I stepped out as soon as the car came to a stop. My heels clicking sharply against the polished marble, as I walked straight towards the private elevator that led to my office floor. Another perk of being the boss, was that I didn’t have to share my space with anyone.

No. I don’t hate humans, I just don’t like being around them. They are loud, greedy, emotional, fragile things that don’t know anything about what real power means. But unfortunately, they are necessary and I have to deal with them every day.

One time, I tried to be like them, but that didn’t end well either.

The elevator doors slid open, revealing Nicole, my ever-efficient PA standing by with a steaming cup in her hand. Her blonde hair was perfectly pinned, her smile bright, and her posture straight, like she’d been waiting for me all morning.

“Good morning, Ms. Vale,” she greeted sweetly, holding out the cup. “Black coffee. Extra hot, just how you like it.”

I took it without saying a word and brushed past her, sipping as I walked. The bitterness hit my tongue like sweet comfort.

“I called you multiple times this morning,” she began, following closely behind. “But you didn’t pick up.”

“I didn’t want to,” I said flatly.

She sighed quietly and moved on. “You have a meeting with the marketing team at ten to finalize the beauty product line designs. Then at twelve, there’s a board meeting regarding the proposed merger with Wilson Global—”

I stopped in my tracks. “What merger?”

She blinked, checking her tablet. “The proposal that came in last month? The board’s been—”

“Scrap it,” I cut her off, turning towards my office. “Tell the board it’s cancelled.”

Nicole hesitated, visibly torn. “Ma’am, everyone’s been looking forward to this. It’s not something you can just—”

I turned sharply, my tone cold. “Nicole, I don’t remember paying you to argue with me or offer opinions on how I run my empire. You’re paid to do what I ask, Unless you’re tired of working for me, in which case—”

Her eyes widened. “No, ma’am. Of course not. I’ll inform them right away.”

“Good,” I said, pushing open my office door. “Now since my twelve o’clock is free, I want Thai food for lunch.”

“Actually,” she said hesitantly, “Mr. Lucien’s meeting has been moved up to twelve. He’s been on the waiting list for months.”

I groaned, setting the coffee down on my glass desk. “What does he want this time?”

“He didn’t say,” she replied carefully. “But he insisted it was urgent. And since you’ve postponed three times already…”

I waved a dismissive hand. “Fine. But tell him he’s got only thirty minutes. Nothing more.”

Nicole nodded, relief flooding her face. “Yes, ma’am. You also have a few interviews this afternoon. Nothing too serious.”

“Good,” I murmured, turning my chair towards the window.

That was her cue to leave, but before she could, I added, “And Nicole?”

“Yes ma’am?”

“Change those damn heels. They sound horrible and they’re giving me a headache.”

Her face turned pink. “Of course, Ms. Vale.” She bowed her head slightly and left the room.

The moment the door clicked shut, I let out a long sigh and sank back in my chair. I looked down at the silver ring on my hand, twisting it absentmindedly between my fingers.

Outside the window, the city looked beautiful, the golden sunlight spilling over the glass towers, the faint hum of traffic below. Everything looked perfect.

Everything except me.

Soon it was time for the ten o’clock meeting, and Nicole came to get me.

The moment I entered the boardroom, the air shifted. Every conversation died instantly and every head turned in my direction, and the silence that followed was almost reverent or fearful. I couldn’t tell anymore.

I smirked. I love fear.

“Good morning, Ms. Vale,” the head of the marketing team greeted nervously. He gestured toward the large screen where his laptop was connected to the projector. “We’ve finalized the designs for the new beauty line and—”

I leaned back, crossing my legs, my coffee in hand. “Just get on with it.”

He started clicking through slides, explaining target demographics, packaging designs, profit projections, the usual corporate nonsense. I nodded occasionally, pretending to listen, until something… shifted.

A chill swept through the room.

Then I heard it.

A familiar soft whisper.

“Sera…”

I froze. My gaze flicked across the room, scanning the faces but everyone was focused on the presentation, listening with rapt attention. But the voice, it was right next to my ear.

I gripped the edge of the table, my pulse spiking. The ring on my finger throbbed against my skin.

“Sera…”

It was closer again this time, almost like a caress.

“Stop,” I said sharply.

The room went silent, as every head turned towards me.

The marketing head stammered, “Ma’am? Is… is something wrong? Are none of the designs to your liking?”

I exhaled slowly, forcing my composure back into place. “This,” I said, gesturing toward the screen, “is trash.”

A collective gasp rippled across the table.

“I don’t want to waste my time on something this basic. So scrap it…all of it, and I want everyone to come up with something new, something fresh, something exciting.”

He nodded frantically. “Y-yes, ma’am.”

