CHAPTER SIX
“In five hundred feet, turn left!” My phone’s GPS had me driving in circles for fifteen minutes. I looked at my clock. 5:56. I was going to be late for my appointment with Victoria. I clutched the steering wheel, hoping for a miracle.
I turned left and found myself on a small road. Up ahead, luxurious cars were parked in front of an impressive mansion. It soared high into the sky like a castle. I knew I was in one of the more affluent parts of California, but I certainly wasn’t expecting this. I rolled by the front gates. They had an old, almost medieval style to them with their gold-leafed tips. Peering at the estate, the lawn looked freshly-manicured and the shrubbery recently trimmed into intricate shapes. In front of the door was a large fountain in the form of a half-naked woman, pouring water into a well.
Dazed by the scenery, I didn’t pay attention to the road. When I looked up, I was dangerously close to a purple Porsche. I jerked away, nearly hitting a pair of beautiful red headed women in matching red dresses. The twins glared at me with identically hostile expressions.
I blushed crimson and continued to drive down the street, finally finding a parking space behind a Lexus. My beat-up little car didn’t belong on this street. Hell, even I didn’t belong. I looked down at my wrinkled dress and frowned. I hadn’t even had time to wash it…
Trying to gulp down my fears, I got out of the car, keeping my head low. The website instructed that anyone going in for an interview should arrive at the side entrance. I passed the gates as quickly as I could, trying not to bump into any more highbrow individuals. As I walked, I noticed how attractive all these people were. The men were all tall and majestic. I looked up and made eye contact with a dark-skinned individual who grinned at me. My cheeks felt like they were on fire. His smile was perfect. Slightly crooked, but sexy enough to get my thighs tingly.
I quickened my pace, eventually turning into a small road. The cobblestones were rough on my heels. For a second, I thought my thrift store shoes would fail me, but somehow, I managed to make it safe and sound.
Finally, with my heart beating faster than ever, I arrived at the door. There, a large bodyguard stood like a statue, his hands folded in front of him and dark sunglasses hiding his eyes.
“Hello?” I asked, timidly. The man didn’t even turn to look at me. I blinked, thinking maybe he was just some figment of my overactive imagination. He just continued to stand there, wearing his black suit, looking like someone out of a movie. It wasn’t until I stepped close that I realized how tall he really was. At least 6’7 if not taller. I felt minuscule standing next to him. “I’m… I’m here for a meeting with Victoria.”
Finally, he moved. He lowered his head to look at me and I felt a shiver run through my spine. “ID.”
I fumbled with my purse, looking for my license. I finally took it out, handing it to him. He lifted his sunglasses, carefully looking at the little piece of plastic. “Date of birth?”
“Uh…” For a moment, my mind went blank. He glanced at me, his expression blank, but I could tell he was getting irritated. “February 7th, 1991.”
He looked back at the card and offered me a smile. It looked peculiar on his otherwise stoic face. “Happy birthday.” He unclipped his badge from his suit and passed it through a card reader. The large metal door beeped before opening automatically. “Right this way…”
I followed him in, my body working on autopilot. We walked through a dark corridor. I strained my vision, trying to see ahead. I didn’t want to fall and make a fool of myself.
Finally, we stopped in front of a wooden door. The words Victoria Chambers were posted in big block letters. “Wait here.”
I nodded. He disappeared into the room, leaving me alone in the empty corridor. I felt vulnerable all by myself. I rubbed my arms, feeling goosebumps form over every inch of my body. Looking down the hall, the darkness made it seem as if it went on forever.
A few minutes later, the security guard returned, tipping his head in my direction. “Victoria is ready to see you now.” He walked away, his footsteps echoing against the walls until the darkness engulfed him.
I reached for the doorknob, feeling inexplicably nervous. I hadn’t even felt this nervous when I went to the MCATs. Then again, I had my mother’s support that day. Now, I was entirely alone. I took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The office was quite large, or at least it seemed that way. It was just as dark – if not darker – than the hall, making it impossible to really gauge how big it was.
In front of me was a huge mahogany desk. A woman sat behind it, her hands folded under her chin. I wanted to say she was looking at me, but she wore a large black hat that shielded most of her face. At the very least, she seemed to be smiling…
“Please… take a seat.” Her voice was a little husky like she was older. 40s maybe. I sat down, feeling nervous. This woman had a certain presence about her that I couldn’t quite understand. In the silence of the room, I couldn’t help but admire her perfect black hair that fell down her shoulders like a sheet of ebony. It nearly blended into the expensive black suit she wore. If I didn’t focus my vision, I was certain she would have melted into the gloom of her office.
“Uh… thank you for this opportunity…” I had to say something to break the silence. The smirk on Victoria’s face just deepened. I fidgeted, feeling anxious around the mysterious woman.