Dark Heart Series- His Lonely Reign

Chapter 1: Meeting Mr. Solvmane

You can do this… I mentally told myself. No distractions. 

Gazing up at the dark, looming building in front of me, I admired the white and black letters: Solv Logistics. The building was no different from any other skyscraper in New York City, but somehow it seemed more intimidating—more menacing. 

Like a giant towering over the ant-like figures walking the sidewalks, it cast shadows across the city with no care in the world other than to stand out amongst the sky. The sleek black walls were made up of windows that seemed to ward off the sunlight rather than reflect it. My anxiety was currently through the roof, I took a deep breath and pressed forward in my Mary Jane pumps to the glass double doors that waited for me ahead.

Solv Logistics was a reputable company headquartered in NYC for decades. They specialized in transportation of anything, and had been globally known for helping in humanitarian situations. So when new intel came into my father’s company, Elite Humanity, there was more under the surface, well, it took everyone by surprise. I drew the short end of the stick, forced to investigate what was actually going on behind the high-rise walls of regalia.

When I stepped inside the building, I was taken back by how beautiful it was. Gazing around at the dark velvet seating, and the coffee center brewing the most delicious aromas, I realized I wasn’t in Kansas anymore. The designers had outdone themselves, and though the black, gold, and white toned decor were simple, it really gave way to how serious they took themselves.

Or how much this company prided itself on being the best in its industry.

“Damn,” I breathed out softly.

“Miss, did you need something?” The voice of a man pulled me back to the present. I turned my attention to the main reception area and found a huge, burly looking security guard with dark eyes and an annoyed expression.

At least he’s human.

“Yes, I actually have an interview this morning.”

Raising a brow, his eyes drifted up and down my attire with curiosity. “The secretary position… yes. Mr. Grey told me a young woman would be coming. What’s your name?”

“Sydney,” I replied, trying to keep my composure. Something about this man just seemed off, and the way he was staring at me creeped me out.

“Does Sydney have a last name?” he asked flatly.

Nodding, I cleared my throat. “Yeah…sorry. It’s Adams.”

Typing away at the computer, he picked up a card and ran it through a card reader before holding it out to me. When I went to take it, he held onto it and stared at me just a bit longer. “You look familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?”

Shit. s**t. s**t. 

“No,” I replied, shaking my head slowly. “I’m new around here so I doubt it. I just moved here from California.”

“California? It says on the paperwork you're from Iowa.”

I had almost forgotten that little bit of information. I did put that I was from Iowa and, thinking quickly, I smiled at him. “Yep, that’s where I was born. I went to school out west and lived there for a few years. That is until I landed the chance at moving to the Big Apple.”

The security guard seemed hesitant for a moment before reluctantly releasing the card. “Very well. Go straight through this checkpoint and scan your card. Then take the elevator up to your floor. You only have access to the fourteenth floor.”

I didn’t bother to wait around to have him question me further. Bidding him a thank you and goodbye, I quickly made my way past the checkpoint scanner and straight towards the elevators, where a few others waited patiently to enter.

All my years of training I hadn’t been scared of much, but today I couldn’t shake this dreadful feeling in my stomach, I was taking on more than I could handle. Wiping my sweaty palms on my skirt, my eyes stared at the numbers above the elevator, watching them count down until the doors had finally opened.

“After you,” a woman said, causing me to snap my gaze towards my left, coming face to face with the true form of Succubus. Her curved horns shimmered blue as the scaled markings on the side of her face contrasted with her golden green eyes. I had never seen a succubus in person before, and I tried my best not to stare, but damn it—I couldn’t help it.

“Are you okay, dear?” she asked, snapping me out of my daze with a furrowed brow of confusion. “Do you need help?”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I replied, shaking my head. “My mind is all over the place. I have my first interview today with the CEO, and I will admit I’m really nervous.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie, but I was trying to save face, so this woman didn’t notice I knew she wasn’t human. After a moment, her face softened as she nodded in what seemed to be understanding. “Oh, I get it. Don’t worry yourself, sweetie. He isn’t that bad at all.”

“Thank you, I hope he likes me. I really want this job.”

The conversation died as we piled into the elevator. Almost half of the people in the elevator with me were supernatural. Their glamor might have fooled normal humans, but not me. My great-great-grandfather had fixed that minor problem with some chemistry and a quick pinch of a needle long ago. All of us were given what we called the X-vac—a shot that allowed us to see these monsters for what they truly were. 

Because of that, I had a new nifty gift that allowed me to do my job a lot better.

Still, I couldn’t help but shiver as I kept my eyes forward. The human beside me was completely oblivious, flicking through a file of papers as she muttered to herself. I wish I could tell her to run. To leave the company and never come back, but that would just give me away. I had to act normal.

Besides, New York City was supposed to be a neutral territory. I wasn’t allowed to do anything, even if I wanted to.

It seemed like every floor we hit, the elevator stopped and the doors would open, letting people off until finally, I was the only one remaining. The doors swished open, revealing a smaller version of the lobby downstairs, minus the coffee, which I wished I had gotten before I’d come up.

More velvet chairs surrounded a sleek couch set to my right. The company’s name hung on the wall to my left in gold, bright against the black background. Ahead of me was a secretary’s desk, also black, but the only part of her I could see was the top of her head.

“Excuse me?” I said clearly, forcing myself to walk up to that desk, another fake smile plastered on my face as I tried to seem as natural as possible.

The woman’s head snapped up, human eyes meeting mine, giving me an internal sigh of relief.  

“Take a seat. Mr. Grey will be with you in a moment.”

