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    Phenomenal
    Phenomenal
    Phenomenal
    Ebook87 pages1 hour

    Phenomenal

    By Robert Appleton

    ()

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    About this ebook

    What if the last thing you imagined before you fell asleep sleep was waiting for you when you woke up? Just one condition: it has to be small enough to fit inside a glass fruit bowl. For down-on-his-luck salesman Nick Bergman, a heartfelt gift bought with his final ten pounds opens an astonishing magical route to fortune. His girlfriend Geri advises caution, but Nick fears the phenomenon might only be temporary. It's time to get creative. Physical riches soon give way to truly ambitious plans for the future when he realizes the awesome implications of limitless wealth. The world beckons.
    But how far can he go? How far would you go?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRobert Appleton
    Release dateMar 2, 2017
    ISBN9781370383832
    Phenomenal
    Author

    Robert Appleton

    Robert Appleton is a British science fiction and adventure author who specializes in tales of survival in far-flung locations. Many of his sci-fi books share the same universe as his popular Alien Safari series, though tend to feature standalone storylines. His rebellious characters range from an orphaned grifter on Mars to a lone woman gate-crashing the war in her biotech suit. His sci-fi readers regularly earn enough frequent flyer miles to qualify for a cross-galaxy voyage of their choosing. His publishers include Harlequin Carina Press, and he also ghost-writes novels in other genres. In his free time he hikes, plays soccer, and kayaks whenever he can. The night sky is his inspiration.He has won awards for both fiction and book cover design.

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      Book preview

      Phenomenal - Robert Appleton

      PHENOMENAL

      A Novella from The Little Shop of Wonders

      By Robert Appleton

      Copyright @ Robert Appleton 2016

      Smashwords Edition

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

      This book is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

      * * * *

      I loved the old Twilight Zone episodes and the best description I have for this book is that it is similar to those tales. If you are a fan of these kind of offbeat, unusual but intriguing stories then you will enjoy the Esther May Morrow tales. -- The Romance Studio

      Once you open the cover, you won't be able to turn pages fast enough to read through this exciting collection of short stories, all involving the mysterious Esther May Morrow. Mr. Appleton writes with such description and reality, you'll be swept into each chapter and experience the story along with the characters. If you learn anything from his creative genius, it's... be careful what you wish for. -- The Examiner

      This first collection in [Appleton]'s short story cycle pulls the reader in easily, incorporating the character of Esther as a background fixture with enormous impact. Each story is both unique and complete yet allows Esther to appear in subsequent tales with ease. This reviewer looks forward to reading more about this intriguing character. -- Bitten by Books

      Now available: The Little Shop of Wonders: The Complete Anthology...

      No matter how hard you try, no matter how far you look, you will never find this shop.

      It will find you.

      Dreams, desires, the most outlandish wishes: all are for sale at Esther May Morrow’s timeless antiques and sundries store, for the bargain price of...well, that would be telling. You’ll have to see for yourself. So come on in. Don’t be shy. Make her an offer. She never refuses anyone.

      There’s just one thing I should mention: each purchase comes with an absolute guarantee—no one who leaves her shop will be ever the same again.

      Features nine* irresistible tales of mystery, intrigue and the paranormal:

      CRETACEOUS

      GIN RUMMY

      LOT 62

      SPELLBOUND

      THE CONSCRIPTED MAN

      PHENOMENAL

      MISS OLIVIA

      HAPPY MEAL

      THE TEMPORAL MAN

      *Stories also available separately

      * * *

      Phenomenal

      Thirty-one. Nick pursed his lips as the elevator doors crept open.

      It was only the third time he'd visited CEO Rutherford's office. The first, for his interview two years ago, had been nerve-wracking. The second, when he'd received an official commendation for consistently high sales, remained one of his proudest memories. But Nick knew full well that whatever transpired today behind that darkly varnished oak door, this third visit would be his last.

      He muttered, Screw ’em all.

      He recalled the mannered precision of that first walk he'd taken along the top floor at Sulley & Vance, across a soft burgundy carpet, when he'd reinvented himself step by step before the interview of his life. Adjusting his tie, remembering to swallow—anything to distract from the imminent oblivion. How confident his grey slack-cut trousers had made him feel; how tall, upright he'd kept in the frame of his jacket. A whirligig of nerves inside a crumbling shell, how on earth had Nick Bergman held himself together? He still shuddered at the memory. Those last thirty seconds before his knuckles had met oak...

      Screw that. This is it. They're shitting bricks this time, not me.

      Nick loosened his tie and unfastened the top button of his shirt. Gravity itself—the bags under his eyes, a V-shaped frown and pale, sunken cheeks—weighed him down. A weary slouch had seeped into his ordinarily stiff gait. Were he not obliged to face CEO Rutherford in person, he would be on his way home right now.

      He knocked twice.

      A voice boomed inside, Come in.

      The room was gravely still. Opulent wooden cabinets book-ended the far wall. In the centre was a sturdy oak desk, four even sturdier men in dark suits, standing close enough together to whisper in each other’s ears, and one heck of a big window.

      Bergman, have a seat, said the deep voice—G.P. Rutherford.

      No thanks. I'd rather stand. Nick's heart thudded as he put his hands on the back of the empty chair. You asked to see me?

      The broad-shouldered CEO lightened his voice. It's come to my attention that you're unhappy with our managerial induction, that you threatened to take the matter outside the company. Before we go further, I'd like to hear your side of it, Bergman.

      You mean Willard hasn't—

      Mr. Willard has given me his full report, but I'd like to know what you have to say.

      OK, it's like this ... the very first thing he said to me was ... as soon as I'd put pen to paper ... that if I wanted to have any future at Sulley & Vance, I'd have to dismiss three members of my sales team by the end of my first quarter in charge. I asked him why. He told me he didn't care, so long as I did the firing personally. Now I ask you, is this common practice at the firm?

      The other three men stayed silent, their glares burning through him. Rutherford spoke up, No, that is not something we do here. Absolutely not.

      Two beeps from Nick's pocket indicated his mobile phone had just received a text message. He ignored it.

      Well, I know for a fact that it is. Nick stood upright, a fount of confidence pouring out his thoughts with mountain spring clarity. I've spoken to a few people here—who will remain anonymous—and they've each indicated a similar demand was made of them during their induction. It isn't just Willard, either; the scare tactics around here are concerted, they come right from the top ... from you, Rutherford. It might not be written down anywhere, but it's sure as shit company policy. Now, what have you got to say about that?

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