magical cures 07 - a charming fatality Read Online Free PDF Page A

saw the dark skinned woman from the lobby. “Please stop this machine and use these,” I begged and rushed over to the cardboard boxes and took out one of the special potion bottles.
    I had taken the time to create these special bottles and hold them, giving each of them a special spell with my touch. Once the spell and the stress free potion, or lotion as they believed, mixed, the magical components of the product worked.
    I held one out to the woman and shoved it in her hands. Her mouth was gaped open and an inexplicable look of withdrawal came over her face. She sat it down next to her and continued to place the cheap plastic caps on the cheap plastic bottles, sending them down the line to be packaged.
    The tattoo guy kept placing the plastic bottles in the machine, letting them fill up with the stress free lotion I had sent. He shrugged.
    “June, honey.” Tiffany spoke calmly, with no lightening in her eyes, no smile of tenderness or even understanding to make me feel better. “If we were to carry those bottles, not only would we have to get special equipment, which is costly, but we’d have to up the price in the stores. It’s all business.”
    “I don’t care. I will purchase the new equipment.” Though I wasn’t sure how much it was or how I was going to do it. I just knew this was not right. “The magic won’t work.”
    “Magic?” the guy asked.
    “You know.” I waved my hand in the air and rolled my eyes. “The reason my products sell so well is all about the packaging.”
    I thought I did a nice job of covering it up.
    “Ouch!” I drew my hand back and rubbed my wrist. The liquid substance in the small potion charm was bubbling and hot against my wrist.
    Mewl, mewl . Mr. Prince Charming stood on top of the belt on the assembly line.
    “Damn cat!” Tiffany growled, slamming the palm of her hand up against the big red button to stop the product line, saving Mr. Prince Charming from going through and getting slimed with lotion. She drew her finger and screamed, “Get that cat out of here!”
    “Why did you stop the line?” It was the first time I had seen Burt Rossen since he had come into my shop telling me how happy I had made Tiffany with my stress free products over Christmas time and her love-hate relationship with his mother over deviled eggs.  “This will cost us money and it will come out of your paycheck!” He pointed directly at the woman and man.
    “We didn’t do it.” The woman’s eyes drew down. “Not that you care,” she whispered behind his back when he walked past her.
    “Mr. Rossen, I’m not sure if you remember me.” I stuck my hand out. By this time Mr. Prince Charming was back at my ankles and the potion in the charm had stopped boiling. “I’m June Heal from the homeopathic cure shop in Whispering Falls.”
    “I know who you are, but you are in my territory now.” He rubbed his bald head and looked around, not giving me the time of day.
    “Please look at me when I’m talking. I’m not just a worker.” I sucked in a deep breath. My name and product was on the line, it was time I took charge.
    His eyes slid to mine. His features twisted into a maddening leer.
    “You have my attention, Ms. Heal,” he spat.
    “I have spent several years perfecting my lotions and as your wife can attest, they work.” Somehow I had to get him to get rid of the bottles he had already processed. “I didn’t agree to put my name and lotion in such cheap bottles.”
    “If the product is as good as you and my wife claim, the packaging won’t matter.” His brows lifted.
    “That is false. Statistics show that consumers will be more likely to pick up a nicely packaged product over . . .” Tattoo spoke up.
    “Are you Head To Toe Works’ marketing director now, Josh?” Mr. Rossen asked with a strong stamp of arrogance.
    Josh’s face reddened.
    “I didn’t think so.” Mr. Rossen turned back to me. “Plus we have already co-packed over 200 boxes. We will not lose