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.