sides. Instead, I stood as straight as I could, ignoring the
goosebumps that were springing up over me. I felt every pair of eyes in the
room devour me, taking in each and every inch of my body.
*****
––––––––
I was having lunch at my desk on Monday, writing about the
latest platform sandals over a sandwich, when Nicholas’s assistant, Eve, popped
her head into my cubicle.
“Jessica, do you have a few moments?” She asked, cocking her
head to one side.
Eve was very striking. Her black hair was glossy and always
pulled back in a perfect chignon. Her makeup was flawless, with inky black
accentuating her cold, pale eyes. She was tall and thin, and her perfectly
tailored black clothes always looked just as good on her as they did on any of
the models on the pages of Haute.
But even though each part of her was perfect, the end result
was somehow a little bit unsettling. Sure, she was sleek, stylish and
beautiful. But she was also cold, closed off and unapproachable.
I couldn’t believe that she was in my cubicle. I didn’t even
think she knew my name. We’d never had any interactions before, and I couldn’t
imagine why she’d want to speak with me.
My heart started beating quickly. Had I done something
wrong? Was I about to be fired?
“Um, sure Eve.” I set my sandwich down and closed the window
on my computer. “What’s up?”
She leaned against my desk, and the casual pose couldn’t
have looked more unnatural on her. She ran a perfectly manicured fingernail
across the surface. “Well, Nicholas needs someone for a special project this
weekend. He’s given me the task of feeling out the interns, to see if I can’t
find someone appropriate.”
“Special project?” I asked. That was not what I expected.
But if there was a special project, I wanted it. I was definitely ready to move
on from writing copy. “I’d love to do it, whatever it is! I am so ready to take
on more responsibility.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. This isn’t a project for
Haute, strictly speaking. Although I can say that doing it will almost
certainly lead to career advancement of some sort or another.”
“Oh,” That was vague. But still, whatever this was, it would
surely get me noticed by Nicholas, which could only be a good thing. “Well,
what is it, then? I’m sure I’d still-”
Eve held up a hand to interrupt me. “Why don’t we let me ask
the questions here. Do you live alone?”
“Um, I have a roommate. But she travels for work, so she’s
barely ever home.” I said, and Eve nodded.
“Do you have a boyfriend? Or girlfriend, maybe?”
“What?” I asked, surprised by the personal questions. “It
would be boyfriend, but no. I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Have you had them previously?” She asked.
“Boyfriends? Yes, but I don’t see why you need to know
that.”
“Of course you don’t. Were any of them serious?” She
continued, her face an unreadable mask.
“Not really, no.” I shook my head.
“Are you a virgin?” Eve asked, her pale, icy eyes studying
me.
“What?” I asked, incredulous. “That’s absolutely none of
your business!”
Her face remained smooth and passive. “Can I take that as a
yes?” She asked, and gave a small, humorless smile when I shifted uncomfortably
in my chair. She nodded to herself.
“Look, I don’t know what this is all about, but-” I began,
but Eve held up her perfectly manicured hand to interrupt me again.
“Don’t worry yourself about the details just yet. I have the
information I need from you. If Nicholas thinks that you’re the right one,
you’ll learn more.” She said, and turned on her black patent leather stiletto
heel.
I watched her as she went, moving gracefully down the row of
cubicles towards Nicholas’s office.
What the fuck was that? I wondered to myself.
*****
––––––––
“A ncient One,” the leader’s voice boomed. His arms were
raised as he spoke. “To show that our sacrifice is
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