Carve My Pumpkin (The Night Realm: Halloween Marked #3)

Chapter 7

SEVEN

COLETTE

I looked at the clock for the thirtieth time today. I scheduled myself on Mateo’s calendar as he instructed me to and yet he hadn’t shown up. Our meeting time had long since passed and I’d sat here at this stupid desk in front of an empty office all day long. He gave me one task and now I was stuck sitting on that task until we spoke. An entire day of waiting around when I could’ve been helping people or working in a different department that actually appreciated me.My only saving grace had been the siren princesses needing help with their new company and the new tech they had to learn. Diego had struggled to bridge that gap so he ran to me. Helping Chip and Pickles was my only useful tasks for the day.

The only thing I could do was sit and wait. But that wasn’t my thing. Mateo and I weren’t connecting, if this was going to work we needed to be on the same page at the same time. Teamwork making the dream work, and all that crap. I inwardly rolled my eyes, we were so far from a team. I didn’t know who to turn to or who to ask for help. How do I make this job work so I can do what I really want to do?

I glanced at everyone else hustling around the office and I wanted to feel that. I wanted to travel and find myself all while doing a job I loved. I was not loving this, but I was a big girl and I’d suck it up to get to the next step. I groaned and leaned back in my chair. I let my head fall on the top of it and I stared up at the ceiling for a moment wondering what weird twist of fate brought me to this moment.

“You look like you’re having fun.”

My head snapped up and I grinned up at Diego standing there with two cups of coffee. “It’s been a long, slow, boring, stressful, and slightly underwhelming day.”

He handed me one of the cups he brought over then to the chair right next to my desk. “It’s just the start, I’m sure you’ll get into the groove with Mateo.”

I wanted to believe that he was right, but something told me he wasn’t. “The best I can hope for is to make it through these two weeks and still have a spot in the company.”

Diego shook his head. “You’ve been in almost every department and easily worked your way up. I’m sure you’ll figure Mateo out in no time and things will be good.”

“I hope so.” I groaned.

“In the meantime, I walked over to give you this fresh coffee and thank you for helping Chip and Pickles with their siren project. Technology really isn’t their thing, you know being under water and all that, and apparently I’m not a great teacher for that.”

I nodded. “I totally get it. I was happy to help you and them. It’s not like I’m weighed down with work . . . and I couldn’t resist a chance to get my fingers on some tech.”

A wide smile spread across his face. “I’m grateful you felt that way, and it’s more proof Mr. Prescott won’t let you get away from this company. Mateo or not.”

I grinned into my coffee cup. “Thanks, Diego. I needed this today.”

“You need to do something fun tonight.”

“Chip and Pickles are coming over with their sister Reese. I’m gonna help them with their new tech. I can’t wait.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Naturally.”

“So is there anything else I can help you with? Please give me something to do.”

“Actually, I’m here to see if I can return the favor for you. What can I do to help you?”

“I wish I had some advice or direction for dealing with Mateo. But I don’t even know who to ask. Do you?”

“Dennis. He’d know Mateo the best.” He shrugged and took a sip of his own coffee.“At least in a work setting.”

“Dennis, his retired assistant?”

That wasn’t a bad idea. No one knew their employers better than their assistants. Assistants knew the deepest darkest secrets even if the boss had no idea. We were the invisible eyes and ears.

“Yeah, he’s cool. I worked with him a bit before moving to the small business department.” He frowned and pointed away from us. “I think he lives just on the other side of the island. I believe he wanted a shore house to retire to.”

That settled it. I had to pay Dennis a visit. I was going to do it. I had no other option at this point. If Mateo wasn’t going to help me in any way then I had to find said help elsewhere. Begsies couldn’t be choosies, or as most people said, beggars couldn’t be choosers . I sprung to my feet and grabbed my purse and coat. This was going to work even if I had to fight every step of the way.

Diego’s eyes widened. “You’re leaving now?”

“What else am I doing?” I motioned to my empty desk then to Mateo’s empty office.

