Page 40 of Love Spell

“Uh… yeah.Timofei Volkov.He runs a prop shop in London.How do you know that?”

Julian sat back, staring at Noah.It took him a moment to reply and, when he did, it wasn’t to answer Noah’s question.

“How’s that working out?”

“How’s what working out?”

“Your boss.Is he bothering you?”

“Bothering me?”Noah snorted.“Timo’s a menace.I know I should have reported him for harassment, and then the whole assault thing, don’t get me started —”

Julian, who’d been very businesslike and direct all through the meeting, almost brusque, now stared at Noah with his eyes slowly widening as Noah talked.

“— but I’m just trying to get through the next month and then I’ll be gone anyway.I want this job.I have the chance to bring home tens of thousands if I do it well, so it’s no small matter to walk away just because the boss is a jackal.”

“He assaulted you?”

“It was …” Noah shrugged.“We’d been drinking.I got away from him.I’ve told him no again and again, but he won’t back down.I can deal with him for another month, it’s just damn hard to feel like you’re being circled by vultures all the time.How do you know Timo?”

When Julian only looked at him, the silence growing uncomfortable, Noah glanced down at the pages.“So, anything else I should know?Can you tell me more about moon sign influences?I’ve never really been clear on how the sun sign and moon sign affect you differently.”

Julian abruptly stood.“Ever had a tarot reading?”

“No, but that’s okay.I’m more interested in astrology.”

“On the house.”Julian was back in his seat in a flash, shuffling the cards.

“Okay …” Noah watched while Julian plunked down the deck and turned over the first card.

Both men gazed at it for a moment in silence: the devil.

“Yes,” Julian said quietly, “but him or me?”

Noah looked between card and card reader.“What’s going on?”

Julian flipped another card.Seven circular flowers or coins interwoven through vines.

“Are you a gambler, Noah?”Julian still didn’t look up.

“I’m a prop trader.So yes, gambling is my job right now.”

“Right now?”

“I’ve been in school and working in IT, still not totally sure where I’m going.Especially after a lousy day like today.”

He glanced up.“You’ve been losing?”

“Yeah.”

Another card, a golden wheel with runic-looking symbols on it, and Julian laughed.“Don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t worry about what?”

“Never mind.”Again, Julian sat back.“I’m really sorry about what’s happened to you.That was shortsighted of me.”

“Happened to me?”Noah glanced from the three cards to Julian’s face.“You’re only the messenger.You didn’t do anything.”

“Oh, but I did.Are you familiar with the practice of modern witchcraft?”