Enemy. Not hook up.
"Can I get you a glass of tea?"
"Please," he responded.
"I hope cinnamon-orange is okay," she said, grabbing two glasses and a giant blue pitcher that she kept filled with cold tea of various flavor blends.
"It's fine." He took the glass she offered and sipped it. He hummed in appreciation of the taste and took another drink before setting the glass down on a coaster.
Brigit sat in the oversized chair and sipped her own tea.
"You called about a complaint with a pair of shoes?"
"Boots, yes."
"I'm very sorry to hear that. We strive for excellence in our product."
Brigit leaned back. "I'm sure you work very hard on them."
Tony smiled, not catching the light accusation in her words. "I don't get to do the work, I'm afraid. The manufacture of the shoes is a closely held secret."
"I bet. But you must know."
Tony shook his head. "Only the owner and his immediate heir know. I don't get to find out until my grandfather dies. Then, my father will let me in on it."
Brigit leaned forward, frowning. "Wait, so you don't know how the shoes are made?"
Tony shrugged. "I know they are hand-made. I know we do not have significant overhead costs that would explain employees. And I know it is a secret."
Brigit stared at him. Not an enemy, perhaps?
Tony leaned towards her, leaning on his elbow on the armrest of the sofa. "All I know is what I need to know to work the fashion show circuit, really. And I'm pretty sure I get away with being ignorant a lot." He shrugged, “But no matter how well I make my case to be more informed, the answer is the same: No."
Brigit considered this. "Huh."
"So, what is wrong with the shoes... er, boots, that you purchased?"
Brigit grinned. "The boots are perfect, but I wasn't expecting the free gift with purchase."
Tony shot her a confused look. "What gift?"
"At first, I thought it was a rodent, but then he introduced himself, and rats don't generally do that. Even in New York."
Tony scowled. "What? Are you punking me?"
Brigit shook her head. "Maybe you should just see for yourself." She turned towards the bedroom. "Luis, please come out here."
Tony glanced at the door then back to Brigit. He straightened in his seat, as if ready to jump up and head for the door. "What is going on here?"
"Have you ever heard of the Elves and the Shoemaker? Of course you have. Well, just keep in mind that many stories have their start in something that really happened."
Tony's frown deepened, and he braced his hands on his knees to stand. As he did so, his gaze landed on the coffee table in front of him, where Luis was just then climbing up to stand beside the glass of tea. Tony froze, staring at the little creature.
Brigit noticed Tony wasn't breathing. "Hey, don't pass out on me, okay?"
"Le fate," he whispered. "Mio Dio, they are real!"
Luis nodded solemnly. "Indeed, we are. And we have been trapped by your familia, making ze shoes for you, for two hundred years!"
Tony's eyes got even wider as Luis spoke. His throat worked, Adam's apple bobbing, as he struggled for a response. Brigit sat still, waiting to see how the situation played out. Luis crossed his arms and stared at the man who would one day be master of his people's fate.
A loud banging thundered through the silence. Tony jumped, fear on his face. Luis dropped his arms and bounded off the coffee table, heading back into the bedroom.
"Holy cannoli!" Brigit exclaimed. It took another second and more banging for her to realize it was the door. She jumped up and flung it open.
"Sorry I'm late," the young man drawled.
Brigit snatched up the receipt he held out and signed it. Then she grabbed the boxes he offered and slammed the door in his face.
"Luis! Pizza's here!" She opened one of the smaller boxes. "And a honey-glazed nut cake!"
The little man poked his head out of the bedroom door. "Honey? Oh, yes please!"
Brigit grabbed two large plates and a small tea plate. She piled everything on the coffee table and dished up a huge helping of cake for Luis.
"He just loves honey," she said to Tony, handing him a plate piled high with a slice of deep-dish pizza and breadsticks.
The man nodded. "Le fate... the fairy people, they love honey more than anything else in the world. It is traditionally how you repay them for the work they do around your home."
Luis crammed a piece of cake half the size of his own head into his mouth and nodded.
"Really," she said, looking at Luis. "You never told me that."
Tony shook his head. "They won't ask for it. You are just supposed to know and offer it."
"Well, good thing I had leftover cornbread, huh?" She laughed. "Now, you two. Let's talk about the situation and what we can do to resolve it."
Chapt 4
"So, my grandfather has been giving you honey nut cereals for your food?"
"Si, yes," Luis said in a mournful tone. "Not a drop of ze real honey in decades!"
"And you are unable to leave because you promised to stay with my family..."
"Until you no longer need us. We are not often so foolishly generous, but we gave our word to a kind man. And your family built its business around us, ensuring we would always be needed by you."
"But I can't reverse that until I am head of the family business," Tony frowned. "That explains why production has slowed in the last several decades. I thought it was because my grandfather and father were simply slower at the work, but it's because your people have been mistreated!"
Luis nodded slowly, licking the plate of the last crumbs of the cake.
Tony stretched out, letting his head fall back. He'd taken off his coat hours ago, and Brigit blinked sleepily at the strong line of his neck. He glanced over at her.
"And you just happened to get a connection that you were trying to use to boost your career as a fashion writer, yes?" Tony thought another moment, then jumped up. "Alright, then. Pack your bags! You both are coming back with me."
Brigit frowned. "What?"
"I'm going to confront my grandfather and father about this," Tony said, pacing the small room. "I will threaten to expose them as frauds in the industry. With your help, dear journalist." He bowed to Brigit. "I can't make them rework the terms of the agreement, but I can back them into a corner so they will stop cheating your people until I take over." He nodded to Luis. "I give you my word that we will renegotiate the terms, or you may consider my need for you gone."
Luis' face brightened slowly into a smile. "I agree to give you ze opportunity to renegotiate before we take our leave."
Brigit gasped as a warm, heavy feeling filled the room. "What was that?"
Luis looked at her. "You feel ze magic of l'accordo fate. Fairy bargain." He looked back at Tony. "We have bound ourselves to zis bargain."
Brigit smiled. "That's good, right? I'm so glad this is turning out okay, but I'm not sure you need me to go with you. I'm sure you can threaten your family business just fine without me."