Part 1 (2/2)

He looked back, an eyebrow raised.

What do people want to read about? I asked Whats so juicy people will share it with everyone they meet?

He raised his eyebrows. Thats up to you to find out. Im curious to see, myself. Two weeks, Rosie.

My desk shook as Anderson shut the door and left me alone with my thoughts.

I glanced down, sighing at the notes scrawled on my page. High profile, expensive gems had been stolen from a museum recently, and I was itching to investigate. I groaned louder, almost in physical pain as I pushed those delicious notes off to the side, and focused on pulling off a miracle.

Chapter 2.

After two hours spent scrolling through my inbox, I wasnt any closer to coming up with a miracle idea that would save the company. Sitting here, staring like a robot at my computer screen, wasnt prompting any lightning strikes. It was however, turning my brain to mush and giving my lower back spasms.

I clicked my pencil a few times, blew out a sigh of frustration. If I couldnt come up with an idea in the next day or two, Id have to strap on an ap.r.o.n and head down to the Haunted Hamburger, begging for a spatula.

Picking up the phone, I leaned back in my chair and dialed a number I knew by heart.

Hey, Layla, Im sorry to bother you, I said. Do you have a second?

Bother me? Layla, one of my two best friends, gave a boisterous laugh. Monday afternoon isnt my most busy time. Whats up?

I grinned, her voice already lifting my spirits. The two of us, along with Belinda Bright”the local wedding planner”were as close as sisters. The three musketeers. The troublemakers of Fairyvale”you name it.

Layla was a bubbly, buxom blonde who ran the only lingerie shop in town, the Witches Britches. All of us were witches, though each of us had different tendencies. Belinda could sense true love. Layla had a knack for making people look and feel their best. Together, they made up what I called my family.

I need your opinion on something, I started. This article Im writing is giving me problems.

Excuse me? I could hear Layla smile across the phone. You want my opinion on one of your articles? Well, this is a first. Let me grab a pen so I can mark this date on the calendar.

Ha, ha, ha. Youre funny. Listen, I have to pull a game-changing article out of thin air within the next two weeks. Readers.h.i.+p is at an all time low, and I need a post thatll go viral. Tell me, whats something that would make you pick up a newspaper? Or, you know, click on my blog?

Me? I dont read.

Pretend you did.

Thats a big, fat if. However, I suppose Id read something if I couldnt get the juicy information I wanted elsewhere. You know, like a last resort.

I poised my pen above a notebook. Like what?

I dont know, Layla said. But just think about it for a little bit. Whats something everyone needs the answer to, but cant find? You figure that out, and youre golden. I mean, why do you think girls read about how the de-frizz their hair in the summer?

I shrugged over at my desk. Good question.

Because they dont want frizzy hair! They want boys to fall in love with their long, smooth, luscious locks. They want other girls to be jealous. They want to feel nice.

Yeah, but a post about frizzy hair is not going to go viral. Everyone writes those posts. I exhaled a long sigh. And anyway, thats just silly if girls think that frizzy hair is going to prevent them from finding a boyfriend.

Thats it! Layla said. Theres your t.i.tle. Girls Guide to Finding a Soulmate.

What? No.

Yes.

No! I dont have the answer to that. n.o.body does.

Thats exactly the point.

So youre suggesting that in the next two weeks I figure out how a person can find their soulmate.

Well, you asked what sort of article I would read. I guarantee Id pick up a paper or click on a link if I saw that t.i.tle.

Youd actually pick up the newspaper read it.

Everyones looking for the soulmate, Layla said. Myself included.

In the off-chance this works, how would you suggest I start my research? I raised a hand to rub a burgeoning headache away from my temples. I mean, my dating history isnt exactly stellar.

Yeah, whats it been? Five years since you went on a date?

Is not my fault that the pool of guys in this town is tiny.

Youre full of excuses. Maybe this is the boost you need to get back out in the dating world. Layla chuckled. When she didnt hear me laughing back, she snorted, then fell quiet. I suppose if youre looking for a place to start, I would start at the beginning. What are people looking for in a relations.h.i.+p, or love, or whatever you call it?

I waited for a long time, but Layla remained silent. Well? I prompted. Whats the answer?

What are you looking for? I can tell you what I want, but I cant tell you what you want. Your story will be better if it comes from the inside.

Im looking to investigate a story that doesnt focus on love, boys, or hair products. Beyond that, a pint of ice cream and a good book are all I need for my happily ever after.

Thats what I call denial. What do you really want? Dont you ever want to come home to someone, crawl into bed with a nice, warm body at the end of the night?

Im not looking for a relations.h.i.+p, Im focusing on my job. However, I continued quickly. I would imagine that most people want someone kind, someone who is handsome, and someone they can lounge around with in sweatpants on Sat.u.r.day mornings.

Thats not a bad start, Layla said. But I know a way we can figure this out objectively. Turn on your computer.

I heard keys clicking in the background and raised an eyebrow at my screen, even though Layla couldnt see it. I dont have a good feeling about this.

Are you looking at your computer?

Yes.

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