L A T E N I G H T S E C R E T A R Y

8 - Painful Departure

The next day Tyler was called over to Jeff's office. "I removed you from your post as Director Polverini's secretary, Tyler." Jeff declared suddenly.

"What... so quick?" Tyler replied still shocked at the outcome from the night before.

Jeff ignored the question and continued. "For the time being the secretarial duties of Jared's private secretary will be divided between everyone at the secretarial office. We'll use the health reasons excuse. I want you to have some rest from this company. In the meantime I'll take care of the formalities and reappointment order. I know he drinks your blood on a regular basis, now. But, I think that even if you aren't here he won't feel too strained. He'll just have to go back to his old feeding schedule six months ago. He'll need some to readjust, of course."

"Umm... Manager... I- I'm terribly sorry. " Tyler stated suddenly flustered and panicked. "I shouldn't have said something like that to you. You were too kind to me before so I accidentally let such a complaint slip. Since, you're the only one who's aware of mine and the Director's situation, Manager... I'm really sorry that I caused such a problem to the company. I understand that it's completely improper behavior for an adult. And there's the issue of the opening for the new department. It's a critical time for the company and the Director, and I..." Tyler was looking down hiding his pain. He continued talking until Jeff cut in.

"What exactly did you do to say you caused the company problems? Don't take other people's judgment to heart. To other people this might be just an "affair" but for you it might become a wound that you'll carry for the rest of your life. You took on everything that's happened until now, so who can even say you're irresponsible? No problem for this company is worth destorying yourself over. You're a perfect employee. Losing you will be very painful for the company. So, please consider this as an order from me. Leave, Jared. And don't worry about your mother. I will place her under my protection, I give you my word."

To that statement Tyler's eyes widened in astonishment. "Manager, you knew...?"

"Umm, not really. But I know my little brother, and he wouldn't have missed a chance at threatening you. He never easily lets go of the tools he uses."

'Tools?' Tyler felt a throb of pain at hearing that. He loved Jared, and knew damn well that he was just being used. But hearing it from someone else's mouth makes it sound as if he's even more pathetic than he thought.

Jeff abruptly stood up and lowered his head in submission. "I'm so sorry!!" He yelled so suddenly stirring the younger man from his thoughts.

"...Manager..." Tyler was so shocked at seeing his superior in such a display.

" ... Truth is... I'm the one who acts on his feelings and not just at being part of this company. As Jared's older brother I need to do everything I can about you." Jeff replied not even able to look at the other man's eyes.

After that Tyler walked out of Jeff's office, and as he entered the secretarial office he was immediately bombarded with his fellow co-workers. They kept reassuring him that they would take care of everything. They even told him repeatedly to rest, and that it was understandable after hearing rumors about Jared that anyone could get tired of him. Feeling touched at their efforts Tyler couldn't refuse. 'If I refuse them they'll think that I just don't trust them. So...I really couldn't say a thing.'

Tyler thought morosely as he entered the first door you go through before you enter Jared's office. He walked over to Jared's office and stared longingly at the empty desk, and went back to his own desk. 'Being the Director's secretary is a challenge, but I don't want to quit my job. I keep thinking there are just things only I can do as his secretary... For example, I know that he's a vampire so I can prepare the perfect schedule for him so that he won't have to move around so much in the sun. And preparing his 'meals'...' Tyler looked back at his planner and realized that Jared had a meal scheduled for today, and felt another small pain in his chest. 'So what.... I'm just going to keep watching him flirt with different kinds of people. Sitting here, and I just rearrange his schedule from time to time... And after every damn time he just comes back to me to take some blood. And I'll just sit and wait...?' Tyler removed his glasses and began to rub his eyes frustrated at himself.

Later on, Jared came back and Tyler told him of his 'absence' from now on. "Absence?"

"I realize that this is quite sudden, so please, excuse me. It has already been decided that during my absence everyone at the secretarial office will pitch in, in my place." Tyler replied coolly with practiced ease. 'I'm lying... This is going to actually be the last time I'll ever see the Director.'

