Conor nodded to Mr. Arroz and shook his hand. “Thank you, sir, for this opportunity. I’ve got this.” “Good, and if you do as well out here as you did creating that spice of life, I will have something special in it for you at the end of the shift.” Mr. Arroz wandered back into his shop leaving Conor to stir the crowds. Conor watched as families wandered by the booth, a few stopping to sniff from time to time, but most were heading to GrizlHut or to the arcade on the other side of the Spice Emporium. As the evening ticked by, Conor enjoyed the pleasant interactions with the few patrons who stopped in and even made a few sales. As he watched the evening crowds, a familiar head of brunette hair bobbed out of the GrizlHut and headed past him. “Conor?”
The next morning, Conor awoke to frigid winter air. Apparently, winter had finally come, but at least Jessica had let him keep his blanket today. From the kitchen, he heard Jessica preparing breakfast. “Hurry up Conor. Don’t be late for Jackson’s! Remember Rent is due Friday!” Conor rolled out of bed and showered before coming to the kitchen. When he arrived, Jessica had already left for work. He sighed and scrambled an egg, eating it right out of the pan before jogging to work himself. When he arrived, he found a glaring Mr. Matthews waiting for him. “Care to explain why I have an irate client threatening to sue us after having an accident shortly after leaving our loading dock?”
Thursday “Are you ready yet?” called Cynthia. “Mother, remind me where we are going this time?” sighed an exacerbated Jessica as she struggled to put in an earring while checking the mirror. “It is an outing to the art district with the ladies of Princess Arisa’s personal house staff. These people serve in the Princess’s personal home and know the going ons of the kingdom. If you take the time to socialize with them, you can be best prepared to market our businesses and help attract new clients to our malls. It is very important.” “It sounds expensive,” huffed Jessica, attempting to slide on a high-heeled shoe while her mother draped a fine coat over her shoulders. “It necessary for ladies of our increasing standing in society to adhere to the expectation of the upper class. A simple outing such as this can secure the recommendation for new restaurants, and high-end shops to want storefronts in our malls if they see us in the good graces of the Princess and other nobil
Friday Friday morning Conor arrived early to work at Jackson’s. Mr. Matthew’s office door was open, so he knocked gently, “Mr. Matthews, do you have a minute?” “Yes, Conor, come on in. What’s on your mind?” “This is a tough thing to ask as I know I have only worked here a short while. Is there any chance at the end of the shift you could pay me for this week's work? The end of month bills are due and I am still a bit short.” “I see. Well, you have been working hard Conor, and its money you have earned. You also made a decent sale on your first day! See me after the shift and I will have your hours calculated then.&r
Conor cautiously made his way up to the apartment, still worried about not having the full amount Jessica had asked for. He opened the door and instantly slumped when he saw Cynthia there heatedly talking with Jessica.“Ask him then! Does he have the money to cover your rent? Can he pay the utility bills? What about the bill to repair your car? Does he have enough for a car for himself yet? ASK HIM, Jessica!”Jessica looked shellshocked at the accusations her mother had hurtled at Conor, and he couldn’t even begin to guess what poison his mother-in-law had been feeding her while he was out today. He waited cautiously as Jessica built up her courage and finally asked him, “Conor, I told you we needed 4,000 to pay bills this month. Were you able to get it?”Conor sighed heavily as he looked at his wife, “Jess, we should be able to make it this month. With what I made and your salary from the mall, it shouldn’t be a problem
Sat As the sun crested the eastern mountain tops, the frozen dew lay across a smooth field of grass, coating it in tiny white crystals. Birds began their morning hunt for food in the chill early winter air. Thankfully for Conor, while it could get excessively cold at night in the winter months, a strong sea breeze had blown a hint of salty air into the area, keeping it just at freezing this night. The sun's rays would quickly begin to warm the world. He stiffly sat up from under a pile of leaves, and a blanket a kind stranger had left him. Through the mental fog that has become his reality, Conor heard a phone ringing. As he numbly answered, an over-excited voice yells at him over the noise of a crowd, “Conor! You are not going to believe this!!! Someone actually wants to pick up my game! Conor?! You there? Can you hear me?” The words seemed distant and inconsequential to Conor as he tried to process the confusing melodrama that had bec
Conor disappeared into the shower and was thrilled to have the hot water flow over him. The steam lifted the grime from the night in the park off him and his soul soothed as he leaned against the shower wall. The hot water slowly began to loosen tense muscles. He felt as if blood was finally flowing to his brain and his thoughts were able to align themselves. He would fix this, and he would make sure that Jessica was secure in the world and could provide his wife with a home, financial security, and social standing if it was the last thing he did. He was done letting Cynthia poison the world against him, and especially his own wife. “Mr. Brantley? Your suit is waiting for you,” came a soft feminine voice from the door. Conor was startled but heard the door slide shut as the lady left. he wondered if that might have been Anna who had picked him up. A brief fantasy played out in his mind but he opted to wait a minute longer, savoring the warm water before shutting off the s
Targu Province: Kerrigan Lokir's POV Kerrigan Lokir trudged along an onyx lined corridor, a step behind the slimy-haired Prima Zadok Sundeas. Prima Zadok’s leering gaze always gave her the creeps, so she did her best to keep him in front of her, where she could be the one keeping him in her sights. “I want you to go to Jinstain. It has been three years since the loss of the Pendent of Celia. See if you can find it. The Dragoons seem to have lost the scent again,” he was saying. “I have business to deal with here in Targu. Bayan Province is too far out of my way,” Kerrigan said tartly. She was in no mood to do his bidding. Prima Zadok stopped and turned to her. Gripping her chin with his long fingers he said, “Kerri dear, you will do as I say.” He g