"Shanna Swendson - Once Upon Stillettos" - читать интересную книгу автора (Swendson Shanna)

north of Fourteenth Street.

I was trying to think of a way to get Gemma to another department, fast, when one of the fairies said,
"Katie! What are you doing here?"
"I was about to ask you the same question," I said, trying to keep my voice light and casual even as I
glared at them. I was pretty sure Gemma couldn't see that there was anything odd about them--other
than that they were so obviously downtown girls who probably wouldn't wear most of what was in that
store--but I still wasn't comfortable mingling my work life and my personal life.

I work for a company called Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc.--it's kind of like a Microsoft for magic
users, only not as into world domination. I'm not actually magical myself, but I have this strange immunity
to magic and illusion, which in the magical world counts as sort of a superpower. I hadn't yet shared this
information with my nonmagical friends, who thought I was just another administrative assistant at a
boring corporation.

"We're out shopping," said the taller fairy, whose name was Ari.

"Same here," I said.

"Oh yeah, tonight's the big date," said the smaller fairy, whose name was Trix. "Getting something special
to wear?"

"I'm trying to, without much luck."

"Friends of yours?" Gemma asked.

Remembering my manners, I made introductions. "Gemma, this is Ari and Trix. We work together. And
this is Gemma, my roommate and fashion consultant," I said, watching Gemma's reaction to the fairies. I
wouldn't have put it past Ari's twisted sense of humor to let her magical veil drop so everyone could see
her wings, just so I'd have to scramble for an explanation to Gemma.

Fortunately, Gemma didn't seem to think anything was weird. "Nice to meet you," she said. "Maybe you
can offer a second opinion. Don't you think Katie should at least try on these shoes?" She headed back
toward the shoe boutique, and Ari and Trix followed.

"Katie can't afford these shoes," I said as I brought up the rear of the procession, irked at Gemma trying
to get around my objections even as I was relieved that she hadn't questioned why I was talking to
people with wings.

"Oh, fabulous," Trix breathed when Gemma held the sample shoe up for all to admire.

"Not your usual style," Ari said while staring hungrily at the shoes. "But there's nothing wrong with giving
your image a little shake-up."

"See?" Gemma gloated. "Just try them on."

The three of them were practically drooling. Yeah, it was an eye-catching shoe, but I couldn't imagine it
changing my life. I mentally added this to the list of popular things I just didn't get, along with George
Clooney, designer-logo handbags, and reality television. As I watched them discussing the merits of the
red shoes, I wondered once more what Ari and Trix were doing there. I had a very strong feeling they