“Might as well.” He stood and led the way to the stairs. “I’ll send you his address once I get back to my desk. Should only take me a second.”

“You, my friend, are a complete peach.” I winked. “Thank you!”

“I’ve got you, girl.” He waved me off. “Just start driving toward the shore houses and I’ll send over the exact address.”

“Will do!”

I hurried out the door and toward my car. For the first time today I had a glimmer of hope that I might find a way to get the ball rolling. I climbed into my car and pulled out of the parking lot a bit faster than I should have. My tires squealed and people walking on the street stared after me but I wasn’t about to slow down. It was easy for me to navigate the roads to the other side of the island. I’d spent years exploring every inch of it trying to find somewhere I belonged and now all that exploring helped me find my way to Dennis. My phone dinged when I glanced down at the stop sign I saw Diego’s text on my screen with Dennis’ address. I quickly pulled over and put the address into the navigation system then pulled back onto the road.

The navigation took me a few turns and twists, including one scenic route before I found myself on the other side of the island. The side that was more rural and the houses were few and far between. The coastline stretched out beside the road and my eyes lingered over the dunes. Even in fall the sight was still dazzling with the sun reflecting off the water. A light breeze drifted through the air and made the plants on the dunes sway back and forth. Dennis’ house was just off the main road.

It was a smaller beach house that looked like it’d seen better days but it was adorable. My mother would love it. The outside was made of wooden planks that’d been withered by the weather. The roof was sloped on both sides and met at a point in the center. All the windows were wide open and wind chimes hung on both sides of the stairs leading up to the wraparound porch. When I pulled up the driveway, the uneven gravel crumbled under my tires.

My phone dinged again with a message from Chip. ‘ Hey! Should we bring snacks?’

I grinned. ‘ Don’t worry, I’ve got the good snacks. But if there’s something specific you want then bring it.’

‘ Is this what BYOB means?’ Chip sent back.

I chuckled. It was nice to see that I wasn’t the only one whose parents sheltered them from the world a little too much and left them ignorant of normal things. ‘ BYOB means Bring Your Own Beverage. But I think it applies to food, too.’

When I looked up at the home an older mage man walked out of the house onto the front porch. I instantly knew this was Dennis and why he’d be able to deal with Mateo so well. The guy was straight up surly looking.

He was only about five foot eight inches with a bald head and deep wrinkles around his eyes. When he spotted my car his lips pulled up into a smile and he shook his head. He motioned for me to come up the stairs so I hurried out of my car and up the stairs after him. The boards creaked under my feet with each step I took. He leaned against the railing around the porch and smirked down at me.

“I was wondering when you’d make it to my door.” His voice was deep and had a slow southern accent.

“So you were expecting him to be this difficult?” I smiled up at him and tried to be appear calm even though my insides were twisted into knots.

“Best come up and get yourself comfortable for that answer.” He ambled around the porch to the back of his home so I followed him.

Rocking chairs were spread around the back deck and I could see why Dennis wanted to live out here for good. He motioned for me to take a seat so I dropped down into one and automatically started rocking back and forth. My eyes were locked on the horizon and suddenly peace washed over me at the sound of waves lapping at the shore. Dennis walked into the house and I could hear him banging around in the kitchen through the screen door.

A moment later he walked through the door with two glasses of lemonade in hand. The screen door banged shut behind him as he handed me the glass. I took the glass in hand and leaned back in the chair. The wooden boards creaked as I rocked but I didn’t mind the sound, it almost added to the calming vibes. Dennis dropped down into a chair across from me and took a sip of his lemonade.

“Bet you could see why I would need a place like this?”

I nodded. “It’s very peaceful.”

“You’ve got to have balance. Work and life. Took me a while to learn that.” I liked the way he spoke, like the wisdom of time and age was laced in his voice.

“Is that a hint?” I smiled at him over the top of my glass.

“Just a little friendly advice.” He returned my smile with one of his own. “Sure I started living on the mainland, grew up in the south. But coming to the island I knew this was home. You know I’ve been around the Vauntero family for quite some time now. And in all that time I’ve never seen a misuse of their influence.”

