The Immortal Mark Read online

  Brook Falls Airport isn’t like the massive airports you see on TV. It’s privately owned and has only one runway. If not for the occasional small plane flying across the beach, I’d forget it even exists. I think super rich people use it to come and go, because no commercial airlines fly out here. They go to the massive airport in Houston.

  It’s Monday morning. The weekend seemed to take forever, what with working at the Surf n’ Shop and trying not to think of my magical-but-not-magical birthday with Theo. Riley hasn’t stopped talking about the stupid interview, and I haven’t been able to stop worrying about coming up with the money to move out if we don’t get the job.

  “I guess we need to take a taxi to the airport,” I say with a sigh. That means wasting some of our savings just for a small chance that we might get offered a job.

  “Don’t worry about that,” Riley says, bobby pins hanging from her mouth while she twists her hair into a bun. “I called Chase and he said he’d drive us out there.”

  Relief falls over me. I feel bad that Riley is most likely leading the poor guy on, but a free ride is a free ride.

  Riley and I get dressed in the best clothes we have for our interviews. For her, it’s a knee length gray pencil skirt and matching blazer top that she found at the Goodwill. It fits her perfectly and was pretty cheap. I’m wearing a pair of black dress pants, also from Goodwill, and a blue satin blouse that I got for Christmas two years ago from Uncle Will. My black ballet flats aren’t exactly business attire, but it’s all I have.

  I run the flat iron through my hair to take out all the frizz, and apply a little makeup so I look put together, like someone you’d want to hire and pay a ton of money. “Do I look nice, or slutty?” I ask after dusting some silver eyeshadow over my eyelids.

  “Not at all.” Riley cocks her head, studying me through the reflection in the mirror. “Maybe they want us to look slutty?”

  I narrow my eyes at her. “If that’s the case, then it’s totally a porn job and we’re not taking it!”

  She laughs and turns her attention back to her own makeup, where she draws a thinner more sophisticated line of black around her eyes. “You worry way too much.”

  When Chase’s Ford Escort arrives in front of Uncle Will’s house, I start getting nervous. Although I’m pretty sure we won’t be good enough for a job that pays this much, I still secretly hope we get it. We deserve a break, and maybe fate will be good to us for once. Maybe this will work out.

  Only now that I’m looking forward to the interview, I’m now equally terrified I’ll screw up.

  Riley sits in the backseat with me and we practice interviewing each other while Chase heads to the other side of town to the airport.

  “I think you’re both worrying too much,” Chase says, gazing at us from the rear view mirror. “Just be yourself and you’ll win them over.”

  “Hey, I’m doing this for Cara’s benefit,” Riley says, giving him a flirty grin. “She’s the nervous one, not me. I’ve got this in the bag. The job will be mine.”

  “That’s the attitude,” he says, nodding.

  Chase pulls into the airport. It’s even smaller than I thought it was from the few times I can recall driving past it as a kid. There’s one entrance, a black asphalt road, and one tall tower in front of the runway.

  “Good luck,” Chase says, pulling over into the tiny three-space parking lot to let us out. “Let me know how it goes, and call me if you need a ride back home.”

  “I will,” Riley says, smiling at him. “Thanks again for the ride.”

  We watch him drive away, and as his brake lights get smaller in the distance, I start to get a little more than nervous. “Um, where do we go?” I say, looking around at the deserted airport.

  There’s a hangar off to the left but it doesn’t look like anyone is there. There are no cars anywhere, and no sort of welcome building or anything. Just the runway, the tower, and a private jet parked in the distance.

  “There, I guess,” Riley says, pointing to the jet.

  I balk at her. “Are you kidding? That’s on the runway.”

  She shrugs. “So?”

  “We can’t walk up to it. What if it, like, takes off or something? We’ll get our heads chopped off.”

  Riley puts a hand on her hip, and gives me this exasperated look that’s intensified because she’s wearing her professional working-woman outfit. “Don’t be silly. The flier said to come here, and that’s the only place there is to possibly go. Look, there’s someone now.”