Out of the blue, Jared suddenly walked over to him and grabbed the green eyed man's chin to turn it to his direction. "Are you ill?" He asked speculatively as he continued to turn the other man's face. "Is this because of last night?" Jared asked concerned and began to look deeply into the smaller man's eyes. He began to tilt Tyler's head more and was only a hair's breath away from meeting his secretary's lips with his own. Until he suddenly turned away as if burned. "Fine, your free. It's not like the company's going to crash and burn just because you've stopped working." Jared growled and lit a smoke turned his back to Tyler.

'So that's it...I at least wanted one last kiss before...' Tyler pushed his feelings and schooled his face into his 'secretary' mask. "Because I'm going to be absent, Director. I've scheduled a few meals ahead of time. Your next one is Ms. Jenine-" Tyler declared, but was cut short by Jared.

"No, not that one. Her father's business is failing, and the utility value is dropping. Her blood was only so-so. Pretty and not too stupid. But that's all there was to her."

'So once they're not useful, he just throws' em away like dish rags. That's all human's are to him... And I'll be just like them... Sooner or later...'

"Then... I'll rearrange your feeding schedule. I'll also make sure to tell the other secretaries that the office you use for your meetings needs to be open at all times." Tyler went through his work mechanically putting all his focus into it that he never realized Jared was staring at him the entire time. As Tyler excused himself Jared was left alone in his office.

"So that's it..." Jared said not really addressing anyone and suddenly Tyler's face began to form in his head. He landed his fist down hard on the window behind his desk. "Dammit! He's just another human... just another..." Jared kept repeating until he was satisfied. When he heard Tyler leave he spent a few minutes regarding what had happened. Suddenly, rising from his relaxed state he stomped over to his brother's office, and slammed the door open. Not caring at all that his brother was busy or not. "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?!?" He yelled fury blazing in his eyes.

"This? " Jeff questioned calmly as if trying to calm a wild animal which his little brother was beginning to look more similar if the red in his eyes were anything to go by.

"YOU are the one who reappointed MY secretary!" Jared replied barely holding back his anger. His posture screamed attack. Both his hands were placed on the desk in front of him and he looked menacing.

"I am in charge of human resources, you know. I was only doing my job."

"No, you weren't!.. You are trying to separate him from me." Jared declared the last statement slowly as if trying to explain to a dimwit which his older brother wasn't.

"Nothing of the sort-" Jeff said until Jared suddenly grabbed his collar hauling the man over the desk.

"HE IS MINE!" Jared continued to pull Jeff up until his brother inches from his face. "And you know how much I hate it when other people mess with my property!"

"Wow, Jared. You are so attached to him that it's reached to this degree." Jeff exclaimed calmly looking straight at Jared as if he could see right to his soul. Jared released the older man at that statement and began to try and compose himself. "You've never reacted like this to any 'mere human' before. I thought it was an impossibility for you. Are you in love with him? Or prehaps... is he your destined like mother and father?"

"Hmph, now that is impossible." Jared began to turn his back on his brother.

"Really? I thought so, too." Jeff watched his younger brother pace as if he were a tiger in a cage. "Tyler, isn't really the type of person you'd normally date. What you look for in your 'dates' is first their looks, if they can be useful, and then their qualities. It's more comfortable for you when you have someone diplomatic you can use. Such people are more fun and are less trouble. Tyler is an excellent young man, but he isn't like that. He may stand out, but he is more down to earth. He was trying to be the best secretary for you. You should've never even tried to lay a finger on him. Both of us misjudged his courage."

"Courage?" Jared finally turned to his brother with a curious look on his face.

"Yes... so he could continue to carry out his duties, he made sure not to make any trouble for you. He offered you his blood even though he knew what kind of person you are. He also knew very well that you were only using him to make yourself comfortable. Besides weren't you touched by his unexpected actions? That the first time that's ever happened to you?"

"Don't be an idiot." This time Jared turned his back again.

"What else would you call such a feeling of attachment?"

"How many times do I have to repeat myself! Impossible! He was good at his job, and his blood was unusual. I just thought it would be a pity to lose him. And I didn't come for his sake, I came because I hate your methods." Jared looked at his brother straight in the eyes as if to prove his point, and began to walk away.

