by Candace Sams
“That doesn’t matter. Not where our hearts are concerned. We have no choice. We’re bound to be together. Forever.”
Sky quickly pushed herself upward. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that I won’t leave you. Not ever. I can’t.”
She shook her head and sighed heavily. “What if I don’t feel the same, Rowan? I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, but it was just sex. Okay. I needed it. Badly. But that doesn’t mean what I think you’re suggesting.”
He slowly shook his head in denial. “You think the way you do, because your world has hardened you. You’ll soon see.”
“I think it’s time for me to get back to the cottage. My aunts will be up soon, and I don’t want them to know where I’ve been.”
He slowly stood and offered her one hand.
She took it and looked him over as she did so. “You really are the most incredibly handsome man. I won’t deny that. The sex was stunningly wonderful. But I don’t love you, Rowan. That’s what you’re inferring, isn’t it?”
“There’s no inference. I state it as fact.” He stepped closer and kissed the corners of her mouth until she returned a deep kiss of her own. Eventually he broke the contact, and got back to the point. “You’ll see. And you’ll come to know that your aunts’ summons was meant to happen. Their misspelled incantation was supposed to occur. That’s why I’m really here! We’ve met by Nature’s decree, not by any coincidence.”
She swallowed hard and pushed him away. “I don’t know how things are done in your world but, in mine, we don’t decide we love someone on the basis of a one-night stand. Rational people don’t, that is.”
He straightened and faced her squarely. “What we experienced wasn’t a ‘one-night stand’. It was real. We made love, it wasn’t just sex.”
“Rowan…when I get home this evening, I want you gone. It has to be that way. You don’t belong here, and I’m too busy for this kind of distraction. Do you understand?”
He crossed his arms over his chest and stared, refusing to answer.
“Good morning and…and goodbye,” she quietly told him, then turned and redressed in her robe and house shoes.
“I won’t go, little witch. Not ever,” he muttered as she walked away.
After enjoying a delicious, but very quiet birthday breakfast with her two aunts, Sky made her way to her room, and put on one of her best business suits.
The announcement that the Faun had to go was met with resistance and even sadness. But Eartha and Windy had to learn that they couldn’t meddle with powers that could ultimately backfire and put them all in jeopardy. Her decision was final. Like it or not, Rowan must leave. If that meant she’d have to take drastic action, and force him back into his realm, then so be it.
With her decision made, Sky caught a commuter train into the outskirts of Barnsdale, the way she had every workday for seven years. She put her mind strictly on the tasks of business.
Fitsby, Sotherland and Sotherland was one of the best advertising firms in the country. Given her years of loyal service, she hoped there would soon be a reward for her hard work. This reward would, if she was lucky, come in the form of a promotion to a new senior executive position in charge of women’s advertising. That announcement was due any day now.
Everyone expected her to be the new exec in the company. She humbly accepted her coworkers’ early congratulations, but always followed those remarks up with a careful codicil that ‘the job wasn’t hers…yet’. But, as everyone was fond of telling her, it was ‘in the bag’. She had earned it, and the promotion was sure to be hers.
Along with the hike in prestige, the promotion would grant her greater monetary benefits she desperately needed. The cost to keep up the old cottage and the surrounding lands was exorbitant, and the inheritance deeding the property to her had only come with a small stipend. In this increasingly expensive economy, that inheritance wasn’t worth much. Simply put, she had to have that new job. Her home and her aunts’ futures were in her hands. She had used every bit of imagination in securing this promotion, without the use of magic.
When she got to work, the senior partner’s secretary came in with a message that Sky was to come to his office, asap. Straightening her pin-striped skirt and matching jacket, she patted her coiffed hair into place, and marched toward the big man’s domain with an air of professionalism. As she did so, smiles and thumbs-up signals greeted her from fellow employees.
Outside Olin Fitsby’s office, Sky took a deep breath, softly rapped on the closed oak door, and waited for the summons to enter.
“Come in,” Fitsby called out.
She breezed in with her head held high and a bright smile on her face. “You wanted to see me, sir?”
Fitsby cleared his throat and motioned toward a chair on the opposite side of his enormously expensive mahogany desk.
She swallowed hard and looked the man straight in the eyes.
“I won’t mince words, Ms. Pyewackett. You’ve done an excellent job presenting your advertising promotions and marketing ideas. You’re an asset to this company and I, for one, am proud to call you a member of Fitsby, Sotherland and Sotherland.”
Something about the way his glassy, gray eyes shifted made Sky nervous. There was a but coming in his diatribe.
“While your work is exemplary…highly professional…you must understand that many of our clients are, uh…shall we say…their thinking originates in another age. Though we consider ourselves much more enlightened, we must put our clients first, and consider their desires.”
“What would those desires be, sir? I’m ready to adapt.” With that said, she held her breath.
He cleared his throat again. “I know that you were hoping for the promotion into executive status, but we’ll be giving Mr. Donough, from the seasonal advertising division, the new position.”
