Take Me Read Free Page B

down her window with the lever then pressed the small black button on the box.
    A moment later a clear, male voice rang out. “Who’s calling?”
    “It’s Felicity Shaw, the event planner.”
    She waited for an answer but nothing came. Then a loud metal clang sounded and the black gates started swinging inward with a mechanical whirring.
    Felicity laughed nervously, her stomach fluttering. It was all so dramatic, she felt like she was driving to her doom.
    The great mansion stood at the top of the hill. If only the house was older and run down, it’d be the perfect house for children in the neighborhood to be afraid of come nightfall. But no one would ever say the Blackmoore house looked scary. It exuded luxury. From the fine, perfectly manicured lawn to the smooth blacktop that wound in an arch up the hill toward the house and circled back down the other side to exit.
    She drove slowly to take it all in. A breathtaking fountain stood in front of the driveway. Where Felicity had a cute fat gnome with a red pointy hat wearing a blue sweater as a lawn decoration, the Blackmoore’s had a million dollar fountain. It looked like it was made from some kind of beautiful white stone that had just a bit of sparkle in it. She imagined that with the sun shining it would look quite stunning. Not that she could ever see it in the daylight.
    From the fountain, two swans faced each other, wings folded back with elegant long necks outstretched to each other spurting water as if playing a silly game.
    The house itself was something to be seen because of its incredible size. More than eight windows covered the front of the house, four on either side of the front door and they were floor to ceiling windows. It made her wonder how they dealt with the sun during the daytime. These people could afford any expense necessary. They probably had a specially-made blinds or window tinting that kept sunlight out.
    Warmth grew in Felicity’s belly. She wished to find out. How she yearned to have something so nice, to have earned it with her own creative ideas and hard work. She could practically feel success within reach of her fingertips.
    Just as she neared the house with what looked like marble steps leading to it to the front door, an older man with dark skin and a shiny baldhead stepped out. She could sense his age—he was older than her seventy-five years—but he’d been turned, not born. He had to have been turned at an older age for natural wrinkles were formed around his eyes and at the corner of his lips. He was a good-looking man with a lot of character. He also moved fast.
    He swept open her door before she could shut her engine off.
    “Ms. Shaw, if you’ll follow me. Mr. Blackmoore is impatient to meet with you.”
    That flutter shot through her stomach again. Quickly, she snatched up her portfolio and stepped out of the car.
    “Of course.” She put on a big smile but it faltered. God, she wished she would stop being so nervous. Be strong, confident, and smart she ordered herself. You’ve done this a dozen times before.
    But not with a Blackmoore!
    Okay, so that was true, but it didn’t change the premise. This was still just another job interview.
    “I can do this,” she said to herself as she gazed up at the looming mansion.
    “I’m sure you can, Ms. Shaw. Now if you’ll follow me.”
    She was still blushing as she followed the man into the house. Just as she was about to ask what he was doing with her car, he let out a sharp whistle. A young man, looking hardly older than sixteen years seemingly hopped out of nowhere. He was in her car and pulling it away in a matter of seconds.
    “Who was that and where’s he taking my car?” She couldn’t quite keep the edge out of her voice. That was her only mode of transportation, if anything happened to it…
    “Ms. Shaw, I wouldn’t concern yourself. That is Yussef, the valet. I assure you he has seen much nicer cars and he did not steal those. Your car is well in