Caught Between Two Second Chance Loves

Chapter 7 - Get a job.

A month and a half had passed, and the season grew colder. The air started to feel dense and icy as the winter months were approaching, leaving Luci feeling a bit blue about the upcoming holidays. It always reminded her of her family.

When the churches started adopting holidays like Christmas, Halloween, and Easter, she always wished she could spend them with her family. It seemed silly because she didn’t grow up on that kind of traditional thinking, but she did love the idea of it. Presents, food, family, or costumes, stories, decorations.

It was also the time of year when visiting students would return home for a short period of time. Raven and Max would both be leaving and heading back home for a few weeks. Max had invited Luci to his home but she declined, feeling it was too soon to meet his family, but also because she didn’t want to be surrounded by someone else’s family while missing her own.

Walking down the soon to be abandoned campus, Luci was lost in thought. Remembering when she came across the chard remains of her family farm. It was completely destroyed when she had escaped and finally returned. She remembered being chased by Henry’s father, the Duke, while him and his men were on horseback tracking her down. Henry had helped her escape them, evading them as best as possible. It was hard to tell since Luci was crying the entire time.

Sighing to herself, she found herself outside one of Henry’s blood banks. She had walked off campus and straight to his building without realizing it. Henry had offered her a job when he had returned, but she didn’t take it right away. Not wanting to be around her kind all the time helped her feel human, but he did offer the best pay, as well as making sure she had blood to drink. He also promised it wouldn’t interrupt her studies.

Staring at the door for a moment, building up the courage to enter into a vampire infested building. She may be their species, but that doesn’t stop them from spotting our weakness. And attacking.

Luci walked into the very bland looking building and into a very spacious, white, and pleasing lobby. A receptionist sat at a large marble top desk, taking care of a few people. Red velvet ropes separated lines and blocked doorways that were inaccessible to nonemployees. A few plants are scattered in different corners to keep the place looking alive.

She stepped into the queue and waited her turn, growing nervous. Would Henry still honor his word and give her a job? Would the receptionist turn her away? Questions flooded her head, making her dizzy.

“Miss, can I help you?” The receptionists sweet voice called her back. Luci stepped up to her, trying to remove the thoughts.

“Hi, Uh, I was wondering if Henry Cadmus was in. You see, I'm his friend and –“

“Of course, Miss Lucille, he should be in his office.” She interrupted, giving her a sweet smile and taking her shaking hand firmly, but gently to calm her down. “It’s the 3rd floor, second door on the right. You should be able to just walk right in.”

She released Luci’s hand and then went back to her work. Feeling the overwhelming calmness, she thanked her and then headed to the elevator, feeling relaxed. She got on and headed to the 3rd floor, feeling better. Henry kept his promise.

Exiting the elevator, she headed to the second door on the right, seeing another smaller reception desk in front but empty. Probably on break, Luci shrugged and walked into the office. “Henry?”

Luci was met by two people bent over Henry’s desk, pants, and skirts to their ankles. Not even phased by her intrusion, Henry continued to slam into the woman who was crying out in pleasure.

Completely red, Luci ran out of the room embarrassed for herself, slamming the door by mistake. She quickly ran to the elevators with tears in her eyes, calling it back. She pressed the button repeatedly until the light chimed and the doors opened.

“Luci?” Henry was in the elevator when the door opened, carrying files and his case. “What’s wrong?” He hurried off the elevator and threw his things on the desk.

“I -you…but…” Luci stammered, completely confused. Henry wiped her eyes with his handkerchief from his breast pocket. “I saw you in there!” She finally got out, gripping his hand and pointing to his office.

“Okay, well, that doesn’t explain why you’re crying.” He sat on the desk and pulled her close, holding her hands. “What happened?”

Before Luci could answer, the woman came out, fixing herself, startled by Henry. “Sir?!” Her voice nearly cracked as she whipped her head back towards the room.

The other man appeared, but he no longer looked like Henry. It was Antonio, the Spanish vampire who tried to r**e Luci so long ago. A huge smirk across his face as he passed the woman to the hallway.

"Ah, Luci. I thought I smelled your sweet scent atound." Antonio was tall like Henry but built a bit smaller. He had long light brown hair that curled all the way down. A strong jaw, given Luci, had punched him before. He was handsome, but he was handsy and a shapeshifter.

A low growl came from Luci, but Henry snapped. "Who the f**k said you two could be in my office?!"

"Relax, she didn't know I was pretending to be you. Besides, there's no mess."

"I'll say..." The woman said, crossing her arms.

Sighing heavily, Henry sent her home for the rest of the day before turning to Antonio. "I brought you here to help out, not help yourself. If you're going to get with anyone, do it off my property and after hours."