  In the distance, a man walks toward us from the plane. Now I notice the plane’s fold down stairs are out, and a red carpet runner extends from the bottom of the stairs and out from the runway.

  As the man approaches, the butterflies in my stomach calm down a little. It’s Kyle, the guy with the fliers at the group home. We’re definitely at the right place.

  “Glad you could make it,” he says, extending his hand to both of us. “You’re the first interviewees of the day.”

  “We’re so punctual we should be hired first,” Riley says, winking at him as we walk. If I had said something like that, it would have seemed stupid, but the way she did it was charming.

  “I’ll have to agree with you, Riley.” Kyle motions for us to go in front of him when we reach the red carpet. “Ladies first.”

  Riley excitedly rushes up the jet’s fold out stairs. I take my time, my heart beating with the hope and possibility of getting a new job.

  Having never been on a jet before, I’m not sure what to expect. Reality is more amazing than my imagination. White leather seats fill the cabin, each one large like a recliner, with its own little wall mounted television and food tray. I can’t pinpoint the sweet smell all around us, but I do know one thing: it smells like luxury.

  “Welcome,” a man says, startling me because I hadn’t seen him. He’s tall with square shoulders, dark skin and darker hair. He wears the kind of tailored suit that you’d expect to see on a man in a private jet. He rises from his seat toward the front of the plane. “We’re so glad to have you.” He smiles, revealing impeccably white teeth.

  “This is Riley and Cara,” Kyle says. “The girls I met at Good Grace.”

  The other guy nods. “Lovelier than you described, Kyle.”

  Riley dons this bashful smile and I’m not sure what expression I’m making. This whole thing seems weird. Two men on a private jet with no business logos or company information in sight. This kind of looks like the start to one of those Lifetime movies where the two girls end up chopped into pieces in some creep’s freezer.

  “I’m Henry,” the guy says. “Where are my manners? Kyle, can you pour our guests something to drink?”

  Kyle rushes off to fulfill his request. Henry turns a demure smile toward us. “My colleagues are on a lunch break, but since there’s two of you and two of us, we can split up to conduct the interviews.”

  “Sounds great,” Riley says, all beaming and peppy, like she doesn’t think anything is weird about this.

  But then again, maybe it’s not. Maybe I’m overreacting. If a company can pay such high salaries, who’s to say that conducting job interviews on a private jet is weird? Maybe that’s how things are done with important businesses.

  Kyle returns with two wine glasses filled high with a golden liquid that’s darker and thicker than any wine I’ve ever seen.

  “Thank you,” Riley says graciously, taking the glass and immediately taking a sip. She’s looking significantly more hire-able than I am, so I do the same thing.

  “Yes, thank you.” The golden liquid is sweet going down my throat, almost like it’s warming my whole body. I immediately take another sip. I don’t think it’s alcoholic, but I’ve never tasted anything like it. If it weren’t impolite, I would gulp the whole thing down in a heartbeat. With another sip, all of my nerves are washed away, leaving only a sense of peace and contentment.

  Kyle leads me to the opposite end of the jet and Riley goes with Henry for our interviews. K
yle, with his white blonde hair and lanky limbs, isn’t very intimidating as an interviewer. I’m relieved to have him instead of Henry, who seems more serious.

  I take another sip of this glorious drink and sit in one of the leather seats that face my interviewer.

  “Tell me about yourself,” Kyle begins.

  “Well… I just turned eighteen,” I say, remembering to sit straight and poised like Riley and I practiced. “I got decent grades in school, and um, I liked art class a lot. I wouldn’t say I’m very good at it, but I can appreciate the work it takes to make something with your own hands.”

  “Tell me about your home life,” Kyle says.

  “It’s about to be nonexistent.” His eyebrow quirks, so I tell him about my uncle and how he’s losing his house and I have to get out immediately.

  “That must be stressful,” he says.

  I nod, taking another sip of this golden, delicious drink. Maybe it’s just my imagination, but with each sip, I feel less nervous and more confident. “Riley and I were saving to get our own apartment, but we’re not going to survive long without a better job.” I grin and point my glass toward him. “That’s where you come in.”