"He asked me to save him from you..." To that statement Jared stopped right in his tracks knowing his elder brother wasn't done yet. "He was scared to stand by your side, any longer. It doesn't matter if there was any special attachment between you two... But as long as you keep holding on to your pride as a vampire you'll only make Tyler suffer. He'll drift away from you, not right away, but slowly and surely. I'm even planning to move him away from headquarters." Jared's eyes widened and his entire body tensed at hearing that. Jeff could see his younger brother's sudden stiffness. "Jared, you aren't attached to him because his blood is special. You have special feelings for him... After all, isn't that what makes his blood special?" Jared looked at his brother again and his face turned from a grimace to a smug smirk.

"You're an idiot." Jared stated and slammed the door shut as he walked away. He continued stomping down the hall with a determined expression on his face.

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At the Allyn's house, Tyler was in his dark blue pajamas with a gray shirt that stretched across his chest to show well defined muscles and arms. He was reading over his planner for Jared for the second time since he arrived. 'He has a meeting tomorrow with another company president. I prepared the data for him so he should be alright. Director... he's probably in his office by now.' Tyler thought with a dreamy look on his face.

"Ty, are you still going through that planner?" Donna asked and jolted Tyler out of his thoughts. "You took this break so you could rest for awhile since you're over worked. So, shouldn't you actually be resting?"

"Yeah..." He scolded himself silently and jumped with his phone began to ring. When he checked the caller ID it was Jared. "Yes, Tyler here."

"It's me. I'm down here. Come out." Was all Tyler heard when Jared hung up.

"Um, hello...?" Tyler couldn't even get a word in, and was completely confused and began to worry about his state of dress and just grabbed a coat. "Mom, I'm going out."

"Are you alright?" His mother asked worriedly surprised at her son's eagerness to get out.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just need some fresh air." He replied after finally tying his shoes and walked right out to be met with the sight of Jared leaning by his car taking a smoke. When he finally reached Jared the other man began to make conversation.

"How's your health? "

"Umm, fine. Thanks for asking. Umm, about the company..." Tyler trailed off wondering if that was the reason for his boss's visit.

"No problems there. Some inconveniences, but nothing we couldn't handle. Everything pretty much ended up the way before you were there."

"Oh, okay... And how was work today?" Not getting an answer Tyler said something else to cover up the awkward silence. "...Do you need blood?" Tyler asked with a hopeful look on his face.

Jared grabbed the smaller man and pulled him closer chest to chest. "If you offer yourself to me so freely, then why the hell are you trying to separate yourself from me? You like it when I take your blood, and you thought your job was worth doing. Why are you throwing this all away and separating yourself from me?" Jared asked fiercely and looked at his secretaries brilliant emerald eyes. After a moment he took the other man's lips and plunged his tongue deep into Tyler's mouth leaving him breathless, and began to lick a line from Tyler neck to his ear. "Why the sudden departure my Sweet Boy?"

'No...' Tyler was protesting weakly. 'No... I'll...surrender to this man.' He was shaking and fighting from all the things that he felt because of what Jared was doing to him. "Please, stop!" He pushed the taller man away. "That's why... I hate it when you do these things to me that are completely against my feelings!" 'It's a lie... My hearts wants you more than my body!' "I feel really bad about leaving my work halfway through. I'm also sorry for not being able to no longer do anything about your hunger-"

"Don't get above yourself!" Jared sneered and continued on, "You were a perfect secretary. You blood was special.. BUT!... Do you really think I'll keep chasing after you? It'll be a little inconvenient. That's all. I can always replace you with another human. If you don't work for me... then I have no more need for you!"

Tyler was shocked and completely paralyzed by the statement. Jared drove away leaving Tyler in the middle of the drive way. 'I am such an idiot... I... Somewhere in my heart I believed that he needed me. I thought he couldn't do without me... But he just... threw me away..' Tyler felt his legs give way and sagged on the concrete. 'The Director... left me... I...'