[ wp ] Years ago , you made a deal with the Devil to be granted a single wish . All your memories of the deal were then wiped . Years later , your wish is fulfilled and you are about to find out what price your younger self was willing to pay to make it come true .

“ Send him in, Becky. ” 
 
 
 A rather dapper looking fellow strode into my office, his sharp, expensive suit popping louder than the priceless décor that lined my office. He smiled a wicked smile, his teeth shining brighter than the morning sun that crept through my oversized window. Without asking, he pulled back one of the plush black chairs from the other side of my desk and seated himself, immediately leaning on my desk and fixing a an interested stare upon me. His eyes were a dark brown, almost coal black. Maybe they were, if that were possible. 
 
 
 I fought back the urge to comment on his self-indulgent behavior, and simply asked him how he was this fine morning. 
 
 
 “ It was a bit of drive, I must say. A black coffee kind of morning. ” He relaxed in the chair and gazed about my office. He took in all of the plaques and awards adorning the walls, peppered in between various modernistic paintings and abstract pieces. Smirking and nodding somewhat appreciatively, he turned back to me. 
 
 
 “ So, my people tell me you are an interested investor? I don ’ t know that I am in need of any investors at this point, Mr. Browne. ” I cut straight to the chase. I had work to do, and other meetings. This one was happening solely at the request of a good friend. 
 
 
 “ Oh, not now, certainly. Not for the classic sort, James. Money just seems to fall into your lap, doesn ’ t it? ” He sat forward again. His eyes were coal black. Time seemed to stand still as he sat there. Finally, he sat back, running a hand through his close cropped dirty blonde hair. “ Do you think you could ask Becky for some coffee? It really is that type of morning. Black. ” 
 
 
 “ I don ’ t know if this meeting is going to last long enough for a cup. Would you mind getting to the point? ” I hated to be curt, especially to a friend of a friend, but the business world is what it is. There were deadlines to make, other people to see. 
 
 
 He sighed, and then in a flash the smile was back. “ Seven award winning movies, twelve bestsellers, and a merchandise line that makes George Lucas lay awake at night and wonder where he went wrong. Like I said, money is just falling into your lap. The money tree is alive and well for you, James. ” 
 
 
 “ Indeed it is. And it ’ s Mr. Craft. ” I slide over a notebook from the corner of my desk. I started checking my other appointments, annoyed, and hoping he would take the hint. 
 
 
 “ Well, as it turns out, ” he snapped his fingers, drawing my attention, his smile fading, “ you are looking at the money tree. If you want one more red penny to fall, I am the man you are going to keep happy. ” 
 
 
 My brow furled. “ Did you buy controlling shares in Maxwell publishing and Werner ’ s Studio? ” My confusion was entirely real. I didn ’ t even know if that was a thing that could be accomplished, but it was the first to come to mind. 
 
 
 Mr. Browne laughed, but his smile never returned. “ I daresay I haven ’ t totaled it up, but quite a few parties there are beholden to me. But no, this is no hostile takeover. This is a reminder. Years ago, we made a deal. I ’ m here to collect on your end of the bargain. ” 
 
 
 I sighed, and fumbled through my top drawer. After a few seconds of rummaging, I found what I was looking for and flipped it across the desk. Mr. Browne slapped a hand down over top of the little brown business card and read it aloud without ever looking at it. 
 
 
 “ Banks, Banks and Howe. I know those fellows. Good team, you did well hiring them. Against anybody but me, I ’ d say the best. ” He crumpled the card and rolled it back to me. 
 
 
 I reached for the phone, tired of the conversation. Cole was going to get one hell of an e-mail for getting me to give this lunatic the time of day. 
 
 
 “ Calling for coffee? ” 
 
 
 I shook my head, glaring at him, dialing away. 
 
 
 Mr. Browne reached back and open palm slapped me out of my chair. The plastic cordless skidded across the office floor, dial tone buzzing. My chair spun sideways and ended up on my leg. 
 
 
 My first thought was, of course, this brazen son of a bitch hit me. In my office! My next thought was… 
 
 
 Oh, shit. 
 
 
 Memories flooded back. I hunkered over an old, beaten laptop, a few insignificant keys missing. My children screamed from another room, hungry, desperate for food and attention. My wife sat on the sagging bed staring at the latest overdue billing notification, which had arrived in the mail neatly sandwiched between rejection letters. 
 
 
 Get a job! You have a fucking degree, put it to use! 
 
 
 It had never mattered what I said back to her. I made more than her. There was no room on the corporate ladder for me. Writing was just a pastime to keep me sane in between back-breaking shifts at the goddamn slaughterhouse. She didn ’ t understand. No matter how much I made, it wasn ’ t enough. I ’ d need a fortune. 
 
 
 “ The crossroads. ” I sat up, still in the floor, pushing away the expensive chair that I suddenly loathed with all of my heart. The lies from the walls screamed at me. I wanted to peel it all down and start a bonfire right then and there. 
 
 
 “ There you are James. That ’ s the broken man I met fifteen years ago. ” 
 
 
 I only grunted, my eyes narrow. I thought that I ’ d be scared when this moment came. Minutes from a trip to hell. To tell the truth, I was glad. My entire empire was a lie. I was a no good, talentless hack. What a fitting end. 
 
 
 “ Pick up your chair, James. We have a lot to discuss. ” 
 
 
 I snorted. “ You need directions to Hell? ” 
 
 
 The smile came back, this time richer and positively full to the brim with evil. His coal black eyes glistened. “ Oh, we aren ’ t going there just yet. I couldn ’ t possibly waste such a useful man this early. ” 
 
 
 Fear finally began to creep in through the edges of my mind. 
 
 
 He leaned over me, one hand on the desk as I still sat on the marble floor. “ No, James. I believe you will make quite an excellent recruiter. Oh, the tender young souls a man with your influence can bring. ” 