Luci had never seen Henry so in charge. He was commanding before, but this was different. Usually, anything Antonio or Etienne did, he'd ignore.

"Yes, boss. It won't happen again." He raised his hands as to surrender before heading to the elevator.

"Also, please refrain from shifting into me. It's creepy, and I don't like it when my workers think I'm hitting on them."

Antonio rolled his eyes. He looked at Luci and winked before stepping onto the elevator.

Shivering from the wink, Henry wrapped an arm around Luci before leading her into his office. "What about your paperwork?" She asked as he closed the door, grabbing some cleaner and rag he had stored away.

"Amanda can take care of that when she returns." He didn't look up as he cleaned his desk off, removing anything he could see before putting his stuff away. "What brings you here? And sorry for what you saw. That was clearly not my intention." He sat at his desk, gesturing to the chair in front of him.

Luci sat down, taking a breath. "I want to apply to work here. You still have a position open, right?"

Henry smiled sweetly. "Of course. What changed your mind, if I may ask?"

"Well, I need to do something to keep me busy over the holidays. Since everyone is leaving, I will be alone. But I won't stop once school starts. My schedule is mostly a few days a week next semester, so I can still work." Luci was fidgeting in her seat. She was never really good with interviews, but she always did best when she showed them what she could do. Photography, cooking, baking, some metal working. But because of her life, she had started over in the working process so as not to cause suspicion to non-vampire communities.

"Sounds fair. You can be my assistant and start tomorrow. Come in dressed appropriately and at 4 o'clock in the afternoon." Henry pulled out some paperwork for her to sign, handing them to her with a pen.

"Your assistant? But isn't that Amanda?"

Henry shook his head. "She my receptionist, she does somethings but an assistant will be by my side the entire time while she stays here. Well, at her desk. I'll get a setup for you here in my office as well."

Luci signed his papers and handed them back. "Is there anything else you need me to do?"

"Do you have clothes that fit this environment?" He put the papers away, turning his attention to Luci as he stared into her eyes. His hand on his chin, slightly covering his mouth.

"Uh, well, not anymore, really. But I can get some by tomorrow." She hoped. Her bank account was running a bit thin until next semester. Which meant she could probably get an outfit or two from a thrift store nearby.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, taking out two cards.

"Henry I -"

"I don't want to hear it. You're not wearing thrift store or cheap clothing. You will get a few appropriate outfits and shoes for here. I know you like your boots, but not here, love." He stood up and walked around the desk, sitting down in front of her on the desk. He took her hand and placed the cards in her palm, folding her fingers over them so she had to take them.

Reluctantly, she took them. "Are you sure?" Holding them in her hand still as she looked up at him. "I can't pay you back unless you take it out of my check."

"Nonsense, I don't want the money back. Think of it as a birthday gift for all the ones I missed." He smiled, still staring into her eyes.

A knock on the door drew his attention away. He sighed and then stood up, holding a hand out for her. Luci put the cards into her wallet and took his hand, helping her up. He walked her to the door. "Remember, tomorrow at 4. Be in my office, okay?" His voice was stern, sending shivers down her spine. He always sounded sweet to her, but when he was demanding or, in this case, stern, his voice always made her quiver.

Nodding to him, he opened the door to reveal Antonio and another woman at the door. She was nearly the same height as Luci, but with heels on. She was slender in a tight red dress that held nothing to the imagination. Her platinum blonde hair dangled around her shoulders and down to her waist, makeup plastered to her face to hide her age.

"Look who I found, your wife." Antonio smirked. It was hard to tell if he was joking or not, but a lump hit Luci in the chest.

"I said I would meet you both in the car." Henry nearly growled. "Wait here while I take her out." Henry gripped Luci's waist, directing her past them and to the elevator. He stepped inside with her, heading down. He didn't say a word on the way down.

"Was he joking?" Luci finally spoke, a pit of jealousy slowly growing. She knew it wasn't her business because she was seeing someone else, but it still bothered her. She was still unsure of her relationship with Max as to if she actually cared for him or liked the fact he looked like her past lover, Oliver. He wasn't like Oliver, but he was sweet. Yet, he was very forward and sometimes pushy. That was another reason why Luci didn't want to go with him. She needed space.

"Don't concern yourself with Antonio and his irritating endeavors. It'll just make working here a chore." He stared forward. Luci pressed the emergency stop button, haunting the elevator. "Luci?"

"Who is she?" She demanded, turning to him.

He heaved a heavy sigh, looking her in the eye. "Yes, I'm married, but it's strictly business."

The pit in her stomach grew, releasing the button.