Sky stared at him for a moment, then sat forward in her chair. “Mr. Fitsby, I don’t understand. I believe that I deserve that promotion much more than Mr. Donough. Nothing against him personally, but he hasn’t been with the firm as long as I, and he hasn’t the experience to deal with our female clients. Not the way in which they’ve become accustomed. I’ve been handling those accounts, working with the women in charge of different products, for a very long time. I know them better than anyone.”
Fitsby lifted a conciliatory hand. “I do understand, Ms. Pyewackett. But the owners of most of those companies…how shall I put this?” He stopped, apparently considering a tactful way to say what he must. “They’re men. When they heard their companies might be dealing almost exclusively with a woman ad exec from our firm, instead of the mixed-gender staff who normally works with you on all the campaigns, there were some phone calls made to my office insisting that the lead contact be a male. I am sorry. But we’re dealing with firms that are almost a hundred years old, and they drew the line at having one woman in charge of all their accounts. As this is a new position, and these companies are willing to sign lucrative contracts…you can see my dilemma.”
Sky felt her heart plummet. A big knot sat right over the remains of her breakfast. “You realize this is discrimination? You do understand the possible repercussions, don’t you?”
Fitsby leaned forward and clasped his hands. “Ms. Pyewackett, you’re a very intelligent woman, and I know you wouldn’t take any precipitous action. Later on, in several years, we can put you in charge of another set of accounts. We have some new business coming from other sources. I’m sure they’ll be much more open-minded than some of the old-name, European firms with which we currently deal.”
“I-I don’t believe this, Mr. Fitsby. This is outrageous. If your aim is to produce highly effective advertising and please the clients, then what matters most is the job done. Not the gender of the employee who does it.”
“Sky, I quite agree. But there’s nothing I can do about this. The new position has to go to Donough. I have the firm’s board of directors to please, and this was their decision as
well. Now, I’m sure we can find some way to come to an acceptable arrangement where you’re concerned. There’ll be a substantial bonus in your pay this month, as well as holiday advances. I hope you’ll take this in the spirit in which it was given, and do what’s in the best interest of the company.”
She solemnly nodded. “I’ll do what I think is right, Mr. Fitsby.”
“Good. Now, let’s get back to business, and try to put this nasty bit of news behind us. Shall we?”
She was being dismissed, to go back to her office. Without even an afterthought concerning her opinion. “Thank you, Mr. Fitsby. I understand your position. Perfectly.”
“Grand,” he told her with a firm nod. Then, he turned his attention to some papers on his desk. She meant less to him than whatever he was looking at.
Sky walked out of the office, and stoically made her way back to her own. There, she sat at her desk, turned on the computer and drafted a two weeks’ notice. She knew that what she was doing would cost her. Dearly. But her loyalty and hard work—all the times she’d missed birthdays, holidays, and special outings with her aunts—it all meant nothing. The only thing that mattered to the firm of Fitsby, Sotherland and Sotherland was being a man. Not her business acuity.
There were other firms in town. And many of her old clients would probably follow her there. She had no contractual agreement forbidding her from contacting them.
By the end of the day—a day she spent doing only what was required of her instead of her usual thousand percent—Sky turned in her notice and made her way to the train station before anyone at work could make a comment. It was only then that she realized how desperate her situation was. Even if she stayed on at her current employment—even with the bonuses added in—in one years’ time, there wouldn’t be enough money for her and her aunts to keep their home. Not when factoring in inflation, taxes and upkeep.
Facing one of the lowest points in her life and the worst birthday ever, Sky put on a brave face, and attempted to summon the words she’d need to inform her aunts. They’d have to sell their home. She’d hang onto it as long as possible, but there simply wasn’t any other way to deal with the situation. The thought of being the Pyewackett responsible for such a loss was almost more than she could bear. She was crying by the time the train pulled away from the station. There simply wasn’t any magic spell, potion, or conjuring she’d dare use to secure their future. To do that would mean summoning some very serious forces into her family’s lives. The use of such power would mean hurting someone. In this instance, that person would be the innocent Mr. Donough. The magic might also adversely affect all the innocent employees at the firm. It simply wasn’t in her to wield that kind of harmful power, though she was quite capable of doing so.
Sadly, no one at work had even mentioned her birthday, or thought to wish her a happy one.
Miles separated them, but Rowan still felt her pain.
They were that connected. Though he didn’t know the source of such extreme emotions, he couldn’t ignore what he felt.
He paced in the garden and anxiously awaited her arrival home. Sky might not want him to be there, but he wasn’t leaving! Not in the face of the queen’s fury, or any other interference. This was where he meant to stay. His place was here, and these women were going to be his family. Nothing had ever been clearer or more important.
Right now, his attention must be on Sky, and whatever was making her so very sad.
Chapter Three
Ignoring the local transportation service that she normally took for the short drive home from the train station, Sky decided to walk. It was a bright afternoon and there wasn’t a cloud overhead. Today should have been the answer to her problems. Instead, she would be officially out of work in two weeks.
No matter. Her pride wouldn’t allow her to stay employed with a firm that treated her so poorly. Even if she sued and won, her ancestral home would be gone by the time a settlement was reached. Plus, her reputation for being a troublemaker within the business world would be entrenched. Then again, there was no guarantee she’d recoup the losses for a lawsuit.
