My CEO is a Vampire - Book One: The Pact

Prologue: Between Dreams, Blood, and Desire

Scarlett held back a sigh. *Could she be dreaming?*

Even though she knew it was all real, it certainly felt like a dream.

There was an engagement ring on her finger worth more than ten apartments like the one she used to live in. And her future husband was none other than one of the most desired men in America—if not the world. A CEO coveted by thousands of women and envied by countless men.

Not only that, but she stood before countless cameras while the news was already being broadcast across the internet by multiple outlets. It was hard to believe that she—a mature, divorced woman, a mother, a fighter constantly struggling against fate—was now standing there as a celebrity by association, radiant and deeply in love.

The blonde’s almond-shaped eyes sparkled. It all felt like a dream.

And obviously, things were far more complicated than they seemed.

♥♥♥

Scarlett remained where she was, hand extended so reporters and digital influencers could continue taking pictures for more than twenty minutes. Julian Strike—the powerful CEO and her future husband—looked like a smiling statue.

That man was simply beautiful and powerful in countless ways.

Julian was tall, strong, and carried an air of nobility that made him stand apart.

Whenever he arrived somewhere, it felt as though an angel had descended with wings spread wide, halo glowing, and that warm golden aura enveloping everyone around him. Though, of course, he was far from such a thing. Julian was almost the opposite of an angel.

But what truly mattered was that he loved her.

Julian Strike was far more than a man. He was something beyond that—something superior.

Upon his shoulders rested responsibility for the fate of thousands of people across the world, and even so, with every minute of his life meticulously scheduled, he had still found time for her.

Scarlett knew she and the man she loved belonged to entirely different worlds.

And she also knew everything he had already done for her—for them, for their love.

As powerful as he was, there were others like him in the world.

Others who did not approve of their relationship.

Many battles had already been fought for them to reach that point.

And many more would certainly come. Still, she knew Julian would never give up on them. They were destined to remain together.

What they felt transcended ordinary things.

And neither of them would renounce it, even if it cost them their lives.

♥♥♥

After nearly two hours of posing for photographs and giving interviews, Julian and his fiancée announced that they would be taking their leave. The party, however, would continue. The director, producers, assistants, and Scarlett’s studio staff would remain there until dawn, answering questions with carefully rehearsed responses.

The couple knew the repercussions that event would cause.

Julian was not merely a multimillionaire CEO, and it was not only reporters and fans watching that announcement. Before sunrise arrived, consequences would already be unfolding all over the world.

“Could you wait for me just a moment?” Scarlett asked, pulling Julian away from curious eyes. “I’m going to touch up my makeup, then we can leave.”

“Of course. The helicopter is already waiting for us. I’ll be nearby.”

She gave a discreet nod and walked away.

That man was always like that—attentive, present, considerate. Not to mention the obvious: attractive, seductive, charming. He was like a Hollywood star, and he made her feel as though she were living inside a romance film.

Once inside the restroom, Scarlett stared at herself in the mirror. She was beautiful, and she knew it.

She sighed. She was exhausted. It had been a long and hectic day.

And she was worried too—for many reasons.

*What must the others be thinking? Those like Julian?*

She knew accepting that marriage proposal was like disturbing a beehive. Except this was a very large and dangerous hive, one capable of threatening the safety of the entire world.

She had fought against her greatest fears when she accepted, all for love.

Julian was good to her and to her daughter, and that was enough.

He would keep them safe and guarantee Hannah a secure future.

♥♥♥

Scarlett reapplied her lipstick and blew a kiss at her reflection in the mirror.

Regardless of the consequences of that night, it was already done. The entire world now knew about her relationship with Julian Strike. All that remained was to stand beside the man she loved and face whatever came next together.

Suddenly, the temperature in the room dropped drastically. It was as though every trace of warmth had been stolen away. Before Scarlett could even think about leaving, another phenomenon occurred. The lights began to go out, one by one.

Still caught off guard, Scarlett closed her eyes and held back a gasp when she felt warm hands settle on both sides of her waist. She could also feel a large, powerful body behind her, surrounding her, warming her skin.

Even wrapped in darkness, she knew who those strong hands belonged to. He possessed that power—the ability to alter everything around him according to his desires. Scarlett gently bit her lower lip.

Feeling her body enclosed within that embrace was wonderful.

No other man had ever made her feel that way. And she had dated many men; she was far from an innocent maiden. Yet in that moment, that overwhelming desire felt purely supernatural.

*Could supernatural lust truly exist?* Scarlett believed it could.

There was no other explanation.

That arousal was unique, and it only kept intensifying. Every hair on her body stood on end.

She knew what would happen next. It was strange and... good.

