With a small sigh, I pinched my nose as I sat in a never-ending meeting trying desperately not to show how bored I was. The sales team had called for an impromptu meeting to discuss the final stages of the upcoming launch of our newest creation. The tear-drop pendant.
It had been beautifully designed and several months in the making. Everything needed to be planned to perfection. However, I loathed these types of meetings. Everything was pretty much decided. I just had to okay it all.
To be honest, I didn't need to be here to approve it but Luca, my right-hand man and best friend insisted I had to make an appearance.
Whilst they prattled on, I fiddled with the ring on my left hand. It was my most prized possession. A witch gifted it to me after I saved her coven.
Several years after I learned the truth I'd struggled with my new life. However, my family's business kept me going, though it was tough not being able to meet during the day. After I'd killed my maker, I searched through her things, and learned she'd kept things she claimed had been stolen by the witch. I'd also learned more about the animosity between vampires, and witches.
I learned that vampires first attacked witches out of fear of their powers. They believed witches would bring the sun. Though witches never did despite the attacks.
A small coven came to settle in a forest near my small town. I'd visited them. Naturally, they had been cautious of me, but I wanted them to know that I was no threat to them unless they caused trouble.
One night, I had been walking under the stars when I heard some growls coming from the trees. Instantly, I raced over and was met with a horrific sight. Many young witches were covered in blood whilst two vampires fought against some of the older ones.
Without a thought, I joined the fight. I was able to catch one of the vampires off-guard and tore his head off in one go. The second vampire was clearly surprised but soon recovered. He lunged for me but I was able to side-swipe him. He flew into a nearby tree and was momentarily stunned. This gave me the chance to grip him around his neck and wrench it clean off.
The witches thanked me repeatedly and then a week later, the coven leader approached me with a gift, a small golden ring. A sun emblem was engraved into it. She explained it was their way of thanking me and that it would allow me to walk in the sun without being burned.
I smiled at the memory and forced myself back to the present. After what felt like hours, they finished the meeting. Luca followed me out as I left. Many of the female employees tried to get my attention as I passed them. I rolled my eyes and let out a sigh, as I ignored everyone.
This wasn't the first time I've had to endure women like them. In my youth, I had welcomed the attention but after Marina it grated on my nerves.
Luca walked with me to the elevator and sighed when he was just a second too late to catch it. As the doors closed and I approached, I sensed something strange but it was gone almost instantly. Shaking my head, I allowed my mind to wander until Luca's overly dramatic sigh.
"Damn! We almost caught it," he groaned with a smile.
His bright, brown eyes were filled with amusement as he winked at the few women gathered around us. We both knew they were there mainly for me but that didn't stop him. Luca had always been a flirt. Standing at just over five foot five, he was smaller in comparison to my six-foot frame, but he never let that stop him.
Many had considered him handsome with his short, spiked black hair. Most of them openly flirted with him. Had we not been best friends I may have approached him too.
At first, he had attempted to grow his hair out like mine, which grew down the full length of my back all the way to my ass. However, we both quickly realised how stupid he looked. He joked that only I could pull off the 'Jake from twilight before the change' look. I'd looked confused so he showed me what he meant and I chuckled.
At work, I never had my hair down, instead, I would have it in an intricate braid, however, at home, I would let it roam freely down my back. I knew it could be considered attractive but the few people I had been with wanted to use it as a rope to latch onto. I wasn't having that.
"Come on Dante, smile for the pretty ladies," he teased whilst wiggling his fingers at one.
With a sigh, I looked away as the elevator pinged open. Without a backward glance, I walked into the empty space and pressed the button for the tenth floor. I smirked as Luca realised a bit too late and the doors closed on him. This allowed me to go to my office in peace.
My office was located on the tenth floor. It was primarily only for me, though Luca worked just outside my door, with my secretary, Maggie. My company, Obsidian Jewels, was situated across three floors. The eighth floor was mainly for PR, sales and admin. The ninth floor was where the design department imagined and created everything my company had made and the tenth was all mine.
Everyone in the company knew only to come up if and when they were summoned. The floor held my office and Luca's desk, as well as a large and small conference room for meetings.
As I sat at my desk I noticed a message on my answering machine. It was from Mac, the creative director of the design department. He informed me my new designer had arrived.
I smiled as I thought about my new employee. Sorin James! He'd been someone I had wanted ever since I judged a competition he'd been in a few years ago. Though I never got the chance to meet the man, his designs had been exquisite. I made it a point to learn as much about him as I could.
Though I never got the chance to judge his designs again, I still followed him. He was in several more competitions and won each one. So, when HR passed me the information on the potential new designers I was very happy to see his application. I gave Hilda, my head of HR, my top three and prayed to a deity, I never believed in, that he would be chosen. Thankfully, she hadn't disappointed me.
Ever since I saw his designs all those years ago, I have been flooded with ideas. It was because of his inspiration that we were able to create so many of our recent successful designs. Before I saw his work I had been starting to lose my love of it all. Having lived this life well over three hundred years can do that to you.
Since my family's business had grown to what it was now I'd felt like I'd seen it all. Anyone who was anyone had one or more of my pieces but it had started to become stagnant, predictable and boring.
Until him.
As soon as I knew he would be working for me an idea started forming. A new design project, one that I knew only he would be perfect for. Desperately, I wanted to meet him but Luca suggested that I allow him a few days to get used to everything before I called for him.
A few minutes later, Luca walked in with a scowl on his face. His defiant look reminded me of when we had first met. Had it really been seventy years already?
I'd been living in England for a few years at this point. The cold dark streets suited my mood perfectly. Everyone kept to themselves and rarely bothered you. Despite the miserable weather, I enjoyed walking through the streets.
The alley had been dark and the rain fell heavily as I heard several running feet approaching. Two men emerged, laughing as they raced past me. I could smell the blood on them and figured they just attacked or killed someone.
As I passed the mouth of the alley my vampiric hearing heard the faint moaning sounds of someone dying. Curiosity got the better of me so I approached. A young man lay prone on the floor clutching his stomach.
A pool of blood was slowly forming under him. I contemplated putting him out of his misery, but I stalled. A fire lit in his eyes as he weakly lifted his head to stare at me. This young man wanted to live.
I knelt down beside him and gave him the choice I was given but with the truth instead of a lie. Surprisingly, he chose to live even if it was as a vampire. He'd explained he had a family to look after. I told him he would be able to help them for a short time but then he would have to disappear, but he still agreed.
He'd set up, through me, a way to continue helping them until they were able to help themselves.
"Why did you leave me?" he asked, feigning hurt.
"I was in no mood for silly girls and their fantasies about snatching the hot CEO," I told him.
Those were his favourite stories to make up when he noticed women fawning over me. He sighed dramatically before laughing. We've both had our share of men and women, sex was just sex to us, it didn't matter the gender of our partner.
However, lately, I'd lost interest in the casual hookups he often enjoyed. I wanted something more and with no idea what to do about it I avoided all sexual contact with anyone. I had no idea how, but I hoped one day soon someone would come in and shake my stagnant life up, and make me feel things as I had as a young man.
After Luca left, the strange feeling I had earlier came upon me again. It was stronger this time, unlike anything I've ever felt. Something was close by but I couldn't tell what.
Nothing moved or jumped out at me, so I shook my head and tried to focus on the paperwork in front of me. The new proposal was one of them and I needed to get it ready. I needed to be ready before meeting Sorin James.