Page 23 of Crazy Thing

Ziggy lets out a relieved laugh when the alarm finally stops blaring.“Okay, well that was not on the to-do list, but I guess the smoke detector is now squared away.” She keeps talking as she grabs a yellow pad and scribbles off some notes. “Anyway, I’m glad you’re here. So, I placed an order for ink toner. Both printers were low, and delivery is scheduled for tomorrow at noon. I’m going to need you to give me full access to your calendar, so I can reschedule your meeting with Mr. Laurier. He has a golf trip this week that he can’t miss. Also, some doctor called for you. He said he wants to try a new prescription for that itching thing you’ve got going on your—”

“What the hell is going on here?!” I bark, afraid that I was hypnotized by the town witches and dropped into some alternate universe. Nothing about this makes sense.

Ziggy looks at me, pulling off her big, floppy hat. Her messy hair cascades around her face in silky, pink waves. “I accept.”

I shake my head. “You…you accept what?”

“I will work with you. I will work with you to save the waterfall.”

11

ZIGGY

Darius sends me a look of utter suspicion. “Sonowyou want to work together…?”

“You clearly need some help around here. So, I’ll work as your assistant,” I explain slowly. Then, I rush out the next part. “And in exchange, you’ll give my friends the money they need to hire a good lawyer to save the waterfall.” I hold my breath.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Excuse me?!” Darius is now giving me the crazy eyes.

I shrug, trying to act unfazed by his outburst. “You were right. I can’t let Edison win here. That asshole actively tried to ruin my baby sister’s whole life. I’ll never forgive that manwhore for the way he treated Daphne.”

“Well, that asshole actively tried to steal my brother’s medical clinic away from him,” Darius adds. “I’m not forgiving him, either.”

“So, we can agree on something,” I say with a small nod. “We have a common enemy.”

“Yes, we do have a common enemy,” Darius replies cautiously, like he doesn’t trust agreeing with me.

That’s okay. I don’t trust me either in this moment.

“Good. So, I’ll work here at the office for you, and you’ll give my friends the money for the lawyer. Easy peasy.”I paste on an amiable smile.

Darius rears back. “Hell to the no. That is not how this is going to work, Fairy Girl. You’re not going to take my money and just shove me to the sidelines. If we’re going to work on this problem, we are going to work on ittogether.”

I grunt. I half-expected this reaction, but I was still hoping Darius would just go along with my plan without making this more weird than it already is. But he’s going to make this difficult. Of course he is.

“Oh no, no, no,” I protest quickly, my heart rate spiking. “That’s not going to work for me. We can’t—”

“Together or nothing, Ziggy,” he says firmly.

He stares me down.

I stare right back.

Until his unrelenting golden brown gaze makes me squirm.

I fold my arms across my chest. My eyes narrow. My nostrils flare. “Fine,” I say through gritted teeth.

The corners of Darius’s mouth curl upward. I stand here, waiting for him to start rubbing his hands together like the supervillain he is. “Good,” he says victoriously before glancing at our surroundings. “And you’re right. Idoneed help around here. But are you even qualified to work as an executive assistant?”

I huff, feeling confrontational. “Of course I am. It can’t bethathard. I’ve already brought your sad plant back to life. And I’ve organized the desk. And the place already smells a little less like stale ass.”

He rolls his eyes. “You’re gonna need to work on your decorum.”

I jut a hip out, adding to my defensive body language. “My decorum’s just fine. Thank you very much.”

“Besides, don’t you have a witch shop to run?” he challenges me.

“It’s not a ‘witch shop,’” I say, trying to tamp down my annoyance. “It’s ametaphysical emporium.”

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