Trance Read online

  I woke late the next day.

  My grandparents had insisted that I go home and get some rest, although rest seemed to be transient as I drifted in and out of sleep.

  I swung my feet out of bed and stood up groggily, trying to shake the lack of sleep from my head. If I was to find a job today, I’d need to be fresh and alert.

  I shuffled into the bathroom, and turned on the faucets, waiting for the water to turn a shade warmer than ice cube, and stepped in letting the frigid temperature wake me up fully, before turning the hot tap on further to warm me back up.

  Refreshed and dressed, I went into the kitchen and made a quick breakfast of buttered toast and tea, thinking about what I could do.

  After I cleared up, I returned to my bedroom, opened my laptop and searched the same listings I did the previous day. Same jobs. Same mundane.

  I dialed a fast food restaurant first.

  “That position has already been filled.”

  “But you only listed it yesterday. Do you have anything else?”

  “Sorry, with your lack of hospitality experience, I’m afraid I have nothing to offer you. Think about taking a course, perhaps. Hospitality can be a rewarding career.”

  “You want me to take a course to work at a fast food restaurant?”

  “Good luck with your job search.” Click.

  It was the same with the office job and two others I called. Lack of experience, too old (at twenty-four!), already filled. Well there went my dreams of becoming a world-class feather boa wearing secretary.

  I bit the inside of my cheek, staring at the screen as I considered my next move. I was about to close the laptop when a new listing appeared.

  Personal assistant to Jason Green, professional stage hypnotist. Position: Performance partner and general admin - organizing schedule, costume decisions, venue booking. Entertainment experience required.

  I dialed. A ladies voice answered and we set up an interview for the following day.

  Perfect. And I might even get to wear a sequin or two.

  Deciding on what to wear to the interview proved to be more difficult that I imagined. I flicked my finger over the hangers, separating the sparkles and sequins for something conservative. I didn’t do conservative well, and the only thing I could come up with was an ordinary black dress. It was my usual cocktail attire, but if I dressed it down with a trendy necklace, it could look somewhat corporate. Oh well, better to be overdressed than under.

  I laid out my clothes for the next day, sent a quick message to Lacey, and headed to the hospital to spend the rest of the day with my grandparents.

  According to the doctor, my grandfather was doing well. He was one of the lucky ones that wouldn’t need a hip replacement. Although he would still need to be extra careful in the future, and that included no more dipping my grandmother during their usual evening dancing.

  “Thom’s accident is in the news today,” said my grandmother. “Have you seen it? They are calling him the best magician of his era.” She looked at my grandfather with pride.

  “No, you’ll have to show me later. Oh, and I have some news too. I’ve got a job interview, tomorrow.”

  “You know you don’t need to do that,” said my grandfather.

  “It’ll be fun. I need something to do after our last show anyway. It’s with a hypnotist.”

  “Pfft. Hypnotists are all hacks.”

  I grinned. “Totally.”

  ‘Good luck with the interview,’ texted Lacey.

  I stood outside a plain looking building with a small black and white sign attached to a pole that stuck out from the side near the front door. A gust of wind swung the sign and it made a creaking noise giving an eerie mood that matched the grey clouds in the sky.

  I walked in.

  “We need to fix that sign,” said the woman behind the desk, squinting in its direction. She looked mid thirties, but attractive for her age. Her hair was tied back neatly and she wore glasses that suited her.

  “You should leave it. Better for atmosphere,” I said.

  “Mr. Green will see you shortly.”

  I looked around the room, expecting to see large photos of this ‘hot’ hypnotist that Lacey was talking about. But it could have been any office reception in any city. Pale grey walls (modern, not drab). Newspaper articles framed in matching black frames. Lacey would love the decor.

  One of the newspaper articles had a grainy black and white photo on it, but it hung on the far wall and I couldn’t make him out. I looked over at the receptionist wondering if it would be weird to get up and walk across to read it. I shrugged, what would she care, she wasn’t hiring me. I stood and walked to the far wall and peered at the photo.

  My hands began to perspire, my heart thumped against my chest. I held my breath, I think, although I couldn’t be sure.

  It was him.

  His dark hair was pulled back, his smile electric as he looked through the camera lens, right into your soul. Right into my soul.

  “I see you’ve chosen two perfectly intact shoes today,” he said.

  I turned.

  Jason Green, stage hypnotist and rogue of the mirror maze, stood in front of me looking more gorgeous than ever.

  FOUR

  Dan’s office was a stark contrast to the plain modern lobby. Whereas the walls outside were crisp and minimalist, his room was filled with passion and drama. Pale cream stone walls with a subtle fleck that made them look like marble. Dark hardwood floors with enough gloss that you could almost see your reflection. A large plush Persian rug, filled with reds, oranges, and greens that swirled together.

  To my left two sofa’s with deep blue velvet fabric faced each other, and to my right a dark mahogany desk with two computers and two seats. A television screen, turned off, hung at the back of the room and took up an entire wall.

  Jason led me to one of the velvet sofa’s and as I sat down I ran my hand across the seat, letting it’s smoothness calm me. If I had to do grunt work, I’d want to do it in a room like this. He sat opposite me, leaning back casually, watching me like he was studying my every move. I sat up straight, stopping myself from shifting in my seat. I didn’t want him to think I was nervous.

