Chapter Twenty-four

“When will Suna be available?”

Suna’s assistant tapped the screen of his tablet. “She has back-to-back sessions all day.”

“That won’t do. Thank you, anyway.” Noah opened the door to the auditorium. Suna stood on the stage, leading the crowded room through a vibrational training. Noah remembered his first time in one of these high-spirited sessions. It had taken him a while to become comfortable finding and following his own rhythm. His inclination when he moved his body to music was to perform a fancy jig to impress a crowd—like an eighteen-year-old on an episode of Soul Train—versus focusing inside and tapping into his internal rhythm. When he was finally able to overcome his need for recognition, his efforts paid off.

Even though the lights were dimmed, he was certain she would feel his presence. She was quite sensitive, able to detect the subtle shift of an insect’s wings. As expected, her eyes opened, and she met his gaze. He motioned toward the door. She nodded.

Noah looked at his watch and walked with purpose to the lobby where Angeline was waiting. She wore an aquamarine boatneck T-shirt and a freshly ironed pair of white linen pants. Her tanned ankles were accented by crisp white Keds.

“You look like a breath of fresh air,” Noah greeted her. “That color looks very nice on you.”

“It’s my lucky color.”

“Lucky color?” Noah raised an eyebrow.

“Every time I wear it, things seem to go smoothly. And I really want this job,” she confided.

“If I found a color that looked as nice on me, I would consider myself lucky, as well. It matches the color of your eyes, exactly.” He shook his head. “So strange.”

“What’s strange?”

“You really are the spitting image of Mago.”

“Your mother?”

“My mother,” he confirmed. “Aquamarine is significant to her, as well.”

“Huh,” she laughed nervously. “Aren’t we supposed to be meeting someone?” She looked around the lobby.

“Indeed,” he confirmed. “She will be along soon. In the meantime, why don’t I show you around?”

They walked the estate. Noah found that as he showed Angeline every detail of the property, he felt as if he were giving the grand tour to Mago herself. It was both comforting and confusing to be in her presence.

“And our tour concludes here.” Noah opened a plate-glass door to a fish-bowl office completely encased by windows. The Sedona wilderness was displayed on one side of the desk and the lobby of the resort on the other.

“Whoa,” Angeline breathed. “This is spectacular.” She walked around the office, touching all of the glass surfaces. “It looks like a crystal palace.”

Noah’s heart took a double beat. The Crystal Palace was the name of the sanctuary beneath Bell Rock where he had first met Mago. “What did you say?” He tried to control the tempo of his voice.

“I was just saying how beautiful this office is.” She turned toward him.

“I’m glad that you like it. This will be your station of command.”

“Mine?” she breathed.

“Yes,” he confirmed with a nod.

Angeline looked around the room, awed by this

revelation. “What position am I interviewing for again?”

“Initially, I wanted to hire you as an office assistant, but now that we have spent time together, I think that we can use you in a number of ways.”

“Like how?” She cocked her head.

“Before I get ahead of myself, please sit down.” He motioned to the chair behind the desk. She sat down and placed her hands on the glass tabletop in front of her.

“How does it feel?” Noah asked.

“Amazing.”

“Take it for a spin.”

“What?”

“Take it for a spin.” He whirled his finger around. “You won’t know if it’s truly yours until you have spun in it.”

“This is the strangest job interview I have ever

been on.”

“This won’t be like any job you have ever had,” he promised. “Spin.”

“If you insist.” She spun around in the chair with the zest of Wonder Woman. Her golden curls bounced.

“Well?” he asked.

“It’s mine,” she affirmed.

“I’m glad.” Noah sat in the chair opposite the glass top desk. “How did you end up here?”

“In Sedona?”

“At the BOS Resort.”

“It was recommended to me by an employee of a local gas station.” Angeline recounted the story of meeting Rooster during her final hike on Bell Rock, which then led to Allison and her lucky leprechaun, the three winning lottery tickets, and the personal check exchanged for the winning tickets—which had bounced.

“And those events led to you to the argument with my employee in reception?”

“It was a weird moment,” she explained. “I was distressed because my checking account had overdrafted. I mean, what kind of person buys you lottery tickets, acts like they are overjoyed when you win, and then steals your tickets under the guise of making your life more convenient?” Angeline blustered.

“It seems to me like she did you a favor.” Noah leaned back in his chair.

