“Have you been enjoying your work so far?” she asked.
“Yes, it’s been wonderful, and I feel like I’ve been doing a good job, especially now that I’ve gotten used to the hours,” Millie replied.
“Good, good, it’s always important that we’re on the same schedule so we can be more efficient. Your work has been impressive as well, and you have been a good addition to the team. You’ve even managed to capture the attention of Mr. Lioncourt himself,” she said, and Millie wondered whether she detected a hint of jealousy in Claudia’s voice. The thin woman pursed her lips and tapped her fingers on the surface of the desk.
“For the rest of this week you shall be Mr. Lioncourt’s assistant. Go to the penthouse suite now and meet him, he will tell you what you need to do.” Millie was flustered for she didn’t know how to respond to that. It was such an honor but she didn’t feel like she was prepared to meet him. It was all such a shock.
“Is everything alright?” Claudia asked when Millie didn’t respond.
“Yes, yes, I’m sorry it’s just that, well, I wasn’t expecting this…”
“No, well, if you are going to be a success here then you will have to learn how to deal with the unexpected. Mr. Lioncourt is expecting you and he hates to be kept waiting. I suggest you leave now,” she said with a thin smile and a raised eyebrow. Millie looked at her and then rose sharply, practically jumping out of her chai as she ran towards the elevator. She then paused and wondered if there was anything she needed from her desk, and started towards it, but then remembered what Claudia had said and knew that she didn’t have any time, so she went to the elevator and pressed the button, waiting anxiously for the car to arrive. Her heart was fluttering in her chest and she had to swallow again to try and calm her nerves. She had no idea what to expect when she entered the elevator, and as the doors closed before she the tension rose as Millie ascended to meet Mr. Lioncourt.
Three
Millie breathed deeply as she thought about what she would say when she finally met the man behind the company. The elevator seemed to take an eternity to arrive at its destination, and she almost wished that she hadn’t been chosen for this assignment because she was so scared that she’d do something to screw it up. The doors finally opened to a large penthouse suite. Through the door she could only see the same windows as the rest of the building and a large open area. A coffee table stood in the middle of some furniture, and a grand piano was sitting at the far end of the room. Millie peered out tentatively, wondering if she should enter the suite or wait until she was called. When she saw nothing she stepped out and said ‘hello’ in a cracking, wavering voice. She walked further into the room and as she did so the whole place opened up. There was a fireplace, a bar, and a kitchen area. There were other doors leading to different areas, but she wasn’t about to venture into those.
Her footsteps echoed around as she walked into the middle of the room. Artwork hung on the walls, although most of it was abstract and she didn’t know what it meant. The place was bigger than any apartment she could dream of, and she marveled at it. Her jaw dropped open, and then she jumped when Mr. Lioncourt strode into the room.
“That is the reaction I was aiming for, and it’s the one I usually get. What first caught your attention? It was the piano wasn’t it, they always love the piano,” he said. He walked up to Millie and shook her hand. His flesh was cool, much colder than she had expected, and she almost didn’t know what to do or say. In stunned silence she looked at him and froze because he had such a magnetic aura about him. His sharp angular face was eye-catching, and his thick hair was straight and smooth. His lips twisted into a smile that made it seem as though he knew a secret that nobody else did, and it gave him a confidence that Millie found irresistible. She knew in that moment that Mr. Lioncourt was unlike anyone she ever met, and was most likely unlike anyone she would ever meet. He was wearing jeans and a white shirt that was unbuttoned at the top. His sleeves were rolled up to the elbows as well, showing thick, sinewy forearms, and Millie’s heart was racing.
“I’m, um, I was sent up by Claudia.”
“Yes, I know, I sent for you Millie, please, come in and make yourself comfortable, would you like something to drink? A martini perhaps?”
“Yes, okay,” she said, even though she had never tried a martini before. She went to the sofa and perched on the edge, feeling uneasy because she had no idea what to expect. She glanced around to watch him pour the drink, and then took a long sip when he handed it to her. He walked over to the piano and tinkled with the keys, and then looked out to the city.
“Would you come here for a moment?” he said, and there was an assertive tone in his voice that made Millie’s knees go weak. She walked over and stood by his side. They were standing so close that she was sure he must have heard her thundering heart, but he made no mention of it if he did. She caught his strong, masculine fragrance as well. It was intoxicating, and the mere fact of being in his presence was playing havoc with her senses.
“This is my kingdom Millie. I look out at this and I see a world that I can improve. I can use my gifts to make this a better place, and now you’re a part of that. I don’t bring every new employee up here but there’s something about you. Claudia saw it when she interviewed you, and even just meeting you for a few moments now I can see it myself. You are going to be an important member of this organization, I can feel it, and I wanted you to see behind the veil for a little while, so that you can see the true face of this company.”
The offer was one that Millie couldn’t refuse and she was delighted with the opportunity, but also a little daunted because she had no idea why Mr. Lioncourt would choose her out of everyone.
“Thank you Mr. Lioncourt, it means a lot, it really does. I’m not entirely sure what I’ve done to deserve this but I’m very happy to be working here and if you think I deserve this opportunity then I am going to do it to the best of my opportunity.”