  Kyle’s boyish features smile back at me. “Cara, let me ask you a hypothetical question. If you were to move away without telling anyone, who all would notice?”

  I snort. “No one.”

  He leans forward. “Give it some thought.”

  I bite my lip, embarrassed that my answer wasn’t good enough for him. “Well, I guess my current boss would wonder where I went, but our job always has people flaking out, so maybe they’d think I just bailed.” I blink. “I mean, not that I’m someone who would bail on a job—I’m not like that at all.” Kyle nods for me to continue. He seems to be looking for a specific answer. “Normally I’d say my uncle would notice, but now that he’s moving in with his girlfriend, he wouldn’t care. He knows I’m moving out and I doubt he’d keep in touch with me after I do.” My thoughts drift to my birthday and I take another sip of my drink. “It’s not like I have a boyfriend or anything, and Riley is my only friend. So no one cares if I stay or leave.”

  “Your life seems lonely,” he says, frowning.

  I lift my shoulders as I gaze at the intricate marble pattern on the walls. “Not really. I have Riley.”

  “Do you enjoy expensive things?”

  I pause, because I’m not sure how to answer a weird question like that. So I just tell him the truth. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never had expensive things.”

  “You’d have them with this job.”

  I brighten. “That sounds nice.”

  He nods. “It is nice. You’d have a very nice life if you took this job.”

  “Where can I sign up?” I say with a laugh. I’m trying to be funny but Kyle is studying me with an intensity that makes me wonder what he wants me to say to satisfy his piercing gaze.

  He leans back in his chair, interlocking his fingers together. “What are your goals in life?”

  “Honestly…I’ve never thought much about my future because it all seemed hopeless. But with a great job opportunity, I suppose I could do anything.”

  He seems to like my answer, judging by the subtle upturn of his lips. He leans forward, lifting his chin to see over the chairs. I look back, following his gaze to the other side of the plane where Henry is interviewing my best friend.

  Kyle and Henry exchange a look that’s full of meaning, only I’m in the dark as to what that meaning might be. Kyle stands up.

  “You seem like a great match so far,” he says, extending a hand to help me stand. “Henry will conduct the second part of the interview with you and Riley.”

  Relief floods through me. I’m moving on to step two, and so is Riley. Maybe this will work. Maybe she was right to be so optimistic after all.

  “I’ll refill your drink,” Kyle says, taking the empty wine glass from my hand. That’s odd. I don’t even remember drinking it all.

  Chapter 10

  Riley’s eyes are filled with excitement, but she’s hiding it well. I take a seat next to her and we exchange a knowing glance. We’ve made it to step two.

  Henry’s voice is deep and gravelly, like maybe he should have been born in a different era. “I’m delighted to say that the two of you have passed your interview with flying colors.”

  I sneak a glance at Riley and she beams at me, reaching over and squeezing my hand. Henry seems pleased as well. Kyle returns with my glass filled to the brim with the mysteriously amazing drink and I find myself taking a sip as if I can’t possibly do anything else until I feel the warmth of it going down my throat.

  Henry sits straight, even in the comfortable plane chairs. His cheekbones are prominent, which makes him look older than he is. I can’t imagine him being more than thirty-five or so. “Allow me to explain the details of this job. Should you both accept, you can sign your contracts and begin working tomorrow.”

  A little nervousness comes back to me. This is the most important part of the whole day—seeing if the job is something we’re actually capable of. What if it’s manual labor we’re not good at? Some skilled position requiring computers and software we don’t know?

  There’s a nudge on my shoulder, and I look up to see Kyle point at my glass. I nod and take another sip.

  The nervous feeling fades away.

  Henry clears his throat. “This job is more like an opportunity instead of a job. You will not have to wake up early and report to a cubicle every day. You won’t wear a uniform. You won’t have to worry about sick days or sleeping through an alarm because none of those things matter with this job. With this job, you simply live on our premises and do as you please, occasionally accompanying us to meetings or on travels. You will never be in want of anything, and all of your needs will be taken care of. Medical care included.”

