‘I really think you should take a look, Mr Drummond.’
He raised his eyes then, saw the concern and urgency in hers. ‘What’s your name?’
She shook her blonde hair off her shoulders and moistened her lips. ‘It’s Kelly.’ She placed the paper onto his desk.
‘Well, Kelly, what is it in the news that’s so important I need to drop everything and read it now?’
He watched her disposition flake before his eyes. Today wasn’t a good day. Today, he was cranky. Because he hadn’t had enough sleep and he’d been given the brush-off by a woman who intrigued him.
‘Well, sir, you’re on the front page.’
The cramping in his chest took a hold as all the things it could be came to mind. The McArthur Foundation? A reporter he’d spoken to about health concerns and technology? The Globe? He was getting palpitations now just thinking about the fall out if news about the Globe had leaked to the press already. His rivals would have a field day if they got their hands on that.
He slipped his fingers over the newspaper and dragged it across the desk towards him, his heart bumping an unhappy rhythm.
Whatever perfume Kelly was wearing started to infiltrate his nose, mouth and eyes. It was nauseating. He turned the paper around until it was straight in front of him. Then he unfolded it. The headline took his breath.
One Wish in Manhattan
There was a photo of him from a business dinner he’d attended a month ago. His eyes roved the report, picking lines out as a sick feeling rose in his stomach.Serial single… granting fantasies…death of his father… Christian Grey… modern-day genie… Regis Software.
He knew straight away who had done this.
As the first flush of anger filled his body, his mobile started to ring, the display flashing on and off in his peripheral vision. Tony’slaughing face taunted him. He snatched the phone up and pressed to answer.
‘What d’you want?’ he snarled.
‘I see you’re making headlines, man. Your wish-making secret’s out. I’m wondering what your play is gonna be now. I’m thinking mind-reading. The mystical power of thought. That would get them every time.’
He closed his eyes. He wasn’t in the mood for his best friend’s lousy sense of humour and he was starting to perspire. Kelly was also just standing in front of his desk like a spare part. His left hand started to shake and he clenched his fist tight.
Oliver’s vision started to blur as he tried to focus on the framed 2014 business infographic at the very end of his office. The pie charts and graphs all started to merge into one as his breath quickened and someone sat a sack of rubble on his chest.
‘Mr Drummond, are you OK?’
It was Kelly’s voice but it sounded so far away. He opened his mouth to speak but had nothing.
‘Oliver? Are you there?’ Tony’s voice called from the mobile.
The phone fell from his hand.
En-route to Majestic Cleaning, Manhattan
‘Ow! You pinched my arm!’ Angel exclaimed, frowning.
‘Sorry, we just need to get a move on. Reasons Christmas is better in New York number forty-four: street entertainers. Look!’ Hayley said, pointing. She dodged left as a bicycle mounted the pavement, zipped right to avoid a man dressed as Santa Claus pushing a shopping cart. There was Christmas music on repeat coming from every store and people dressed in costume holdingcharity buckets on the sidewalk. Snow White and seven dwarves danced in a circle while a man in a very tight fairy outfit showed off far more than his gruff voice tackling ‘The First Noel’.
She’d woken up late and now only had a couple of minutes to reach the office of Majestic Cleaning. Dean had left early for work, Vernon and Randy had left even earlier and the only choice she had was to take Angel with her.
Angel quickened her pace, her mouth descending on the bagel she was holding. ‘Where are we going anyway? My guidebook says the best time to see the Statue of Liberty is in the afternoon.’
The noise of the city was so distracting. Was she supposed to cross over here or carry on? Which way was north? Hayley narrowed her eyes against the winter sunshine, squinting for a street sign.
‘Mum, you’re not listening.’
‘No, I’m not. I’m trying to work out whether we have to cross the road.’
‘The street.’