Taken aback by the woman's brash response, I thanked her again before doing just that. Perched at the end of the couch, I glance around. Most of the offices around where I was sitting had their doors closed, and though I couldn’t hear them talking on their phones, I was able to see them through the blinds in their windows.

Creatures of all sizes, and species; from Fae to Harpies, Succubus to Shifters, even a Nymph in the distance pouring coffee in what seemed to be a break room carried on as if everything was normal. Then again, I suppose for those here it was.

I just couldn’t believe the amount of humans working alongside shifters, who had absolutely no clue what kind of danger they were in. Something my father would be eager to know once I was done with this interview.

Not that I was looking forward to that conversation. The man may have been my father, but he wasn’t a very likable person and his confidence in me was minimal. I was only here because it was what my grandfather wanted. Nothing more, nothing less.

“Ms. Adams?” a voice called out as the most gorgeous man I had ever seen stepped through the  glass doors around the corner. He was tall and slim, his tailored, three-piece suit clearly more expensive than the rent on my downtown apartment. Even the rigid way he stood made him appear to have definitely come from the upper class. I doubted that the faint lines carved into the skin around his eyes and lips were because the man smiled a lot. 

On top of his freakishly gorgeous looks, it only took a moment for me to realize he was a f*****g vampire. 

No wonder you're gorgeous. You're a blood-sucking killer.

Pulling myself together, I jumped to my feet holding out my hand. “Hello, I’m Sydney Adams.”

He eyed me as if I were the monster. The tips of his fangs peeked out beneath his upper lip as they formed a sneer. Dragging my eyes up, I hoped he hadn’t noticed my slip-up when I was gawking at his teeth, but I couldn’t help it. I’d never actually shook the hand of a vampire before. I’d only killed one.

“You can follow me,” he replied flatly, ignoring my offer of a handshake as he quickly turned around and began walking back the way he had come.

Aren’t you a ray of f*****g sunshine… I muttered to myself as I followed him down a long hallway that wrapped around the building, with offices lined up on either side. People scurried between them, doors opening and closing, stacks of papers being carried or rolled out on trolleys. I weaved through the slight crowd, trying to follow who I assumed was Mr. Grey. 

“This floor is for inventory management and data collection,” Mr. Grey explained, speed-walking down the hallway. Well, I guess it was a normal speed for him—speed-walking for me. “You’ll be Mr. Solvmane’s personal assistant, so you’ll need to know what each floor and department does and the usual ins and outs.” 

“Oh.” Was this an interview or f*****g orientation? And I knew absolutely nothing about what a logistics company actually did. Maybe my cover as a new-to-town college graduate wasn’t well thought out. “Alright.” 

“Your resume did say you were a fast learner.” Mr. Grey glanced over his shoulder at me with his eyes narrowed. 

“I am,” I reassured him, perking up. My smile didn’t seem to affect him at all. Instead, he curled his lip with a look of disgust as he slid his eyes away from me and pushed open another door. I stopped short when I realized we were right back in the lobby. Mr. Grey was unfazed, already pressing the button for the elevators as if he couldn’t wait for all of this to be over, and when they opened, I had to rush to jump in next to him, otherwise I was certain he would have left me behind. 

It was like that for the next thirty minutes as we went to each floor, speed-walking around the halls as he quickly explained what each department did. I tried to keep up. I really did. By the end of this tour, my mind was just as exhausted as my feet. 

And there was no way I remembered half of what he told me.

So much for just a simple interview. 

“And that’s about it.” Mr. Grey stepped out of the elevator—hopefully for the last time. We had gone all the way up to the last floor and it took a moment for me to realize this must have been the big man's office. I could see out the windows across the small lobby, overlooking Manhattan. It was a gorgeous view, but unfortunately, Mr. Grey didn’t give me long to admire it before he was calling my name again.

“Ms. Adams?” Mr. Grey’s slender eyebrow rose as he gave me a disdainful look. 

“Coming.” Ducking my head, I hurried after him, feet protesting the entire way. I mean, if I knew I was going to walk this much just for an interview, I wouldn’t have worn platforms. Instead, I would have come more relaxed and with a notebook to take notes so I could actually remember everything he was telling me. 

There was no doubt if I wandered off on my own that I would get lost. I needed a map to get through this damn place. 

“And this will be your desk,” Mr. Grey said, stopping just beside the office door. “Do you think you can manage to remember all this or do you need me to make you notes?”

“You have notes—”

He scoffed at my comment, and I quickly realized he was being sarcastic. Why in the hell would he want to make me notes? “I’ve got it. I don’t need notes… it’s all stored away in my head.”

Curling his lip again, he rolled his eyes. “Yes, I suppose we will see how true that really is, won’t we?”

Fucking d**k.

My eyes swept over the desk he had gestured to moments before. There was nothing special about it. Just a desktop computer, a laptop, a few pens, a notepad and a black, stocky swivel chair. 

“Mr. Grey.” 

I nearly jumped out of my skin as I whipped to the left. The door of the office was open and a man I didn’t recognize stood just inside the doorway staring at me. He was handsome—no, scratch that—the man was downright sinful. He towered over me, broad shoulders barely contained by his jacket or blue suit. His black hair was slicked back and shaved on the sides. The tips of black ink upon his skin barely poked out beneath his collar.

When my eyes caught the silvery gray of his, I thought my heart stopped. 

Not just because of his looks, but because of what he was. 

It took everything in me not to recoil as he studied me. It took everything not to run right out those damn doors. My dad had said there might be a supernatural running the company here. That it would lead us to what we were actually looking for—whatever that was. 

However, he said nothing about the CEO being a Lycan.