Dalton, Tymber - Love and Brimstone [Brimstone Vampires 1] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Tymber Dalton

huge desk and large windows.
    It was after seven when Taz drove home, still in a daze. The past couple of hours felt like a blur. Was she really working for Matthias Hawthorne? The new Targus laptop case filled her passenger seat. It really happened.
    She found two strange cars parked in her driveway, black Lincoln Town Cars. A man and a woman got out of one as she pulled in. At the same time, Anastazia’s new BlackBerry rang.
    “Hello?”
    “Ms. Proctor, it’s Albert Thompson. I meant to tell you, your corporate car will be delivered sometime this evening or tomorrow morning by ten at the latest. You’ll have to sign the papers there, but they should have a notary with them. You can use your corporate credit card for gas and any maintenance. I’ll have them for you on Monday. They’re being overnighted.”
    Wow! I guess when you have a large company you get priority service. “Uh, thank you. I think the car’s here already.”
    “Oh? Wonderful. I wasn’t sure they could get the order processed in time for tonight. I’ll let you go then.”
    “Thanks.” She hung up and got out of her car. The man smiled at her.
    “Ms. Proctor?” the salesman asked, introducing himself and the notary.

Chapter Six

    Twenty minutes later, Taz still stood in her driveway, staring at her new Lincoln, when Robertson pulled in.
    “What’s this?” he asked.
    It took her a moment to respond. She couldn’t take her eyes off it. “My new corporate car.”
    “You took the job?”
    She nodded.
    “Congratulations, Taz.” He hugged her and noticed she seemed dazed. “What’s wrong?”
    She shook her head. “Nothing, I guess. I’m just not used to such…”
    “Efficiency?”
    She nodded. “I mean—” She thought about it. Was she really complaining the paperwork seemed to need nothing more than signatures? That it was painless? That it was…
    Efficient?
    Spooky.
    “When do you start?”
    “Monday.”
    “Excellent.”
    She spent the weekend working, bringing her former assistant up to speed. She would have to spend several hours in her old office on Monday, and Bob Stanley told her not to worry about clearing it out yet.
    “If it doesn’t work out, I meant it when I said you can come back. I don’t want to kick you out. You’re too valuable.”
    “Thanks, Bob. I appreciate that.”
    “Although, considering the history I have with Hawthorne’s company, I can’t imagine you wouldn’t want to work for him. Wonderful family, great business. Never hear anything negative about him or his corporation.”

    * * * *

    She checked in with Albert Thompson on Monday morning. “I’ll be there in a few hours.”
    “Wonderful. No rush. Mr. Hawthorne understands you need to work through the transition.”
    She pulled into the parking garage at Hawthorne International just after lunch, and the gate opened immediately. She was going to turn in to the main parking area, but another gate arm lowered, blocking her access. The only way she could turn was to valet parking.
    An attendant opened her door when she pulled up. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to find out how to get to the main parking area.”
    The guy smiled. “No, Ms. Proctor, you’re in the right place. You’re assigned to valet.”
    “Really?”
    He nodded.
    “How did you know my name?”
    He pointed to the booth, where a green light blinked on a control screen next to the computer. “Your car has a sensor—all the top execs do. It tells us who it is and automatically directs you here so we can park you.”
    “Oh. Okay.”
    “When you’re ready to leave,”—he handed her a laminated card—“punch this code into your phone, and we’ll have it waiting.”
    She looked at it. “Okay. Thanks.” She gathered her things and, feeling like she’d dropped down Alice’s rabbit hole, headed for the elevator.
    “Your parking setup is rather efficient,” she commented to Thompson who, most likely notified by the valet, was waiting for her upstairs by the elevator