A Mate for Lazarus (The Program Book 3)
Read A Mate for Lazarus (The Program Book 3) Online
Authors: Charlene Hartnady
The Program
Book 3
A Mate for Lazarus
By
Charlene Hartnady
and Disclaimer
Copyright ©
December 2015, Charlene Hartnady
Cover Art by
Melody Simmons
Copy Edited by
Kimberly Reichmann
Produced in South
Africa
Published by
Charlene Hartnady
PO BOX 456,
Melrose Arch,
Johannesburg,
South Africa, 2176
A
Mate for Lazarus is a work of fiction and characters, events and dialogue found
within are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any
resemblance to actual events or persons, either living or deceased, is purely
coincidental.
With
the exception of quotes used in reviews no part of this book may be reproduced
or shared in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including but
not limited to digital copying, file sharing, audio recording, email and
printing without prior consent in writing from the author
The
reception area was decorated in crisp modern finishes. Stainless steel
banisters, gleaming marble floors and white leather sofas. The artwork was
contemporary and bright. Each piece cost more than what she could earn in a
year. Much more.
This
was it. The next level. She had five minutes to make her pitch and she best not
blow it. Alexandra tried not to fidget as the magnitude of this opportunity
sank in. Her palms felt sweaty. Damn, her armpits didn’t feel too much better.
She suddenly felt like she was suffocating in her gray pinstriped pantsuit. The
urge to take off her jacket increased despite the perfect temperature control
in the building.
There
was a soft ringing tone and the personal assistant answered, her manicured
nails clicked against the telephone as she picked it up. Her gaze flew to Alex
and she nodded. “Yes, sir.” She put down the receiver.
“Mr.
Armstrong will see you now.” She licked her bright red lips. “Are you sure I can’t
bring you anything during your meeting? A coffee or a juice maybe?”
Alex
stood, she swiped a hand down her pants and adjusted her jacket. “No, thank
you.” Her stomach lurched at the thought of anything going into it. This
included beverages.
The
PA nodded once before turning back to the computer screen in front of her. “Go
on in,” she muttered, almost to herself.
Alex
made her way down the hall. It was long and just as beautifully decorated as
the rest of the building. The door was closed. Alex swallowed hard, she lifted
her chin and sucked in a deep breath. She had worked hard over the last few
years in order to get where she was today. Senior journalist before the age of
thirty was no mean feat. So what if Sweetwater Press was a small local paper.
She’d fought hard, she’d gotten ahead and was ready for the big leagues now.
She could do this.
She
opened the door and walked in. James Armstrong was standing with his back to
her, admiring the view. It was a sight to behold. New York City in all her
glory. One of these days she was going to have her own office like this one,
maybe the view wouldn’t be quite as sweet but it would be pretty darn close if
she had anything to say about it.
James
turned and smiled. He was still a handsome man despite the fact that he was
pushing sixty. His hair was gray at the temples, the only wrinkles were around
his eyes. “Little Alexandra Stone. Look at you. All grown up I see.” He moved
towards her while holding his arms open.
Awkward.
“Hi,
Uncle James.” Even though they weren’t related, she had always called him that
growing up so the words just seemed to fall from her tongue. She inwardly
cringed. This wasn’t supposed to be a reunion, this was supposed to be a business
meeting.
His
arms closed around her and he even rubbed her back. “You look the spitting
image of your mother.” He said as he pulled away. “Thankfully, since your
father had an ugly mug of note.” Despite his smile, his eyes clouded. She felt
a jolt of pain as she remembered her father, taken too soon. He never got to see
her go to college or get her first job. He wouldn’t get to see her name up in
lights either.
James’
eyes hardened up. “You’ve come to see me about a piece…”
She
sucked in a breath, ready to confirm when he put his hand up to stop her.
“I
agreed to see you because I’m a firm believer that the apple doesn’t fall far
from the tree. We go way back, Alex. I loved your father like a brother.”
Damn!
That’s
not how she wanted this to go down. She needed to be awarded this on her own
merit.
“Don’t
look so upset.” James smiled. “You have a few minutes of my time to pitch but
that’s where the favor ends. Your father was a brilliant journalist. I want you
to prove my apple theory right.”
“I
appreciate your time.” She forced herself to keep her hands by her sides and to
stay composed.
James
gestured for her to take a seat. “So…” He paused. “What is this big story idea that
you so desperately needed to see me about?”
“I’ve
been accepted into
The Program
. I’ll get all the inside details. This
will be the scoop of the century. In return, you allow me to write the piece
myself and I want a front-page slot.”
His
eyes widened. “Not asking for much are you? What the hell is
The Program
anyway?”
