CHAPTER 2

The next morning, I sat at my desk with a half-finished latte beside my keyboard, trying to focus on the endless spreadsheets glowing on my computer screen.

The office buzzed with its usual weekday rhythm—keyboards clicking nonstop, phones ringing in distant corners, coworkers whispering over reports and deadlines. Normally, the noise helped distract me.

Today, it only made me more exhausted.

I barely slept after what happened in the alley.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Lucien’s crimson gaze and blood-covered fangs flashing in the darkness. My body felt heavy, my thoughts sluggish, and the dark circles beneath my eyes were impossible to hide no matter how much concealer I used.

Then the atmosphere changed.

A strange silence spread across the office floor as Lucien walked in.

He arrived exactly ten minutes late, as if even time itself had to bend around him. His expensive black suit stood out sharply against the casual office clothes surrounding him. Without acknowledging anyone, he strode past several desks, cold and untouchable like a king entering territory he already owned.

My stomach tightened the second he stopped beside my cubicle.

He leaned casually against the partition wall, crossing his arms while silently watching me. I kept my eyes fixed on the monitor, pretending I couldn’t feel his stare burning through me.

His gaze drifted toward the latte beside my keyboard.

“Nice of you to show up on time,” he said dryly.

I clenched my jaw.

“Didn’t expect you to survive the night after making such a fuss about dying.”

I refused to answer.

Lucien stayed silent for a moment longer before his sharp eyes narrowed slightly. He noticed the dark circles under my eyes immediately. Of course he did.

“Rough night?” he asked mockingly. “Or did you spend hours crying because I wouldn’t let you commit suicide?”

Before I could respond, he pushed himself off the wall and walked around my desk. He pulled the chair across from me and sat down slowly, like he owned the entire office.

Several coworkers glanced our way before quickly pretending not to watch.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you,” Lucien said softly.

His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried enough authority to cut through every surrounding sound.

I kept staring at my computer screen.

“Those bags under your eyes are getting worse,” he continued. “Did you sleep at all?”

“No…” I muttered quietly. “I was… busy.”

His expression darkened instantly.

“Busy?” he repeated dangerously.

He leaned across the desk, invading my space so completely I could smell his expensive cologne mixed with something darker… something unnatural.

“You mean lying awake all night worrying whether I’d visit your apartment?” he whispered. “Because that’s exactly what normal people do after meeting a creature like me.”

Suddenly, his hand slammed against my desk.

My latte rattled violently beside the keyboard.

Several coworkers jumped at the noise.

“You have no idea what you’re dealing with,” Lucien continued coldly. “While you were tossing around in bed, I was handling actual problems. Problems involving corpses. Problems involving other vampires needing reminders that this territory belongs to me.”

I swallowed hard but forced myself to keep typing.

“Stop acting like you care about me,” I muttered without looking at him. “If you want my blood, then just say it. No need for all this drama.”

The room seemed to freeze.

Lucien’s jaw tightened sharply, a muscle ticking beneath his skin. For a second, I thought he might actually lose control.

“Care?” he scoffed softly. “I don’t care about you.”

He stood suddenly, towering over my desk.

“I care about what’s mine.”

Before I could react, his hand slammed down onto my keyboard hard enough to knock several keys loose. The sharp crack echoed across the office floor.

Gasps rose from nearby cubicles.

“That’s enough,” Lucien announced coldly. “We’re leaving.”

My heart skipped.

Before anyone could process what was happening, he grabbed my arm firmly.

“Lucien—no.” Panic rose in my chest as I tried pulling back. “I have work. I can give you blood later, just wait—”

His grip tightened instantly, making escape impossible.

“Work?” he repeated sharply. “Don’t insult my intelligence with that excuse again.”

Coworkers openly stared now, but nobody dared interfere.

“You think I don’t know what you’re doing?” he continued while dragging me out of my chair. “Trying to delay me until lunchtime so I’ll forget this arrangement?”

“I’m not—”

“With me,” he ordered.

Then, ignoring every protest, Lucien pulled me toward the elevator while the entire office watched in stunned silence.

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