“Good.” I pushed my chair back and stood up. “Meeting adjourned.”

And without saying another word, I walked out.

Once I got back inside my office, I locked the door and pressed my back against it, breathing heavily. The whisper still echoed faintly in my mind, like a ghost I couldn’t shake off. My throat burned, the familiar, searing ache that came when the thirst began to rise.

“Fuck! Not now,” I muttered. “Not here.”

I crossed the room quickly and pulled a leather-bound book from the shelf. The wall shimmered for a moment before sliding open, revealing the secret chamber hidden behind it.

The air inside was cooler, denser, humming faintly with old magic. I stepped in, and the door closed behind me.

Candles came to life on their own as I approached the altar table. A silver knife glowed under the low light. I picked it up and pressed the blade against my palm.

I felt a sharp sting of pain as my blood trickled down into the glass on the table.

“Ad Mortem, retine famem,” I whispered, over and over.

The spell pulsed through the room in a low vibration. My blood began to bubble, glowing faintly as it turned silver.

The burning inside me flared. My veins darkened, as my eyes turned crimson red. I dropped to my knees, gasping as the spell took hold, the pain coursing through every inch of my body.

I screamed, clutching my chest, the sound muffled by the magic swirling around me. The blood in the cup shimmered brighter, then dulled as the hunger slowly receded.

Every spell took a little more of me. Every day, I became a little less human.

When it was over, I lay there for a moment, breathing hard, and completely drenched in sweat. The red faded from my eyes, returning them to their usual gray. My hands shook as I reached for one of the sealed vials on the shelf. It was blood from my private bank, it would have to do for now.

I opened it, drank it quickly, and felt the relief slide through me. The veins along my neck faded, my fangs retracted, and my body settled back slowly into control.

I stood up, straightened my clothes, and whispered a quick spell to clean the bloodstains. By the time I stepped back into my office, there wasn’t a single trace of what had just happened.

A knock sounded on the door.

“Come in,” I said smoothly, turning back towards my desk.

Nicole peeked in, looking worried. “Are you all right, Ms. Vale? The door was locked, and you didn’t respond.”

“I’m fine,” I replied, adjusting my ring.

She hesitated. “Mr. Lucien is here. He’s waiting to see you.”

I rolled my eyes and muttered under my breath, “Great. Just what I needed, another arrogant asshole.”

Then I looked up, my lips curling into a faint, dangerous smile. “Send him in.”

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?”

Hell no!

That was not the face I expected to see, as I looked up to see the owner of the voice.

And for a split second, I almost forgot how to breathe.

The man standing before me didn’t look like someone who belonged in my world. He looked different. Like he’d just walked out of one of those glossy magazine covers I usually despised. His hair was slightly messy in that intentional way men think looks effortless. His sleeves were rolled up, exposing the veins along his forearms, and his shirt fit him so well it almost looked sinful.

And those eyes, those eyes were so warm and kind.The sort of eyes that could melt an ice cold heart if he stared long enough.

I blinked, forcing myself to remember where I was. I refused to take the hand he’d stretched towards me.

Instead, I stood abruptly, straightened my clothes, and picked up my bag, quickly arranging the items that fell off. “Who are you,” I asked sharply, “and what the hell are you doing here?”

He looked startled at my tone but quickly recovered, offering a polite smile. “My apologies, Miss Vale. I didn’t mean to frighten you.” His voice was calm, deep, and annoyingly pleasant. “I’ve been trying to reach you for months. I’m Ethan Cole, investigative journalist with The City Chronicle.”

He handed me a business card, and I glanced at it briefly just enough to read his name before lifting my eyes to study him properly.

“Investigative journalist,” I repeated slowly, my voice filled with dry amusement. “You’re braver than you look if you actually thought ambushing me in my elevator was a smart move.”

“I wasn’t—” he began, but I raised a hand to stop him.

“This,” I gestured around, “isn’t the entrance to my company, and if you haven’t been able to get through to me yet, it’s because you’re not worth my time.”

He scratched the back of his neck, his cheeks slightly turned pink. “I know this isn’t proper,” he said quickly, “but I had to try. I’ve been looking for an opportunity to speak with you. It’s about something very important—”

I yawned loudly and turned away from the elevator doors. “Spare me the details, Mr. Cole. You’re boring me already incase you haven’t noticed. If you haven’t gotten an interview by now, that’s your problem, not mine. Maybe instead of staking out my building, you could use that time to properly improve your pitch.”

He opened his mouth to say something, but I was already walking away. My driver hurried forward, opening the car door.

“Have a good day, Miss Vale,” Ethan called after me.

I slid into the seat without replying, but just as the car began to move, I glanced out the tinted window. He was still standing there, smiling faintly as if he knew something I didn’t.

