Selene~
What the fuck? I was dinner? Did this man see me as all the others?
"I'm not going to sleep with you, Mr Hart."
He let out a small laugh. "Don't worry, you're not my type."
I shifted uncomfortably on my seat.
"Then why'd you say I'm dinner?"
He leaned forward, ignoring my question as he slid a black folder across the table towards me. "Sign this. It's your contract."
That was it? No questions? No curiosity? No food? Nothing? Just jokes and signing?
My hands hovered over the folder. Something about this felt odd, too easy, but this chance was too big to ignore. I sighed.
"Why'd you choose me for this role?" I asked, unable to contain myself.
"I didn't choose you." He said, taking another sip of his wine.
There was no wine glass on my side of the table, I had not expected to drink tonight but it still felt a bit insulting how he was the only one drinking.
I pushed my thoughts to one side and signed on the documents. I had nothing to lose after all and they were willing to give me a chance. It didn't matter what ulterior motives they had.
"You look quite delicious. I can see now why Luca was enamored with you." He said without looking up at me. I wondered if he knew he was making me uncomfortable and he was doing this on purpose.
"What?"
"Do you scare easily, Selene?"
"What?" I repeated.
"I came across your video earlier today, the one where you were in the bar. Do you cry easily?"
What in the world? What was he saying right now?
"How about crying for me? I think you'll look pretty while you cry."
He suddenly looked at me, his eyes were green. They were amber just a short while ago. If this was a prank, I did not like it.
My heart skipped a beat, I was already trembling in my seat. "Stop it," I tried to keep my voice firm but it wavered.
He knew I was scared and from the expression on his face, he enjoyed seeing me scared.
Then all of a sudden, his eyes turned amber and with a flick of his jaw, he unleashed fangs.
I immediately stumbled backwards and my fingers clutched the edge of the table as I tried to steady myself. The chair scraped against the floor as I pushed it away and scrambled to my feet.
"Please," I whispered as I took steps away from him. He was still seated, he calmly took a sip of his wine and laughed softly. His laugh was full of amusement.
He looked over at me and took another sip of his wine.
"Run."
He didn't have to tell me twice. I hurriedly bolted through the door, yearning for the exit. I didn't look back as I burst into the hallway. I could hear his amusing laughter from behind me but I didn't care, I needed to get out of here.
My heels clicked into a frantic rat-a-rat and the corridor lights blurred.
Behind me, I could hear loud thuds. It was definitely, without a doubt, him. I didn't look back, I couldn't breathe, all that was on my mind was finding the exit. I turned one corner then another, then another but the hallway seemed to stretch on and on.
I kept running, even with my blurry vision and my legs giving out but I made a mistake. It was just one misstep, I shouldn't have run in heels. I fell and before I could even process the fall, he was on me, pinning me to the ground with effortless strength.
"Please…"
He grinned at me, exposing his sharp fangs.
"See? I told you you'd look beautiful when you cry."
"Please spare me." I whispered. "Please don't hurt me."
He tilted his head, still looking at me with that same amusement in his eyes. He brushed a strand of hair from my face. "Why does everyone always assume that I'm going to hurt them? Hmm? Maybe I'm just… hungry?"
His hands moved as it trailed from my face to the side of my neck. I couldn't move, partly because he was too strong and I was frozen to death. I had no control, I couldn't even reach into my purse to grab the pepper spray if I wanted.
"Such delicate skin, so fragile but a lot better than the old one."
The old one?
"Please," my voice was trembling, cracking even.
He leaned closer, his fangs bare and ready to take a huge chunk of me, I shut my eyes, ready for the worst, when all of a sudden, his weight on me disappeared.
I opened my eyes just in time to see him being yanked away but he managed to slide across the floor and land with grace but newfound anger and irritation.
Standing between us was a tall, dark figure with his fists clenched at the sides.
"Baby brother," Alaric said with a twisted smile on his face. "What do you think you're doing?"
"She's off limits."
Alaric wiped at the corner of his mouth as he rose to his feet.
"Off limits? And since when do you make the rules, Christopher?" He scoffed.
Christopher?
"There's no need for us to fight. She's not for you. I've marked her." The strange man said, his voice was calm unlike Alaric, who was obviously agitated.
Alaric clicked his tongue and brushed imaginary dust from his shoulders. "We both know I don't give a fuck about stuff like that."
"Alaric."
Alaric held his hands up in the air as if he was surrendering. "Fine, fine. Keep her, for now. Let's see how long you'll be able to protect her from me."
He gave me one last look and smiled. "See you around, Selene Grey."
Then he vanished. He actually just walked away but it was the same thing.
I brought my hand to my chest, breathing heavily when he stretched his hands to me.
"Are you hurt?" He asked gently.
That mask, those eyes. He was coffee shop guy.
I couldn't speak though, my throat felt too tight and I knew I would burst into tears if I tried to open it.
"I'm here to help you, you're safe now." He said.
He did save me, from almost certain death. I took his hand and he helped me to my feet.
"Thank you." I managed to say.
"I told you not to come."
I was not about to tell a stranger, correction, a dangerous stranger anything and from the look he was giving me, he didn't expect anything.
"This is going to sting a bit."
"Wha…"
I barely had time to gasp before I felt his fangs pierce the side of my neck. It burned. My knees gave out, my vision became worse and everything darkened.
****
The room was too white and too bright. I blinked against the light, my body felt heavy like I'd been asleep for a week. I turned my head slowly and saw a figure in the corner of the room.
"You're awake," he said and quickly rushed to my side. "How do you feel?"
"Um…"
"I'm sorry you collapsed all of a sudden during the dinner. I didn't mean to hit you on the head with a plate."
"A plate…"
Just then, Cassidy and Chad came in. Cassidy rushed to my side to hug me while Chad just stood there awkwardly, like he didn't know what to do.
"Selene. Oh my God, we were worried sick. How do you even faint to being hit on the head with a plate?" Cassidy said, her voice was laced with concern.
I blinked at the strange man and Chad. "I don't know. I… I don't remember."
"Don't worry. You're fine. Just eat well." The strange man said. I looked at him for a while, he was smiling, I recognized him. He was the coffee shop guy, the same guy who ordered the same thing, the same guy who only allowed me to take his orders.
And from the way Chad was looking at him, he recognized him too.
And that's not all, he had saved me yesterday, and he had also bitten me.
"Your contract's with her, in case you were wondering." He said after noticing my stare.
Christopher Hart, younger son of the Hart family, a successful actor with a rich family. Loved by all, handsome and humble.
And apparently a monster.
I wasn't sure why he was convinced that I forgot about everything that happened yesterday but he did and that was good for me.
"How long was I out?" I asked Cassidy as she let go of me.
"About eighteen hours."
I instinctively brought my hands to my neck. It wasn't bandaged, there was no feeling of opening on my skin, it was smooth, almost as if I had not been bitten.
I looked at Christopher who was staring right back at me. I realized what I was doing and quickly removed my hand from my neck.
"I'll be going now." He said and left the room before anyone else could say anything.
What in the world was he?