No, it was better to just turn in her notice, using vacation time to begin looking for another job immediately, and to clear out her office. She had to make a new start.
As the old, thatch-roofed cottage came into view, and the flowers of the surrounding garden misted the air with their scent, Sky felt her stoic control leave. Just as it had on the train. She stopped walking, turned toward the nearest fence and leaned against it to cry. “H-happy birthday to me,” she sobbed.
With her vision blurred, and her senses totally disrupted, she never heard Rowan’s approach. She was suddenly engulfed by strong arms and guided toward the cottage. Though she couldn’t make any sense of what he said at the moment, his low, strong voice had a supportive tone she desperately needed to hear.
Rowan guided her through the back door.
“Windy, Eartha!” he cried out.
When the older women hurried to his summons, Rowan led Sky into the kitchen and sat her in a chair at the dining table. “She needs some tea. Better yet, if you have some stronger spirits, that might be good. But only a wee bit.”
Eartha solemnly nodded and hurried to do as Rowan bid.
Windy sat on the side of the table opposite Sky.
“Dear girl, what’s upset you so?” Windy gently asked.
Sky shook her head, and straightened her slumped frame. To get her composure back, she took a deep breath, and let her briefcase fall to the floor.
Eartha returned with a small amount of brandy in a snifter. “Here, Sky. Drink a little of this.”
Sky sipped the heady drink and took another breath as the warmth of the alcohol flowed down her throat. “They passed me over for that promotion. I turned in my notice.”
From her seat opposite Sky, Windy sat up straight. “How could they do that? You’ve worked so terribly hard for that job.”
She simply shrugged and decided to leave out the details. There was no sense making anyone angry over something that couldn’t be changed. “They decided someone else would be better suited to deal with the clients in that division.”
“Well, it’s criminal if you ask me,” Eartha angrily announced. “I’ll bet no one else stayed and worked overtime the way you have. Just to make sure your clients were happy.”
Sky sniffed as Eartha plopped down in a chair at the end of the table. She had to be brave for her aunt’s sake. “It doesn’t matter. What’s done is done. Obviously, I’m upset and angry. But that’s life. No one said it would be fair. I’ll get over it and go look for another position next week.”
With one arm still around her shoulders, Rowan tilted his head. “What is it you do?”
How could she explain, to a man from the Fairy Realm, what an advertising agent was? “Well, people come to me to sell their goods. Rather, they come to me to make their products seem more appealing than the next person’s goods. Do you understand?”
“In the Fairy Realm, there are marketplaces where goods are sold, and the merchants attempt to outdo one another for customers. They do this by decorating their wagons more brightly, or by offering better bargains. Is your job like that?”
“Yes. It’s very similar. It’s just that, in this world the decoration you place on a product is very much enhanced. More expensive.”
“I’m sure you can find another place to make your living. And very quickly too,” he assured her. “But it’s sad that those with whom you work have not recognized your intelligence. I’ve seen it in you after only knowing you for a short while.”
She smiled at him, then slowly frowned. “What are you still doing here? Why are you wearing nothing but a sheet? The better question might be, who got you to put something on at all?”
“We convinced him he should wear some kind of covering,” Windy chimed in. “I was afraid one of the delivery people would show up and see him nude.”
“I’m still here because I have no intention
of going,” Rowan responded. “Especially not now that you’re in need of help!”
For a brief moment, Sky’s gaze locked with his and she knew this situation was going to be a monumental battle of wills. “How long do you think it will be before your queen summons you back, or you get tired of this place?”
Rowan shrugged. “As to my queen’s summons, I don’t know. Your pain is my concern right now.”
Sky sighed in frustration and sipped some more brandy. “Since you’ve agreed to wear something, I’ll go to the attic and see if I can’t find more clothing. Will you at least wear pants?”
Rowan thought for a moment. “All right. But you needn’t look in your attic. Your aunts have already put clothing on the porch for me. It will be difficult, but I think I can manage wearing garments.”
“Thank you,” Sky firmly said as she placed the palms of her hands on the table. Then, she turned to face her aunts. They’d have to know the entire truth, sooner than later. “I’m afraid losing that promotion is going to affect us adversely.”
“Oh, you’ll find another job that’s even better,” Windy gaily told her. “Why, any advertising firm in Barnsdale will want you.”
“Not at the salary I would have had if my promotion had come through,” Sky sadly announced. “I can’t make enough to keep this place and pay the taxes. There just isn’t any tactful way of telling you this…we’ll have to sell the cottage and our land. I-I’m so sorry. I’ve failed you both.”
The older women’s eyes teared up, even as they reached for Sky’s hands.
“This situation is absurd! You needn’t lose your home and property simply because you’re changing your place of work.”
“It’s a matter of money, Rowan. I simply don’t make enough. By the time I do, it’ll be too late. I’ll lose everything. It isn’t fair to my aunts that they shouldn’t know the extent of our predicament. I’ve crunched the numbers, and there just isn’t any way other than to sell everything, and find a more modest place to live.”