1
HILLARY
Spring
As she got out of her car, she smoothed her black cocktail dress while mentally going over the checklist in her head. She had an amazing team that had handled executing this gala, so all she needed to do was show up and enjoy herself. But “just showing up and enjoying herself” did not come easily to Hillary.
She didn't become head of PR for an organization as big as The Magic by just standing by. She had lists. Her lists had lists. And she had goals.
As she entered the ballroom, she pulled her phone out from her clutch. Guests would start arriving in thirty minutes. The room was decorated beautifully with deep purple and gold. The bar was stocked, the silent auction was organized, and food was just being set up.
Check. Check. Check.
"Hey, Hillary, what do you think?" asked Sasha Maloof, the team's social media manager.
"It looks stunning. Are the auction items all set up?"
"Yep."
"What about the DJ? Does he have a do-not-play list? This isn't a wedding, there will be no Cupid Shuffle," she added.
"Done. And I’ll check to make sure the mic is all set up so the GM can do the greeting and auction announcements. And the magicians are setting up, and the fortune teller just arrived."
"Wow, well. . . that sounds good."
"Excellent. I'm going to freshen up really quick, but if you need anything, I'll be around."
Sasha disappeared out the doors and Hillary pulled out her phone to check her list, and yes, it looked like everything was done. Surely that was wrong. There had to be something she needed to do.
"Is something wrong, my dear?" asked a kind voice with a thick, Scottish brogue.
"What? No. Why? Is something wrong?" Hillary turned and asked quickly.
"Oh, no, nothing at all. I just saw ye standin' here with your brow all bunched up, and I thought I would see if everything was well."
Then the woman smiled at her. It wasn't just an ordinary smile. It was more of a smirk. And somehow, as she did, Hillary found her shoulders relaxing as she released a slow exhale.
"There, that's better. What do you say to a card reading before the night gets too crazy and the furrowed brow makes a return?"
Hillary took a breath and looked around the room. Sasha was right, everything was done. Hillary had spent years making sure her team operated like a well-oiled machine, and the flawless start to this massive event was a testament to that.
"Ya know what, why not?"
"Wonderful, right this way," the woman said, leading Hillary over to her little table.
They made their way to her small two-person table draped in a purple tablecloth and a well-worn deck of cards sitting in the center. “Cut the deck, my dear.”
As Hillary reached out and cut the deck, it was as if a small tingling sensation traveled up her arm. With a little shake of her head, she shook away the surprising sensation.
With a grin like the Cheshire Cat, the woman across from her picked up the cards and laid the first one down. Before her lay the Nine of Swords. With a small tsk, the woman covered her heart. “Oh, ye poor thing. It seems there have been some trying times in yer past. Perhaps times when ye felt a bit closed off or unheard.” She looked back up at her with an understanding gaze. “It is a good thing that card is in the past. Now let’s see if we can get insight into your present situation.”
The woman flipped over the next card, the Chariot.
“Well, it seems like ye took that past where ye felt helpless and learned how to help yerself. Ye are in control of everyone, everything, always. Am I right?” the woman asked with a wink.
Hillary huffed a small laugh before giving her a small nod.
“Now, let’s see what the future has in store, shall we?”
