I sighed, running my hand through my messy dirty-blonde hair as I flipped through my sketchbook one more time. "Ughhhhh.." I groaned, slamming it shut. Desperately needing a distraction, I peeked into the flower shop next door. My mother loved the place, but I'd never been inside. I was always too busy with my own shop, training the employees, practicing, and of course drawing new designs. Not that I was doing so great with that last one currently, I thought, casting a disgusted look at the sketchbook beside me.

A surprised yelp startled me, and I glanced up sharply to see a teenage boy frantically trying to sweep up pottery shards from the vase he'd apparently dropped. I couldn't help but grin a little at the panic clear on his face, but then I sobered as I realized how terrified he must be. It brought back memories of my first few jobs, before I opened The Mark of Forever