He walked into my office with an aura that screamed 'I own every room I walk into'
He had the kind of presence that didn't need to announce itself, it simply commanded attention. His footsteps were slow, deliberate, almost too perfect, as if the marble floors weren't worthy of his shoes.
I scoffed under my breath.
Of course. What else should I expect from an arrogant, self-centered, obnoxious jerk?
Everyone, meet The CEO of Draven Global Corporation. Lucien Darren. My biggest rival in the industry and, apparently, the universe's favorite way of testing my patience.
"Miss Vale." His voice was smooth, calm, the kind that rolled off his tongue like expensive whiskey. He was closer now, stopping just in front of my desk. "What an honor it is to finally meet you."
I arched my brow. "I believe we've met on countless occasions, Mr. Darren. This isn't the first, and it certainly won't be the most memorable."
He chuckled softly. "Ah, I guess my memory serves me differently, but perhaps this time will be different."
He extended his hand. I stared at it for a second before sighing and politely accepting the handshake. But the moment our skin touched, a chill raced up my arm. His hand was cold, but not the usual kind of cold. This was icy, bone-deep, kind of cold.
I had goosebumps all over my skin.
This is new.
I haven't had this kind of reaction in years.
I withdrew my hand quickly, masking my surprise behind an unimpressed expression. My eyes flicked up to study him. He wore a dark tailored suit, silver cufflinks, a faint smirk on his lips. His eyes were sharp, calculating, and yet there was something else in them. Something… off.
I sat down and crossed my legs. "I'm sure you're here for something really important, otherwise you wouldn't have come in person. So let's cut to the chase, shall we?"
Lucien chuckled again, that infuriating sound that somehow managed to be both arrogant and magnetic. He withdrew his hand, adjusted his cufflinks, and sat down opposite me, unhurried, and confident.
"I've heard so much about you, Miss Vale," he said, leaning back in the chair. "Well since we both dominate the tech industry, I thought it might be wise to share some ideas especially with the market becoming unpredictable, and let's not forget AI is evolving."
I interrupted him immediately. "We are not partners, Mr. Darren. We're not friends, not allies, we're rivals. And i don't hesitate to crush anyone who stands in my way, you included. So whatever you came here to say, I assure you, I've already heard of it."
A slow smirk curved his lips. "Are you always this feisty," he asked, "or is it just because you see me as a threat?"
I couldn't help but laugh. "A threat?" I leaned forward across the table, meeting his gaze head-on. "You don't even qualify as a challenge, Mr Darren. And the only reason I haven't completely crushed you yet is because I feel sorry for your employees. It would be tragic to see so many jobless faces at once."
I am sure he bit his lower lip deliberately, and I caught myself staring.
Damn it.
He was hot.
Focus, Sera. I scolded myself silently. You don't do humans. Especially smug, arrogant ones who make it a habit of getting on your nerves.
"I'm not your enemy," Lucien said suddenly. His voice softened, but there was something deeper in it. "Just because we're rivals doesn't mean we have to be at war."
I tilted my head, feigning boredom. "How noble of you to say Mr Darren, but unfortunately I'm not interested. If you've got so much free time on your hands, maybe you should focus on making sure Draven Global gets nominated for the Evolution Tech Awards this year. I'd hate to see your streak of never winning continue. You know my company has taken that home five years in a row."
His smirk deepened. "Confidence looks really good on you, Miss Vale."
"And arrogance looks pretty predictable on you," I shot back.
He leaned in, his eyes locking mine. For a moment, the air shifted. His gaze was steady, dark and I felt the faint hum of something wrong. The kind of wrong that whispered danger and desire in the same breath.
"There's something about you," he said quietly. "If you keep being this way with me and trying to push me off, I'll have no choice but to keep coming back. I'm attracted to intelligent women like you" He smiled faintly. "It's sexy."
My stomach twisted. "Oh my gosh. You are unbelievable."
"Guilty as charged," he said, with a wink that made me want to throw my coffee at him.
He wasn't lying, though. I could feel it, the honesty beneath the teasing, the magnetic pull. I hated that about my kind. Being a vampire also meant I could sense people's emotions, and his? They were raw, curious and frustratingly sincere.
He is going to be a problem. A beautiful, stubborn, infuriating problem.
I straightened my back and forced my voice to sound steady. "Nicole," I said, pressing the intercom button. "Get in here. Now."
She entered almost immediately, her notebook in hand. "Yes, Ms. Vale?"
"I'm done here. Mr. Darren will be taking his leave." My tone was sharp. "And from now on, no more personal meetings. I don't care who they are, even if it's the President or the Almighty himself."
Nicole blinked but quickly nodded. "Understood, ma'am."
Lucien's lips twitched in amusement. "No exceptions, huh?"
"Certainly not for you," I said flatly.
He stood up slowly, buttoning his suit jacket. "It's been fun, Miss vale." He teased, but as he turned to leave, I caught a flicker of red light in his eyes. It was quick and almost unnoticeable.
He adjusted his tie, gave a slight bow, and left without saying another word. The door clicked shut behind him, leaving the faint scent of his cologne hanging in the air. It was rich, dark, and absolutely distracting.
Nicole turned to leave, but I stopped her. "Reschedule the interviews. I can't do them today."
She hesitated. "Of course. Should I—"
"And get the car ready," I said. "I'll be going to the club. I need to check on a few things."
Her eyes flickered with concern, but she didn't argue. Instead, she nodded obediently, then turned and left.
When she left, I sank back into my chair, spinning slightly to face the skyline. For a moment, a hollow ache stirred in my chest, a flicker of something I'd buried long ago. I thought I had kept the darkness contained for years, But lately, it's been whispering again.
About thirty minutes later, Nicole returned. "The car's ready, ma'am."
"Good." I stood, grabbing my bag. "You can go home when you're done."
She smiled faintly. "Try to rest, Ms. Vale. You look… tired."
I ignored the comment. That was just Nicole, always worrying, always soft. She's the only human I've ever tolerated this long. "See you tomorrow," I muttered, brushing past her.
The elevator doors slid shut, sealing me in. The descent began smoothly until it didn't.
A sharp jolt made the lights flickered. Then everything stopped.
"Are you kidding me?" I hissed. The elevator hummed, as the air grew thicker. Then the lights began to violently flicker, over and over again.
And that's when I felt it.
That cold creeping presence crawling up my spine, as words began scratching themselves across the walls.
"Did you miss me?"
My chest tightened.
I blinked, and more words appeared, one after another, jagged and fast. The elevator jerked violently, as if it was possessed.
The temperature dropped, as frost began to appear on the metal handle.
"Not again," I whispered. "Not now."
I stared at my reflection on the metallic walls, my eyes flashing faint silver, as my skin turned pale. I dropped to my knees as the whispers grew louder, a chorus of voices screaming. The sound of scratching on the walls became unbearable, until it felt like it was inside my skull.
"Who's there?" I shouted.
No answer.
The lights exploded into a blinding flash. I covered my ears, gasping, the ring on my finger pulsing violently with energy. "Protego anima mea!" I chanted under my breath, my voice trembling. A faint golden barrier glowed around me, flickering weakly against the darkness closing in.
Then, as suddenly as it began, it went silent.
The elevator lurched once more and steadied. The lights came back on like nothing had happened. My hair clung to my face, the things in my bag scattered across the floor. My lipstick, purse, documents, and a dagger I haven't used in years.
I was still kneeling, breathing hard, when the doors slid open with a soft chime.
And there he was..
He extended a hand, his voice low, almost gentle.
"Ms. Vale," he said. "Are you all right? Do you need a hand?"