The Devil's Gate

by Rue Volley

“The what?”

  She smiled at the paper as she tapped the end of the pen on it.

  “The checklist, let’s see,” she bit the end of the pen and then the ideas came. “Okay. Have you seen him in the sun?” I paused; I wasn’t sure that I had. I had seen him in the day, but it was overcast. “Um—cloudy?” she jotted it down as I eyed the paper. “Mmm.”

  “Mmm, what?” I asked, and she looked up at me.

  “Well, you said you haven’t seen him eat anything, have you?”

  I blushed, but I couldn’t say me. “No, he drinks.”

  She jotted it down. “Okay, so have you seen his reflection in a mirror?”

  My face started to heat up. I had seen him as his face rested between my legs on the yacht, but I couldn’t say that either. “Glass, I think.”

  She eyed me and shook her head. “This isn’t looking good for Jack.” I laughed at her.

  “So, does he stare longingly at you, like ‘I’m so hungry, but you’re so hot. I just can’t kill you’.”

  I stood up and tried to control my laughter as I got another cup of coffee. I turned back as it filled the cup for me. “Maybe.”

  She sighed as she wrote on the notepad. “Okay, well, we already know that he looks ridiculously good, like perfect, which is just creepy.”

  I turned back to her and sat down with a fresh cup of coffee in my hands. “Creepy? He is beautiful.”

  She pointed at me with the pen. “See?! Using words like ‘beautiful’ to describe a man is a definite sign of vampirism.”

  I bit my lip and stared at her in amusement. “You have to stop.”

  “Does he sparkle, like—ever?”

  “No, I like sparkling vampires.” She laughed. “Yeah—me too.”

  “Okay—does he have any coffins in that big scary castle of his?”

  I smiled. “No coffins that I know of—and it’s a mansion, not a castle.”

  “Does his whole family look like they are all the same age?”

  I paused. “His mom looks young, and his brother, they all look young, hers is probably Botox.”

  Avery tapped the pen on her cheek and nodded. “Probably right.”

  “Does he talk like he is from another time?”

  I smiled at her. “Yes, like when he talks to me in the morning as opposed to night.”

  She narrowed her eyes at me. “I am trying to save your life here.”

  I looked at her notepad, “I see that.”

  “Does he slip into an accent?”

  I laughed. “Like Dracula? No, he doesn’t.” I took a drink and swallowed it as I let her go on. She tapped the pad on the table.

  “Well, you only have a few things to disprove here and then I think we will be safe.”

  I stood up and held my hand out to her. She handed me the notepad, and I laughed as I read some of the extra things on it like ‘bites hard’ and ‘remains hard for hours.’ I blushed as I looked up at her. “Dirty.” She nodded to me. “Vampires are dirty, I love it.”

  I set it down on the counter. “Like I said, he isn’t a vampire and you need to stop reading those novels.” She laughed at me as she stood up and grabbed the notepad. She stared at it and grinned.

  “They are so good in bed—damn, Abi.”

  I looked down and then back up to her. She tilted her head at me. “Not even close yet?” I shook my head no.

  “Why?” she asked as I walked out of the kitchen and she followed me. I stopped to find my purse and didn’t see it anywhere. “It just hasn’t happened yet.”

  She eyed me as I scanned the room. “Have you seen my purse?”

  “Yeah, hold on, hun.” She left the room and came back with it, she handed it to me as I eyed it and then her.

  “What?”

  She sighed again as she crossed her arms over her chest. “I know you’re nervous, I was.”

  I touched my chest and looked down at the floor. To be honest, the only time I was nervous was when I wasn’t with him. When Jack had me caught in his gaze, I would do anything that he asked of me. Anything at all. I knew it as well as I knew that I loved Avery for caring about me.

  “I just—it’s painful the first time.”

  I rubbed my neck and looked down again. “I know that, Avery.”

  “Okay, I’m sorry. I’ve just never been around someone who hasn’t done it. It’s…”

  “What? Awkward? I know, Avery. I know how completely backward I must seem to you.”

