MATTHEW: Devilish Love

chapter 2: Gabrielle's New nightmare

Gabrielle's POV

I managed to escape Julian's determined dragging and ducked into the restroom to catch my breath. My heart was still pounding from the confrontation with Matthew earlier.

Bloodred espresso? I laughed at myself, staring at my reflection. What kind of twisted coffee was that? But in the back of my mind, I knew-this was no ordinary job, and my new boss was no ordinary CEO.

I straightened my blazer and slapped my cheeks lightly. "You got this, Gabrielle," I muttered. "He's just a brooding, centuries-old vampire. No big deal."

I stepped back out into the hallway, trying to ignore the curious stares from other employees who had obviously overheard the shouting match between Julian and Matthew. I needed to get back to work, but the pit in my stomach wouldn't let me forget that terrifying glare he gave me when his eyes turned red.

Snap out of it, I scolded myself. I made my way toward Matthew's office, clutching a new cup of coffee in hand-just a regular black coffee this time, no weird orders.

I paused at the door, took a deep breath, and knocked. There was no response. That's odd. I knocked again, louder this time, and was met with silence. My heartbeat quickened as I slowly turned the knob and peeked inside.

The sight that greeted me made me freeze.

Matthew was lounging casually in his leather chair, his feet propped up on the desk. He held a delicate wine glass, swirling the deep red liquid inside. For a moment, I thought it was just wine. But as he brought it to his lips and took a sip, I realized it wasn't wine at all.

The thick crimson liquid left a trail down his sharp jaw, and he licked it off slowly, savoring it with a satisfied sigh. My breath hitched. He's drinking blood.

His eyes snapped to me, those deep ocean-blue irises turning a dangerous shade of crimson. "Enjoying the show, Miss Gabrielle?" he drawled, his voice low and mocking.

My hands trembled, and I nearly dropped the coffee cup. I couldn't look away from the glass in his hand, the blood swirling like a dark secret.

"I-uh..." I stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

He chuckled darkly, the sound vibrating through the room. "You mortals are always so predictable. You stumble upon a vampire's meal, and suddenly your brains turn to mush." He leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving mine. "Tell me, Gabrielle, are you frightened?"

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe. "I-I'm not frightened," I lied. "Just... surprised, that's all."

Matthew's lips curled into a smirk. He set the glass down on his desk, the blood sloshing against the sides like wine. "Surprised? How cute." He stood up, moving towards me with the grace of a predator. "You're in my territory now, Gabrielle. You should be very afraid."

I backed up instinctively, but the door was already closed behind me. I was trapped. My heart pounded in my chest like a drumbeat, and my hands gripped the coffee cup so tightly I thought it might shatter.

"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" He was inches away from me now, his cold breath tickling my skin.

"I-uh, I just brought your coffee, sir," I managed to squeak out, holding up the cup like a peace offering.

He looked at the cup and then back at me, his eyes narrowing with amusement. "You think I need coffee, Gabrielle?" He chuckled, the sound sending chills down my spine. "I have a much more... satisfying beverage." He lifted the glass of blood slightly, smirking at my horrified expression.

I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment and fear. "Well, I thought I'd try," I muttered, feeling foolish.

Suddenly, the amusement vanished from his face. He leaned closer, his nose almost brushing my cheek, inhaling deeply. "You smell... delectable," he murmured, his voice low and dangerous. "Maybe I should have a taste?"

I froze, my breath caught in my throat. Was he serious? My entire body tensed as his hand reached out, gently trailing a finger down my neck. The touch was cold, like ice, and it sent shivers racing across my skin.

"Relax, Gabrielle," he whispered. "If I wanted to drain you dry, I would have done it already."

I forced a nervous laugh. "That's... reassuring," I said, taking a step back. "I'll just leave this here." I set the coffee cup on his desk, avoiding his gaze.

As I turned to leave, he called out, "Miss Gabrielle."

I paused, my hand on the door handle. "Yes, sir?"

"Close the door behind you," he said, lifting the glass of blood to his lips. "And next time, knock before you enter."

I nodded quickly, opening the door and slipping out without another word. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest. I leaned against the wall outside his office, trying to steady my breathing.

What the hell just happened? I pressed a hand to my racing heart, feeling the cold sweat on my skin.

This job was going to be the death of me-if Matthew didn't kill me first.

As I stumbled back to my desk, I couldn't shake the image of him with that blood-filled glass. The way he looked at me, like I was something he wanted to devour. I shuddered, rubbing my arms.

And yet, despite the fear, a tiny part of me was intrigued. What the hell is wrong with you, Gabrielle? I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts. This was not the time to develop a weird fascination with a vampire boss.

Julian appeared from around the corner, a smirk on his face. "You look like you've seen a ghost," he teased.

"Not a ghost," I muttered. "Something much worse."

He raised an eyebrow, leaning closer. "Oh, what did our dear Matthew do this time?"

I hesitated, then shrugged. "Let's just say... I caught him enjoying a special 'beverage.'"

Julian's eyes widened in realization, and he let out a bark of laughter. "Oh, you poor thing. Welcome to Gorvell Enterprises, where the boss has... unusual tastes."

"Unusual is an understatement," I grumbled.

Julian grinned, clapping me on the back. "Don't worry, Gabrielle. You'll get used to it. Or die trying." He winked.

I rolled my eyes. "Gee, thanks for the pep talk."

"Anytime," Julian said with a chuckle. "Now come on, let's get you a proper coffee before you faint. You'll need it to survive the rest of the day."

I sighed and nodded, following him down the hallway. It was only my first day, and I already had more than I bargained for.

===
Unfortunately I mixed up the chapters 😭😭
Anyway this is the second chapter and the previous one is the fourth chapter
Pardon me I was too hurry to update 😅🤸