“Please, call me Tom,” he said, and flashed her a wide smile filled with gleaming, immaculate teeth. He took the glass from her, and as he did so their fingers brushed and an electric tingle shot through her.
“Come over here and tell me what you think of this,” he said, and they stood in front of one of the works of art. It was a yellow painting with streaks of black and red whipped over the layer. Small splashes of other colors were present too. They stared at it for a while, and Millie felt under pressure because she thought that she should have some deep opinion or profound thought. Tom was a sophisticated gentleman and she didn’t want to come off as a complete philistine, but while she tried to think of something important to say her mind drew a blank and there was nothing. She shrugged and turned to Tom.
“I’m sorry Mr. Li- I mean Tom, I just…this really isn’t my thing. I’ve never been much of an art critic and the only thing I see when I look at this is, well, a mess.” She gave him an apologetic look and hoped that it wouldn’t cost her the job, but she had to be honest with him. Tom chuckled.
“It’s okay, I appreciate your honesty. I could tell you some interpretation like this is a representation of the chaos of the universe, and the little dots are explosion of souls as they come into existence, and that the long black streaks are the rigid lines of fate that we are bound to, but the only reason I actually have this is because one of my friends is an art dealer and he insisted that I have some things to spruce the place up. Personally I’d rather have something else, but it does brighten the place up I suppose.”
Millie felt relieved at this and laughed away the anxiety. They went over to the sofa and sat down, and Tom got Millie to tell him about herself. At first she was hesitant because as far as she was concerned she was just ordinary, but Tom teased her and got her to talk, and eventually she started telling him things that she didn’t even know she remembered. Tom had a way of getting her to reveal her deepest secrets, and to tell him things that she never would have told anyone else, and yet she felt completely comfortable doing so. At
one point she laughed and wondered if she had actually just told him that she had a childhood fear of rabbits.
“I can be very persuasive,” he said, “that’s one of the reasons why I’m so successful in this field.”
“And what are the other reasons?” Millie asked, cocking an eyebrow.
“I can’t give away all my secrets. For all I know you were sent here to infiltrate my company and sabotage me from the inside.”
Millie reeled back in horror and laughed.
“You were the one who asked me here!” she exclaimed.
“As a precautionary measure perhaps,” he said, his smile was a mischievous one. Millie narrowed her eyes and shook her head. She couldn’t believe that she was sitting in the penthouse suite and flirting with the owner of the company, at least, she thought it was flirting. It had been a long time since she had flirted with anyone, and soon enough the subject of conversation turned to her romantic past.
“And why has there not been a man to snap you up?” he asked.
“Many have tried,” she said, laughing, but it was followed by a wistful sigh, and she soon turned serious. “I don’t know,” she continued, “I guess I’ve always found it difficult to meet new people and the relationships I have had haven’t exactly been good examples so I haven’t been enthusiastic to start a new one. I’ve also prioritized school over everything, and then work. And now it’s hard to meet new people. I don’t know, I guess it’ll happen when it happens but I’m in no rush.”
“Mm, time is a strange thing, it can seem like a companion for most of your life and then suddenly it feels like a predator, snapping at your heels like a crocodile.”
“And is there anyone special in your life?”
Tom smiled mysteriously and then took a long gulp of his drink. “There have been occasions when I have felt a great fondness for people.”
“But never love?”
“Love is an interesting concept. What does it really mean?”
“I’ve always thought it meant putting someone else’s needs above your own. Maybe that’s simple but I think that’s an essential part of all the different types of love.”
“And that’s the problem my dear, I simply love myself far more than I could ever love anyone else.” He looked at her directly and deeply. His gaze penetrated her soul and reached down into the deepest parts of her. She felt more naked and vulnerable than she had ever been, and yet she also felt safe. And on that note they stopped talking about personal matters and he told her about her duties. She got to work right away as he left to take care of some important matters, and she got down to work in the penthouse, imagining a life where she was living there instead of him.
The following couple of weeks were a little mundane because she was basically running errands for him, although occasionally she had to send out e-mails to various contacts and in this way she got to see how the business was run. She was also privy to some private documents, for which she had to sign a non-disclosure agreement, and she got a thrill every time she saw something secret like that. She liaised with Claudia a lot as well, and although at first she had not been sure of Claudia’s personality, Millie had come to realize that it was just a product of working for Tom, for he was an eccentric sort and she often had to deal with strange requests, like going to a certain shop and getting a certain type of food on a whim, or ordering some strange concoction of a meal from a particular takeaway restaurant. At first she had been driven crazy by this but after talking to Claudia she realized that it was just a part of the job.
There had also been many moments where she detected some lingering attraction between her and Tom, but she had been far too nervous to pursue it because she didn’t want him to think she was trying to work her way into his fortune. Indeed, she often went home wishing that he would whisk her away or that he’d make some sign, but the tension was always left unresolved, and she was left hoping for something that would most likely never happen.