  I lift an eyebrow, but Henry continues. “The exact nature of my business with my colleagues is confidential, as it is highly important in regards to international affairs. Your job, should you accept it, will be as an assistant of sorts. My boss prefers to travel with beautiful women in tow. They—you—” he says, nodding to both of us, “Make us look professional, well-rounded. It pleases our clients to see how well we take care of our assistants.”

  I’m not exactly sure I understand, but Henry leans forward, his eyes glistening conspiratorially. “Plus, it’s always lovely to have a beautiful woman in our midst. Wouldn’t you agree, Kyle?”

  My heart skips a beat. I look over at Riley, but she’s holding onto her wine glass with a serene look on her face.

  “Is this porn?” I blurt out.

  Henry and Kyle both look amused, but Henry is the first to speak. “My dear child, no. This is an opportunity.”

  “We won’t…” I swallow. “Be sex slaves or anything like that?”

  Henry’s eyes crinkle at the corners like I’m a toddler who just said something ignorant. Kyle snorts. “The only sex you’ll be having will be of your own accord.” He shrugs. “And probably not with any of us because we’re busy men who prefer to find real girlfriends and not resort to sleeping with the staff.”

  “Well put,” Henry says. Their answer makes me feel better, but still I’m confused.

  “So what exactly is the job description?”

  “It’s simple,” Riley says as if it’s totally obvious. “They want us as trophy employees to parade around their high-value clients.”

  “Precisely,” Henry says.

  “That sounds…” I gnaw on my bottom lip. “Too good to be true.”

  “I assure you it is not.” Henry brings his own glass to his lips, although his drink is pure whiskey, judging by the half empty bottle next to it. “You will be flown to our headquarters in Austin, Texas where you will be given a room and anything you need. You will live in luxury, in a life that is quite unlike the one you’ve grown accustomed to here in Sterling. There is only one catch,” he says, gazing at Riley. “While everything you need will
be provided by us, your salary will be paid in a lump sum at the end of your one year employment contract.”

  “As far as catches go, that one’s not bad,” Riley says.

  “Does that mean you’ll say yes?” Henry asks us.

  “Can I talk to Riley in private?” I ask, my voice sounding meeker than I’d hoped for.

  “Of course.” If he’s annoyed, he doesn’t show it.

  I stand and take Riley’s arm and walk down to the far end of the plane, ducking into the little hallway that leads to a bathroom.

  “So…” I say, whispering. “What’s the verdict?”

  “It’s definitely not porn,” she says, throwing me a wink. “I think it’s perfect.”

  “I do, too.” I gnaw on my lip, regretting how I stupidly left my wine glass in the cup holder back with Henry. Maybe it’s just my imagination, but every time I drink from it I feel better. “I mean, we don’t get paid for a year, but we get a free place to stay, so that’s not bad, right?”

  “It’s amazing.” Riley grabs my wrists and squeezes them. “He said we’ll live in luxury. Can you imagine?”

  “Honestly, I’m trying not to jump up and down like a dork,” I say, unable to hide my massive smile. “There’s nothing here for us. We have no future and we’ll probably never even find a full time job here, much less one that pays all of our expenses and then gives us money at the end of a year.”

  “So we’re doing it,” she says, her eyes sparkling. “You sure you won’t regret leaving Sterling for a year?”

  I shake my head. There is nothing for me here but a meager stash of money and some old furniture from my Uncle Will. I have no friends besides the one standing in front of me, and any home these guys can offer will be better than a crappy apartment.

  “You’re all I need,” I say. “Let’s do it.”

  “I’ll go tell them we accept!” Riley says. She turns and practically sprints down the narrow aisle toward the front of the plane, all of that grace and charisma she’d had from earlier now replaced with sheer joy.

  Shadows fill the cabin near the stairs, and three men walk up and into the plane. I hang back near the bathroom and wait for them to pass, wondering if these are all of my new coworkers. They’re all impeccably dressed, some more attractive than others. The hushed conversation of the two guys in front comes to a shop when they see me.