में पोस्ट समकालीन

      The strangest, most bizarrely incapacitating pause stretches on as you stand before your new employer.   Christ on a bike…   He’s even more striking than you remember, the pictures Peyton showed you doing him no justice whatsoever.   Smooth, seemingly-airbrushed skin adorns his contrasting sharp features, meshing brilliantly with the hard, prominent lines of his nose and jaw. His eyes continue to pierce yours, their arresting, flame-like hue vibrant against the thick, inky mane pushed away from his face.   Richard Zane stands in silence, practically… अधिक पढ़ें

      Moments later, you hear the soft clicking of heels against the floor. You turn to see a figure approaching in the distance. A remarkably poised, petite woman comes to stand face-to-face with you, wearing the sharpest, full pantsuit you’ve ever seen. Her light, strawberry-blonde hair is tucked into a neat, sleek bun at her nape. Minimal makeup adorns her austere expression. She’s pretty, in a subdued, demure sort of way. Despite her high-end, expensive sense of style, she gives off a rather conservative vibe.   “Welcome to… अधिक पढ़ें

      A grey-blue tint graces the early-morning sky as you step outside, the unusually cool temperature mandating a jacket, which you’re now glad you brought.   A beautiful black Lincoln town car pulls up in front of the Core complex at seven-thirty on the dot, conservatively embellished with tinted glass and sterling silver rims. Edgar opens the back door for you, smiling beneath his greying mustache and you reluctantly step inside. The interior is extremely spacious and, as you feared, made of all leather that smells brand new…. अधिक पढ़ें

      A novel, unexpected sense of amazement takes over—quickly followed by a healthy dose of nervous apprehension. Your mood instantly switches and, suddenly, you’re marveling at all around you, your eyes darting left and right over the vast stretch of land that extends far beyond their line of vision.   Holy hell…   This. Compound. Is. Insane.   High-rise after high-rise after high-rise interspersed over a vast, enclosed terrain.   Talk about a gated community.   Only the gate feels like it’s a thousand miles away from the… अधिक पढ़ें

      You suck in a deep, mangled breath, willing your heart to calm itself, blinking rapidly at the screen and trying to steel your nerves as it continues to vibrate.   You answer on the third one. “Hello?” you blurt into the receiver, feigning absent strength in your voice.   “Hello,” a male voice responds on the other end—one that obviously does not belong to Richard Zane. “Is this Miss Constance Myers?”   A sense of disappointment instantly fills you, and you hate that it does; the tension… अधिक पढ़ें

      Your eyes dart up to the door, and then between Michaela and Peyton.   You arch your brow suspiciously, more so at the former. “You have more stuff planned?”   “Nuh uh,” she shakes her head as she takes another sip. “You expecting someone?”   You promptly set the highly-disconcerting paper aside, groaning as you struggle to your half-asleep feet. “Not even a little bit.”   Another knock follows.   “Just a sec!” you call out, worming your way to the door.   You swing it open…and… अधिक पढ़ें

      You trail down the hallway leading to your apartment, feeling simultaneously uneasy and relieved—the latter only a result of finally being in your own private space where you don’t have to deal with unwelcome surprises and talkative co-workers who won’t shut up about said surprises.   You fish for your keys like a sloth, your motions sluggish even though you’re not physically tired.   But mentally? Heh. All the way out of it.   You step inside, ready to do nothing other than collapse in your bed…and… अधिक पढ़ें

      You step inside your unit’s office—well, former unit as of this moment, you guess—feeling even more baffled about your sudden placement at this random company you’ve never even heard of. And being back at the place that you actually signed up—and want—to be in makes it all the more depressing.   You can’t even begin to accurately describe just how disappointed you are. And Covington’s little “extra credit” session after the meeting didn’t help one bit, nor offer any actual clarity on the matter. In fact, you… अधिक पढ़ें

      You take a deep, silent breath as you settle into the same chair you did earlier, clasping your hands in your lap as if you have to physically brace yourself for whatever’s coming.   It’s amazing how the same, exact action can feel poles apart under different circumstances.   And I thought I was nervous before…   “You look like you have something to say,” Covington commences, offering you his undivided attention.   As confused as you feel, there’s no reason to beat around the bush.  … अधिक पढ़ें