back to her work without a second glance. Accepting that I wasn't going to get much else from her, I took the packet to one the chairs you would sit in if you were waiting for an appointment and sat down to read.

It was perfect! All I had to so was follow someone's orders. I filled out the application at the back, setting up the character of Crista Winters. After finishing the application, I left it with the receptionist, who took it absently, and left, using my power to get a phone with the number I'd left with the receptionist. I'd need it.

Next item on the list, a way to get around. I already knew what to do for that one. I crept into an alley and glanced around to make sure no one was watching before summoning my magic and making a brand new black motorcycle with matching leather jacket and helmet appear in front of me.

I circled it, studying my work. Satisfied, I put on the jacket and helmet and climbed on, speeding off to the next item on the list.

A place to stay.

I remembered a couple old friends of mine that had moved to New York, but we'd kept in touch up to when my life was completely derailed. When Antonio and Hannah showed up. Maybe it was time to give them a face-to-face chat.

I pulled over, opened Skype, and sent the invitation. It was immediately accepted and Gabbey's chubby-in-a-good-way face and brown hair popped up on the screen.

"OMG!" she squealed as I laughed,"Kath!" She turned away from the screen and hollered through her house,"Jilly, get your butt down here! It's Kath!" I heard another squeal and running footsteps on stairs before Jilly, Gabbey's twin, showed up on the screen next to her. They both started gushing, and I laughed along while I caught up on their life. But when they asked where I'd been, I immediately distracted them.

"Chicas!" I laughed, interrupting more questions,"You should probably know that I'm in New York right now."

"Eeeeeeeep!" the twins squealed,"Why didn't you tell us?!"

They launched into directions to their house, and I was pulling up to it in under 15 minutes. The motorcycle had its advantages in traffic. My friends ran out the door, embracing me, then led me inside. We talked, I told them I was homeless, they gushed, I got a place to stay, I told them about my new identity, there was a burst of confusion, they gushed more, and my phone rang. It was the modeling agency, setting up an appointment.

By the next morning, life as Crista was looking good.

I just hoped I could keep it up this time.

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I was waiting in the same chair as before for my appointment. I made sure to be extra professional when I'd gotten ready that morning. I had my hair in a high ponytail and I was wearing black slacks and a red button-up shirt that complimented my midnight eyes and raven hair. I was also nearly bouncing with excitement.

However, I needed to appear professional. So, when a woman exited the elevator and walked toward me, I forced my features into a winning smile and stood to meet her approach. I held out my hand to shake and she accepted it, grasping my hand firmly as she inferred,"I'm assuming that you are Crista Winters?"

"I am," I replied, releasing her hand and straightening.

She looked me up and down, seeming pleased, and gestured for me to follow. I complied and, as we boarded the elevator, she informed me,"I am Ms.Summers. I will be your supervisor if you manage to become an assistant here. You will do what I say, work for who I tell you, and keep your comments to yourself. Is all of that clear?"

"Yes, ma'am," I replied in the same businessy tone as her. The elevator doors opened as I finished speaking, and we were on an office level.

"Good," Ms.Summers acknowledged,"Then you will do well. Today you will assist me so that I can see if you are any good. If you are, the job is yours. Now, follow me." And I did.

I spent the next several hours doing whatever Ms.Summers told me to. It was fairly easy. Opening doors, getting coffee, and keeping quiet unless asked something, mostly. My hope that I'd get a job grew every time she looked at me with a satisfied or pleased expression. By the end of business hours, I was nearly certain that the job was mine.

That feeling was confirmed when Ms.Summers told me as we exited the building,"The job is yours. I'll expect you in my office at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow. I'll see you then, Ms.Winters."

"Yes you will, ma'am," I confirmed, and she gave me a pleased smile until I stopped by my motorcycle. That was when her pleasure turned to shock.

"This is your transportation?" she asked in shock. I nodded with a "Yep."

Then I waved goodbye to her surprised face and put on my jacket and helmet. I climbed on my pretty black motorcycle and sped to Gabbey and Jilly's house.

They were waiting in Jilly's room with thoughtful expressions. I was about to say hello when Gabbey piped up,"Ka- I mean, Crista, what are you going to do about school?"

I froze. Then I mumbled,"Shit. Didn't plan for that one." I spoke up then, saying,"No clue. Any ideas?"

We spent the afternoon cementing a plan. It ended up that I would work in days, and when I got back I would sneak past the parentals up to Gabbey's room to learn what they'd learned that day. I was sneaking because the adults of the house didn't know that I was going to be staying here. After lessons, we'd evenly split homework between the three of us and get it done. Then I'd tag along to Jilly's room to spend the night on her slide-out mattress from under her bed. We'd wake up and repeat. Simple.

It was certainly going to be interesting

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I'd been with Gabbey and Jilly for just over a week when I got a surprise at work. Thankfully, it was a pleasant one.

"Crista," Julie, an fellow assistant, called to me as she walked up to me at the coffee station,"Ms.Summers sent me. I'll take the coffee, she said she wanted to see you." I gave her the coffee and walked quickly to my supervisor's office nervously.

I knocked softly and heard a muffled,"Come in."

"You wanted to see me?" I inquired as I stepped inside, closing the door gently behind me. She nodded and motioned for me to sit across from her in the chair opposite her desk.

I did so gingerly as she informed me,"There has been great interest in you here ever since you came here. You were watched very closely, and the higher levels have come to a decision." She looked at me proudly, confusing me until she continued.

"How would you like to work for this company as a model?"

Yo! Freak-a-zoids!

Promotion time! Katherine got promoted, Katherine got promoted! Well, technically Crista was promoted. But, still, YAYAYAYAYAY!!!

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Much luv!

-Kat