A Diary of Vampires

Chapter 2

Maria stared at the building before her with narrowed eyes, her heart pounding behind her chest. The door behind her closed and the car drove her, leaving her standing before the high end restaurant.

Behind those doors and inside the building, Aridam Donahue awaited her.

When she had called the private number, her hacking skills making it easy for her to call back, the voice behind the line – smooth and polite – had replied and gave her directions to the Heaven’s Gate restaurant, a famous restaurant in the state. She had cleaned up, applied light makeup, wore one of her champagne dress and walked out of her home – purse in hand.

Maria took in a deep breath before making her way in, unaware of the eyes staring at her above. She headed to the counter and stated her name and appointment, and she was led to the most upper floor – one meant for wealthy people. The whole floor had been booked, this been evident when she was met with only two people in the middle of the room – one seated and the other standing behind him. The worker who led her to the room bowed her head and walked out, leaving Maria alone. The woman huffed a silent breath before making her way over to the two.

Aridam Donahue was more handsome in person. His crystal blue eyes were breathtaking and they seemed to pierce into Maria’s soul. He was of olive complexion; his white blond hair slicked back. He had on a three piece suit without the jacket. The man behind him was equally handsome, but more on the average looks with his brown skin, brown eyes and dark hair. All in all, the two were eye catching and it had Maria blushing a little.

“Ah~ Maria Rowden. What a pleasure to meet you in person.” Aridam stood up when she got close, moving out of his seat to meet her halfway. His accent was thick and sultry, rolling off his tongue like chocolate and honey

“Mr. Donahue. It is a surprise to be before you. I never expected your invitation.” Maria outstretched her hand but instead of Aridam shaking it, he brought it up to his lips and kissed the back of her hand softly. Her breath stuttered when his eyes met hers during the process, a small smile spread on his lips. She hurriedly took her hand back, avoiding his eyes.

“And I never expected you to accept my invitation.” Aridam said with a small chuckle. “Imagine my surprise when you bypassed the security system and called Calvin. You’re truly sensational Ms. Rowden.”

“Please call me Maria. I am in no mood with hear that blasted name attached to the back of mine.” Maria said with a small scowl, her irritation at being called by her surname evident.

“Then I insist you address me as Aridam, my fair lady.”

Maria nodded.

Aridam led her to the table, drawing back the seat for her and pushing it back in like a perfect gentleman. The man standing behind Aridam, Calvin, started laying down the already prepared food from the trolley onto the table. Maria was quiet hungry and the slight alcohol that she had drowned down made her even more so. She picked up her cutlery and cut a piece of steak, giving it a stern look.

Aridam chuckled, cutting into his own. He took a bite of it, showing Maria that it hadn’t been poisoned. Still suspicious, she took a bite, heaving an internal sigh of relief when she didn’t die.

“I have to see, it is truly an honor to meet the woman who had made business a little bit difficult for us for the past five years. Your inventions are outstanding.”

Maria puffed up at that. After all, it wasn’t every day that the Aridam Donahue, the man to have succeeded his family’s company at the mere age of twenty-one after the death of his entire family. The forty-six years old man was a true genius, even greater than her own father.

“Your flattery is as outstanding as your work, Mr. Aridam. No wonder women swoon for you.”

Aridam c****d an amused brow. “And you don’t?”

Maria donned on a deadpanned look, taking a bite of her food. Her expression had Aridam chuckling. Maria dropped her cutlery and took a sip of her wine when the food in her stomach became substantial.

“Let’s get down to business, shall we.”

“Of course.” Aridam also took a sip of his wine before he placed his elbows on the table and crossed his fingers. “It got to my notice that your father has appointed you step brother to become the next CEO with the backing of two-third of the members of his board. A truly devastating tragedy.”

Maria snorted behind her glass when she took another sip of her wine. “You have no idea.”

“I do, actually. From what I’ve seen so far, your step brother is the last person that should be in the seat of power. He would be nothing but a puppet at the hands of the people who selected him into office. He has nothing tangible to offer and for your father to select him as his successor spells the ruin of that company.”

Maria looked down into her glass, her brows furrowed. “You’re right on the head, Mr. Aridam. My step brother is nothing but a leech and a disappointment. With everything that I’ve accomplished for the family, I was repaid by being casted aside for that moron. Again. How delightful.” She spat out, her words filled to the brim with hate.

Aridam had a glint in his eyes that Maria was aware of. “How about you come work for me?”

Maria’s head snapped up and she stared at Aridam in surprise. “… what?”

“It’s obvious that you weren’t chosen because of your gender, Ms. Maria. From what I’ve read and noticed so far about you within this short time we have been together, you’re a timid person who likes to be in their lane, never looking for trouble and always ready to help. Your kindness have been abused one too many times and your efforts to prove that you’re capable of reaching greater heights are ignored because you’re a woman.”

