THE VAMPIRES FAIRY

MY BOSS

The first days at any new job are usually the hardest, and mine was no exception. Thankfully, my colleagues made the transition much easier. They were friendly, easygoing, and always willing to help. Their guidance made it easier for me to adjust to unfamiliar tasks and routines. After two weeks, everything began to fall into place, and I finally felt comfortable in my role.

As I had suspected on my first day, the work could be incredibly demanding. Still, we always managed to meet our deadlines. Some days were packed with tasks, while others were surprisingly quiet, leaving us with little to do besides monitoring network strength or reviewing the security systems.

One thing, however, remained a mystery: I never once saw or even heard of our boss coming into the office during the day. Most meetings were held late at night. Fortunately, I had managed to avoid attending any—until then.

"Attention, everyone!" our supervisor announced, clapping his hands sharply to gather our attention. "We will be having a meeting tonight at eight o'clock. Everyone must be present by seven-thirty. And that includes everyone—even interns."

He had answered my unspoken question before I could even ask it. I sighed heavily. I had planned to leave early for a movie night since it was Friday. Frustrated, I rested my head on the desk and closed my eyes. It was nearly the end of the workday, yet I still had three more hours to wait.

Time seemed to crawl. With nothing left to do, I headed to the game zone to pass the time. I called Arthur, and we played a few matches together, which made the hours go by much faster. Before I knew it, it was already twenty-five past seven.

"Ayl, time to go," Kimberly, one of my colleagues, called, coming to fetch me.

I quickly told Arthur that I was heading into a meeting and asked him to let Adriel know not to pick me up. Kimberly and I arrived at the meeting room just before seven-thirty and took our seats.

"Kim, why does your boss always hold meetings at night? Where is he during the day?" I whispered.

"He owns several companies, so he's usually busy managing the larger ones," she replied.

"Oh. But couldn't he find time during the day sometimes? I already dislike meetings. Holding them at night just makes them worse."

Before Kimberly could answer, the door swung open.

A man dressed in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo stepped inside. Instantly, the room grew colder, and a tense silence settled over everyone. The sensation was hauntingly familiar. Then I saw his face, and my stomach dropped.

It was Lynn.

Our mysterious boss was none other than Lynn Blackwood—the vampire I feared most.

Everyone rose to their feet. His gaze swept across the room before settling on me. For ten long seconds, our eyes locked. Then he looked away.

His eyes were different.

At the birthday banquet, and even the day after, they had been blue. Now they were a warm brown. The change unsettled me deeply. Then it hit me—contact lenses. Of course.

Throughout the meeting, I struggled to focus. The room felt suffocating, and the unease I had tried so hard to bury came rushing back. Then I heard it again—his voice, not spoken aloud, but inside my mind. This time, it came with a sharp sting in my head.

"Focus."

I snapped back to attention and looked up. He was staring directly at me. Quickly, I straightened my posture and forced myself to pay attention to the rest of the meeting.

When it finally ended, I wasted no time leaving. As soon as Lynn exited the room, I slipped out as well.

Outside, the winter air was bitterly cold, though my medicine and thick fur jacket kept most of the chill at bay. Only my face stung from the cold. My mother would have insisted I wear even more layers.

I pulled my phone from my purse, about to call my driver, when a sleek black Rolls-Royce Phantom pulled up in front of me. The driver stepped out immediately and opened the rear door.

I leaned down to see who was inside.

Lynn.

"Madam," the driver said politely, holding the door open wider.

I hesitated.

"Unless you plan on freezing out there, get in," Lynn said. His deep voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.

Reluctantly, I climbed inside. "Thank you," I said to the driver before fastening my seatbelt. I clasped my hands tightly together, then turned to Lynn.

"Thank you for the ride, but it really wasn't necessary. My driver could have picked me up."

"I believe you haven't eaten yet," he said, ignoring my protest entirely. "We're fixing that. Then I'll take you home. And no, you don't have the option to refuse."

The sheer audacity of it made my blood boil. No one had ever dismissed me so completely before. But offending him was not an option, so I swallowed my irritation and remained silent.

The restaurant was nearly empty by the time we arrived, the late hour leaving it quiet and deserted. That only added to my discomfort. Being alone in such a large space with someone I both feared and resented was unsettling.

The silence between us was heavy and awkward. When I finally tried to break it, he cut me off immediately.

"Silence suits you better. Focus on your table manners."

I stared at him, stunned and thoroughly annoyed, but said nothing.

After the meal, he stood, picked up my purse, and gestured toward the door.

"Come. I'll take you home."

I followed, barely concealing my disbelief.

Who does he think he is, ordering me around like that?

Still, I kept my thoughts to myself. The last thing I needed was to offend him—or worse, cause trouble for my family.

When we arrived at my house, he surprised me by walking me all the way to the gate. He even waited until I was safely inside before turning to leave.

He was impossible to understand—cold and commanding one moment, unexpectedly considerate the next.

"Good night, Mr. Blackwood. And thank you for the ride," I said as I reached the gate.

He simply nodded.

Once inside, I hurried to my room and stepped onto the balcony. From there, I watched as his car disappeared into the night.

What a strange man.