An unexpected guest
1137 Words
“Well? I came all this way, and I haven't met all these old friends for a long time. But you don't even offer me a drink?”
Susanna smiled as she spoke. Her red lips parted just slightly.
“Are you invited for this meeting?” Richard said in a tone with an easy amusement.
“Oh, come on. Since when do we need appointments?” She arched a delicate brow, voice dripping with lazy confidence. The words sounded like a game being played, but actually more like... a flirt. Then, finally, her attention dropped on me who sat beside Richard. “New assistant? Doesn’t know her place?”
Excuse me? I don’t even know who you are. You are not on the list.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, but keeping my expression normal. Under the table, my fingers cannot resist touching the small glass bottle in my pocket—the cool surface of the holy water pressing into my skin, grounding me with firm and calm.
“Bernice.”
A low voice whispered my name.
Before I could react, an ice-cold hand closed around my wrist.
Cold!
Instinct screamed at me to pull away. But before I could, something even stranger happened—his fingers… warmed. The freezing touch faded, replaced by a slow, creeping heat. A steady pulse.
Impossible.
Vampires weren’t warm. Vampires shouldn’t have regularly normal heartbeats.
I looked up, locking eyes with Richard.
“Susanna likes her coffee black. No sugar, no cream.” He reminded me with calmness.
…Was he warning me or saving me?
Swallowing my questions, I quickly stood up and went to make the coffee. After all, it was my job.
Behind me, Susanna’s voice drifted through the room. “Richard, you really should hire smarter people.”
Okay, what the hell is her problem now?
Around the table, the other executives barely reacted. They kept their eyes on their reports, murmuring among themselves, as if this little exchange didn’t concern them. But out of the corner of my eye, I saw Thomas, the company’s VP, frown slightly.
“She just started this morning. Don’t be so harsh.” Richard said mildly to Susanna. Then, after a beat, he added, “You’re still the same as before.”
Before?
I carried the coffee over with the silver tray. If Susanne was really a vampire, even touching the metal should make her flinch.
But she didn’t.
She took the cup without hesitation, her fingers touching the silver edge at ease. Nothing happened. No reaction. No pain. Not even a flicker of discomfort.
She took a slow sip, then tilted her head, a sense of satisfaction playing on her lips.
“Alright, let’s start.” Richard redirected the conversation, saving me from answering.
I returned to my seat.
Outside, the skyline stretched beyond the glass walls, morning sunlight lying in sharp angles across the polished table. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of coffee, fruit tea, paper, and morning freshness.
The meeting began.
“Next season, we’ll be expanding our clinical trials, with an expected two thousand volunteers.”
The HR director’s words echoed through the conference room.
A routine update, nothing unusual.
At least, that’s what I thought.
Then I caught Mark, the head of R&D, smiling.
Just the faintest curve of his lips. Eyeglasses. It reminded me of Michael.
“Who exactly are these volunteers?” I asked.
Silence.
For a single second, the air in the room frozen.
I felt my face heat. Did I just ask the wrong question?
“The details are in the report, you should read it beforehand.” Mark adjusted his glasses, “All volunteers meet medical eligibility criteria. Different age groups, closely monitored. After taking the new medicine, they’ll undergo routine blood tests.”
Blood tests.
Something in my gut twisted.
“I don’t agree with this.”
The voice was calm.
It was Thomas. The vice president.
He leaned forward, fingers laced together, brown eyes strict.
“Mass blood testing is risky,” he said slowly and firmly, “I reviewed Mark’s report. This trial includes high-risk groups—pregnant women, minors, and disabled. If anything goes wrong, we will be accused of violating medical ethics. And if we adjust our screening criteria, costs will be high—screening, compensation, hospital care. Richard, you know this. But more importantly—”
He left the words unsettle.
Then, his gaze swept across the table.
“Are we really just testing a new drug? Or are we looking for something else?”
Something else?
A piece of something passed over everyone’s face.
Richard broke the silence with a small nod. “A good point. Large trials could attract unnecessary attention. But we still need enough data on the new formula. You know this, Thomas.”
A pause. Then, “Mark, adjust the trial. Reduce the participants. Remove sensitive groups. Strengthen data security.”
Mark didn’t argue. Just noted it down.
Thomas was still lazily in his chair. He looked like he wanted to say more, but in the end, he didn’t.
I studied him.
He's human.
I was sure of it.
If there really were vampires in this company, did Thomas know?
And if he didn’t—how long before he found out?
“If there are no further concerns, let’s continue.” Richard said.
I lowered my gaze, pretending to focus on the papers in front of me. But then—
I felt it.
A stare.
Susanna.
Again.
This time, she looked… intrigued.
Like she was waiting for something.
“Bernice, what was your major?” Her voice was almost casual.
“…Philosophy.” I didn’t know why she asked.
Her smile deepened, eyes gleamed. “Then tell me. What’s your opinion about this matter?”
"Susanna," Richard frowned, “Let’s move on.”
"I want to hear."
The room went silent again.
Every eye turned toward me.
She kept pushing, again and again. But why me?
Richard shot her a warning look. Thomas glanced at me carefully. Mark’s pen paused mid-motion.
If she thought I was a soft little bunny, then she's completely wrong. The gene of a vampire hunter gifted me anger now. Then, meeting Susanna’s gaze directly, I said—
“If you want a business or scientific perspective, I’m not the right person. If you want an ethical and philosophical discussion, I don't think I need to waste everyone’s time now like you do. If you’re really that curious, we can talk in private.”
“Oh my...” Thomas widened his eyes.
Then, Susanna laughed.
Low. Amused. Playful.
“Interesting. Not a bad material.”
I didn’t like the way she said it. Neither the way she looked at me.
Like she had just found a new toy.
A new prey.
- Writer