  She stepped up to me and touched my arm. “No, not at all. I find it refreshing and so cool that you saved it. Hell, Abi. To be completely honest with you, I wish that I had. My first time was at a drive in, and although that may seem all cool and shit, it wasn’t. He was heavy and appalling at it and I was like, ‘is it in yet?’Which didn’t really go over that well. So he shoved it in, and I remember looking up at the ceiling of that car as he humped on me like some horny dog, and I thought—wow, this fucking sucks.”

  I shook my head and she stared back into my eyes. “So this—whatever this thing is that you have going on with Vlad-”

  I interrupted her, “Jack.”

  She grinned, “Fine, with Jack—I hope it’s magic for you because you deserve it.”

  I took a deep breath and hugged her hard. It meant a lot to me to hear the words and know that she meant them. I leaned back as she slipped the vampire checklist in my purse and I didn’t notice it. She smiled again; a little glossy-eyed.

  “I love you, Avery.”

  “I love you too, Abi.”

  She kissed me on the cheek and I stepped back so she could see me. “So?”

  “You got this, not just the job, but the man too.” She winked at me as I fidgeted with my hands for a split second. I hoped that she was right, on both accounts.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  NEGOTIATION

  I sat in the cab and took a deep breath. I wanted this job—badly. Not so much for the obvious financial reasons, but as a sort of validation for the last four years of my life.

  I had worked hard, so much so that the only things I took from college were my credentials and Avery’s friendship. I had skipped the parties, interest in anyone; late nights partying—all of it. To be honest, I wasn’t even interested.

  I came from a modest middle-class family in the Midwest. My school was not progressive, but not the worst, by any means. I guess I could be grateful for that. The only thing I appreciated about it was the addition of college prep classes when I entered high school. That gave me hope that I would be able to gain some traction and get into college.

  I wasn’t one of those people who dreamed of the big city and escaping my hometown. I didn’t hate New Weston. It was small, yes, but it provided just enough entertainment for me to not lose my mind. The people were tight-knit, news spread like wildfire, but no one stole from anyone else. No one bullied or beat you down. It was just a collection of people enjoying small town life and their families.

  When I entered high school, I was awkward. In fact, my first day was met with a terrible thunderstorm that soaked us as we ran into the building. I hit the slick floor and fell, sliding all the way across it and making my entrance, one that would never be forgotten. That was when I met Sam. As students giggled and offered no help, Sam reached down and I took his hand. He helped me up, and I grinned at him. It was a nervous one, and I can’t tell you that it had anything to do with him at all. It was nerves of being in high school and so gracefully making my entrance into it. It couldn’t have been a bigger disaster for me that day, but he made it better. Just with his one simple act of kindness. One I had never forgotten.

  He stood there just about as nerdy as you could be. Thick, black rimmed glasses, braces, a bit of acne, all of the tell-tale signs of someone who was super smart, but not social. I said thank you; it was barely audible, and he smiled. It was a genuine smile, so I asked him where the auditorium was because we were all gathering there for the official introduction to high school by the principal and primary staff.


  He stuttered, spitting on me, and I blinked as he pushed his glasses up and started to blush. I couldn’t let him feel bad. He had braces, like he could help it. Obviously he couldn’t.

  “That way,” he said as he pointed behind me. I turned to see students filing into two large doors. I turned back to say thank you—again, but he was gone. It would be one of maybe five short, awkward conversations that I would have with Sam while we were in school. Minus his sudden desperate lunge at me to go to our senior prom. In fact, I never even learned his name until later on in the year.

  I opened the cab door, shedding my memories of high school and stood up. I tilted on the heel of my right foot, but caught myself. I am not going to hit the pavement this time, nor am I going to walk in and slide across the floor until I land at someone’s feet. I chanted it a couple of times in my head and then heard the cabby. I reached back and gave him the money and then adjusted my jacket as he sped off.

