Free The Cinderella Reflex by Johanna Buchanan Page A

being open to new experiences – here I am.”
    He flopped down into an armchair. Tess thought it weird that a guy would go to a fortune teller. Still, if he had a problem ...
    Her eyes widened a fraction as her brain caught up with what he’d just said.
    Here was someone sitting in front of her who had a problem and was looking for advice about it. Exactly what she was looking for! And it wasn’t even a serious problem. Talk about synchronicity! She took a deep breath.
    “So what sort of problem do you have then?”
    He let out a sigh. “It’s a very boring sort of problem, I’m afraid. It’s not a big love triangle or anything as interesting.”
    “So.” Tess looked at him speculatively. “Let me guess then. Is it to do with a dysfunctional family?”
    “Sort of.” He sounded impressed. “Hey, how did you know that?”
    Hah, she thought triumphantly. All that swotting up on the agony columns had paid off already.
    “I happen to have a particular interest in people with problems, that’s all,” she shrugged nonchalantly.
    “Really? Why?” He steepled his fingers in front of him and watched her closely.
    “Well, it’s just at the moment. I mean ...” Tess hoped she didn’t sound slightly insane. “I’m actually looking for people with problems. So I can solve them.”
    “Really?” He gave her a disbelieving look.
    “Yes, really. It’s part of my job. Well,” she amended, “what will be my job – if I can make it work.” She took another deep breath. “
My
problem, you see, is that I don’t actually have any people to tell me what their problems are.”
    “What sort of a job is that?” He looked baffled.
    “It’s in a radio station. I’m a producer there at the moment. But I’m about to become ... er ... an agony aunt.”
    He sat up straighter. “A radio agony aunt? So who do you work for?”
    “Oh, it’s nowhere important,” Tess said dismissively. “The local radio station here – Atlantic 1 FM. Do you listen to it?”
    “I don’t live in Killty – I’m just in town on business.” He raised an eyebrow. “But how can I help you?”
    “Well, I’ve never done anything like this before. I’ve never even been on-air before and I haven’t a clue how to kick it all off. My boss thinks I should make some stuff up to start it off, but I’m not sure if that’s exactly ethical.” Tess’s voice trailed off. When she said it out loud like that, it sounded pretty precious. Maybe Helene was right. Maybe she should just make the stuff up and stop stressing so much about it?
    “But you think it would be ethical for me to ring you?” He pushed long legs out in front of him and gave her a quizzical look.
    “Well, of course it would be. You’re a real person with a real problem. You’ve just said so yourself. So it would be authentic and our listeners will get that straight away. It would be perfect to get me started off.”
    He smiled. “So tell me a bit more about it then. Are you excited about this chance to go on-air?”
    “Excited? No. Terrified more like. I’ve told Helene it’s probably going to flop. Helene’s my boss,” she added helpfully.
    “So how do you know it’s going to be a flop?”
    Tess shrugged. She was beginning to regret starting up this conversation. She thought he’d just agree to do what she asked. Or not. But he was giving her the third degree! “I suppose I don’t know for sure. But ...”
    “Look, I’d
like
to help,” he said. “But it does seem weird, if you don’t mind me saying so. I’d have to broadcast my problem on-air and have everyone hear it?”
    “Well, you don’t have to worry about anybody recognising you, if you don’t live around here. It’s not as if Atlantic has a huge audience. Helene, my boss, says we’re haemorrhaging listeners! As a matter of fact, I’d be surprised if the only people who get to hear your problem are myself and Ollie, the presenter. And Helene and a few of the rest of the staff of course. And