C7 Boyfriend for a month

Sloane's Pov

Nine days since I resumed office as a CEO passed like a blur and I wondered how I got through it, knowing that there was a dangerous creature in my office.

The vampire; which I later got to know that his name was Darren, was as dashing and indifferent as ever. He never socialized with anyone, he was just focused on work and he had this cold expression on, all the time.

I would be deluding myself if I said I wasn't interested in him.

In fact, I was more than interested in him...

If I wasn't working or scrolling through social media or eating or sleeping then I was thinking about him.

He lived in my head rent free and I found myself watching him every second. I watched his movements, his relation to others. He seemed pretty normal, in fact, if I hadn't found out that he was a vampire, then I would have thought he was just a human who was lucky to be this gorgeous and mysterious.

I wondered why he worked in this company. Weren't vampires supposed to be loaded, considering the fact that they'd lived more than an average life span? Well, I was obviously stereotyping them-- surely, Darren had his reasons for working in this company. He probably wanted to blend in.

Truly, I had to admit that I was pretty much obsessed with him because of the dreary nature of my new job. I had been struggling to love this job since I began but it was all futile. I hated being a CEO to a fashion company. It bored me to death. I missed the freedom that went with being a supermodel. But now that I put it as a side job, I no longer interacted with or entertained my fans anymore. The deals were coming in as usual but I turned the lot of them down because I just couldn't fit it into my busy CEO schedule.

Uggh! I badly wanted to quit this job but I couldn't because I hadn't fulfilled my part of the deal. I had to find a boyfriend quickly--a boyfriend that appealed to my dad!

But what time did I have to start a boyfriend hunt? I wasn't even interested in anyone at the moment... Except Darren!

My eyes lit up as a bright idea struck. Darren was the only guy I wanted to have something to do with right now. He fascinated me so much that I couldn't even go a day without making several assumptions about him.

What if he was dangerous? I really didn't think he was...

The first time I met him, he was blood starved till he passed out. He could have drank my blood and killed me but he didn't. He sure did look dangerous but he didn't act like that.

I needed him to satisfy my curiosity. He could act as my fake boyfriend for a week or so... Then I'd show him to my dad and then... miraculously switch my career.

It was a win for me and I'd make it a win for Darren too.

I picked up my phone and called Hilda; she came running.

"Set up a meeting with I and Darren" I requested

"Sure, Miss Sloane"

I began to count down the hours till I made him mine...

*********************

Darren's Pov

I wasn't this careless, in fact, I had never been careless before. I had always known how to cover my tracks and get rid of evidence. But I fell apart on Ava's death anniversary. I starved myself and let my darkest secret out in the open.

I should have erased her memory. As a vampire, I had the uncanny ability of hypnosis which I could use in situations like this.

No one had ever discovered my real identity before. From the day I was created until now.

Until... her.

What a harsh turn of events for me, I didn't even know that she'd turn out to be my boss.

I had kept a poker face these past few days of working in almost the same space as her and I'd also acted like she didn't exist as I focused on none other than work but I knew I couldn't keep up with act for too long because if I didn't reach out to her first, then she'd reach out to me first.

Just like now. She'd invited me to a meeting with only herself and I couldn't help but wonder what she wanted from me.

As I sat in her office and waited for her to come back from where she went to, I felt uneasy.

What did she want from me? Couldn't she just carry on pretending not to know me? Surely she knew that vampires were dangerous creatures, why then did she want to get involved with me?

The door swang open and she got in. She took time to stare at me before she sat and I knew exactly why.

"Nice to meet you again, Darren" she said, smiling as she sat on the seat opposite to me.

"I can't say the same" I retorted. "what do you want from me?" I shot at her, feeling no need to hide my suspicion and agitation.

She had the effrontery to gasp, as if she was taken aback by my reply. Well, what did she expect? A nice, warm reception from me?

"That's no way to talk to your boss" she said as she held my gaze. "you act as if we are enemies"

"We are neither enemies nor friends" I ground out. "now tell me why you've invited me to your office"

She scoffed as she appeared surprised by my unpleasant and impatient attitude.

"You've done a good job pretending not to know me!" She accused. "why's that Darren? Scared that I'll reveal your true identity?" She asked as she fixed her heated glare on me.

"I'm never scared of mere humans" I said with an air of condescension. "And you don't expect me to greet you all the time with hugs and kisses, do you?"

I watched as she made to speak but stopped, probably putting a rein on her emotions.

"I'll cut to the chase" she said. "I called you here to make a personal request"

I raised my eyebrow in question.

"I want you to act as my boyfriend for a month or so. Our relationship will be over once I show you to my dad and he likes you" she said and I would have laughed at the absurdity of her statement but I didn't exactly feel humorous right now.

"No, thank you" I said to her

"Take your time to think about it before you turn me down" she replied in annoyance.

"There's no need for that" I said as the icy edge never left my voice.

"I really do need your help, Darren. You'll be rewarded greatly after the task is completed" she pleaded but I wasn't having it. I just didn't want to be caught up with her anymore.

"I'm not interested..." I said. "now if you'll excuse me" I stood up and made to leave.

"Look at you being all cocky while I'm nicely asking you for a favour" she said in scorn and I stopped in my tracks. "you forget that I have a leverage over you"

I turned and glared at her.

"Your identity. I'll expose it if you walk out of here without giving me a positive answer"

I tried so hard to control myself.

From the eight hundred years I'd lived amongst humans, I'd known them to be manipulative and conniving but I just hadn't fallen victim to any of them, for I was always careful and I covered my tracks.

Humans would say 'your secret is safe with me' but they'd begin to blackmail you with it the moment they want something from you.

I was foolish to think that Sloane would be different. She was human after all.

Now I wondered what to do with her.

I thought of hypnosis but I doubted if she'd let me do that to her. Not right now.

"Why the hesitation?" She asked wide-eyed. "This is good for you, Darren. You get to be a celebrity's boyfriend. Do you know how lucky you--"

"I'm not interested!" I barked at her and watched her shudder.

A look of pain flashed across her gaze and she looked down, to compose herself then met my gaze again.

"Why?" She asked. "You can't stand being seen with me?"

"Yes" I replied quickly. "I dislike bad publicity"

I watched her try to speak, from the fiery look in her eyes, she wanted to argue but then she stopped herself.

"Okay. I understand" she tried a placatory tone. "I promise not to reveal your face. This whole thing is just for my dad. Once he approves of you, then you're free to go"

I met her determined gaze once again. I couldn't do anything except from agreeing to her demands because she had the upper hand here. One wrong move on my part and she'd reveal my identity to her millions of followers.

Talk about bad publicity!

I decided to play along with her until I was fed up. Then if she persisted we keep up the charade, I'd hypnotise her to forget me. That seemed like a better option than killing her.

"Okay, Miss Sloane. I agree to your terms" I said. "Remember, it's just for a month"

She smiled and nodded in affirmation.