“Excuse me?” Angeline was beside herself.

“This woman helped you break down the limiting information in your brain.”

“I think what she really broke was my spirit.” Angeline’s voice dropped.

“Think about it. Had that situation unfolded any differently than it did, you would have gone back to Los Angeles. I never would have seen you making a ruckus in the lobby, we never would have met, and you wouldn’t have this job. Your inclination was to return home when you ran out of money. . . . Of all the possible outcomes, following that instinct would have limited your options down to one. Because she gave you the temporary illusion of resources, your options multiplied exponentially and put you into a situation that you would have never otherwise experienced.”

“Wow,” she said. “You aren’t afraid of the fancy words, are you?”

He laughed.

“I betcha you have a big fancy degree, don’t cha?”

she laughed.

“I have a few,” he admitted.

“It shows.” She sparkled.

Their conversation was interrupted when Suna entered the room. “Hello, I—” Suna’s easy smile was wiped from her lips when she saw Angeline’s face. Noah quickly stood.

“Suna, I’d like you to meet Angeline,” he interjected before Suna could say a word.

“Hi, I’m Angeline.” Angeline offered her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure is mine.” Suna recovered quickly. She shook Angeline’s hand and cast a questioning glace at Noah. Of course, he knew exactly what she was thinking. The same thing that he had thought. Mother Mago.

“Suna, please have a seat. We were just discussing a possible job opportunity here for Angeline. She’s new to Sedona and looking for employment.”

“All right.” Suna sat. “Tell me a little about yourself.”

“Well, I was an actress in California. I am twenty-six years old. I used to have a cat. And I’ve never really had a regular job. I have pretty much modeled and acted for the past eight years.”

“Previous office experience is valued, but there is a greater value we seek from our employees at the BOS Resort. We have a mission—do you know what it is?” Suna asked.

“Relaxation?” Angeline answered uncertainly.

“We offer programs that bring people back to a more natural state of being. We believe that when the world is filled with such people, it will naturally breed more peaceful situations. We cultivate a nurturing environment for both our staff and our guests.” Suna leaned forward.

“That’s awesome.” Angeline’s eyes sparkled.

“What do you think is the best solution for the plight of humanity?” Suna asked, attempting to gauge Angeline’s level of awareness.

“To be honest, I haven’t thought about it.” Angeline looked down. “I guess have been too preoccupied with my own problems.”

“That’s natural,” Suna assured her.

“It is?” Angeline looked up.

“The natural trajectory for the growth of a soul is to first sort out our own problems and get to know our true selves. Once those issues have been worked out, it creates space in the mind to focus on the health of our community. After that, your awareness will grow to encompass the whole world.”

Angeline didn’t seem to know how to respond. It was obviously a wider vantage point than she had ever contemplated.

“You know what she would be perfect for?” Suna clapped, as if something had just occurred to her. She turned to Noah.

“What’s that?” Noah asked with a smirk.

“The Vortex Tours.” Suna beamed.

“The Vortex Tours?” Angeline asked.

“Yes,” Suna breathed. “I’ll train you how to feel the energy from the vortexes in Sedona, and you can take others out and teach them how to feel the energy and meditate. Would you like that?”

“Oh yes, very much,” Angeline agreed.

Noah interjected, “And you can work with me in the office the rest of your time. We can split your time fifty/fifty. How does that sound?”

“Like my dream job,” Angeline sighed wistfully.

The three laughed. Angeline blushed.

“Well, I think that concludes our interview.” Noah rose from his seat. “When do you think that you can you start?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Perfect. Meet me in your office at eight.” Noah shook her hand.

“It was nice to meet you,” Suna offered.

“I’m excited to work with both of you.” Angeline was positively alight with inspiration.

“As are we.” Noah placed his hand on her shoulder as they escorted her out of the office.

They watched her golden curls bounce as she bopped through the lobby toward the guest rooms.

“What do you think?” Noah asked.

“I think it has begun,” Suna stated.

“My heart began to beat irregularly when I met her,” he confided.

“It will pass,” she assured him. “It won’t be long until the other two come.”

“Do you think she knows?” Noah asked her as he

motioned toward Angeline in the lobby.

“No.” She shook her head. “I don’t think that she has any idea. We must do everything that we can to support her until she remembers.”

“Of all the luck . . .” Noah whistled.

“It wasn’t luck, Hwanggung. It was destiny.”