“Yes!” I grabbed his hand and yanked him behind me, already walking over the soft hills of grass to the sidewalk. “Do you mind if we run?”
“Not at all, miss.” When I released his hand, he started jogging just a little in front of me. He peered back over his shoulder. “Is this a good pace for you?”
“It’s fine. Please just get me there.”
There were pounding feet behind me.
I sucked oxygen at the quick run but glimpsed the glass of the building next to me. In the reflection, the other nine men were running behind me at a steady pace. It was extremely odd, but these men were my current saving grace—as long as they actually took me to the right place. Though, I was impressed none of them spilled their coffee while they ran. Their cups didn’t have lids. My hand would have been burned all over if I were doing that.
They had been right. It was one street over directly behind King Corporation. The golden crown even shaded a portion of the building at this time of day.
I stopped in front of a black, wrought iron fence.
There were spikes at the top of the fence, and the building was made of dark wood and rough stone. It was completely out of place next to the beauty surrounding it. It looked hundreds of years old with its turrets on each end, like an ancient castle, except for the embellished, fancy sign on the front that stated Military House.
The gate and front doors were still open.
I quickly shook the man’s hand who had led the way here. “Thank you so very much.”
He still wore a shocked expression, his mouth hanging open—and not because he was winded. “You’re most welcome.”
I nodded once to the others who had followed, and then I bolted through the front gate and ran up the walkway.
One of the men’s voices carried quietly, “I would never have imagined that.”
“It’s been what? Over a hundred years…”
“I know.”
I ignored whatever they were blathering on about and sprinted up the stairs. I stopped inside the doors where an older graying man in a Corporate Army uniform stood. I placed my hands on my knees and panted.
I whispered in awe, “I made it.”
The CA soldier cleared his throat.
I stood up and placed my hands on my lower back, stretching my muscles. I removed my sunglasses and peeked up at him. “I’m here for the Corporate Army sign ups.”
His gaze was cold as he looked me up and down. “Are you sure, miss?” He glanced at his silver bracelet, checking the time.
That was a better response than I had received from other CA soldiers when I had stopped them to ask for directions. Those assholes had taken one look at my smaller stature and just laughed at me.
I nodded. “I’m sure.”
“Then you made it just in time.”
He shut and locked the heavy wooden doors.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
The dining hall was filled with a little over one hundred candidates. Only ten of those were women. They had already sent home seventy-four others who didn’t have the right forms filled out or were missing signatures from a male legal guardian. The meal we were eating wasn’t terrible as I had feared. It had all the basic food groups.
The worst part was waiting for a CA soldier to come into the room and call out one of our names. They could do it anytime, and we would then leave for an interview. Most already had theirs completed, having arrived days earlier. Only a few candidates arrived today as I had, and the interviews were running nonstop. My turn was coming soon.
The two girls on either side of me ate silently. No female was here to make friends. It was common knowledge that only twenty percent of the women passed the requirements to become a CA soldier. So that meant only two out of the ten of us would obtain a position within the Corporate Army. The other eight would leave to become breeding machines for a husband.
I chewed the corn on my plate, trying to enjoy the scrumptious vegetable. I wasn’t hungry, but I knew I would need the energy. Plus, I didn’t have a lot of units remaining to spend. My sunglasses had cost more than five expensive meals in Port. New City was expensive.
The door opened, and the room quieted.
