The Vampire's Sweet Secret

Chapter 4: Mate

-Ava-

I stepped into the huge office that belonged to the powerful Everly Colt, but as soon as I did, I picked up the most incredibly sweet scent. I had never smelled anything like it. It was the most intoxicating scent of vanilla, and I was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. I walked closer but tried not to make too much noise. Since this room was so big, I feared my walking on the floor would create an echo, and I had already been stared at enough through this entire trip just getting here.

So, quietly, I walked over to her desk. She had turned her chair and was staring at this incredible view of New York City. I had to admit I would want to sit and look at it all the time too if this was my office, but it was not, and I was only there to apply for a job. I couldn’t get distracted. So when I finally stood by her desk, I kept my eyes down and waited for her to speak. I heard the chair turn, and a wave of that sweet scent was thrown toward me.

What is that?

My wolf couldn’t quite figure out what was happening either, and my heart was beating like crazy. I believed I was just nervous, but I was not so sure anymore.

“Well, Calliope, you have 10 minutes. Use them well,” a wonderful voice suddenly said.

It was soft but had a little bit of a powerful undertone to it. You knew this person was not scared to stand up for themselves or speak their mind, and yet her voice felt like a caress over my skin too, which for some reason heated my body in ways it had never done before. I felt myself grow a little damper between my legs, so confused by my own reaction, and then I heard her sniff the air.

Sh*t! What was going on with me? I wondered. Now my employer could smell I had for some unknown reason gotten aroused. I was afraid to look at her, but slowly found the courage to do it, completely certain that I was going to be thrown out now.

I braced myself for the disgusted look in her eyes. However, when I gazed into those dark pools, I saw not disgust, but pure lust. I gasped, shocked, as I saw this, but my wolf quickly offered an explanation to me: Mate! Oh, Goddess! That is her!

Oh no, no, no, no!

That was not good! This person was supposed to be my ticket to freedom, hopefully, if I was able to impress her. I couldn't involve my mate in such a messy life of mine. I had never even had the time to think about what gender I liked. I always knew I found women pretty, but this pure lust that suddenly coursed through me as I watched the vampire in front of me, I had never felt before.

I had had no time to explore what I liked because my parents had handed me over to Zachary when I was so young and kept a very close eye on me most of my life. I could barely move an inch without their permission. Yet I wanted this one, I realized. Or my wolf certainly did.

“Calliope?” Everly called.

“Oh…” I realized that I had not spoken a single word since the vampire permitted me to. She smiled at me, her red lips spreading into a smug smile. I knew vampires didn’t have a second presence inside them that spoke when they found their mate. They were very attracted by their scent, and later on, an emotional connection would form just as strong as any wolf’s mating bond, but it took more time.

So, Everly must not have realized what we were to each other yet, or maybe she was giving me some time to get a grip.

“Yes, I—"

“Do you want to sit?” she asked me and gestured to one of the black leather chairs in front of her desk.

I nodded and sat down, taking a deep breath.

“Thank you for seeing me,” I said.

“Well, I always like to see people showing interest. It is important,” she remarked.

I smiled, not able to help myself. I knew she wasn’t really complimenting me, but the people who took a chance on themselves, yet I still took it to heart.

“So, Calliope, tell me why I should hire you,” she instructed. “I mean, you don’t qualify at all.”

She held up the paper in front of her, scanning it, but I was sure she had already read it.

“I know,” I admitted, looking down at my tightly clenched hands, almost fighting each other. I quickly reminded myself not to appear submissive. If I wanted this job, I needed to show her I truly wanted it. But did I still want it? Could I work alongside my own mate for the next several months?

“I might not be as qualified as others,” I began, looking at her, attempting to steady my voice. This vampire exuded a certain powerful and alluring energy, or maybe it was simply because we were mates. “But I am very hardworking, good at multitasking, and quite fast too.”

“These are all just words,” she said.

“Aren’t those just typed words?” I inquired, pointing to the big stack of papers with small stickers on them, which I had seen were resumes.

Everly smiled, and I could tell she liked what I had said. At least, I hoped she did. She was difficult to read.

“They have recommendations, many of them,” she pointed out. “People I have personally contacted to hear if they believe this person that they recommend is good for the company.”

“They could be lying.”

Everly’s smile grew.

“You’re trying to make others look bad, to make yourself look better. Quite the shark,” she commented.

“No, no! That is not at all my inten… shark?”

“Well, most sharks hunt and live alone,” she pointed out. “You aren’t really making friends this way.”

“Oh. No, I was not trying to make others look bad. I was just trying to make you see everything is words unless you know the person directly,” I told her.

I could feel myself starting to sweat. She was really good, this vampire. She knew what to say to make you feel like the walls were closing in, or maybe I was feeling a little faint because I had not been eating a lot lately. I was too worried all the time.

“Interesting,” she mused.

I tried a small smile, but it quickly died as she watched me more closely. I swallowed hard, trying my best not to let her see how nervous I was, but I knew I was not doing a good job.

“What else do I need to know about you, Calliope?” she asked.

“I-I am good at following orders,” I informed her.

Her smile turned darker, which confused me a bit. “What else?”

“I... Well...”

“Don’t you think you’re missing something very important?” she questioned.

“Something important?”

Everly nodded, and I pondered it for a long time, but I wasn't sure what she was looking for.

“I-I am good with order too,” I added.

“That’s not what I am looking for.”

“No?”

She shook her head, but did not lose that smile of hers. “Try again.”

“I-I don’t usually take time off.”

“But you will soon have to, won’t you?” she asked me.

“What?”

Everly sighed a little.

“Calliope, you’re pregnant,” she stated.

I froze, not sure what to say, and I opened my mouth to say something, but no sound left me.

“You didn’t think I would be able to smell it?” she inquired and pressed a finger gently to her nose.

“I...” I stammered.

“How far along?”

I looked down.

“A month and a half,” I admitted.

“And wolves are pregnant for 10, right?”

I nodded and knew this interview was not going to go at all how I wanted it. Now that she knew the truth, she would not hire me. Who would hire a pregnant, unqualified wolf?