“Greg–”

  “Don’t Greg me,” he interrupted, putting a hand up. “I’m tired of it. You think doing this will lead to a fairy tale ending, where everyone wins. I’m telling you, this will end well for no one except for my father. He will make a profit, put a rival to the wayside, or leave us even more screwed over. Or he’s working with Barry. Have you considered that?”

  “To what end?” Fiona asked, clenching her fists. “You’re letting your history with your dad cloud your judgment–”

  “This is what he always does!” The fact that Greg even raised his voice, told her how pissed he was. “Fiona, sometimes you are so naive! You trust in the altruism and goodness of other people, and the problem is? Most everyone is trying to screw you over, at some point in their lives. My father has been doing this his entire life.”

  “I’m not naive–”

  “You spent six months without understanding the marks!” he was on the verge of shouting. “That is the pinnacle of naivety!”

  She took a step toward him, leering down. “That is not fair, Greg. I got dumped here on Cepalune without a clue. I picked up a lot as I went. And I have learned a lot more since then. Don’t you dare try to make an apples or oranges comparison.”

  “Really?” he refused to back down and pointed to her mark. “You don’t even know what your mark fully does! That is not the only thing that concerns me, Fiona. While you’re flirting with customers and finding ways to ‘stick it’ to Barry, I’m doing the accounting work, keeping this place running.”

  “Accounting work I read over every single line when you’re done, Greg. As a responsible business owner.” She lowered her tone, to hopefully deescalate this. "I do plenty of work you don't notice. I strategize about what items to sell, research comparable prices, and ask customers what they'd like for future purchases. I am forward-thinking when I have to be." He still looked unmoved. “Last week, you double book-kept a case filled with a potion of antidote for about fifty gold in expenditures. We only bought one case of them for restocking. I found the error, and we were 50 gold ahead after checking the totals. I fixed it without telling you, because other than that, your bookkeeping work is nearly flawless. You’re probably the most reliable and knowledgeable bookkeeper I’ve ever known.”

  His stance relaxed, his teeth no longer on edge. “What about when I tell you what items we need to focus on selling? Or the displays? Or Kali? I still have reservations–”

  “Kali is dependable. He works hard at what he does. He does good inventory management, and his security knowledge–as a teen–is unprecedented. Bonnie’s learning a thing or two from him,” she countered. “Yes, I know. As an unspoken rule, you should never hire a former thief. I get that. You would normally be right. But Greg, you lacked context."

  "Did I?" he sounded like he wanted to hear her reasoning, this time.

  "People don’t steal for fun. They steal because they need it. Was Kali living luxuriously? No, he still goes home in the evening to an orphanage. His parents are still dead, and that’s not changing. Most of his money went to keeping his friends from going to worse options. In about a year or two, he’ll be on his own, with a sizable amount of money to make his future, that he earned. And I hope that by giving him a shot he wouldn’t have otherwise got? I hope he grows to make the right decisions.”

  “And my father?”

  She let out a soft breath. “The right move on this one? I dunno. You believe he can’t change?”

  “I know he can’t.” It was the quietest words she’d ever heard Greg speak. It was at this moment, that she realized something very important:

  She didn’t need Greg. She wanted Greg to be a part of the team–and as a friend. He’d been there at every step, keeping her out of trouble she hadn’t been able to handle on her own, in the same way Bonnie had been there for her so many times when doubt started creeping in. It had crept in, many times, in those early days. Back when she was trying to figure out why she was here, still alive, still fighting monsters–though, different monsters than the ones she’d seen on Earth.

  Greg kept her grounded, more than anything. He always gave her a sign when she needed to get serious. And despite his overly obsessive attempt to appear ever professional and not show emotion…He always showed quite a bit, having known him long enough, and had a way to get through to her when it felt like things were falling apart.

  Her gaze softened. “I’m not without flaws, Greg. I know I can come off as flirtatious, a little zany, and a little bit overbearing at times. Well, maybe more than a little bit, but still. I know I’ve ignored things I shouldn’t have, or should have dug deeper on what makes this world tick. I didn’t dig, because I didn’t want to know the answer. Because I was afraid the truth would be more than I could bear.”

  “Such as?”

  “Well, how about this: there is some god or goddess that might randomly show up to say ‘the bill is due’ without ever knowing if I even willingly agreed to be saved. Or that there was something I was supposed to do, and I’ve been failing miserably. And believe me, Greg, I’ve made mistakes, because I can be a touch headstrong, and because I believe there’s always a good option to solving life’s problems.” She lowered her gaze, and felt the tension melt away in her body. “Or there’s a terrifying thought: that my mother was the not-dead goddess of Fortune, Feo’thari. A goddess who should be dead, but was instead chilling on Earth, raising me as a child, and between her and dad, was doing a bang-up awful job of it. Me coming here? Someone did it to cause massive waves.”

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  “That’s a theory without solid proof.” He didn’t outright dismiss it, but the quiet tone he used, told her she might have gotten through to him. “Do you really believe that?”

  “Yeah, I do. You’re not wrong when you said it earlier, I make waves everywhere I go, unintentionally or not. The truth is, Greg? I just want to run this damn store without drama, without scummy kings. Or without all sorts of people trying to settle scores, save kingdoms, or try to get a ‘friend of Fiona’ discount.” She smiled faintly at that last one.

  “We don’t actually have that discount–” he had to stop himself and laugh softly when he realized she was joking. “So, that’s all you’ve ever wanted? I thought it was monster slaying, cute boots, and elven mischief.”

  “That’s all I’ve ever wanted, Greg. A small place to call my own, a small team of friends to share the experience with, and build something that people love and appreciate. I don’t have big dreams. But they are mine. Everything I do is to get back to that. Small dreams and big friends.”