  I cleared my throat so my voice wouldn’t squeak. “Well, this is awkward.” I said. “I wasn’t expecting you to be the Jason Green.” He raised an eyebrow at me. “It’s true. I didn’t have any idea who you were before I came here. I was looking for a job. That’s all.”

  He didn’t say anything. His eyes barely blinked. Mine on the other hand, had started to flutter as if I had something stuck in them, and my lips felt dry. I licked them quickly.

  “The reason I’m looking for something is because Thomas is in hospital. Fractured hip, would you believe? So, it’s not like I can work with him right now. I mean I will be working with him again when he gets better, of course. But right now, I need something else. So I can help with the hospital bills. They have their own money, but I want to help.” Oh god, shoot me. I was rambling. I never ramble.

  He nodded again and continued to remain silent and stare at me. My whole mouth felt dry now. I swallowed. Why wasn’t he talking? This had to end.

  “Are you going to say anything? I feel uncomfortable enough having never been to a job interview, but to know that it’s you that is the greatest, hottest, stage hypnotist, sitting across from me, is making me dehydrate before your very eyes. Pretty soon I’ll shrivel up and be nothing more than a peanut. I’m sure you don’t want that on your conscience. Can you imagine what the newspaper articles will say? It’d be a scandal. Hypnotist turns applicant to dust.”

  He leaned forward. “Can I get you water?”

  “Please.”

  He stood up, and walked to a low cabinet next to the desk. He opened it up to reveal a small fridge, stocked like a hotel mini bar. He grabbed a bottle of water and walked back over to the sofa’s, handing it to me as he sat back down.

  I took it out of his hand, unscrewed the lid and gulped down
a mouthful.

  “Better?” he asked.

  “Much.”

  He leaned forward. “So, I’m the greatest, hottest, stage hypnotist, am I?”

  “According to everyone.”

  “What about you? Do you think I am?”

  “You’ll live forever in my heart as the mirror maze prince who rescued me from my not-a-date-because-I-met-him-ten-minutes-ago-guy.”

  “And how is Pete?”

  “Pete? Pete who?” I grinned.

  “Love never lasts, such a pity.”

  “Indeed.”

  “You want to work for me?”

  “Do you want to me to work for you?”

  “I’m the one asking the questions.”

  “Are you?”

  He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “Scarlett, this is a serious job. My career is taking off faster than I can handle. Everyone wants a piece of me. Media want interviews, fans want merchandise, I have a schedule that’s getting out of control. I need someone I can trust.”

  I bit my lip. “I’m sorry. I know it’s serious. I can be serious.” I began to list my stage credentials with my grandfather, the shows we had done, the bookings I’d helped him with.

  Jason held his hand up to stop me. “I know you’re qualified. I know your career. I’ve seen your show loads of times.”

  “You have?”

  “Yes,” he said.

  “Oh.” I hadn’t seen one of his shows. That would have to change if I was to get this job. “Then what is the problem? Is it because I don’t have admin experience? I could pick that up quickly. I really could.”

  “I’m sure you could. No, it’s not that.”

  “If you don’t think I’m right for it, then it’s fine. I can find something else. It’s not important.” A sting of disappointment rose from my chest. This would have been a great job. “Hey, that’s show biz, right? Cha cha cha.” I wiggled my eyebrows.

  He sighed and ran his hand through his hair, messing it up and causing some of it to stick out at the side. “Scarlett…”

  “It’s not a big deal.” I stood up. “Really. I’ve got lots of options.” I held out my hand to shake his. “It was nice to finally find out your real name, Jason Green. If you play at the fair next week, I’ll come and see you. It’ll be fun to see your show. I can’t wait now. I want to see it.”

  When he didn’t move, I pulled my hand back to my side and frowned. I shouldn’t have come here. As soon as I realized who he was, I should have thanked him and walked away. I was right. Reality never lives up to expectations.

  I turned and began to walk toward the door. He grabbed my arm and swung me around.

  “You don’t want this job,” he said. He was close to me. I could feel his breath on my face. His grip was strong.

  “How do you know that?”

  “You don’t want it.”

  “I don’t now.” I yanked my arm away from him.

  His eyes burned into me, searching mine. “It’s not right for you. It’s just a stupid admin job, helping me with a few shows onstage. You’re better than that. You could be a star.”

  “I’m just a magician’s assistant.”

  “You’re more than that, and you know it.”

  My chest tightened, and I could feel myself beginning to panic and pull back. I had to get out and calm down. “You don’t know me. You know nothing about me.”

  He turned away, running his hand through his hair again. “Do you really want this?”

  “You’re right. I don’t. It was a mistake coming here.” I started to walk toward the door again.

  Jason walked ahead of me and placed his hand on the door to stop me opening it. “Scarlett, if you need it, it’s yours. I promise I won’t hire anyone else. But think about it. Think hard. I don’t want you to make a mistake you’ll regret.”

  I shook my head and pulled the door open. “It’s just a job,” I said, as I walked out, my heart crashing against my rib cage. “It’s no big deal.”

