phone.
“Ash, he offered me to test his invention and told me he’d updated it and…”
Ashley took a deep breath.
“Peggy, why don’t you come to Gordon Biersch, we’re all here – you know, my band mates from The Jackal, my former music band? We would like to discuss that issue with you.”
Peggy hesitated.
“It’s late…”
“I demand that you come over here! We’ve all tested Harry’s discovery, and we want to tell you about our experiences.”
The line went dead. “Will she come?” Ashley wondered aloud.
“What’s up, darling? Who was it?” Chad asked her.
“Peggy, do you remember? The florist?” she replied testily. “Harry told her about his discovery and she wants to try it. I want you all to tell her our story – will you?”
They nodded as Ashley dialed Harry’s number.
“Harry? For Christ’s sake, what the hell made you tell Peggy about your discovery?” She paused while listening to his explanation. “You’ve upgraded it? And what does that mean?”
Excerpt from The Wishing Coin
Prologue
I sat back on my chair and closed my eyes. The words of the vendor were echoing in my mind. “Ma’am, I could sell you this coin but I won’t take responsibility for the consequences. Remember that what now looks like a gift might very soon turn into a curse.”
Several months before, while I had been walking down West 54th Street after work, I had seen a stranger selling wishing coins. It had been the first time I had seen such a thing. At first I had thought he was some mad person, and yet I had bought one of his coins. According to him, it was able to make all wishes come true, no matter what they were. I reached for my wallet and took it out. A small coin tarnished by the time – on one of its sides there was a depiction of a deity and on the other, some geometrical figures. Who could imagine, watching this miserable little thing, that it was so powerful it could fulfill all their wishes? Thanks to this coin I got my own show, made up with my ex, drove the despicable Jennifer away from New York and even transformed Lewis’s mother, which was as funny as it was incredible. However, my wishes had begun to cross the reasonable line. With limitless power came huge responsibilities. The street vendor’s warning was beginning to come true. I stared through my office window. I felt overcome by strange excitement. How could I possibly live with the thought of having changed Jackie or intentionally made three teenagers disappear? No, it was too much. I couldn’t even remember anymore why I had made these wishes in first place. I had to talk to the vendor.
I quickly went out of AEC’s office and aimed for West 54th Street. On the way I remembered how it had all begun.
Chapter 1
“Are you ready?”
I nodded at the cameraman and began:
“Good afternoon from Broadway 317; we’re at the headquarters of New Software Solutions, more commonly known as NSS. Today I am honored to be talking with its founder and CEO Mike Greenberg. Hello, Mike.”
“Hello, everyone.” Greenberg waved warmly at the video camera lens.
“A year ago you launched the free software app Synthesis and soon after followed its premium version. The companies using the application have already surpassed two million and even Microsoft has revealed its intention to buy its rights. Do you think you’re living the American Dream?”
Mike laughed.
“I don’t know what you mean by ‘the American Dream’ but I’d like to tell everyone who’s watching that I believe in hard work. If one has any goals and dreams, they must pursue them tirelessly, even if the whole world’s against them. That’s exactly what Damien, my partner and co-founder of NSS, and I’ve just been discussing. If anyone thinks Damien and I have had some privilege then they can’t be further from the truth. In the beginning we were just a couple of poor young students who relied solely on New York University’s
“Ash, he offered me to test his invention and told me he’d updated it and…”
Ashley took a deep breath.
“Peggy, why don’t you come to Gordon Biersch, we’re all here – you know, my band mates from The Jackal, my former music band? We would like to discuss that issue with you.”
Peggy hesitated.
“It’s late…”
“I demand that you come over here! We’ve all tested Harry’s discovery, and we want to tell you about our experiences.”
The line went dead. “Will she come?” Ashley wondered aloud.
“What’s up, darling? Who was it?” Chad asked her.
“Peggy, do you remember? The florist?” she replied testily. “Harry told her about his discovery and she wants to try it. I want you all to tell her our story – will you?”
They nodded as Ashley dialed Harry’s number.
“Harry? For Christ’s sake, what the hell made you tell Peggy about your discovery?” She paused while listening to his explanation. “You’ve upgraded it? And what does that mean?”
Excerpt from The Wishing Coin
Prologue
I sat back on my chair and closed my eyes. The words of the vendor were echoing in my mind. “Ma’am, I could sell you this coin but I won’t take responsibility for the consequences. Remember that what now looks like a gift might very soon turn into a curse.”
Several months before, while I had been walking down West 54th Street after work, I had seen a stranger selling wishing coins. It had been the first time I had seen such a thing. At first I had thought he was some mad person, and yet I had bought one of his coins. According to him, it was able to make all wishes come true, no matter what they were. I reached for my wallet and took it out. A small coin tarnished by the time – on one of its sides there was a depiction of a deity and on the other, some geometrical figures. Who could imagine, watching this miserable little thing, that it was so powerful it could fulfill all their wishes? Thanks to this coin I got my own show, made up with my ex, drove the despicable Jennifer away from New York and even transformed Lewis’s mother, which was as funny as it was incredible. However, my wishes had begun to cross the reasonable line. With limitless power came huge responsibilities. The street vendor’s warning was beginning to come true. I stared through my office window. I felt overcome by strange excitement. How could I possibly live with the thought of having changed Jackie or intentionally made three teenagers disappear? No, it was too much. I couldn’t even remember anymore why I had made these wishes in first place. I had to talk to the vendor.
I quickly went out of AEC’s office and aimed for West 54th Street. On the way I remembered how it had all begun.
Chapter 1
“Are you ready?”
I nodded at the cameraman and began:
“Good afternoon from Broadway 317; we’re at the headquarters of New Software Solutions, more commonly known as NSS. Today I am honored to be talking with its founder and CEO Mike Greenberg. Hello, Mike.”
“Hello, everyone.” Greenberg waved warmly at the video camera lens.
“A year ago you launched the free software app Synthesis and soon after followed its premium version. The companies using the application have already surpassed two million and even Microsoft has revealed its intention to buy its rights. Do you think you’re living the American Dream?”
Mike laughed.
“I don’t know what you mean by ‘the American Dream’ but I’d like to tell everyone who’s watching that I believe in hard work. If one has any goals and dreams, they must pursue them tirelessly, even if the whole world’s against them. That’s exactly what Damien, my partner and co-founder of NSS, and I’ve just been discussing. If anyone thinks Damien and I have had some privilege then they can’t be further from the truth. In the beginning we were just a couple of poor young students who relied solely on New York University’s
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