Chapter 4

As I sat behind my desk in my large office, I felt the familiar hunger gnawing at my insides. The sun had just set, and my mind was already wandering towards thoughts of the hunt. However, before I could give in to my primal instincts, my assistant, Annabel, walked in.

"Sir," she said, interrupting my thoughts. "Serah is here for her second interview."

I raised an eyebrow. "Serah? The human?"

"Yes, sir," Annabel replied, her voice calm and collected as always.

I leaned back in my chair, considering the news. I had been intrigued by Serah during her first interview, and her resume had impressed me. However, as a vampire, I was always cautious when it came to humans. They were fragile creatures, and I had to be sure that she could handle the demands of the job.

"Very well," I said after a moment of thought. "Send her in."

As Annabel left to retrieve Serah, I took a moment to compose myself. I had to remember that I was the CEO of a large corporation, not just a bloodthirsty monster. I straightened my tie and smoothed out my suit, preparing to meet with the potential employee.

When Serah walked in, I could smell her fear. It was intoxicating, and I had to remind myself to keep a distance. I greeted her with a polite smile, motioning for her to take a seat.

"Thank you for coming back," I said. "I was impressed by your resume, but I have some concerns about your ability to handle the pressure of the job."

Serah nodded, looking nervous but determined. "I understand," she said. "But I assure you, I'm up for the challenge."

I studied her for a moment, taking in her appearance and demeanor. She was young and inexperienced, but there was a fire in her eyes that intrigued me. I could feel my hunger growing stronger, but I pushed it aside. I had to focus on the interview.

"Very well," I said finally. "Let's begin. Miss Williams," I said, my tone businesslike. "You mentioned in your resume that you've written a few books. How many have you published?"

Serah looked surprised at the question, but then she smiled. "I've published two books," she said. "They're both young adult fiction."

I raised an eyebrow, impressed. "That's quite an accomplishment," I said. "What are they about?"

Serah's face lit up as she talked about her books. She described the plots and the characters with enthusiasm, and I could tell that she was passionate about her writing.

As she finished, I nodded thoughtfully. "Interesting," I said. "And how do you think your writing skills can be applied to this job?"

Serah thought for a moment, then spoke up. "I believe that my writing skills can be a valuable asset to the company," she said. "I'm able to create engaging content and I have experience writing for a specific target audience. I think I could contribute to the company's marketing and social media efforts."

I nodded, impressed with her answer. "That's a good point," I said. "We're always looking for creative ways to promote our products and services. And speaking of writing, would you be willing to write more for the company if you were hired?"

Serah's face lit up with excitement. "Absolutely," she said. "I would love to contribute my writing skills to the company's projects. I have plenty of ideas that I think could be successful."

I smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction. Serah was proving to be a promising candidate, and her enthusiasm for writing was impressive. As a vampire, I had a keen sense of intuition, and I felt that she had the potential to be a valuable asset to the company.

As Serah sat across from me, I could sense her nervousness. I decided to put her at ease by asking a few personal questions.

"Tell me, Serah," I said, leaning forward. "What do you like to do in your free time?"

Serah looked surprised at the question, but then she smiled. "I like to read," she said. "And I enjoy spending time with my family."

I nodded, my eyes never leaving hers. "What kind of books do you like?"

"Mostly fiction," she replied. "I like to get lost in other worlds."

"I can relate to that," I said, smiling. "What about your family? Do you have any siblings?"

Serah's smile faltered slightly, and I could sense that she was hesitant to answer. But then she took a deep breath and opened up to me.

"I have a younger brother," she said. "He's been struggling with some health issues, and it's been really hard on my family."

I nodded sympathetically. "I'm sorry to hear that," I said. "It must be tough for you as well."

Serah shrugged, but I could sense the emotions that she was trying to suppress. "I'm doing my best to help out," she said. "But it can be overwhelming at times."

I leaned back in my chair, studying her for a moment. Then I decided to take a risk and ask her about something more personal.

"Serah," I said, my voice softening. "Can I ask you something? Have you ever struggled with anxiety or panic attacks?"

Serah looked surprised by the question, but then she nodded slowly. "Yes," she said. "I have. It's something that I've been dealing with for a while now."

I could sense her discomfort, but I wanted to reassure her. "You're not alone," I said. "Many people struggle with anxiety and panic attacks. I've even experienced them myself."

Serah's eyes widened in surprise, and I could sense her curiosity. "Really?" she asked. "I wouldn't have thought that someone like you would have those kinds of issues."

I chuckled, the sound low and melodious. "Well, you'd be surprised," I said. "But the important thing is that we don't let those struggles define us."

Serah nodded slowly, her eyes thoughtful. I could sense that our conversation had helped her in some way, and I felt a sense of satisfaction. It was rare for me to connect with a human on a personal level, but Serah was different. She had opened up to me, and I had done the same. It was a small step, but it felt significant.

"Thank you, Miss Williams," I said, standing up from my desk. "Congratulations, and welcome to TMJ CORPORATION. You've given me a lot to think about. We'll be in touch about next steps."

Serah stood up as well, a look of gratitude on her face. "Thank you, sir," she said. "I appreciate the opportunity."

As she left my office, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. Serah had impressed me with her writing skills and her passion for the job. It was rare to find a human with such potential, but I had a feeling that Serah was going to be a valuable addition to the company.

As soon as Serah left my office, I picked up the phone on my desk, expecting to receive a call from my assistant about the next interview candidate. But instead, I heard a familiar voice on the other end.

"Master, we have a situation," my head of security said urgently. "A werewolf has been sighted near the castle. We need your instructions on how to proceed."

I frowned, feeling a sense of annoyance. Werewolves were always causing trouble, and I had no patience for their antics. But as the leader of the vampire community, it was my responsibility to handle any threats to our territory.

"Send a team to investigate," I said calmly. "And make sure to take extra precautions. We don't know what this werewolf's intentions are."

"Yes, master," my head of security replied before hanging up.

I leaned back in my chair, feeling a sense of frustration. I had been hoping for a quiet day at the office, but it seemed that fate had other plans.

I stepped out of my office, my mind still preoccupied with the news of the werewolf sighting. As I walked down the hallway, I caught a familiar scent in the air, one that I recognized as belonging to a werewolf.

My instincts kicked in, and I followed the scent trail, tracing it down the hallway to the female restroom. My heart racing with adrenaline, I pushed open the door, ready to confront the intruder.

But what I saw inside surprised me.

Serah was standing in front of the mirror.