You are invited to a Gathering Of Friends

Don’t pack

All clothing will be provided

Bring no money

Just yourself.

            “Who gave this to you?”  Marina‘s voice was filled with anticipation and anxiety.  Ashley motioned to the door, and Marina saw a chauffeur standing there, waiting for something or rather yet, someone.  She got up and walked over to the regal looking man. 

            “Marina Ferrer?”  She nodded, a string of fear starting to pull at the pit of her stomach.  The symphony of dread played out inside of her.

            “Who sent you?”  She questioned,

            “My employer, a friend.  There are a select other few that have also received similar invitations.  You’re business will be watched over while you are gone, all the arrangements have been made.”  She looked back, Ashley waving a friendly goodbye.  Marina followed the man outside, and to a limo that was waiting to bring her to who knew where.

*****

            Alice tapped away at the keyboard with hard, sharp strokes.  Her plan to woo Dana wasn’t working, not at all.  It was killing her inside to even think that she’d lost her one shot at Dana. 

            She stopped typing, putting her head down on the keyboard, the letters zipping across the screen as her editor barged in.

            “Pieszecki!”  He bellowed, making Alice snap up, her chair skidding back a few inches.  She was caught between a rock and a hard place.

            “Um, I wasn’t sleeping or anything, I swear!”  She responded, standing up in a quick motion, straightening out her shirt.  She rubbed her forehead, where she was sure the imprint of the keys were still fresh.

            “Hogwash!”  She stood, a bit frightened by his gruffness.

            “I always wanted to say that, calm down Alice.  Come with me.”  He led her out of her office and into the elevator.  A small grin played on his lips as he walked her to their destination. 

            She asked in several times what was wrong.  She was sure that she was being escorted from the building without so much as a pencil.  They got to the parking garage and he led her to a limo.  Turning her around by the shoulders, looking at the astonishment that played there.