  I touched the side of my hair, making sure that nothing had slipped out that I would have to fix on the way. Nope—Avery had rocked it as usual. I seriously love that girl. She makes it easier for me to appear as if I have it together, when I obviously don’t.

  I walked toward the large, revolving glass doors and tried to control my breathing. I wasn’t about to repeat the disastrous episode that I had experienced at Sam’s building. I couldn’t even imagine how stupid I would sound in an interview with a concussion. I am sure that passing out would ensure that I would never get a call back from them.

  I stopped and stared at them, no one was coming from the other side, so I hurried and made it out the other side without knocking myself silly. Whew! We seem to be off to a great start.

  I looked up and smiled as I studied the beautiful architecture in the building. From the outside, it seemed as normal as any other, but the inside was a criss-cross webbing of stairs and escalators that rose up before and above me. Some famous French architect had designed it and I still remember looking at the pictures in the business magazine. It was stunning and I could see myself settling in here for a very long time. Finding refuge in the marketing bull pits and securing a nice corner office with a view.

  I know I may seem reserved, but I have a genuine passion for promotion and marketing. I get excited when I see a commercial branding a product or a person. To me, it is what defines success and the closest I wanted to it was behind the scenes. Besides, that is where the magic occurs anyway.

  I headed across the marble floor as I took in the sights and thought about this place and how many times I dreamed of working here. I had studied my butt off for this one moment in time.

  Lincoln Ford owned the Ford building. Yes, of the political Fords. He was a very charismatic man who had built this empire one brick at a time. From what I read, he had refused the money from his family and did everything himself. He went to school, paid the loans for the business, all of it. He was the real deal, and I could only hope to be half as successful at this someday. That was the goal, anyway. He had integrity and I admired that. Without it, what success could you ever truly find in this life?

  He also had a reputation for, well—he likes to date, a lot. There had never been a shortage of gossip surrounding him, but none of that concerned me. What did concern me was getting this interview on and nailing it. I really wanted to work here and had for as long as I could remember.

  I peered toward the large, black, U-shaped desk and continued to walk toward it. I stepped up and parted my lips only to be met with a friendly smile and a handshake. The girl who stood before me was the complete opposite of that of the girl who worked with Sam. There was no cold calculation or strange stares. She looked me straight in the eye and smiled. Showing her teeth and firmly shaking my hand. I nodded to her, returning her open enthusiasm.

  “Abigail Watson. I am here for an interview.”

  “Ahhh—yes, Abigail. Go to the escalator on the right, take it up to the fourth floor and then check in at the desk there.”

  I grinned. “Fantastic, thank you.”

  She sat back down as the phone rang. I walked away from her and I could hear her cheerful demeanor extend to whoever had called. She was genuine, or I was guessing that she was. If she was faking it, then she was the best at it.

  I stepped onto the escalator and rode up as I studied some more of the detailed inner structure of the building. I couldn’t believe what care had been taken on every small detail. The way the escalators crossed over each other, the angles to the glass, so modern, and yet comforting. It wasn’t that hard-edged artistic flare that could cause you to feel uneasy. This building was so inviting, airy, and open to me. I loved it.

  I stepped off the escalator and spotted the second U-shaped desk. I stepped up and the girl was just as friendly as the last. Either they hired amazing people here or they were pumping happy gas into the ventilation system. I was starting to become suspicious, but her smile and friendly greeting quickly beat that back in my mind.

  “Abigail Watson, I am here for an interview.”

  She looked at her small laptop screen and eyed it, they lit up when she saw my name.

  “Yes, Abigail. Take the elevator to the top floor and then check in at the desk.”

  I nodded to her and walked to the elevator. This was indeed turning into a video gaming adventure. I felt like I was leveling up until I would meet the boss. I only hoped that my weapons of choice—my ability to show off my love for this and my simplistic charm—would suffice.

  I waited as the doors finally opened to me and a couple of people got off. They were dressed very nicely, like Jack nice. I glanced down at my suit and calmed my nerves. I looked excellent. I was dressed appropriately; I would be fine.