  “It was him. Jason Green was the guy I met in the mirror maze.” I paced Lacey’s tiny living room, circling around the coffee table. My hands clenched into fists. My heart raced and my breath ragged.

  “Jason Green was the mystery mirror guy? Shut. The. Front. Gate!”

  I rolled my eyes, but continued to stomp around the room. “You knew, didn’t you?”

  “I had my suspicions. If you looked on the internet once in a while, you would have figured it out yourself.” She grinned and I glared back. She knew why I didn’t go on.

  “Why didn’t you tell me it was him?”

  “And spoil the fun? Would you have told me if the tables were turned?”

  I stopped. “Probably not.”

  I slumped onto the couch, resting my chin in my hands. “Why did it have to be him? He was so different in there. I mean, who does he think he is?” I tried to copy his voice, “Sorry Scarlett, you’re too good for this position, why don’t you get out of my office so I never have to see you again.”

  “He didn’t say that.”

  “Practically. I cannot believe him. Who does that? Who says that? If he had bouncers he would have ordered them in, and they would have carried me out and threw me through a plate glass window in the front of the office.”

  “He had a plate glass window in his office?”

  “No.” I waved my hand in the air. “That’s not the point.”

  “Perhaps he’s right. You are too good for the job.”

  “Damn straight I am.”

  “Exactly. So he did you a favor.”

  “But why be such a jerk about it? And then, just as I was about to get out of there, he said I could have it if I want but I have to think about it, first. Like it’s some life or death situation. It’s just a stupid job, for goodness sake. If it doesn’t work out, then no big deal. I still have the money from my mother’s insurance. It’s not like I’m going to starve.”

  “Then why do you care? Just say no. Let it go and move on.”

  “I will say no. I will move on. I wanted a job to help out, with Thomas’s fall. With the bills and everything.”

  “Don’t they have the money?”

  “Yes. They do. But I need to do something. Something to help them. And something to get my mind off it.”

  She nodded.

  I stood up and walked over to her kitchen, adding water to her electric kettle and turning it on. “You want tea?”

  “Cold drink.”

  I grabbed a can from the fridge and threw it over to her. She caught it with one hand.

  “It’s fine anyway. I’m just annoyed with him. It’s silly really. I hardly know him. I met him once for goodness sakes.” The kettle clicked off.

  “I could ask at the store, see if they have any jobs there,” said Lacey.

  I placed a teabag into the cup and poured the boiling water over it, adding a teaspoon of sugar. I shook my head. “No, I’ll figure something out.”

  “Does this mean he’s no longer your dream man?”

  I scoffed and pointed the teaspoon at her. “I told you he’d be a disappointment in real life. Which is for the best. I never want to get involved with anyone anyway. And there is no such thing as a dream man.”

  My grandmother Rose, still wasn’t home. She had been at the hospital now since Thomas’s accident two days ago. I placed a small suitcase on the bed and packed her some fresh clothes, underwear and some toiletries. I also packed two of her favorite books.

  For my grandfather I packed a deck of playing cards and his old ukulele.

  I went into my bedroom to get changed out of the black dress I wore to the interview. I tied my hair back and washed off my makeup. I looked into the bathroom mirror at my reflection. My cheeks were red. I’d have to get rid of this excess energy that Jason had caused before I went to the hospital.

  What was I talking about? Jason didn’t cause anything. He was nothing to me. I had to get him out of my mind.

  I returned to my cl
oset and changed into running clothes. I placed a cap on my head, pulling the brim down low. I didn’t feel like making eye contact with anyone.

  Putting the armband on, I set my phone to my favorite playlist on shuffle, and strapped it into the armband. When I put the earbuds in, Pink Floyd’s, See Emily Play had already started. A good beat to clear my head.

  I went outside, locked the door, placed the key in my shoe and ran as fast as I could, knowing in thirty minutes I’d be back to my regular self.

  “How was the interview?” asked my grandmother.

  I placed the case full of clothes and other items on a small table next to the window. “Weird.”

  “What did you expect?” said Thomas. “Those hypnotists, always trying to get into your head. They’ll make you crazy.”

  “Totally.”

  “Never mind, dear, “said my grandmother. “It wasn’t meant to be.”

  She looked tired. “You should go home,” I said. “Go and have a good sleep. You can’t be getting enough rest sleeping in that chair.” I pointed to the armchair that she had moved next to my grandfather’s bed.

  “Don’t be silly. I’m staying here with my husband until he leaves.”

  “Have they said when that’s going to be?” I handed the ukulele over to my grandfather whose eyes lit up. He strummed a few notes, closed his eyes and hummed a few bars of different songs like he was trying to decide what to play first.

  “Friday, probably.”

  “Another five days?”

  “It’s standard.”

  “Can you afford this? A week here can be pricey.”

  She looked quickly at my grandfather who stopped humming for a beat, and then back at me. “Insurance should cover it.”

  “Should?”

  “I told you not to worry about it.”

  “You are my family. My life. Of course I’m going to worry about you both.”

  “Well there is no need. Tell us about the interview. What was he like?”