Damn it. He was cute.

I looked away quickly, reminding myself that I don’t do me who looked like walking temptations.

“Take me to the club,” I told my driver.

He nodded and bowed slightly.

So a little secret between us I own ‘The Crimson house’. Yes, it’s the most exclusive club in the city. But that’s strictly off the record. No one knows that, except a few people. So I prefer to stay behind the scenes.

We arrived twenty minutes later, and the neon sign of the Crimson house glowed like blood against the dark sky. The bass of the music thudded faintly through the walls even from outside. My heels clicked on the marble floor as I entered, and instantly, all eyes turned towards me.

As usual.

The manager, Cassian, spotted me almost immediately. He was standing near the bar, wiping his hands with a white towel. When he saw me, he grinned infuriatingly and walked over.

“Good evening, boss,” he said cheerfully. “It’s been a while.”

I rolled my eyes. “How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that? It sounds masculine and it makes me feel like I’m running a cartel.”

He chuckled, leaning one arm casually against the table. “Well, you do run things with an iron hand, and let’s be honest ‘boss’ suits you more. Remember, you’ve got that ‘Ice Queen’ reputation to maintain.”

I smirked. “Touché.”

He laughed. “So, what brings you down here tonight? Are you checking on your empire again?”

“Something like that,” I said, sitting at my usual corner. Same old business. I’m just making sure you haven’t run this place into the ground while charming your way through half the entire female staff.”

Cassian pressed a hand to his chest in mock offense. “Ouch boss. You know I never mix business with pleasure.”

I arched my brow. “Oh Please Cassian, You mix everything with pleasure.”

He grinned wider and took a seat beside me, uninvited.

“I can’t remember asking you to sit dowm,” I said dryly.

He ignored me completely and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His touch lingered just long enough to make me roll my eyes.

“Have I ever told you,” he said softly, “that you’ve got the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen?”

I tilted my head toward him, resting my elbow on the table. “Yes, Cassian. You have. About a million times already. Every day, every hour, every minute.”

He chuckled. “Can you blame me though? I just can’t help myself”

“You’re so sweet-tongued,” I said, smirking. “That’s why the women can’t get enough of you.”

He stood up, still smiling. “That’s my superpower. That, and the reason you trust me enough to run this place.”

I waved a dismissive hand. “Okay superhero. Go make yourself useful, I’m starving.”

Cassian gave a playful bow. “Yes, ma’am.” Then he disappeared into the kitchen.

I took out my laptop, set it on the table and opened it. A dozen unread emails stared at me. I sighed and began replying, and for a while, the low hum of music and clinking glasses felt almost soothing.

Then the peace shattered.

Two men stumbled toward my table drunk, loud, and irritatingly confident.

“Hey there,” one of them slurred, pulling out the chair across from me before I could object. His friend stood behind him like some kind of bodyguard. “Do you mind if I join you?”

“Yes I do,” I said, without looking up.

He laughed. “Oh, come on, don’t be like that. Why’s a beautiful woman like you sitting here all alone?”

“Maybe that’s because I prefer my own company,” I said flatly, typing another sentence.

He leaned forward, his voice dropping. “Maybe I could change your mind.”

“Or,” I said sweetly, “you could fuck off and look for someone else to annoy.”

The smile on his face vanished, as he slammed my laptop shut, trapping my fingers in the process.

His friend laughed. “She’s a feisty one, huh?”

The first one sneered. “You should’ve been nice, bitch. I was just trying to talk to you.”

I inhaled slowly. Then I smiled. “You’re right,” I said softly. “My bad. Come closer please.”

He hesitated but did as I said, leaning in with a smug grin.

I whispered something so quietly only he could hear.

Then his reaction was instant.

He screamed loudly. It was a raw, blood-curdling sound that cut through the music. He clawed at his arms, shouting about spiders crawling all over him. His friend froze, his face pale, as the man ripped off his shirt and bolted toward the door, still screaming.

The crowd parted in panic, whispers filling the air. The other man ran after him, stumbling.

Cassian burst out of the kitchen just in time to see the chaos. “What the hell just happened?” he asked, staring at me. “And what did you do this time?”

I smiled innocently and took a sip from the glass of wine the waiter had just brought. “Nothing,” I said smoothly. “I just decided to teach someone a valuable lesson about manners.”

Cassian sighed, rubbing his temples. “You can’t keep hexing people in my club, boss.”

“It’s my club,” I corrected, setting my glass down. “And technically, I can do whatever I want.”

He shook his head, a half-smile tugging at his lips. “You know you’re impossible.”

I smirked. “Yeah, that’s what everyone says.”

He sighed, muttered something and headed back into the kitchen, but I called out. “Cassian, when are the bodies coming in?”.