Page 151 of Stolen Fate

“Have a seat,” the woman who had yelled at me moments ago instructed, and Katie and I took a seat in the remaining two chairs.

We watched as the woman stood up and walked in the front of the room. There was some nervous shifting at the other end of the room from where I was, and though I didn’t look in that direction, I could tell most of the women here were just as nervous as me.

The woman looked at us and smiled, and it wasn’t warm in any way. She may as well have been a scientist observing her chimps for effects of a new drug being tested.

I resisted the urge to fidget in my seat.

The woman wasn’t tall by any means, but she looked intimidating as hell, with short blonde hair cut into a bob, sharp clear gray eyes, high cheekbones, plump full lips, and a curvy stature, she stood with the confidence of a woman who was used to getting what she wanted.

She also looked like a woman who knew what she wanted and had no qualms about any methods used to get it.

I almost envied her, if her coldness didn’t affect me so much.

“Hello. My name is Marie, and I will be conducting interviews with each of you today. This might take a while, so I ask that everyone remain in the room as the interviews are taking place. Food and drinks will be provided throughout the day, and I will have made my decision by the end of the day. One of you will be picked, and we’ll continue on with the next step of the process.”

Katie and I shared a frown. She made it sound like we were there for a job interview. A job that paid 150K. A job that no one had a description for.

She clapped her hands loudly, and I jumped slightly from the noise. Katie moved her hand down to mine and held it. I squeezed her hand in thanks.

“Let’s begin, shall we? I will start down the row,” Marie said, pointing at the seat furthest from me. Since Katie and I were the last to show up and I took the last seat, I would be going last. I wondered if my chance of getting picked would be affected by my position in the interview.

I needed this so fucking bad.

Marie took in each of us silently, and when her gaze connected with mine, I didn’t look away, even though I wanted to. I met her eyes head on, and I could have sworn they lingered on me a bit longer than necessary.

She looked away first.

Pointing at the girl sitting in the first chair, she motioned with her head for her to come forward.

The interviews had taken over two hours. And like Marie said, food and drinks were provided for us—and not just regular food and drinks, but expensive ones.

I was slowly sipping on a glass of red wine, with a small plate that held three mini–beef Wellington bites when Katie came out, her expression serious and solemn. I placed my food and wine down and stood up.

“How was it?” I asked.

“Weird and intrusive.”

I frowned at that. “Really?”

“Yeah. You should go in. I don’t know the bitch very well, but she doesn’t look like someone with a lot of patience.”

I raised my eyebrow in surprise. Though Katie wasn’t mild mannered in any way, I didn’t think she would just call someone a bitch casually.

I wondered what Marie did to warrant that from Katie.

I nodded and wiped my sweaty hand on my jeans and walked on shaky legs to the room. I knocked and opened the door, and Marie gestured to the lone steel folding chair in front of her huge, brown wooden desk.

She was sitting on a black leather office chair, with the height adjusted to the top. It was obviously a power play, because I had to tilt my head up a bit to look at her once I sat down. I was half tempted to stay standing.

“At least you’re better than the other one. She wouldn’t even sit down.”

I bit my lip to keep in a smile. No wonder the chair was cool to sit on. Katie wasn’t really one to bow down to anyone, no matter what. That was one of the many reasons she walked out on her family and her trust.

I looked at Marie, and she shuffled some of the stacks of paper she had in front of her before looking up at me.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I will be recording the interview.”

I shook my head. “I don’t mind.” Somehow, I doubted even if I did mind that she would turn it off.

---