  Greg regarded this, and his arms went to his side before he gave a gentle nod. “So, when I say that I don’t trust my father’s altruism…”

  “We’ll do it your way, this time. However, your father did drop several hints about who we need to scope out when we get to Vale. That’s gotta be worth something, right?”

  Greg glanced at the still-latched door, and she could hear the distant talk between Theo and the others before he turned back to her. “I would love for us to be wrong. That my father is capable of change. But when you’ve been disappointed so long…it’s hard to keep hope going for the better, yeah?”

  “Yeah. I get that.” She grazed her hand over the desk, the stack of crinkled papers she still had to go through in time. Then, she looked at Wingding, who had been remarkably mute this entire time.

  Guess this one’s my decision to make, huh? Is there a chance for a good outcome, either way, I play this?

  Flap. It was just enough confidence for her to make this choice without hesitation, and she pushed the office door open.

  Theo and the ruffians were sitting idly, chatting about some kind of trading card game. Thanatos was gazing again at the paintings and turned to regard them with interest when he heard the door latch behind them. “So, what’ll it be?”

  “We’re doing this our way.” Greg pointed at the door. “I said it before, Father, I don’t need handouts. I don’t need more things I can’t possibly use or want. I just want a father who can be satisfied for once in his life, to not mess up his children any more than he already has. If you were going to bother pretending, you could have said, ‘I’ll help you, without asking for anything.’ That’s what parents do when they love their kids as people. Not tools.”

  Thanatos’ reaction was muted. Fiona swore she saw a glimmer of amusement in his eyes, even as he clenched his jaw for a moment, before responding. “I’m disappointed, Gregory. I thought you would take this as–”

  “No. Don’t even try.” Fiona stepped forward, eyes narrowed. “My father was constantly disappointed in me. You know why? Because I didn’t conform to his vision for my future. Everything I did disappointed him. My choice in career, my choice in my hobbies…my choice in the people I kept company with.” She swallowed uncomfortably at that last one. “Right or wrong decisions, I wish he’d at least respected them, even if he didn’t agree with them. Just once.”

  “Passion only gets so far, Miss Swiftheart. You are up against a king. One who does not care for rules as much as you might think. You’re going to take Greg down with you, you know that?”

  Greg stepped forward before she could get in a retort, eying his father with disdain. “Well, you can always say ‘I told you so’ later if you’re right. Which you probably will. You forget, father, I have friends in many places now. And they’ll have our back. There’s nothing you can offer me that would make me consider your plan. That said, I do appreciate knowing we have other players in Vale to keep an eye out for.”

  “That information was free. But it won’t do you much good,” Thanatos said with a sigh and nodded to the ruffians. “It’s late. We’ll depart.”

  “Don’t come to my shop again unless it’s strictly business above board. And don’t take your little spats between the magical crime families to my doorstep, Mister Lockheed,” Fiona stated, ears flattened back. “Because if Greg, Bonnie, my friends, or anyone else in my business gets inconvenienced or hurt because of it? I won’t stop wrecking your efforts until the only thing you’re selling is cautionary tales.”

  “Oh, that won’t be necessary.” Thanatos practically glided to the door, while Theo looked on in awe. “Oh, in case you’re ever unemployed, Mister Rovarin, do give me a ring. I do like to have competent–”

  “I appreciate the offer, Mister Lockheed, but I’m quite settled where I am.” Theo glanced at Fiona before giving Thanatos a scathing glare. “My advice remains unchanged. Fill out your 1073-A form, and be sure to attach the 1037, and 1039’s to maximize your deductions for your export fees.”

  “What’s that kind of advice cost?” he asked, sounding amused.

  “That one’s free. The next consultation is a hundred gold an hour. Quite reasonable rates, in these parts,” Theo replied smugly.

  The door bell rang eerily loud as the trio departed, and Fiona let out an exasperated groan. “Why does this feel like the wrong decision in the long run? Ugh. Why is there so much drama in my shop?!”

  “It’s just the drama you invite in,” Greg replied politely.

  “New rule. Drama is left at the door,” Fiona growled. “Get me the chalk. It’s going on the board.”

  “You might disbar yourself from your own store, with a bold move like that.” Greg tried to hide a grin as she leered at him with deadly intent.

  “Oh, you did not go there.”

  “Um…should I go?” Theo asked hesitantly. “I mean if you guys need some time alone–”

  “Theo, sweetie?” she strolled over to him and hugged him. “You survived one day of madness with me and didn’t bolt for the nearest exit. I think you and I need a proper date.”

  His face lit up at that proposal. “Just one question, though. Sweet or savory?”

  “Huh?” she glanced at him quizzically.

  “I mean, I know two places you might like–this little hole-in-the-wall bakery that puts out the best scones, or a little grill place near my apartment that makes really great sliders?” he asked, sounding hopeful.

  Fiona grinned at this. “I run a little of each. Meet me at the shop, and drop by anytime! I gotta go give Darla props, she knows people pretty well!"

  “Anyone ever tell you that you have a mildly intimidating, yet alluring personality?” he added with a smirk.

  “What I heard was, dinner this weekend, and pick me up at five,” she added with a smile. "But, you might want to wait a few days to visit the shop.”

  “Why’s that?”

  "Because after I’m done tomorrow, I might have an overly sensitive placeholder king lose his tiny mind. And possibly his soul."

  Theo looked at her blankly. "What exactly did you do to this guy?"

  "I forgot I met him twice before he showed up on the throne, I guess," she shrugged. Greg ground his teeth audibly by her. "What, I did!"

  "Let's tally this one up to 'you made for a convenient figurehead."

  "Yeah, let's. C'mon, let's close up," she finished.

  Proof that even Fiona knows that sometimes, the hard path is the best one...

  Newly Broke Heroine. Go check it out in the clickable image!

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