“That’s not-”

“Don’t lie to yourself, Ms. Maria. Surely you’ve noticed by now. From your father to the board members. Even the staffs of your workplace. You’re not as blind as everybody says.”

Maria closed her mouth, her lips pressed into a thin line. There was no lie in Aridam’s statement. Her timid nature and desire to please people, gotten from years of neglect both emotionally and physically, was a big set back for her. She had once tried therapy but she couldn’t open up her feelings easily, her distrust for people stemming from all her baggage. She heaved a sigh, putting down her almost empty wine glass.

“What exactly do you want from me, Mr. Aridam?”

“I want you to work with me. In fact, I want you to become my partner.”

“Why? So that you can gloat to the world that you managed to snag the unwanted daughter of August Rowden to become your business associate?” Maria couldn’t stop the bitterness from leaving her lips.

“Believe it or not, you’re a great asset to have, Ms. Maria. Your father is a fool for not realizing that. Truly, age doesn’t bring wisdom.”

Maria couldn’t help but snort in amusement. “You do know you’re almost the same age as my father, right?”

“Twelve years apart, actually. Unlike him, I see talent when it presents itself to me. You, Maria, are pure talent tags had been wrongfully delivered into the hands of the wrong man. What an unwise decision of the universe.”

Maria’s lips spread into a bitter smile. “You know what they say, Fate is a cruel mistress.”

“Well, I am here to deliver you from her. Calvin.”

Calvin walked over to a nearby table where a briefcase laid. He brought out a file when he unlocked it and made his way over to her. When he gave Maria the file, the woman collecting it reluctantly, he picked up her plate and freed up space for her to set the file down.

Maria read the title of the first document before her and her jaw dropped. She blinked and read it again, wondering if she was hallucinating. She raised her head and stared at Aridam with a baffled expression. “What is this? Is this some kind of joke?”

“It is no joke, my Lady.”

Maria looked down at the document and read the title again.

It was a marriage proposal. Between her and Aridam. What the hell?

Maria slowly read through the documents from one page to another, the whole thing amounting to three pages. In summary, what Aridam was proposing was a marriage between him and Maria. Their goal was to cause the collapse of the Dragonstorm company, and in doing so the both of them will have so much dirt on themselves. For their plans to succeed, they’d get married, have a child or children together, and when the child reached the age of eighteen, they can finally divorce and go their separate ways.

What a ludicrous proposal!

“You must be out of your f*****g mind!” Maria’s voice was on the edge of yelling. She jumped up from her seat. “What makes you thing this was a good and sensible thing to propose?!”

Aridam was cool as a cucumber and that seemed to piss Maria off even more.

“A logical proposal, Ms. Maria.” Aridam commented. “You’re a woman about to set on a war path and when you finally get your revenge, you’ll be target. Hell, knowing your step brother, he might even come after you irrespective of the fact that your plans to ruin the family haven’t come into light.”

Maria frowned at that, biting her lower lips.

“Our marriage will ensure your protection until the dust settles, and knowing how impactful what we’re about to do will be, it will take a while for everything to settled down after.” He picked up his glass and took a sip of wine. “Our child, or children if you’re up to it, will be the new era between our family. That is, if you still decide to take on your family name.”

Maria’s eyes narrowed and she glared at him. “… you’re planning to buy the company when it is in ruins, aren’t you?”

A cool smirk spread over Aridam’s lips. “I’ll merge the two companies after I completely buy it, and with you, the sole heir of the company after your step brother has been disposed off, as my wife, it will be an easy task.”

Maria slowly sat back down, mulling over his words. It was a great plan. A perfect one in fact. “But our marriage with each other might be a set back if we are to announce our intentions to wed.”

“Which is why we’re going to keep our engagement on paper only. We would announce our engagement when our plans are coming to a climax. For now you’re going to be the Trojan horse that would ruin your family. Simple for you, isn’t it?”

Maria stared at him and Aridam met her eyes. The two seeme to come to an agreement without words because moments later Maria outstretched a hand towards Calvin, who removed a pen from his breast pocket and handed it over to her.

“If you dare to screw me over, Aridam Donahue, you better know that not even hell will save you from my wrath. I’ll find you and end you.”

Aridam teeth looked sharp and dangerous with how wide he grinned. “I expected nothing from one of the greatest hacker in the country.”

At this point, Maria wasn’t surprised that he knew about her hobbies and just went on to sign the documents. When she was done, she closed the file and handed it along with the pen to Calvin, who collected them with a bow of his head and went to drop the document into the briefcase.

“So…” Maria folded her arms. “How and when do we begin?”