The Girl and the Genie by E. M. Lilly

within a genie’s makeup to cause the wishes they grant to backfire in spectacular ways. Or maybe it was only wishes involving greed or evil as Willoughby’s and Emperor Nero’s were, and she had no desire to wish for anything of that sort. At times when she looked at Jack, especially when he was smiling gently at Winston as he absently rubbed the dog’s belly or scratched him under an ear, she’d have to remind herself that he wasn’t human, but at the same time she was convinced that there was still a basic decency within him. That it wasn’t an act or an elaborate ploy to trick her into trusting him. But still, could she risk making another wish? As Jack had mentioned, genies had their own laws of nature that they operated under, and maybe one of them was to make their masters regret the wishes they asked for. Emily was convinced if she wished to be made wealthy as Willoughby must’ve done it would backfire on her similarly. But the wish she wanted to make was perhaps modest enough that she’d be able to get away with it, as her first wish had been.
    So that was her predicament. Could she trust Jack, or at least trust herself to make a wish that didn’t have any loopholes that could be exploited? The situation left her perplexed. All she knew for sure was that she needed to think more about the wish that she had in mind. And make sure that it was foolproof.

Chapter 8
     
    Three weeks later during one of their quiet evenings together Emily told the genie that she had another wish to make. As she described her wish in great detail, Jack’s expression shifted from bemused to puzzled. By the time she finished she was near breathless, her heart racing as if she’d just been chased by a pack of rabid wolves and had barely escaped with her life.
    “A very curious wish,” Jack said as he pondered what she had told him, all the while stroking his chin with the thumb and index finger of his left hand. Winston had been lying in his lap, and even he cocked his head and gave Emily a bewildered look. “I don’t quite understand why you’re requesting this.”
    “I believe what I’ve asked for is straightforward,” Emily said, jutting her chin out defensively. “As well as clear. What more do you need from me to grant it?”
    “Of course I’ll grant whatever wish you make,” Jack said, his eyes dimming as he continued to ponder the specifics of what Emily had detailed. “But I am in your service and feel compelled to offer suggestions where I can, especially with how you have already frittered away two wishes. While you may subtly benefit from having your bosses approve this book you’d like to see published and making you the editor in charge, the author will be in line to reap the greatest benefits, while you could see your career as an editor come to a screeching halt if this book flops.” His voice trailed off, then he added, “Why not simply change your wish so that you own this publishing company, and that you can publish any books that you wish?”
    “That’s not what I want.”
    “Hmm,” Jack mused, still deep in thought. He nodded to himself as he came to a decision and said, “Then how about including in your wish that this book becomes a bestseller? Why not specify how many copies it will sell? A million, five million, whatever you’d like. While you were very specific in requesting a good-sized marketing budget for the book, why leave things to chance as you’re doing?”
    “The reason is because I believe in this book,” Emily stated stubbornly. “I know it can succeed on its own if it’s marketed properly.”
    Jack made a bitter face at the prospect of that. “I’m simply a genie, not a seasoned publishing professional like yourself. But as you know I’m a voracious reader and I’ve read many of the so-called bestsellers that your publishing industry generates, and you should know better than anyone how much luck is involved. I don’t understand what the harm would be for me to