Page 65 of A Phoenix Reborn at Christmas

Percival let out a breath as they each took a chair.

After a moment, the imp began to speak. But he kept his head lowered. “I apologise for approaching you like this, my lord.”

Percival frowned at the use of the termmy lordonce again. But he wasn’t going to interrupt.

“Another imp that works in the factory said they saw you working here. Honestly, I didn’t believe it to be true.” The imp glanced around the bakery. “We were not informed why you stopped working at the factory. And we have been curious, my lor—” He cut himself off. “We are curious what happened.”

Percival stared at the edge of the white crocheted tablecloth. “I recently died and was reborn. I lost all my previous memories, which I know is not the norm for phoenixes. So I could not continue working at the factory.”

The imp’s eyes widened. “I see.”

Percival hesitated. “And because I lost all my memories, I have to ask, who are you and how did I know you at the factory?”

“Oh. Right. Well, my name is Nix. I am a foreman at Everflame Glass Factory, my l—” He cut himself off. “I worked for you.”

“Oh.” Percival stared at his hands.

The glimpses of what he’d known about himself from his previous life were sparse. But he’d been mean to a server in a bakery. Apparently, he’d been impatient and snappy. He was sure he must have been a terrible boss.

His throat tightened. He didn’t want to have to answer for things he didn’t remember doing. He didn’t want to be responsible for a phoenix he no longer was. But even if he wanted to deny it, he’d been that phoenix in his past life. That was the truth.

“I’m sorry, Nix.” Percival licked his lips. “I imagine I wasn’t a very good boss.”

Leo reached out and gripped Percival’s knee beneath the table.

Percival continued, “I do not remember what I did, or how I treated you and the other workers, but I feel I must apologise for any cruelty or difficulties you experienced working for me.”

A long silence followed Percival’s apology.

“Well, you were a tough boss.” Nix’s dark-red brows pinched together. “You could be very strict and firm at times. But you were always fair.”

Percival’s head shot up. “I was?” That was the closest to a positive word he’d heard about his prior self.

“And you improved things. You listened to us and made changes to the working conditions,” Nix said. “You implemented regular breaks, a cool room, and better safety precautions. You’d tell us if something was unsatisfactory or if we’d performed poorly. But you wouldn’t scream and yell at us and dock our pay. You weren’t cruel.”

Percival’s mouth moved. The muscles in his body unclenched as Nix’s words washed over him.

I wasn’t a cruel boss!

It was a small victory. But it was a victory all the same.

Nix gave a half-smile. “You even interfered when your cousin yelled at me. You’d distract him so he’d stop. I always appreciated that.”

I wasn’t all bad. In my last life, I wasn’t all bad!

Leo squeezed his knee.

“That’s why I came to see you, my l— Percival. I was wondering if you would be coming back?” Nix hesitated. “Your cousin has been put in charge at Everflame Factory.”

“Is he causing problems?” Percival asked.

“He is strict and not kind.” Nix pressed his lips together. Clearly, he was uncomfortable speaking ill of his current boss.

And his cousin used to yell at Nix. Percival apparently had interfered. If Percival wasn’t there now, his cousin would be yelling at Nix with no one to stop him.

He lowered his gaze. “My uncle, Lord Ignatius Everflame, informed me I couldn’t continue working at the factory.” So he couldn’t help Nix or the other workers. Even if he wanted to.

“I see. So there is no chance of you coming back.” Nix’s body sagged.