It
was her turn to widen her own eyes. She quickly schooled her emotions though.
There was no way in hell that James Armstrong was unaware of
The Program
.
She played along though for the time being and even made a little gasping
noise. “Please don’t tell me that you don’t know?” She didn’t wait for him to
reply. “You are aware that we have non-humans living in Sweetwater, right?”
He
nodded, his eyes and attention on her. She noticed a glint in their depths.
“Well,
they started a dating program for the sole purpose of pairing human women with
vampires so that they may reproduce over time. The vampires stated that most of
their own women are unable to birth live young and therefore are technically infertile.”
She licked her lips. “Their numbers are in decline and they have taken drastic
measures to counter that fact.”
“I’m
sure any one of the women within the program would be willing to give their
story for a whack-load of cash. I could have any one of my headlining, proven
journalists tackle the story. What makes you so special?” He cocked his head.
Arrogant
bastard.
That
wasn’t entirely true, as executive editor it was his job to ask such questions.
“This
program has various stages and although you’ll certainly be able to interview
the women as they fall out of each stage. You must realize that you would be
fighting against hordes of paparazzi from every rag in town, in order to get
the inside scoop. You and every other publication worth its salt will broadcast
similar information and all at the same time. What you need is an exclusive.
Information from behind the walls as the first heat of
The Program
enters its final stages.”
He
sucked in a deep breath. “You do realize that every woman that sets foot on
vampire territory is expected to sign a nondisclosure agreement? All we have is
speculation as to what is going on inside their territory and this is going to
remain the case since women exiting the program are not permitted to speak with
the media. You will be no different.”
Double
damn.
This
wasn’t something she hadn’t considered. “To hell with the clause. I don’t care.
They can sue me. It’s not like they’ll get much out of me anyways. Do you want
the story or not?”
James
shook his head. “Legal would never allow it and you know it. Your career would
be over before it ever really began. Aside from hefty fines, you could end up
going to jail.” His eyes softened and he touched her arm. “I strongly advise
you against doing something crazy like this. As much as I would love the
story.” He sighed heavily. “An insider’s account of
The Program
…” He mumbled
to himself, shaking his head. He looked pained. “It would be front page news
for sure. Forget about it though, kid.”
Not
a chance.
Alexandra
Stone did not know the meaning of the word defeat. It wasn’t going to happen.
Not on her watch anyway.
“Besides,
I thought you said you got yourself into that program.” He narrowed his eyes.
“My sources have confirmed that the program is already underway, it started a
good couple of days ago.”
So
he was testing her when he pretended not to know anything about
The Program
.
She pondered that when his words finally registered and she felt the bottom
fall out from under her. “What?”
“I
would double-check whether that acceptance letter of yours is legit.” He folded
his arms. “You missed the bus on this one.”
“The
letter is definitely legit,” she shot back, while quickly opening the folder in
her hand. “Here it is. Black-and-white. They say that I will be contacted
shortly for further information. No one contacted me.”
“Maybe
you should give them a call…that is if you still seriously plan on entering.”
He smiled.
“Of
course I do.” There had to be some sort of misunderstanding. “Your source is
wrong.”
He
shook his head. “I seriously doubt it. Although, why you still plan on pursuing
this is beyond me. You’re going to land yourself in a ton of hot water, and
don’t say I didn’t warn you when it happens.”
“Maybe
I want to snag myself one of those hot vampires.” As in, not so much.
He
laughed. “This I have to see. Makes me want to be a fly on the wall. Now that
would be some story.”
She
lifted her chin and looked him straight in the eyes. “I’m going to get that
story…wait and see.”
“Just
make sure, whatever you do, that it’s aboveboard. Better yet, forget about
The
Program
. A contract working for us just became available. I’ll pull some
strings and get you in. The pay will be less than what you make now but it’s an
opportunity.”
This
was exactly what Alex didn’t want. To be handed a position simply because she
knew the executive editor. “Thanks for the heads up. I’ll apply but only on the
condition that you don’t put a good word in for me.”
He
shook his head. “You do realize that in life it’s very often who you know, not
what you know? Your father was a fantastic journalist, one of the best. There
is no doubt in my mind that given the opportunity and the right leadership, you
could be just as good.”
Hell
no!
This
was even worse than being given a leg up because she knew James Armstrong. This
was riding on the coattails of her deceased father and she wouldn’t stand for
it. Alex shook her head. “Thanks, Uncle James. I really appreciate the offer
but it’s important to me that I do this on my own. Otherwise my success would
be meaningless and shallow.”
He
clasped her shoulder. “Good luck, kid!”