lituplikeaghost | At The Cove offices. {For Dani}

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At The Cove offices. {For Dani}

June is dressed to kill; a black, short-sleeved blouse with pencil skirt the color of blood that hitches well above her knees and a pair of silver Jimmy Choo heels sharp enough to double as weapons if she so chose. Her hair is pulled back into a ponytail, highlighting the old, pearl necklace of her mother's that she wears around her neck and the diamond earrings she wears. June Thornton is not fucking around, and as she saunters through the offices of the Cove, she wants everyone there to know it.

"I'd like to speak with Dani Bradshaw, please," June requests of the secretary, a blonde woman now trembling from both the look in June's eyes and the ice in her voice. She drops the latest edition of the Cove on the desk before the woman. "It's something of an urgent, personal matter."

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Dani shrugs, honestly not even scared of Papa Thornton. "Neal Douglas is our lawyer. He'll welcome the challenge if your father so chooses."

"A formal contract for legalities, yes," she says as she opens a drawer in her desk and pulls out a four-page contract and passes it across the desk. It's a typical contract written up for magazines in general. Nothing special. What is special is the magical contract that needs to happen.

"The magical bind works both ways, you know." Dani gets up from her desk, tugging a long gold-chained necklace from under her blouse. At the end is a key which she uses to unlock a cabinet nearby. "The paper contract covers the legalities of the magazine. You're welcome to take it with you to look over or have someone else read if you'd like. Just a tip," she glances back to give June a serious look. "Always read the fine print. Even when your heart is in the right place."

Opening the cabinet door, she digs in a drawer for supplies. "The binding is a magical contract of sorts. As I said, it works both ways. You are not allowed to reveal the stories and neither am I. I'm magically bound to keep my trap shut on the contents of the contract. But if your brothers aren't careful, I can't guarantee the Daily Siren or someone else won't reveal their secrets." Finding what she wants, she pulls a thick piece of parchment from the cabinet, handing it to June to look over.

"I know you're not too familiar with magic, given your father's stance on it. Here's how this works: this is a blank parchment. It's been soaked and aged in old magic. I say a spell, and whatever we discuss as our terms writes itself onto this page. Once we're both in agreement, we sign it with our blood. Archaic, I know, but magic likes it that way. As long as this parchment with our marks on it is around, we're bound to its contents. I can always destroy it if you change your mind. It's annoying, but it can be done. I just want you to know exactly what you're agreeing to before you make a decision."

She watches June for a moment before continuing. "If you do go through with this and provide me stories? Depending on the scoop, I can offer royalties. Not much, but maybe money of your own will help you out in your studies, hm?"

At the mention of Neal working as The Cove's lawyer, June has to laugh, shaking her head. "That's good to know," she says. "Neal's a family friend and he's always giving my father grief. I'm sure he'd enjoy the challenge, too."

"Alright, I can sign those," she says, glancing through the pages as she reaches for the pen she always keeps in the pocket of her purse. She purses her lips as she reads through the various regulations, knowing this kind of jargon is the sort she needs to memorize for her own college degree. "That's what I'm doing now," she looks up at the other woman's warning.

"Understood," June says, watching Dani with her key as she searches for supplies. "I'll do my best to let them know that."

She takes the parchment, an old, weathered looking thing that surprises her with how heavy it weighs in her hands. June glances it over, wondering if, in fact, it is an artifact from this century.

"Also understood," she tells her, not even flinching when she mentions the signing in blood aspect of it. "I'm ready to sign it whenever you are. I know more about magic than my father thinks." Her father might shun the existence of spells and charms, but June is fascinated by witches and their magic.

She perks up at the mention of royalties. "That would be wonderful, I have to admit."

Once June agrees to everything, Dani sets to work in the cabinet. There's three different vials, locked away in a drawer, that she pulls out. Green, yellow, and a thick, murky blue. She pulls a bowl from the cabinet and sets it on her desk, carefully pouring a small amount of each vial into the bowl which she then waves her hand over, the liquids mixing according to her will. Dani takes the thick parchment paper and dips it into the mixture. The paper comes out of the liquid completely bone dry, and she closes her eyes, muttering an old enchantment into the paper. Once the spell is complete, she lays the parchment out on the desk again, taking a seat.

"The contract is ready. Just say your terms, and it'll draw everything up." She gestures toward the paper and speaks in an even tone. "This contract is to bind one June Grace Thornton and Danielle Rosemary Bradshaw on the following agreed upon terms." The very words she speaks begin to appear across the page in an old rusted colour. Dani looks back at June. "Just speak what you want from this deal."

June watches as Dani takes out the various vials, fascinated by the entire process. She doesn't bother disguising her curiosity as the woman mixes the concoction with a wave of her hand. She makes it all appear so simple; yet, from the enchantment she reads, June gets the sense that the spell is older and more complex than appearances would suggest.

June takes a deep breath, knowing that this will have consequences, both for the better, she hopes, and the worst. Her eyes widen as Dani's words appear on the scroll, before she concentrates on what she's trying to say. "I June Thornton hereby declare the terms of this contract: in exchange for willingly selling The Cove stories focused on my life and giving access to The Cove to exclusive insights into my life, The Cove and Dani Bradshaw, to the best of their abilities, will keep the focus of their gossip on me, June Thornton, as opposed to any of my three brothers. I understand that this contract is binding, and can only be broken between myself and Dani."

She pauses, hoping that covers everything, but still not entirely sure. "Should I add anything else?"

Dani raises an eyebrow, slightly impressed with June's poise and clarity as she speaks her terms to the scroll. Most people bumble through the process and make a mess of it. Dani usually has to pre-write something for them to speak in their own words. But June is true to her name and already has a grasp on legalities.

"Sounds about right. Clear and to the point." She turns her gaze back to the parchment. "I, Dani Bradshaw, agree to these terms and will not break this contract unless requested by June Thornton herself." The words appear on the paper followed by lines for both parties to sign. Dani removes a small jewelry box out of a drawer. She opens the box and pulls a fine-tipped needle topped with an old pearl from it. Pricking her index finger, she signs her name onto the magical contract.

"Your turn." She holds the needle out for June.

June only really hesitates at the sight of the needle; she's never really liked blood, so to speak. But she has no doubts about her own convictions, so she takes a deep breath, before taking the needle and pricking herself, wincing at the feeling against her skin before signing in her name in blood on the document.

"Okay," she says after a moment of silence. "Anything else?"

Dani gives a slight nod of the head, taking the roll from across the desk. "That'll do it. Simple, yes?" She tucks the document behind a normal, blank legal size page and utters a few words as she waves a hand over the contract. The ink from the contract appears to bleed through to the blank page, becoming a perfect copy of their deal. Dani folds up the normal-looking paper and tucks it into an envelope, passing it over to June.

"Your copy, of course. It's been a pleasure doing business with you, Miss Thornton."

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At The Cove offices. {For Dani}

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