Four
One day, as she walked into the penthouse with an armful of documents she was caught unaware by Tom. He swept her up in his arms and slammed her against the wall. His lips pressed against hers and the passion exploded within her. She couldn’t prevent a soft moan from escaping her lips, and her arms fell by her side. The documents fell to the floor and the paper swirled through the air until it landed by their feet. Millie felt his strong body pin her against the wall, not that she was resisting, and could feel all of his arousal. As he pulled away she felt his sweet breath against her skin, and she instantly yearned for the gentle caress of his lips again.
“I’m sorry for that, but I’ve been feeling a deep attraction from you ever since I first saw you and I couldn’t stop myself. If this makes you feel uncomfortable then I understand and we shall not speak of it again. But if you want more, follow me.”
He walked away and Millie was left slumped against the wall, having to process all the thunderous waves of desire pulsating through her. She groaned and then watched him as he walked to the elevator, and although her knees were weak she managed to summon the strength to follow him, as though she had been enchanted by a sweet spell.
They got in the elevator and Millie watched on as Tom pulled open a secret panel and then pressed a golden button.
“You’re about to see a part of the building that anyone rarely sees. I cannot stress to you how importance discretion is with this. You are about to be a part of something very special but you can never tell another soul about it, and if this is too much of a commitment then I understand and you have this one last chance to leave.”
Millie stayed where she was.
“Good,” Tom said, and his lips curled playfully. “I know that I rather sprang this on you but sometimes I get urges and I find it impossible to resist. I have a dark secret Millie, and it’s one that may frighten you to your core, but I hope you find it exciting,” as he said this he moved closer to her and she was up against the wall again. This time he was buried in her neck, breathing in her feminine scent deeply. When the last words slipped out of his mouth he sharply bit her skin and she winced in pain, but as soon as the anguished bloom collapsed she felt a strong surge of pleasure wash over her like a summer’s breeze.
His hands came around her waist as they kissed again and she melted into him, feeling the sensual delight excite her. Tom kissed her firmly yet tenderly, and as their tongues twisted together she knew bliss.
“I never thought you’d think of me like this,” she said in a breathy voice.
“You’re exactly my type,” he replied as his hands deftly undid the buttons on her shirt. They were caught in the throes of passion and her mind was going hazy with desire. She clawed at his body as he bit her, and each one became more and more close to piercing the skin. His black clothes stretched over his taut body as she tore at them in an effort to expose his pale skin, and then the elevator door opened.
When Millie saw that Claudia was standing in the doorway, the young assistant’s face fell and she tried to tidy herself up.
“Don’t worry about that,” Tom said, “she’s meant to be here,” and he walked out of the elevator. Millie followed, although she wasn’t sure what was happening.
“Have you told her yet?” Claudia asked.
“I’ve alluded to it, I’m interested to see whether she’s worked it out,” he said, winking at Mille. Her face twisted in confusion as the gears of her mind clicked into place, she tried to think of all the different elements but nothing came together, and eventually Claudia grew tired of waiting.
“He’s a vampire dear, and he wants you to join our coven.” Millie gasped and looked at them both, and then backed away towards the elevator.
Tom sighed. “I know you’re probably rather afraid right now but you don’t have to be, I promise. All we want to do is indulge in the pleasures of the flesh, and if you give yourself to me you will have everything you’ve ever wanted. You will never feel lonely or bored, and you will not be trapped by the limitations of m
orality. This whole empire has been building for my entire undead life, and I have chosen you to be a part of it.”
It was a lot for Millie to take in and she glanced between the two of them, but in that moment she knew where she belonged. She was a creature of the night already and she didn’t mind it at all. She stuck out her arm.
“That’s what I like, some decisiveness. I knew you were going to go far in this company,” Tom said as he approached her and curled his fingers around her arm. Then, quicker than Millie could feel, he bent down and pierced her skin with his fangs. She could feel him sucking the life out of her and for a moment she became weak and light-headed and all became dark…
When she awoke she felt stronger than usual but as she tried to move she knew that she was restrained, and she was lying down on a bed. Tom and Claudia were in front of her. Their naked bodies twisted together in a mess of limbs and hair and flesh, and they were kissing each other madly. They noticed that Millie was awake and moved to be near her. Claudia’s hands started exploring Millie’s body, and groped at her heaving breasts. Tom kissed her on the cheek and then twisted her head to face him so that their lips could meet once more. Millie willingly kissed, and in her new state of mind she found the situation exhilarating and exciting. Her body tingled as it felt the new sensations coursing through her, and the fact that she couldn’t initiate anything drove her insane. They kissed and twisted together and the three bodies sizzled. Their slick skin pressed against each other and soon enough Claudia’s hands had reached down to start to pleasure Millie, feeling her wet warmth. Millie writhed and moaned. Her skin tremble. The heat was palpable and Millie was overwhelmed.
Tom and Claudia’s breaths danced over her skin and she wasn’t sure where one ended and the other began. They sucked and bit on her erect nipples, and then Claudia descended down to pleasure Millie with her mouth. Meanwhile, Tom stood up and unleashed his huge, thick erection on her. His cock stood rigid and Millie opened her jaw wide, twisting her neck so that she could wrap her soft lips around it and start to suck gladly. Long and thick she took it deeply until she gagged, while it stifled her fervent moans.
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