Chapter 1

Before Halloween, our intern, Brooke Hayes, suggested visiting a temple for our team outing.

I calculated the distance and wanted to turn her down.

“The company’s budget is five thousand dollars. Why don’t we just have a nice dinner somewhere nearby?”

Brooke argued with me, visibly worked up.

“Who cares about dinner? Do you have any idea that temple is offering a limited-edition fortune stick? Anyone who draws the best fortune will have good luck all year!”

“We should try it too! Maybe it’ll bring the company some luck with sales!”

Looking at my excited coworkers, I agreed.

After carefully working through the numbers, I finally managed to fit transportation and admission into our budget.

I was planning to use the remaining money to buy everyone lunch.

But after we all drew our fortune sticks, the vendor produced a bill.

“Eight hundred and eighty-eight dollars per blessing stick. How would you like to pay?”

My coworkers froze, staring at the bamboo sticks in their hands in disbelief.

Brooke looked at me as if the answer were obvious and urged me impatiently.

“Claire, what are you waiting for? Pay him.”

I wanted to throw the suddenly scorching piece of bamboo straight back onto his stall.

“You couldn’t charge me eight hundred and eighty-eight dollars for a gram of gold. Is this little stick plated in gold or covered in diamonds?”

The vendor quickly cut me off.

“Don’t make ignorant comments! These are limited-edition fortune sticks blessed by an eminent monk. That’s the price!”

My coworkers erupted.

“Why didn’t you tell us that first? I thought they’d cost a few bucks, maybe a few dozen at most!”

“This is a total rip-off! Can’t we just give them back?”

Seeing everyone try to return their sticks, the vendor’s face darkened.

“You can’t be serious. These sticks were blessed by an eminent monk. The moment you drew them, they became connected to your fate!”

“Reject that blessing, and your good fortune could turn against you!”

The threat in his voice was unmistakable. It actually scared my coworkers into staying put.

But how could interns earning two or three thousand dollars a month afford an eight-hundred-and-eighty-eight-dollar fortune stick?

Brooke tugged anxiously at my sleeve.

“Claire, I asked around. These blessing sticks really work!”

“Doesn’t the company reimburse team outings? The company can definitely afford this. Just pay!”

At eight hundred and eighty-eight dollars each, the total came to nearly fifty thousand!

Every eye turned to me.

Swallowing my anger, I took out the budget sheet.

“Brooke, the company approved five thousand dollars. The charter bus and admission cost three thousand. I used the rest to book a vegetarian lunch for everyone at the foot of the mountain.”

“Eight-hundred-and-eighty-eight-dollar fortune sticks aren’t covered.”

“What?” Brooke froze. Then, unbelievably, her eyes filled with wounded tears.

“But what are we going to do with these sticks? This is all my fault. I should’ve asked the price before bringing everyone here…”

“I just thought, with Halloween coming up, we could wish everyone good luck and give next year’s sales a little boost…”

“I’ll find a way to pay for them. Please don’t blame Claire…”

Watching her sob, my coworkers immediately softened.

“Come on, you’re an intern. Where would you get that kind of money?”

“Claire, can’t you just put it on the company account for now? We can sort it out when we get back…”

“Exactly, Claire. Make an exception. Look how upset she is.”

Before I could explain that these were company rules, our director, Paul Foster, stepped forward.

“I’ll pay.”

He scanned the vendor’s payment code, then frowned at me.

“Claire Bennett, Brooke is still a young woman. She meant well. There’s no need to be so aggressive.”

My fists clenched around the budget sheet.

The company had given us five thousand dollars. I’d stayed up half the night making the numbers work. How did that make me aggressive?

I was about to explain when Paul turned toward the trail down the mountain.

“Enough. It’s paid for. Stop spoiling the mood. Let’s have lunch.”

Everyone crowded around him, praising his generosity.

After our vegetarian meal, we were about to head back when Brooke suddenly slapped her forehead and pulled her unopened fortune stick out of her bag.

People around her gasped. Then I heard her squeal with delight.

“Look! I got the best fortune!”