Chapter 2: An Intriguing Offer

[Stella]

When I came to, everything was blurry, and my head felt light. I blinked rapidly in an attempt to clear my vision, and after a while, everything finally came into focus.

I was lying in a canopied bed, tucked under a thick white comforter. The room around me, unlike the rooms downstairs, was completely clean and tidy, filled with rich mahogany wood furnishings and paintings that looked like original works. The soft smell of lilacs filled the air, and when I turned my head to the side, I noticed a candle was glowing on the nightstand, along with a tall vase of beautiful purple flowers.

I tried to sit up, but the effort was difficult, and I quickly sank back on my elbows. Every inch of my body ached, and every inhale was an act of labor. It took me a few tries, but I finally managed to sit up, however, when I tried to swing my legs over the side of the bed and stand up, a soft cry of pain escaped me.

“I wouldn’t try that right now,” a voice said, and I jumped back in surprise when I realized there was a tall figure in the tall doorway. He stepped into the light, and gently put his arms around me to help me back into the bed. My heart skipped a beat or two.

It was the man I’d seen in a painting downstairs, and he was even more stunning in person. He was taller than I expected, lean and lithe, with a concerned expression on his face. His skin was fairer than I’d ever seen, which only made his inky blue-black hair even darker.

I felt the warmth climbing up my cheeks as I inexplicitly blushed.

“What… what happened?” I asked as panic began to set in. “Why am I—”

“You inhaled a lot of smoke,” the man answered as he approached my bedside. I swallowed in fear and though I tried to scoot away, my body froze. “You passed out, so I brought you here. My personal physician has examined you and said that you just need a bit of rest and you’ll be fine.”

“The fire,” I said, whispering softly. “The half-breeds….”

“Will not be bothering you again,” he said firmly.

I nodded, lowering my eyes. I had no doubt that a man so strong had terrified the arsonists. “The fire?” I asked.

“Is completely under control,” the man explained. “It only reached a small chamber of the house and has been properly extinguished.”

“Good,” I said lamely, and I instantly wanted to take it back. My socialization skills were lacking, but my brain was still heavy with the memory of the smoke.

I felt compelled to lift my eyes again to look at my rescuer. His eyes were dark, just like in the painting, but what I hadn’t noticed was the ring of scarlet around his irises. Eyes like that could only mean one thing.

He was a pureblooded vampire.

“You’re—”

“Cassius van Cleef,” the man introduced himself.

When he extended his hand toward me, I froze, and his expression was unreadable. He brought his hand back down gracefully.

“Cassius,” I whispered back, and my voice suddenly cracked.

I hadn’t meant to display my fear, but I couldn’t help it. Pureblooded vampires were terrifying; they were immortal, strong, and subsisted only on blood. As a half-blooded vampire myself, I was no stranger to blood consumption, but I didn’t need it as frequently as a pureblood. Purebloods were on a much higher level on the food chain; the ring of scarlet around Cassius’ irises made me quiver.

He cleared his throat. “And you’re Stella,” he said, and when I nodded, he continued. “I overheard the others… speaking to you.”

“Oh—” I started to say, feeling the burn on my cheeks grow hotter. He’d heard them humiliating me. Suddenly my throat burned as I dissolved into a coughing fit, and it took a moment to compose myself.

“Let me get you some water,” Cassius said, and then he crossed the room swiftly and returned with a tall glass.

“Thank… you,” I said in between coughs, and I accepted it gratefully, but my hands shook as I tried to bring it to my lips.

“Let me help,” Cassius replied, and he took the glass from my hands before I had the chance to protest.

Rather than fight him, I allowed the vampire to help me drink. I felt his hand gently caress my arm to support me as he raised the glass to my lips.

Cool water traveled down my throat and relief flooded through me, soothing my cough. His proximity made my heart flutter; he emitted a light scent of masculine cologne that would have made me feel dizzy even without the effects of the smoke inhalation.

“Thank you,” I said.

He drew the glass back and brought his hand up to my face; I trembled as he wiped a stray bit of moisture from the corner of my lip.

“Of course,” Cassius replied, and then his head tilted to the side with curiosity. “Now, I sense a million thoughts racing through your mind—”

“Sorry—” I sat upright more and tried to will my body to move, but I was still frozen in place.

“Don’t be,” he replied softly, and then he offered me a thin-lipped smile.

I cleared my throat one more time and forced myself to speak. “But I am sorry,” I said. “You’re probably going to have to hire someone else to clean because I screwed up. Not to mention that your home is partially burned….”

“You had nothing to do with lighting my home ablaze,” he said simply, his eyes sparkling in the dim candlelight. “I dealt with those responsible.”

I had no doubt that he had, and I remembered the way he had spoken to the half-breeds, in a voice that sent chills down my spine in fear. He spoke to me in a much different tone, and while it made my body tingle, this was a completely new sensation.

As my head cleared, reality hit. I was probably out of a job. I was sure that my co-workers had already blamed me for the fire. I had no doubt in my mind that those bullies would throw me under the bus to save their own jobs.

“Still, I’m sorry this happened,” I said.

The corners of his lips rose into a smile. “You have no cause to worry,” he said, then he regarded me closer, his eyes meeting mine. “I’ve dismissed the cleaning company.”

At that, I swung my feet over the bed and even though I was still a bit unsteady, I rose, taking a step toward the door as I said, “I understand that you’ll want me to leave now. Thank you for everything. I’m feeling better now, so I’ll get out of your way.”

He shook his head and grasped my shoulder again to stop me. I shuddered, a mix of fear and… unexplainable feelings enveloping my chest. “Don’t go,” he said.

I stopped obediently and turned to him, catching his dark, captivating eyes once again.

“I noted that your coworkers had no appreciation of your work ethic,” he said.

I felt another blush in my cheeks. So, he had heard everything.

“I, however, am impressed,” he continued. “And I have an offer of employment I’d like to extend to you if you’re interested.”

“An offer?” I asked. I truly needed the work, but could I be employed by a pureblood vampire, the object of my life-long fear? At first, I shook my head.

“What I am offering is a head housekeeper position for my estate,” he explained. “It’s not often that I encounter someone like you… someone for whom I feel an instant level of trust.”

“You trust me?” I asked.

He nodded lightly and dropped his hand off my shoulder. I’d become so accustomed to it, as if his hands belonged on my body, that I hadn’t noticed that he’d kept it there throughout our conversation. But when he released me, I instantly felt its absence.

“I don’t know,” was all I could manage to say.

“Because I hired that team, I am aware of your salary as a cleaner,” Cassius said. “And I am willing to increase it four-fold.”

I gasped without meaning to. With that kind of money, I’d save up what I needed to get out of this city in no time. But it would mean working for a pureblood.

I’d paused a bit too long and the silence was thick.

Cassius moved in closer and fixed his dark-eyed gaze on me. “Stella, I’d really like for you to stay.”

“I… I don’t know,” I whispered, and I tried to find a good excuse to turn down the position.

“I would also open up more of the mansion for your use. The position is live-in, of course.”

I wanted to turn the pureblooded vampire down for more reasons than not, but at the same time, his offer was a very sweet deal. I needed to save up enough money to leave New Rome and establish a life for myself.

I was still terrified of Cassius, but not enough to keep me from nodding.

“I’ll think about it,” I said.