“Until now,” I muttered.

“Do I detect a hint of bitterness?” He gave me a sideways glance.

I sighed and shook my head. “No, I know that the job came with a lot of responsibility. I just didn’t think that finding a soulmate would be one of them.”

He gave me a solemn nod. “Well, there’s something you’ve got to understand about Mateo. When he throws himself into something he does it whole heartedly, no matter how misguided his actions are.”

“I want to help him but he’s just so . . .” Handsome. Annoying. Charming. Overbearing. I could go on and on.

“Difficult?” He offered.

“Yes, I’d say so.” I leaned forward. “But really I’m here to get some advice from the Mateo expert. I really want to succeed in this job. And you were with him for so long.”

He leaned back in his chair and rocked in silence for a few moments. “It was a long time, that’s for sure.”

“So how did you survive? How did you thrive? I mean today he just stood me up completely for a meeting. If he doesn’t take it that seriously why should I?”

“When his brother found his soulmate and Mateo was marked . . . Mateo thought he was going to start on this new journey in life. Now when that happens to ya I can tell ya a few things . . . You get this hope for the future. A hope there’s an end to loneliness, an end to doing every single event alone, and a hope that there will finally be someone to rely on, someone to walk with you through this life. To know you’re other half is out there somewhere must be torture.”

When he put it that way my heart hurt for Mateo. I didn’t wish that loneliness on him or anyone else. I knew the loneliness well. It was like a dull ache that never really went away. Or a constant thought that lingered quietly in the background. Everyday I functioned and worked and enjoyed my family along with my friends. But at the end of the day that loneliness grated and festered. I didn’t want to be sympathetic toward Mateo but here I was feeling bad for him.

A phone started ringing from inside the home. Dennis waved it away. “I’ll let the machine get it.”

I raised my eyebrows at him. “You have a machine?”

Just when he was about to answer the machine kicked on. “Hi, this is Dennis, leave a message and I’ll get back to you.”

Then it beeped and there was a heavy sigh. “I’ve offered to get you a cell phone at least half a dozen time yet you insist on using this wretched machine.”

My eyes widened. I sat up straight.

Mateo’s voice was loud and clear as he spoke. “I can’t believe you’ve left me like this . I’ve got this new assistant and she is . . . well she’s lacking to say the least.”

Heat rushed to my face and I pressed my lips together. Dennis’ looked like he was about to get up to stop the machine but I waved to him. “No, let it go.”

He relaxed back into the seat and groaned as Mateo continued grumbling, “I mean when we saw her resume it looked impressive but then she comes with the most basic ideas. Things that anyone could think up. She wastes my time and I’m starting to resent it. I can’t believe you left me in my time of need. I need innovation, not the same old same old. Maybe you should come back? Retire in a few more months?”

Dennis scoffed and shook his head.

Mateo cursed. “I can’t believe you still have a machine. Call me back.” The phone clicked and the message stopped.

“I . . . um . . .” I was embarrassed to hear all of that. But at the same time slightly pissed off, he’d barely given me a chance and then didn’t even bother showing up to our meeting.

Dennis held his hand up. “Of course there’s always a swift kick in the ass.”

My eyebrows shot up. “What?”

“Well you could have sympathy for him or you could give him a swift kick in the ass. I’ve always found Mateo responded well to a bit of back bone. You should show him yours.”

I bit my bottom lip. “What makes you think I have one?”

He winked at me. “Didn’t you hear, I saw your resume. So what do you think, are you going to take this lying down or are you going to have a back bone? You can do this job, I know it. You know it. So put him in his place and let him know it. Always helps to give him his own guff back. The stubborn sort always need a dose of their own medicine.”

He wasn’t wrong and I was getting sick of this shit. I wanted to succeed and I wanted to succeed in a big way. Mateo was just going to have to get in line with that plan. “I’m thinking a kick in the ass sounds like a good solution.”