Page 2

Margot

THUD!

My forehead smacks on my desk. I’m so done with this. I cannot figure out what’s going on with these shipments.

I’m trying to balance last month’s records for the northern ports. At least I was, until I found a discrepancy.

At first, I only noticed one shipment. Nothing major, just a few crates, but the pay was astronomical. That was the first red flag.

I did some digging but couldn’t find the detailed invoice. There’s no record of what was in the crates, where they came from… nothing. So, I got curious.

I started searching for similar shipments and found pay stubs for the same amount, deposited every other Saturday for the last few months from the same company: Koschei Group.

I investigated the company. Y ou googled the company. I couldn’t find anything . Nothing. No website, no social media, no advertisements .

Alarms blare in my head. Something sketchy is definitely going on.

The only thing I found were legends about Koschei the Deathless in Russian folklore, a sorcerer who torments people, hiding his soul in a needle, which he then locks inside a series of objects, like Russian nesting dolls.

As long as the needle remains intact, he can’t be killed. In most stories, he kidnaps a princess and forces her to marry him, only for a hero to destroy his horcrux-needle and set the princess free.

Creepy .

I never considered the possibility that Northern Hemisphere Cargo could be involved in something illegal. Being an international shipping company operating out of the Baston Harbor ports, it’d be a good way to smuggle things.

How am I just realizing this?

But there really isn’t much crime out here, so I don’t know who would be using the ports like that.

I’ve been working for NHC since I graduated college four years ago. It’s been fine. I’m a financial analyst in the Boston branch, working mostly from home. My hybrid schedule is perfect, because it lets me lounge in my pajamas all day. I only go in for important meetings.

Honestly, I feel a little guilty for not noticing the Koschei Group’s orders earlier. But, in my defense, my job doesn’t always get my full, undivided attention. One of the consequences of working from home is, well, not always working.

I have a little less motivation to actually give a full eight hours to staring at numbers. I may sleep in a little, and go on my daily coffee run, and then there’s the occasional nap.

I’m more invested in my side gig: audiobook narrator.

It started as a hobby, but I’ve really gotten into it .

I heard someone say that people either view their job as just a job, others as a career, or, if they’re lucky, as a calling.

My Northern Hemisphere Cargo position falls in the just-a-job category.

I didn’t know there were people whose jobs aren’t a chore, but recording audiobooks proved me wrong.

It brings me a level of joy that could only be summarized as a calling.

My addiction to a good love story inspired me to start narrating audiobooks. I read over one hundred and fifty books in a single year and realized many of my favorites didn’t have audiobooks. I researched, reached out to authors, bought some equipment, and the rest is history.

Despite my love for romance stories, real life romance hasn’t seemed to be in the cards for me. I’m twenty-six and still haven’t been in a serious relationship.

My dad thinks I’m going to be a spinster.

He constantly reminds me that I’ll never meet someone from my couch.

My mom, on the other hand, keeps trying to set me up with her friends’ sons, none of whom I’ve been remotely interested in.

It never goes well, and I fear it’ll eventually ruin her friendships.

It’s honestly a relief that they’re traveling now. Since retiring, they’ve been roaming the world together. They never got to explore and are making the most of it now. I do miss having them in the city, but I’m happy for them.

To be fair, they aren’t entirely wrong.

I don’t put much effort into dating. Another problem with being hybrid is that I don’t leave the house every day. Which is why my coffee runs are so important. As if you’re going to meet someone on a coffee run.

It’s not that I don’t want to have love. I really do. I’ve even tried online dating, but none of the guys on the apps compare to my beloved men-written-by-women.

So, for now, I’m sticking to my books and movies from the comfort of my couch .

Which is where I currently am, staring at my computer, deliberating on how to proceed with the whole Koschei Group situation.

Actually, this is above my pay grade. I’ll let my boss handle it.

I draft an email to Ronald explaining my findings. I attach screenshots of the payment records, dates, and amounts, and tell him I can’t find a public record of the company. I even add that I think something illegal may be going on and offer to report it to the authorities.

After hitting send, I glance at the clock: five p.m. Officially the weekend.

I shut down my laptop. I watch my work phone die, but since it’s Friday, I don’t bother plugging it in. I’ll do that Sunday night.

I have a strict rule of not working outside of work hours. It’s bad for the soul.

I check my audiobook email and smile when I see a new author reaching out about recording her book. I’m excited to read it. I message her back, letting her know I’m interested.

I’m still not making enough money to quit my day job, but every book is getting me closer.

One day, I’ll be able to leave finance behind and narrate full time. I’m sure that’ll be the day you also have a happily ever after with your dream man.

For now, I’ll stick to dreaming.