CHAPTER TWO

The morning sun lit up the tall glass building, making it shine like gold. Emma stood in front of the huge structure, her eyes wide with wonder. The building seemed to touch the sky, a sign of the big dreams and hard work happening inside.

When she stepped in, the place buzzed with energy. The air smelled like fresh flowers and coffee. A friendly receptionist smiled at her.

"Welcome to Brightstar Enterprises," the receptionist said warmly. "You must be Emma. Mr. Harris, the manager, is waiting for you. Follow me."

Emma followed her down shiny halls, their footsteps echoing softly. They reached the manager's office, a room full of awards and fancy furniture.

Mr. Harris, a kind-looking man with a strong handshake, welcomed her with a smile. "Emma, we're glad to have you. Your job is very important to us. Keeping the place clean helps everyone work better."

Emma nodded with determination. "I'll do my best, Mr. Harris."

"I'm sure you will," he replied. "At Brightstar, every team member matters. Your hard work won't go unnoticed here."

After explaining her tasks, Mr. Harris led Emma through another hallway. They stopped in front of a large double door.

"Emma," Mr. Harris said softly, "the CEO, Mr. Alexander Blackwood, likes silence in his office. Be very quiet while cleaning. You're assigned to clean only his office because he hates different people in his space."

Emma nodded, nervous but curious. Mr. Harris knocked, and the door opened. Inside, golden light filled the room. Behind a big desk sat Mr. Blackwood, the CEO.

Emma gasped lightly....

He was striking, with sharp features, his dark raven hair which fell across his face, and piercing blue eyes. His tailored suit fit perfectly, and he had an air of quiet power.

"Emma, our new cleaner," Mr. Harris introduced her.

Mr. Blackwood looked at her, his gaze intense. "Welcome, Emma. Do you understand the need for quiet in my office?"

"Yes, sir," Emma said nervously. "I'll be very quiet." She gulped.still basking in the looks of the young CEO. He looked too perfect to be an ordinary human.

A faint smile appeared on his face which no one saw "Good. Your work is important, even if it's behind the scenes. Excellence is expected. Clear?"

"Yes, sir," she said firmly.

Mr. Blackwood nodded and returned to his work. Emma and Mr. Harris left the office, but her mind lingered on the CEO's commanding presence. After a little tutoring from Mr Harris, Emma went back to the office to start her work.

Emma began arranging papers on Alexander's desk. Mr Harris came back to submit some documents to Alexander.

Emma glanced at Alexander occasionally, intrigued by his focused expression. But then her hand accidentally knocked over a tea cup, spilling its contents onto the desk.

Emma froze, horrified. The room went silent, except for the dripping tea.

Mr. Harris gasped, and Emma's eyes filled with tears.

To Alexander and Mr Harris shock, Emma started to cry. They exchanged glances completely surprised by Emma's reaction.

"I'm so sorry sir. I didn't mean to." She cried believing it was over for her.

To Emma's surprise, Mr. Blackwood didn't yell. Instead, he smiled faintly, catching even Mr. Harris off guard.

"Clean it up," Alexander said, his tone calm.

Emma quickly wiped the spill, her hands trembling. Mr. Harris quietly left, leaving her alone with the CEO.

As Emma cleaned, she kept expecting him to scold her, but he didn't. He simply returned to his work, a faint hint of amusement in his expression.

When Emma finished, she left the office, her heart still racing. Outside, Mr. Harris was waiting.

"Are you okay, Emma?" he asked kindly.

"I think so," she said. "I made a mess, and I cried in front of him. Did I ruin everything?"

Mr. Harris smiled. "Don't worry. You're not the first. Mr. Blackwood may seem scary, but he's not as harsh as people think."

Emma frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Let's just say he notices things. Some cleaners who stayed earned his trust and got unexpected chances here. Just focus on doing your best, and things will work out."

Emma did not understand a thing Mr Harris said. She simply nodded and went back to the cleaners room.

The city was dark, with neon lights flickering faintly in the distance. Emma hurried home, her heart still racing from the day's events. She couldn't stop thinking about her meeting with Alexander Blackwood. She was still embarrassed. Why did she have to suddenly cry?

When she entered her small apartment, her father was waiting, his face full of concern.

"Dad, you won't believe what happened today," Emma said, her voice shaky with both fear and excitement. She told him about spilling the tea, how Alexander had reacted calmly. "Dad I was so scared. I thought I had lost the job already, but he just smiled and told me to clean it up."

Her father listened carefully, "Emma, you need to be careful next time. Avoid distractions okay?"

"Yes dad I promise." Her father have her a light kiss on her forehead and told her everything will be fine.

Meanwhile, in the quiet streets of the city, Alexander Blackwood moved like a shadow. His sharp eyes scanned the darkness, hunting silently. Though he still thought about Emma's soft voice and presence, tonight he was focused on something else—his hunger for blood.

He found his prey in a lonely alley: someone walking alone, unaware of the danger. With lightning speed, Alexander attacked, sinking his sharp fangs into their neck. The night was briefly filled with muffled sounds of struggle before silence returned. Alexander stepped back, his thirst satisfied for now.

As he disappeared into the darkness, a strange feeling stayed with him. Emma's face and presence kept surfacing in his mind, stirring a curiosity he couldn't explain.

His mind went back to the strange girl who had hummed a tune. He wanted to find her but he couldn't trace her scent because he was not in his senses that day she hummed the song.