New Fic-Wishful thinking -5

"Genie?" I gaped.

Under other circumstances, I'd have thought I was crazy, that the stress of Rob's sudden announcement had pushed me over some mental precipice. I would have believed that I needed a serious mental health evaluation. Or at least a good, stiff drink. (Forget the Grey Goose—Stolichnaya suddenly seemed more appropriate.)

But I had to accept what I was seeing. My father wasn't the practical-joke type. He'd known the bombshell that Rob was going to drop on me, and he'd seen fit—somehow—to help me through the shock, to introduce me to this…genie.

The ballerina—Jaze—waved her tattooed wrist through the air and produced a sheaf of papers. Another swipe, and she held a jeweled pen that looked like it had been rejected by the Fabergé egg factory for being too gaudy. "Now we sign the papers, da?"

What else could I do? I took the pen.

Jaze flipped through the document, muttering Slavic curses as she perused the minuscule type. A half dozen times, she indicated where I should initial key clauses, all written in English. On the last page, she showed me where to sign my name.

I had no idea what the papers said. But, really, why should I care? I mean, it wasn't like I had any bargaining power. This was just like being an actress, hoping for a role, desperate for a lucky career break. Ultimately, powerless. Or at least, dependent on others.

Jaze snapped her fingers and made the pages disappear. "Your first wish, then?"

Looking back, I guess I should have tried to do something amazing with Jaze's magic. Created world peace. Eliminated poverty, or at least starvation. Invented a free, clean energy source.

But those possibilities honestly never crossed my mind. Those things just couldn't be possible. After all, Dad would have done them with his own wishes, right?

I certainly hadn't noticed any major changes on the international front, so I had to assume that Jaze's magic worked on a more…personal scale.

And what could be more personal than saving true love?

As soon as my thoughts fell back to Rob, I knew what I had to wish for. "I wish that Rob would stay," I said.

Saying the words out loud, I felt selfish. He was an actor. New York was his dream.

Our dream.

There would be lots of other shows, other chances at New York. New Day Dawning wasn't a fluke. It was the launch of a brilliant career—our brilliant careers. We'd forget about manipulative Gerry Randolph. We'd create even better opportunities. Together. After a little joint planning.

Jaze's stare was as sharp as the diamonds on her tiara. She was clearly asking me if I was certain, if I knew what I was doing.

Shoving down my apprehension, I caught my lower lip between my teeth and nodded.

Jaze raised her fingers to her earlobe, making her tattoo flames flash. She tugged twice and said, "As you wish."