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wanted to tell Maggie she agreed, but the words wouldn’t come. What purpose could she possibly have in the vampire world?
    The elevator doors swooshed open, and a man stepped out. “Jeez, ladies. Get a room.” He continued to mutter to himself as he left the lobby.
    Darcy and Maggie released each other, then started to snicker as they stepped into the elevator. On the tenth floor, they found a middle-aged woman in an expensive suit waiting outside the agency. Darcy wished she could afford such a nice suit. She was wearing her blue one again for good reason. It was the only suit she owned. She’d lost everything when her life had turned into a nightmare.
    The woman strode toward them. “I’m Ms. Elizabeth Stein, owner and director of the Stars of Tomorrow Casting Agency. Is one of you Miss Darcy?”
    “I am.” Smiling, Darcy extended her hand.
    Ms. Stein shook her hand quickly as if she were afraid of catching a disease. Her face was pale, and her mouth pinched with stress. “Delighted to meet you, Miss Darcy.”
    Darcy let the error stand. She’d only left her first name on the phone message for fear that her complete name might trigger some memories. “This is my assistant, Margaret O’Brian.”
    Ms. Stein nodded briefly at Maggie, then clutched her hands together. “The lobby is filled with applicants. I thought you should avoid seeing them before the auditions. So, if you’ll follow me?” She motioned jerkily toward an unmarked brown door.
    Darcy and Maggie accompanied Ms. Stein. As they passed the glass entrance to the agency, Darcy noted that the lobby was indeed full. Great! She would have no problem finding suitable mortal men for the show.
    Ms. Stein opened the unmarked door and gestured for them to enter. “This hallway will take us to the conference room.”
    Darcy and Maggie headed down the plain white hallway.
    Ms. Stein rushed to catch up and squeezed past them. “This way.” She turned right into a larger hallway, then halted in front of a set of double doors. She clenched her hands tightly, turning her bony knuckles white. “This is the conference room. I hope it will be satisfactory.”
    “I’m sure it will.” Darcy smiled. “Thank you for allowing us to use your facilities.”
    “You’re welcome.” Ms. Stein opened the doors. “I’ll give you a few minutes to settle in.”
    “Thank you.” Darcy entered the room with Maggie, then heard the doors click shut behind her. It was a typical conference room—long table with leather-upholstered chairs. One wall had three large arched windows that overlooked Forty-fourth Street. The other walls were lined with autographed eight-by-ten glossies of Ms. Stein’s successful clients.
    Maggie glanced back at the closed doors. “She seemed awfully nervous.”
    “Yes.” Darcy set her portfolio on the table. She was a bit nervous, too. “Thank you for helping me, Maggie.”
    “I didn’t want to miss out on all the fun.” Maggie had declined from participating on the reality show, because she still had hopes of getting on a soap. She’d been recalled for another audition in two weeks. In the meantime, she’d agreed to help Darcy as her assistant.
    “I hope you didn’t audition for Sly.” Darcy remembered what services Tiffany had rendered in order to be recalled,
    “No, I lucked out, and got the assistant director from As the Vampire Turns. She thought I’d be perfect for the show, and that means I’d be with Don Orlando.” Maggie gazed out a window with a dreamy look. “We’re destined to be together. I know it.”
    Darcy jumped when the cell phone inside her portfolio started to ring. It was a new phone, a gift from Gregori, so she’d be able to call him if she needed him.
    Maggie drew close. “I wonder who’s calling?”
    “I don’t know. Hardly anyone knows this number.” Darcy fumbled in her portfolio and found the phone. “Hello?”
    “Darcy!” Vanda’s loud voice sounded frantic. “I’m coming over. Is it