Eighteen

It was the same routine as the first time. The same car, the same driver, and the same instructions were repeated to her before they left. She sat in the quiet interior of the dark car and wondered if Gabriel was watching her through the lens.

They were 15 minutes on the road and there was no Gabriel. She was curious, “Gabriel?” she called. No answer. She hesitated. Maybe it was a one-time thing because it was her first time in the car when he called her. So she didn’t call again.

Just when she got comfortable, “Yes, Jamie?” his deep voice greeted her.

She felt a strange delight come over her, “Gabriel … you’re there?”

“I’m here … I’m sorry I couldn’t come and pick you up today either, I just got back from a meeting.”

“That’s okay … I was just … it felt awfully quiet in here.”

“I know,” he said.

Now that he was there, she lost thoughts of what she wanted to say to him. “Do you always do this to your future employees? Pick them up in a soundproof car, limit their visions and talk to th