Bloodbound Desires (Vampire Romance)

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"Hi, I'm Elena Beaumont," I introduced myself, hoping to project confidence despite the jittery feeling in my stomach.

The receptionist glanced down at her notes and replied curtly, "Take the elevator to the 23rd floor and report to the highest office there."

"Thanks!" I said, trying to muster some enthusiasm. Yet, as I stood there, I hesitated, pondering whether I should just leave altogether. It struck me as odd; why was Neo James so determined to keep me around? What could a vampire want with me? Did he want something as mundane as my blood, or was there something deeper at play?

"The lifts are over there," the woman said pointedly, drawing my attention to the elevator when she noticed I hadn't made any move to go.

I made my way toward the elevator, the doors sliding open as I approached. Instinctively, I hurried inside and pressed the button for the 23rd floor. While waiting for the elevator to reach my destination, I pulled out my phone and quickly checked my appearance—my hair, my makeup—nervous yet somewhat satisfied with the reflection staring back at me. I slipped the phone back into my purse just as the doors opened again. This was it; it was now or never. I was about to face him, the vampire who had haunted my thoughts ever since our first encounter, and the anticipation was almost overwhelming.

As I stepped into the bustling office, I again said, "I'm Elena Beaumont," but my greeting went unnoticed in the whirlwind of activity around me.

"You're ten minutes late," complained the receptionist, her tone sharp and unforgiving.

"I know," I stammered, trying to keep my composure.

Just then, Neo approached with an air of authority. "No need to speak to Ms. Beaumont like that, Tracey. Go arrange my morning coffee," he instructed her dismissively. Turning to me, his demeanour softened slightly as he asked, "Would you like anything, Ms. Beaumont? Perhaps a coffee to perk you up?"

"Coffee would be nice. Just with milk and two sugars, please! No iced coffee," I replied eagerly, recalling an unpleasant experience from the past. "I tried that once and threw it up..." My face flushed as I realized I had started rambling, nerves getting the better of me yet again. Neo smiled, obviously enjoying the sight of my discomfort, and he signalled for Tracey to leave us alone for a moment.

"Where should I go now?" I asked hesitantly, avoiding his intense gaze.

"Oh yes, let me show you around," he said, taking the lead. He gestured toward an office door and opened it. "This is yours; mine is just next door."

"And Natalie's?" I inquired, curious about my stepsister's whereabouts.

"Oh, she's on a different floor," he answered, seeming a bit distracted.

Curiosity tinged my voice as I stepped cautiously into my new office. "What will I do here?" I asked, taking in my surroundings, which were far more impressive than I'd anticipated.

"You'll follow me everywhere to learn how I run my business," he replied confidently.

"Like an assistant?" I asked, trying to make sense of what my role would entail.

"I already have one," he stated, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Your father owns a business, so I thought this would be beneficial for you, giving you a chance to learn the ins and outs of running one too."

Just then, Tracey returned, balancing two cups of coffee in her hands. "Let's go to my office first," she said firmly.

A bit of hot coffee unexpectedly splashed onto my hand as Tracey handed me my cup. I quickly set it down, wincing as I inspected the burn.