  I stepped on and hit the top button and stepped back, finally leaning against the back wall as the doors closed. I rubbed my neck and thought about all that I had done to reach this moment in my life. The endless hours of studying, the late nights. The sacrifices and the money. It would all pay off, I had faith as I always had. If I didn’t, well, I would have abandoned school and moved home.

  The doors opened and one last tiny pep talk inside my head got me out of it. I stepped off and now I was on a floor that seemed to open to the sky, and it was. I looked up at the high glass ceiling and grinned. Sunlight poured in and heated my face. Very comforting, very open, very me.

  I turned toward the desk and walked up to see a very attractive man sitting behind it. He was speaking to someone on the phone and then ended the call only to look at me with a smile that matched the previous two. I nodded to him.

  “I have an interview, they told me to come to the top floor—Abigail Watson.”

  He stood up and shook my hand. I grinned. “Yes, follow me.”

  He walked me to two gigantic doors, thick glass, smoky, etched deeply with intricate swirling patterns that reminded me of water. Of course, this building was based on the elements; I was shocked that I missed that.

  He opened the doors and I stared in at a large office; three walls built of glass with an incredible view of New York City. It was breath-taking. There was no hiding here, no secrets, and I loved it. I stepped in and the man nodded to me. He closed the doors behind me and I heard voices in a separate room. Laughter followed as two men stepped out and I was stunned. Jack stood there in a beautifully tailored suit next to Mr. Ford. I swallowed as they both saw me and the conversation they were having abruptly ended. I raised an eyebrow as Jack winked at me.

  “Lin, this is Abigail.”

  He walked toward me as I shifted from one foot to the other and wobbled on the high heel. Jack glanced down and smiled at my clumsiness and then stopped in front of me. He reached out and took my hand as I narrowed my eyes at him. His coy smile confused me. He walked me up to a large, white leather chair. I sat down as Mr. Ford walked up to his large desk and sat on the edge of it. He was not so stuffy after all, but still, intimidated me. He owned this place for shit’s sake. I could die.

  “So, Abigail
, do you prefer your full name or a nickname?”

  I cleared my throat as Jack took the chair next to mine. I eyed him and then looked at Mr. Ford.

  “Abi, is fine,” I said as I tried to gather my senses and understand the situation. Why the hell was Jack here? I didn’t invite him, in fact, I told him lunch, not show up for my interview.

  Jack began to speak as my mind raced. “Abigail graduated with honors, in fact; I am sure that she’s the brightest of her class.”

  “Well—I did graduate with honors, but there were many who…”

  “Modesty is a double edged sword, Abi,” Mr. Ford said as he looked me over.

  I nodded to him. “No—I believe in my ability, one hundred percent, and I know that I would be an asset to you and this company.”

  He crossed his arms on his chest and let his eyes go to Jack. “Oh, Jack has already convinced me of that, Abi. What I need to know are the terms that you set for me.”

  I took a small breath and then caught Jack smiling out of the corner of my eye. “Terms?” I asked as he stood up and walked to his desk. He sat down and still looked at ease. I knew that he was probably one of the richest men in the world, but his attitude was that of someone I could easily talk to. It was very refreshing.

  “Yes. Money, vacation time, shares.”

  Jack stood up and produced a small flash drive from his pocket. He handed it to Mr. Ford who grinned up at him. “Everything you need is on this.”

  I stared at him as he sat back down next to me. I shook my head as I eyed him and he winked at me. I looked back to make it clear that I was grateful to even be considered, but Mr. Ford stood up and smiled at me. “Abi, I want to welcome you to Ford. I will have my assistant send you a proposal in the next few days, and you can look it over and let me know if it meets your standards.”

  I stood up as he extended his hand toward mine. I shook my head and tried to ignore Jack as he studied my reaction to the situation. Of course I was confused, and then it hit me that I hadn’t been interviewed at all. I had said nothing about myself, in fact, this had nothing to do with me.