It was like having a nightmare and still not wanting to wake up.

♥♥♥

At first, it hurt. It felt as though two needles pierced her neck side by side at the exact same moment. The pain was quickly replaced by pleasure. As if some kind of venom had been delivered through the bite itself, carried within the predator’s saliva, numbing her, dismantling every one of her defenses.

It was a pleasant venom—the kind that could make even death feel blissful.

Moments after the fangs sank in, blood began to flow.

There was nothing to worry about. The tiny puncture wounds always healed quickly on her skin, vanishing without a trace. She did not understand how it happened, but it always did. And the blood would be cleaned away.

Scarlett felt euphoric, intoxicated. She knew that thin trail of blood running down her chest was nothing. Her lover had already consumed most of it. And she herself was numb from the bite, from his grip, from her own arousal.

Had she surrendered herself to the vampire before? She could not remember.

It was strange. Her memories felt shrouded beneath a fog.

It was as though she had lived through that before, like a déjà vu.

The uncertainty surrounding her own actions filled her with unease, and yet she could not pull herself away from her predator’s embrace. Nor did she want to. She felt a level of excitement no other man had ever awakened within her.

At that point, the only thing Scarlett could think was that she had become involved in a game far greater than herself—far greater than anything she had ever been connected to before.

And even there, in the eye of the storm, all that mattered was what she felt.

The fangs slowly withdrew from her flesh, inch by inch.

Even that simple gesture gave her pleasure. In the face of those singular and peculiar moments, everything else seemed meaningless. It was as though the entire world ceased to exist so only that instant could remain.

The bite was replaced by kisses along her neck, her ear, her shoulders.

Warm, strong hands slid across her waist, rising as they moved forward to caress her stomach and breasts. The vampire was probably doing all of that in mere fractions of seconds, yet her mind processed everything slowly, hypnotized, dreaming.

The hardness pressing against her from behind made her crave far more than those teasing touches. It made her think about the wonderful sensation of being taken right there in that restroom, at that very moment, while countless guests remained so close on the other side of the door that she could hear the music if she opened it.

She was nearly begging for it. She would have slipped out of her dress without the slightest hesitation.

When she opened her eyes, Scarlett was startled by the sight before her.

Despite the darkness, she was certain she was no longer inside the restroom. In the distance, she could see floor lamps with black candelabras and candles glowing like stars. She could not even feel the floor beneath her feet.

*Was she floating? Was that possible? Or was she truly dreaming?*

♥♥♥

Turning where she stood, Scarlett found herself face-to-face with her lover.

She intended to ask what was happening, but she never had the chance. The vampire pulled her tightly against him, capturing her lips in a long, wet, tongue-filled kiss. As in every other encounter, Scarlett could not resist. She never managed to deny her own desires. She could taste blood mixed within his saliva, but somehow, it felt good.

When their lips finally parted, Scarlett’s eyes widened.

“Y-you...” the blonde stammered. “You’re not Julian! Who are you?”

The man was tall and strong, just like the CEO, equally handsome and seductive.

However, he had long black hair, while a beard and mustache covered much of his face, and his eyes were gray. He looked stern, dark, and cruel.

“You know who I am, Scarlett. And you know why I’m here...”

“I-I...” she stammered again. “I can’t... I don’t know...”

“That doesn’t matter. Don’t worry. I merely came to congratulate you on your engagement,” the stranger said. “I have no intention of interfering. Not tonight...”

Stepping back, Scarlett could fully observe the creature. He was broad and frightening, dressed in black garments with a fur cloak billowing as though caught in a powerful wind, just like his hair. He smiled, revealing his fangs.

“You’re... you’re a vampire... Why do you feel so familiar if I can’t remember you...?”

“That should be rather obvious. Calm yourself. You won’t remember any of this...”

Scarlett was about to ask another question when she blinked and suddenly found herself back in the restroom, everything exactly where it should have been. Before her stood only her own reflection staring back in shock and confusion. Why was she acting like that?

Picking up her small purse, Scarlett took a deep breath and left the restroom.

Her future husband stood nearby waiting for her, as handsome as ever.

“Ready?” he asked, extending his hand with a smile.

“Yes. Thank you for waiting,” she replied, still confused.

As they headed toward the helicopter, Scarlett wondered why she felt so uneasy. She could not remember anything unusual happening. What *had* happened? It would not take long for Julian to notice her racing heartbeat.

She forced herself to remember whether she had seen or spoken to anyone inside the restroom, but her recent memories seemed to have vanished. She had certainly drunk too much, and on top of that, she was exhausted. A good night’s sleep would solve everything.

Thankfully, she felt safe. Julian gave her that sense of security.

Whatever had happened was something she would eventually discover...

*In time...*