The bell on the front door of the shop jingled. From the looks of it a customer had ventured in. According to the shop owner's grandson, no one had bought an antique all that week. Sophie was very thankful that they would let her pay for the broken clock that had shattered by being the shop's maid. What she didn't like about the job was that the grandson, Damien Jackson or as she had liked to think of him, the fiery auburn haired boy, had decided what her uniform was to be. What he chose was a chimney sweeps outfit like dress. He made her wear a pair of goggles that people wear when inventing something, but what did she need with those, and why did he even have them? He made her wear large brown working boots and a steam maiden apron, one they used on steamships. Again, she had wondered, what was the use in that outfit when she was only cleaning for them?

"Hello?" Said a male voice coming from a corner of inside the shop. Sophie had been in the back storage room being out of the way of the antiques so she wouldn't break another one. An oddly tall man walked out from the corner. The man wore a top hat, a pair of shiny boots that one would wear while on a horse, a spectacle, a stripped pair of black and white pants, and a sort of white shirt.

"Oh," The man said looking around, and he had looked surprised Sophie was there.

"Have you seen Mr. Jackson around?"

"Which Mr. Jackson? Damien, or His grandfather?"

"Why Damien of course, don't be silly."

"How would it be silly for me to think you meant his grandfather?"

"Well of course, don't you know? His grandfather doesn't accept visitors anymore."

"Well that's quite odd, I met him yesterday and he seemed perfectly fine and capable to me." Sophie assured.

"You must be lucky if elder Jackson saw you."

"Oh no, I'm not. I just broke one of his antiques and Damien needed to see what the proper payment would be. And his grandfather had wanted to see me."

"Well maybe it's because you're a fairly appealing young lady and elder Jackson wants his grandson to be happy."

That had made Sophie blush. What would Damien want with her? They had nothing in common and she was cumbersome. Besides, he and his greasy auburn hair weren't even her type.

"Oh, hello Mr. Rouse." Damien came out from the basement with soot on his cheeks and nose. He tipped his hat to Mr. Rouse. Mr. Rouse took out a hanky and let him wipe his face with it.

"I see you're doing well Damien." Mr. Rouse smiled wide with all teeth showing, all 15 of them, including the silver and rotting ones.

"I'm doing just as well as i've been doing. Anyhow, would you like to talk in another room away from the young lady?" Damien smirked, and led Mr. Rouse into the storage room.

Sophie was not quite sure what had been going on in that moment. But, Mr. Rouse was the big banker who had been loaning money to the antique store and whatever else that was going on inside of it, and he had showed up to take any available money from Damien and his grandfather.

"How in the hell am I to even make any of my inventions work without the money to fund my experiments?! This is to help everyone in this town, especially me and you."

"I'm sorry my boy, but the bank is very tight on money and this has been quite a gamble. I'm not even certain you have made a single invention since I started loaning you the money. Now, you may even have to sell your grandfather's shop and all of the antiques inside of it."

"Hold on a minute. You took the gamble too. I have most of this machine ready to launch. Why not loan me more and actually profit from this gamble?" Damien smiled at the middle aged man with an air of truth about him.

"I shall give you a month to finish it." Mr. Rouse tipped his hat and walked right out the storage room door, past Sophie, who was sweeping and right out the door.

Sophie had heard bits and pieces, but she was curious as to what Damien had been trying to invent and how he was ever going to finish it in time.